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[cjlhessing]

Hello guys, decided thanks to some on this forum to go and get the Zyxel VMG8924-B10A.

So I'm looking online, and I see a few places selling an item with this name and description but with a very different appearance and really dont want to go through the hassle of rma/return unwanted etc.

So Zyxel on their own site show it as a matt black rectangular router with a gloss strip tuning near the top where the icons would light up, however some guys selling ones on gumtree, ebay, and even amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zyxel-VMG8924-B10A-GB01V1F-Dual-Band-Wireless-Routers/dp/B00ETIVHP6) show it as a glossy unit which is more square...so colour me confused.

Ofcourse the appearance isn't important, however if it indicates someone is selling the wrong item or its a revision that might be of less use, well that's another matter.
Why is this so complicated lol.

Thanks guys. hope my attached pics help someone figure this out.

[hushcoden]

If you look at ZyXEL website here you can see all the different models.

So your pictures, the first one (ZyXEL) is the VMG8924-B10D whereas the Amazon one is the VMG8924-B10A

Hope it helps.

[cjlhessing]

If you look at ZyXEL website here you can see all the different models.

So your pictures, the first one (ZyXEL) is the VMG8924-B10D whereas the Amazon one is the VMG8924-B10A

Hope it helps.

Ahhhhhhhh! gotcha. Shame the D is prettier lol but it will be hidden away so no matter. Thanks for clearing that up pal. Love how helpful (and patient) everyone is on this forum. Thanks matey.

[burakkucat]

I am not certain but I suspect that the VMG8924-B10D uses a "budget priced" Broadcom chip-set, whereas the VMG8924-B10A would be the earlier, more desirable, Broadcom chip-set.

If you intend to just use the device as a bridging modem, then a ZyXEL VMG8324-B10A would be an adequate device. (The only difference between the VMG8324-B10A and the VMG8924-B10A is that the former uses the 2.4 GHz WiFi band only, whereas the latter uses both 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz WiFi bands.)

[b*cat calls out to j0hn -- or anyone else -- to check my first sentence, above, please.]

[j0hn]

A quick search online doesn't tell me what chipset is in the VMG8924-B10D but I'd be amazed if it wasn't a budget Broadcom chipset.

All their other D variants I've looked at have a budget Broadcom chipset.

[kitz]

All their other D variants I've looked at have a budget Broadcom chipset.

I'd second this. 

-----

Also, It may or may not also be a co-incidence that the B10-A firmwares offered by Zyxel start with V100
Whereas the B10-D's start with 513....   whether they be VMG8324/8924/1312

Also note that the user guide for the VMG8924-B10D is V5.13 Edition 2 which is same user guide as for VMG1312-B10D
Whilst user guides for VMG8924-B10A & VMG1312-B10A all start Version 1.00 Edition x

[ejs]

I just downloaded the latest VMG8924-B10D firmware before realising I could have just read the release notes, and that I'd already downloaded an earlier firmware before.
VMG8924-B10D has A2pv6F039x6 which indicates BCM 63168 / 63268. This is not the budget Broadcom chipset.

The budget BCM 63381 uses A2pvI042j1

[grapevine1]

I think we all are cming to the belief, on what chipsets are in which version of the Zyxel routers of value for money and performance

So I would also like to put out a call to
b*cat and to j0hn, cjlhessing -- or anyone else to pool resouces together with what specialised firmware has been amended in the series by possibly the isp's so that we dont run the risk of 'bricking' the routers when loading/updating firmware in the models
Of particular interest to me and others which are the  VMG8324-B10A and VMG8924-B10A then possibly Kitz would consider an edit or note on the appropriate section of this site once compilation was complete. The information is hard to compile at present from all the differing claims by so many onthe site under the different topic runs. for one instance as an example what isp's is it believed have possibly had their own amedments to the firmware, and is it true that some routers from Ireland could be different .
Maybe someone has compiled such a list from all their practical and theoretical knowledge.
Pre year 2000 I found like many others the invaluable information on this site regarding the old Netgear DG834 routers in respect to te different versions which gave me and others a speedy way on the optimum version to get better thro'put of data on a long and crap quality twisted copper 5Km line. ---Just a thought.
BW grapevine1

[johnson]

I think we all are cming to the belief, on what chipsets are in which version of the Zyxel routers of value for money and performance

