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[Geekofbroadband]

When we get all these new technologies to improve our broadband will say Openreach provide us with a stand alone modem (Like the VDSL2 modems but for vectoring/G.fast) or will we be forced to use all in ones like BT Home Hubs and the put them in modem only mode? (If they even provide that option.

[Weaver]

I would assume that it's up to you and your ISP, nothing at all to do with Openreach. If you need a modem or modem-router that speaks G.vector then that upgrade is something you can do or your ISP can help with.

I must confess, I don't know anything about G.vector's implications for modem compatibility.

[Chrysalis]

openreach are doing away with the modem's so the responsibility will likely fall on the service provider to provide good equipment.

[Weaver]

It's a shame they're not supplying modems and installing them. That was good.

[Al1264]

(Like the VDSL2 modems but for vectoring/G.fast)

Most VDSL modems being used should be compatible with G.Vector but G.fast is a whole new thing and will require a new generation of modem with frequencies up to 106Mhz or 212MHz compared with 17.7Mhz (or 30MHz for profile 30a) used with VDSL(2) - I'd guess this will initially be BT (OR or Wholesale) supplied as there's no retail kit I'm aware of currently.

[ejs]

I'm not even sure the Openreach ECI modems have been provided with firmware that supports vectoring.

The version I have from the modem is:
 dsl_vr9_firmware_xdsl-05.06.07.05.01.06_05.06.02.03.00.01.bin
The version version from the Openreach source is:
 dsl_vr9_firmware_xdsl-05.04.07.09.01.06_05.04.04.04.01.01.bin

The last digit of the VDSL2 firmware, 6 = no vectoring, 7 = vectoring.

[Chrysalis]

Well openreach have shown they were not even competent to follow their own rules, they managed to rollout equipment that couldnt do what they wanted to achieve.

[someonesomewhere]

I'm on the latest Openreach G.fast trial in Swansea. CPE are an Alcatel-Lucent 7368 F-240W-A and a BT HomeHub 5.

The F-240W-A is a complete all-in-one G.fast wireless router with dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi so it would be perfectly suitable CPE on its own, but it's only used as a modem (with Wi-Fi functionality disabled) for the trial. It's also an absolute behemoth (29 x 21 x 5 cm). Hopefully a more compact standalone modem option will be available when G.fast goes into commercial service.

[Black Sheep]

Apart from the aesthetics, how are you experiencing G.fast ........ what kind of speeds are you achieving, if you don't mind responding that is ??

Oh, and welcome to the forum. 

[Dray]

Alcatel-Lucent are now owned by Nokia
http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases/2016/01/14/nokia-celebrates-first-day-of-combined-operations-with-alcatel-lucent

[gt94sss2]

Most VDSL modems being used should be compatible with G.Vector but G.fast is a whole new thing and will require a new generation of modem with frequencies up to 106Mhz or 212MHz compared with 17.7Mhz (or 30MHz for profile 30a) used with VDSL(2) - I'd guess this will initially be BT (OR or Wholesale) supplied as there's no retail kit I'm aware of currently.

Agreed -with G.Fast equipment compatibility will be important so I would expect Openreach to provide modems and engineer installs initially - in case of teething problems and to ensure a good 'customer experience' before eventually shifting self installs and ISP modems.

Exactly the same approach they took not just with FTTC but also ADSL..

[Al1264]

Is this: https://www.alcatel-lucent.com/products/7368-isam-cpe-f-240w the beastie?

[someonesomewhere]

Yep, that's the one. On paper it looks a perfectly capable little (well, big) box. I'm disappointed I can't actually use it.

How am I experiencing it? At the moment I'm not: the service isn't working right now because of an installation problem at the distribution point in the street. (The trials of a triallist.) When it was working I was getting 200 Mbps on a 90 metre cable run.

[gt94sss2]

ISP Review has a story on all the G.Fast modems that Openreach are using in their trials today at http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2016/01/a-quick-look-at-bts-early-uk-trial-of-g-fast-broadband-routers.html

[phi2008]

Yep, that's the one. On paper it looks a perfectly capable little (well, big) box. I'm disappointed I can't actually use it.

How am I experiencing it? At the moment I'm not: the service isn't working right now because of an installation problem at the distribution point in the street. (The trials of a triallist.) When it was working I was getting 200 Mbps on a 90 metre cable run.

Are you using reverse power(listed as a feature of the router)?