Anyone using a Zyxel p-660Hw t1 with ADSL2+
Quote from: grahamt Not exactly the same model - mine's a P660HW-61, which is (I think) a bit older than yours but shouldn't be very different.
Sorry to diverge slightly from the original query...
I've had a 660HW-61 for 4 years, and it's worked pretty reliably. Since recently isolating the bell wire my typical downstream stats are:
sync speed: ~7500kbps (up from ~6500)
attenuation: 8dB
SNRM: 11dB
(I'm very close to the exchange.)
Since I've recently been considering switching to the PlusNet Premium package I e-mailed Zyxel support for confirmation of whether the 660HW-61 is ADSL2+ compatible. They replied today:
"Since the P660HW-61 model is now end of life we have no further firmware updates with a latest modem code so unfortunately it is not ADSL2+ compatible. The only model of our router which are ADSL2+ compatible are the P660/661/662H/HW-D1."
So according to Zyxel, the 660HW-61 shouldn't work with ADSL2+!
grahamt, could you please confirm that you ARE successfully using a Zyxel Prestige 660HW-61 in ADSL2+ mode? And also, which version of the firmware is installed? (Mine is on the latest 3.40(PE.11)C0 dated 22-May-06.)
I know PlusNet offer the Thomson ST585 v7 for just the cost of P+P, but I've read mixed reviews about it. So if my trusty 660HW-61 really CAN support ADSL2+ then I'd rather stick with that.
TIA,
Si
sinewave, Graham - thank you both for your replies. It certainly looks as though my P660HW-61 should work then.
Meanwhile, fyi, here's some info that Zyxel Tech Support sent me regarding my P660HW-61 and INP (Impulse Noise Protection) with ADSL2+:
--
"If you are looking to move to BE internet then this router will work on Be but if you find the speed is limited to 7.1Mbps then you should ask Be to reduce the INP to 1.
We feel that the -61 router may have the same problem of speed limiting to 7.1Mpbs on 21CN because BT do use INP on 21CN. So I guess it all depends on what ISp you will be moving with and what ADSl; service you will be using."
--
I subsequently found this DrayTek page which explains INP:
http://www.draytek.co.uk/support/kb_vigor_inp.html
So it seems that, if I switch to PlusNet's "Premium" ADSL2+ service and then find that my speed never exceeds 7.1Mbps, it'll probably be because my INP value is too high, so I should ask PlusNet to set it to 1.
However, for the moment I'm going to hold off switching over to ADSL2+ because whenever you change things there's always the possibility that it might go horribly wrong, and currently I just can't afford to be without my broadband connection. And when I do switch, I'll probably pay the P&P for the Thomson router - it's always good to have a backup, just in case!
Si
Meanwhile, fyi, here's some info that Zyxel Tech Support sent me regarding my P660HW-61 and INP (Impulse Noise Protection) with ADSL2+:
--
"If you are looking to move to BE internet then this router will work on Be but if you find the speed is limited to 7.1Mbps then you should ask Be to reduce the INP to 1.
We feel that the -61 router may have the same problem of speed limiting to 7.1Mpbs on 21CN because BT do use INP on 21CN. So I guess it all depends on what ISp you will be moving with and what ADSl; service you will be using."
--
I subsequently found this DrayTek page which explains INP:
http://www.draytek.co.uk/support/kb_vigor_inp.html
So it seems that, if I switch to PlusNet's "Premium" ADSL2+ service and then find that my speed never exceeds 7.1Mbps, it'll probably be because my INP value is too high, so I should ask PlusNet to set it to 1.
However, for the moment I'm going to hold off switching over to ADSL2+ because whenever you change things there's always the possibility that it might go horribly wrong, and currently I just can't afford to be without my broadband connection. And when I do switch, I'll probably pay the P&P for the Thomson router - it's always good to have a backup, just in case!
Si
sinewave, I agree, it's astonishing (or should that be "pathetic"?) that Zyxel aren't certain about what their own products do! And yes, at the moment PN offer the Thomson router just for the price of P&P, and since it's one PN supply, it must be capable of working with ADSL2+. My many many years working in the IT industry have taught me you should always have a backup plan!
Graham, thanks for the additional INP info. When I get round to making the switch to ADSL2+ I'll see what speeds I get, then get in touch with PN if it looks as though my INP setting may be limiting my speeds unnecessarily.
Btw, have you guys isolated your bell wire or fitted a BT i-Plate (aka "Broadband Accelerator") to your BT master socket? After I isolated my bell wire at my BT master socket a few months ago, my Zyxel's sync speeds increased by 1Mbps, and then a few days later the BT exchange realised that my router was consistently synching at a higher rate and thus increased my BRAS profile to 6500kbps. So for just a few minutes' work with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, my actual download speeds increased from 5Mbps to 6Mbps.
