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Author Topic: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?  (Read 4710 times)

whatkatedoes

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Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« on: January 07, 2018, 12:40:04 PM »

Hi all, 

I’ve been using a Billion 8800nl since I got FTTC very happily, it has particularly been helpful in massaging my connection in the past with crosstalk.  Nowadays vectoring has been enabled and things are running pretty sweet.  However, the billion has started periodically randomly rebooting, and I’m fearful of it sabotaging my connection.  So I’m looking for an alternative replacement.

Obviously the 8800nl r2 is on my list, but i have a wish list:

802.11ac
VPN server
VPN connection in the router
Good stats page/possible dslstats compatibility or similar.

I’m not adverse to running a modem + router to give me the best results.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
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whatkatedoes

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2018, 01:15:35 PM »

Asus DSL-AC88U seems to be quite popular?  The AC68U seems to be problematic?
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Deathstar

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2018, 01:20:05 PM »

I have the 68, and it's rock steady no issues....except.
OpenReach have blocked G.INP, and most likely vectoring.
I am awaiting the arrival of my vmg1312-b10a from the bay.

So possibly the vmg1312-b10a or a vmg8324, @skyeci has a couple of those forsale in the swap section.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

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VMG1312-B10A Bridge Mode to ASUS DSLAC68U

whatkatedoes

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2018, 01:52:53 PM »

Blocked?  You/your router specifically?  Or more generally?
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Deathstar

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2018, 02:57:23 PM »

More generally

See below link.

http://whatsyourrouter.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=160


Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

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VMG1312-B10A Bridge Mode to ASUS DSLAC68U

j0hn

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2018, 03:48:28 PM »

The Asus DSL-AC68U has by far the worst modem I have ever used.
I also own the RT-AC68U, 1 of the best routers I have owned.

There's a reason OpenReach randomly pulled Retx from it. It breaks so many DSLAM settings I'm surprised they allow it at all.
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Talktalk FTTP 550/75 - Speedtest - BQM

psychopomp1

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2018, 11:37:12 PM »

Asus DSL-AC88U seems to be quite popular?  The AC68U seems to be problematic?
The DSL-AC88U will be an excellent choice: it has excellent Wi-Fi range, uses a newish Broadcom dsl chipset (unlike the notorious Mediatek chipset on the dsl-ac68) and has a vpn server.
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jaydub

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2018, 12:19:02 AM »

The DSL-AC88U will be an excellent choice: it has excellent Wi-Fi range, uses a newish Broadcom dsl chipset (unlike the notorious Mediatek chipset on the dsl-ac68) and has a vpn server.

Thought the firmware on the DSL-AC88U was supposed to be quite buggy at the moment.
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j0hn

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2018, 06:59:52 PM »

Yes, it is.
It was barely an alpha firmware when they started selling it.
Should really be a beta with the amount of brokem/missing features.
I'm sure they'll get it fixed though. Broadcom actively update the DSL drivers regularly.

Mediatek was a terrible choice for Asus with the previous DSL models.
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Talktalk FTTP 550/75 - Speedtest - BQM

Lil-Koby

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2018, 10:28:56 PM »

Get your self a decent modem with broadcom chipset plus a decent Dual Core Router which is highly compatible with Lede/OpenWRT.
I could recommend a Netgear R7800 for Lede/OpenWRT or a Linksys WRT1900ACS v2/WRT3200ACM but keep in mind the Marvel wifi driver for those Linksys devices is still a bit buggy at the moment...

In my opinion this is the best option and you will almost have endless opportunities... but LEDE/OpenWRT will probably cost you some time (depends on your needs and skills).
There are some great pre-compiled community builds avalible but you could also compile your own image with the packages you need.
For example i'm using the following stuff with LEDE at the moment: OpenVPN Client/Server, Selective VPN Routing, Selective UPNP, SQM-QoS, Adblock, Advanced Graphs/Stats and DNScrypt-Proxy... and im really happy !

A DSLstats compatible modem with a decent broadcom chipset (BCM63168/63138) shouldn't be hard to find... I would suggest to buy a used modem on ebay.
Personaly i would look for a DGA4130, this device should be even future proof for Super Vectoring (profile 35b), if Super Vectoring will be ever avalible in your area.
In my area Super Vectoring will be avalible mid 2018, so im quite happy that i bought a DGA4130 modem... ;)
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DGA4130@bridge, fw 1.1.0, GUI: 7.17.3 <3
DGA4132@bridge, fw 1.1.0, GUI: 8.1.2 <3
Archer C2600@LEDE 18.06.1

youngsyp

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Re: Billion 8800nl replacement suggestion?
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2018, 10:50:49 AM »

My understanding is that the 8800NL r2 has an inferior BDCM chipset when compared to the 8800NL and will result in your sync rates being lower. An alternative, that's been launched very recently, is the 8800AXL r2. My understanding of this one, having found as much information as I could, is that it has the 63168 BDCM chipset, which is the hardware that typically results in the best sync rates.

Alternatives to the above are a used 8800AXL (eBay), I have one of these and it just works frankly. There's also the ZyXel VMG-8324/ 8924 (used or new on eBay), which again have the excellent 63168 BDCM chipset plus some internal filtering that typically results in the best sync rates possible. I also have the latter and when it works, it works very well, I also prefer the GUI. However, the FW can often be buggy and mine recently started to prevent accessing websites although the sync was perfectly stable. Odd! I'm sure this is isolated to my particular device though. That's why I'm using the 8800AXL now.

If you look around Kitz, there's plenty of love for the ZyXel devices which means great support too.

Paul
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