So I would also like to put out a call to
b*cat and to j0hn, cjlhessing -- or anyone else to pool resouces together with what specialised firmware has been amended in the series by possibly the isp's so that we dont run the risk of 'bricking' the routers when loading/updating firmware in the models
Of particular interest to me and others which are the  VMG8324-B10A and VMG8924-B10A then possibly Kitz would consider an edit or note on the appropriate section of this site once compilation was complete. The information is hard to compile at present from all the differing claims by so many onthe site under the different topic runs. for one instance as an example what isp's is it believed have possibly had their own amedments to the firmware, and is it true that some routers from Ireland could be different .
Maybe someone has compiled such a list from all their practical and theoretical knowledge.
Pre year 2000 I found like many others the invaluable information on this site regarding the old Netgear DG834 routers in respect to te different versions which gave me and others a speedy way on the optimum version to get better thro'put of data on a long and crap quality twisted copper 5Km line. ---Just a thought.
BW grapevine1

You mean like this:
https://wiki.kitz.co.uk/index.php/BCM_routers

Could do with having the VMG8924-B10A + VMG3925-B10B added I guess.

But yes maybe a separate page with just BCM63168 devices on could be of use, since it is such a common question on the forums. Eg:

VMG1312-B10A - BCM63168 - Wireless N - 10/100 LAN - Internal Filter
VMG8324-B10A - BCM63168 - Wireless N - Gbit LAN - Internal Filter
VMG8924-B10A - BCM63168 - Wireless AC - Gbit LAN - Internal Filter

VMG3925-B10B - BCM63168 - Wireless AC (Beam forming?) - Gbit LAN
VMG8924-B10D - BCM63168 - Wireless AC - Gbit LAN

Billion 8800NL - BCM63168 - Wireless N - 1 x Gbit, 3 x 10/100 LAN

Etc.

I just downloaded the latest VMG8924-B10D firmware before realising I could have just read the release notes, and that I'd already downloaded an earlier firmware before.
VMG8924-B10D has A2pv6F039x6 which indicates BCM 63168 / 63268. This is not the budget Broadcom chipset.

The budget BCM 63381 uses A2pvI042j1

Good spot! So the VMG8924-B10D uses the exact same dsl code and kernel module as the VMG3925-B10B which is known to have a BCM63168 chipset.

[kitz]

I think we all are cming to the belief, on what chipsets are in which version of the Zyxel routers of value for money and performance

I think this was agreed several years ago.   I and others have already directly compared DSL performance for most of the Zyxels against other makes. 
It's just the VMG8924-B10D we are unsure of as it is relatively new.   Until someone purchases one and opens up the box then we wont know for sure. Alternatively, someone may be able to get the info from the full Busybox shell environment.   For example the VMG8324-B10A identifies the system type as 963168VX.   ejs is also pretty damn good at being able to scour through modem f/w to find out information about particular units. 

So I would also like to put out a call to
b*cat and to j0hn, cjlhessing -- or anyone else to pool resouces together with what specialised firmware has been amended in the series by possibly the isp's so that we dont run the risk of 'bricking' the routers when loading/updating firmware in the models.

Information on the chipsets was done years ago - See Broadcom based modem/routers.
List of firmware for the VMG8324/8924 is maintained in the sticky post here - VMG8324-B10A firmware versions

Of particular interest to me and others which are the  VMG8324-B10A and VMG8924-B10A then possibly Kitz would consider an edit or note on the appropriate section of this site once compilation was complete.

I take it you have seen the full review of the Zyxel VMG8324-B10A where I identified the chipset by calling the system command which gives the chipset board type and states it uses a BCM63168 chipset.    Its since been mentioned numerous times elsewhere across this and other forums.   As mentioned in that article the VMG8324/8924 are the same aside from the wifi capabilities.

[kitz]

You mean like this:
https://wiki.kitz.co.uk/index.php/BCM_routers

Could do with having the VMG8924-B10A + VMG3925-B10B added I guess.

Done    Chipset info was already on the Combined VDSL2 modem page stickied at the top of this board.

a separate page with just BCM63168 devices on could be of use, since it is such a common question on the forums. Eg:
//
etc

I believe all that information can already be found on the stickied post which lists Combined VDSL2 Modem Routers....  although it doesn't just contain BCM63168 devices but also several others. 

[kitz]

btw I just noticed that stuff.uk (where a lot of people purchase their brand new VMG8324/8924's from) have both the B10A & B10D in stock

The VMG8924-B10D at £67.97 is a fair bit cheaper than the VMG8924-B10A at £115.49.

Price difference is almost akin the that between the VMG1312-B10A and VMG1312-B10D.... in that the B10-A is always circa £40-50 dearer than the B10-D mostly due to the better chipset and internal noise filter.