Kitz Forum

Broadband Related => Broadband Hardware => Topic started by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 10:35:53 AM

Title: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 10:35:53 AM
Hey guys,

I am in Exchange SPENCERS WOOD is served by Cabinet 15
I am getting new ISP next week, and wanted to see about getting the best modem for it.

I have a pfSense firewall so just need the modem.
What would you guys suggest is the best?
I was thinking Vigor 130 or HG612?

I would love to get the best most stable connection possible.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: underzone on June 24, 2020, 10:40:11 AM
Check my signature for an option...  :)
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: meritez on June 24, 2020, 11:36:13 AM
Check my signature for an option...  :)

What's a Huawei 288?  :lol:
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: ktz392837 on June 24, 2020, 11:59:39 AM
What's a Huawei 288? 
That is cabinet type and size I believe not an end user modem.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 12:26:59 PM
Check my signature for an option...  :)

Why get a modem that has router/access points and everything.
I would just need the modem out of it, seems awfully overkill just for a modem in bridge mode. Surely a 130 would be better suited?
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: j0hn on June 24, 2020, 01:30:18 PM
Why get a modem that has router/access points and everything.
I would just need the modem out of it, seems awfully overkill just for a modem in bridge mode. Surely a 130 would be better suited?

It has an excellent chipset inside that's why.

The other stuff can be disabled. The Zyxel recommend is cheap on eBay so who cares if it has features you wouldn't use.
I'm not a fan of the Draytek Vigor 130.

My recommendation for a bridge modem is a Zyxel VMG1312-B10A though they aren't always easy to source at a reasonable price.

Nothing syncs higher or has so low ES numbers on my line.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 05:23:31 PM
So that's 2 votes for a ZyXel.

Any other recommendations?
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: burakkucat on June 24, 2020, 05:34:19 PM
I would recommend a ZyXEL VMG1312-B10A (and not a -B10D).

While I think of it -- "Welcome to the kitz forum."  :)
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 05:42:30 PM
While I think of it -- "Welcome to the kitz forum."  :)

Thank you :)
Been a lurker now a user :D
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: tiffy on June 24, 2020, 05:53:38 PM
ZyXEL's are indeed very well respected here, see my post signature.

As j0hn has said, the VMG1312-B10A usually performs very well on most lines but is getting quite hard to obtain now at realistic prices.
I recently added a VMG3925-B10B in router only (bridge) mode to my system, bought this "new" on e-bay for £30 + P&P, there are still a lot of older model XyXEL's available on e-bay at very good prices, just ensure they are not ISP "locked down" units unless you have the capability/wish to take the trouble to unlock.

Cross posting acknowledged:
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 06:15:47 PM
So VMG1312-B10A I can only find it on a certain very big online store for £100...
I dont mind paying that if it will be worth it.

Is it worth it?
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: burakkucat on June 24, 2020, 06:55:13 PM
Is it worth it?

I don't think anyone can answer that question for you.

At a personal level, I wouldn't pay that price . . . because I know that if needed to buy one, I would be able to source one for a more reasonable price.

The two -B10As that I own were both ISP customised and were priced around £25. Once in my ownership, they were de-customised back to the vanilla ZyXEL devices and all was good.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: hushcoden on June 24, 2020, 07:09:46 PM
Is it worth it?
Personally, I'd answer No, it's not

You can find at very reasonable price either the VMG8324-B10A or the VMG8924-B10A which have the same good chipset + filter as the VMG1312-B10A - not to mention you can also install johnson's firmware: https://github.com/johnson442/custom-zyxel-firmware/releases
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: j0hn on June 24, 2020, 07:58:38 PM
So VMG1312-B10A I can only find it on a certain very big online store for £100...
I dont mind paying that if it will be worth it.

Is it worth it?

No.
As mentioned the VMG8924-B10A (and the 8324) has the exact same chipset and filter as the 1312 for much less.

I only prefer the form factor of the VMG1312-B10A as it's wall mountable.

You can put a saved search on the 1312 on eBay as they pop up every few days for decent prices.
£16.99 and £18.99 in the last few days (used).
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: lofgents on June 24, 2020, 09:09:24 PM
Previously tried Billion 8800NL, Netgear DSL 7000, and Zyxel VMG8924-B10A. Easily the best on the Huawei cabinet is a newly purchased Draytek 165 it has tweakable snr and is very stable. I am not that close to the cabinet maybe between 500 to 800 metres from the cabinet and have very few errors. The only downside is that it does not work with dsl stats.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 09:36:02 PM
Previously tried Billion 8800NL, Netgear DSL 7000, and Zyxel VMG8924-B10A. Easily the best on the Huawei cabinet is a newly purchased Draytek 165 it has tweakable snr and is very stable. I am not that close to the cabinet maybe between 500 to 800 metres from the cabinet and have very few errors. The only downside is that it does not work with dsl stats.

Woah first I've seen the 165... its not too expensive either. Might add that to my list to test out.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 24, 2020, 10:02:31 PM
How can I tell which chipset my road cab has...
So I know which modem chipset would be best.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: j0hn on June 24, 2020, 10:08:07 PM
How can I tell which chipset my road cab has...
So I know which modem chipset would be best.

It's a Huawei cabinet (Broadcom chipset).
https://www.telecom-tariffs.co.uk/codelook.htm?xid=150401&cabinets=14576
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: Weaver on June 25, 2020, 07:39:32 AM
I recommend the ZyXEL VMG xxxxxxx-BnnA modems (not the -10D ). New top end models are perhaps cheaper than the VMG 1312-B10A units which I use and which are only available now second hand on the likes of ebay and other shops, although very rarely boxed new-looking ones turn up.

If you are patient you can get a second hand one for £60, if very patient you can get occasionally one for £25.

The VMG 8xxxx and 9xxxx series models are just as good afaik and have the advantage of being available brand new.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: Chunkers on June 25, 2020, 09:42:37 AM
+1 for Zyxel VMG8924-B10A

I have two and they have been great for 3 years, just compared them with Fritz!box 7530 (Lantiq) and on my line(s) syncs almost identical speed
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: displaced on June 25, 2020, 10:29:49 AM
I can attest to the HG612’s reliability.  My Openreach-supplied one has behaved itself perfectly, running 24/7 over the past 8-ish years, with BT and Vodafone.

I too have a pfSense router/firewall behind the HG612.  The modem’s in its default bridge mode. The only config change I’ve made was whatever tweak was required to get access to the modem stats over the same interface as the bridge.

I suppose I might gain a megabit or two if I switched to a different modem, but I’m already running stable at the maximum speeds for my line length (~55 in summer, ~60 in winter - temperature makes a huge difference to a 600 metre-long line!).
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: Weaver on June 25, 2020, 11:22:25 AM
In fact, _what Burakkucat and J0hn said_. The ebay purchasing thing is slightly worrying unless you can get a boxed like new one, as the unit you buy might be as old as god. I have a sizeable stash of them as my kit keeps getting destroyed every year with lighting strikes, this year being by far the worst on record.
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: Chrysalis on June 25, 2020, 12:55:16 PM
vmg3925 or 8800nl r1
Title: Re: Best modem only for FTTC
Post by: N0_Klu3 on June 27, 2020, 05:05:36 PM
I managed to snag a brand new VMG8924-B10A.

Thanks for all the help everyone, I really appreciate it.