Modem Advice, Moving from Virgin Media

[#1]

Hi Everybody,

I've just switched from VM to Plus.net and my intention is to continue to use my EdgeRouter X rather than the Plus.net Router. but I just wanted to confirm if I need to order an Openreach ECI / Huawei modem or if Openreach will bring one with them when I get the new line installed?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Openreach don't supply the modem any more, and you can't order one from PlusNet. They are available on a well known auction site. PN now supply the Hub One (similar to the BT Home hub 5) which is a combined modem/router and, no, it's not possible to configure it in modem only(bridge) mode.

[#3]

Understood, thanks, I'll order one from that popular auction site.

[#4]

If you wanted a brand new VDSL modem there are a couple out there https://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/store/modems/vdsl-fibre-modems/ .

There's also a few modem/routers out there that will operate in bridge mode. I use a TG589n in the office bridged to my firewall, works fine.

[#5]

Thanks - I was originally considering buying the Draytek over the Openreach modems but after trolling the forums here for a while I'm not convinced it's worth the extra expense. Do you think there are any notable benefits for using third party hardware over vanilla openreach hardware?

[#6]

Third party devices generally use slightly newer chipsets than what's in the Openreach modems.

The Openreach modems also won't get any support (firmware updates) for much longer.