If you haven't done this (and you have the right type of master socket AND at least one extension socket), it's worth a try. Fitting a BT i-Plate has the same effect as isolating the bell wire, but you usually have to pay for the i-Plate, whereas pulling out the bell wire is free!
(Sorry if I'm telling you stuff you already know, but this info may be of benefit to other readers.)
There are full details here:
http://www.jarviser.co.uk/jarviser/broadbandspeed.html
Si
Update: I was looking at the earlier posts and noticed both you guys have either isolated the bell wire or fitted a filter at the master socket. But I'll leave in my earlier comments since they might benefit someone else!
Graham, thanks for the additional INP info. When I get round to making the switch to ADSL2+ I'll see what speeds I get, then get in touch with PN if it looks as though my INP setting may be limiting my speeds unnecessarily.
Btw, have you guys isolated your bell wire or fitted a BT i-Plate (aka "Broadband Accelerator") to your BT master socket? After I isolated my bell wire at my BT master socket a few months ago, my Zyxel's sync speeds increased by 1Mbps, and then a few days later the BT exchange realised that my router was consistently synching at a higher rate and thus increased my BRAS profile to 6500kbps. So for just a few minutes' work with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, my actual download speeds increased from 5Mbps to 6Mbps.
If you haven't done this (and you have the right type of master socket AND at least one extension socket), it's worth a try. Fitting a BT i-Plate has the same effect as isolating the bell wire, but you usually have to pay for the i-Plate, whereas pulling out the bell wire is free!
(Sorry if I'm telling you stuff you already know, but this info may be of benefit to other readers.)
There are full details here:
http://www.jarviser.co.uk/jarviser/broadbandspeed.html
Si
Update: I was looking at the earlier posts and noticed both you guys have either isolated the bell wire or fitted a filter at the master socket. But I'll leave in my earlier comments since they might benefit someone else!
Thought I'd just post an update since I recently took the plunge and switched to the ADSL2+ service PlusNet Extra.
Prior to requesting the upgrade I raised the matter of INP with PN Support. They confirmed that on my line, INP would be set to 1, meaning that my Zyxel 660HW-61 shouldn't have its sync speed limited.
Sure enough, as soon as my line was switched (around 10 days ago) to ADSL2+, the sync speed leapt from 7.6Mbps to 15.2Mbps, and has consistently synced at 15.2 on every reconnection since. Ping has increased a little (now 32ms instead of 28), and downstream the router is showing an SNRM of 15dB and attenuation of 7dB.
However, it seems that on the day of the switch to ADSL2+ PN Support manually raised my bRAS profile to 21Mbps so I could benefit straightaway from the higher speeds. In practice I'm now getting actual download speeds of at least 10.5Mbps (compared to 5.9Mbps on the standard ADSL service previously).
FWIW, I had PN send me the Thomson router just in case (only cost a fiver!), but so far my old Zyxel 660HW-61 seems to be working quite happily.
So following my switch to PlusNet Extra, my monthly quota has risen dramatically, my download speed is more than 75% faster than before, and the monthly cost has also dropped by a few quid. It's no wonder PlusNet keep winning awards!
Thanks again to Graham & sinewave for your advice in recent months.
Si
Prior to requesting the upgrade I raised the matter of INP with PN Support. They confirmed that on my line, INP would be set to 1, meaning that my Zyxel 660HW-61 shouldn't have its sync speed limited.
Sure enough, as soon as my line was switched (around 10 days ago) to ADSL2+, the sync speed leapt from 7.6Mbps to 15.2Mbps, and has consistently synced at 15.2 on every reconnection since. Ping has increased a little (now 32ms instead of 28), and downstream the router is showing an SNRM of 15dB and attenuation of 7dB.
However, it seems that on the day of the switch to ADSL2+ PN Support manually raised my bRAS profile to 21Mbps so I could benefit straightaway from the higher speeds. In practice I'm now getting actual download speeds of at least 10.5Mbps (compared to 5.9Mbps on the standard ADSL service previously).
FWIW, I had PN send me the Thomson router just in case (only cost a fiver!), but so far my old Zyxel 660HW-61 seems to be working quite happily.
So following my switch to PlusNet Extra, my monthly quota has risen dramatically, my download speed is more than 75% faster than before, and the monthly cost has also dropped by a few quid. It's no wonder PlusNet keep winning awards!
Thanks again to Graham & sinewave for your advice in recent months.
Si