Thomson, Zyxel, Netgear or Billion?

I'm getting steadily more and more pissed off with my failing Thomson
Speedtouch 510 v6. I suspect one or more of the caps in it may be
failing, although I can't see any visible sign, symptoms include:

Can't save config
Can't restore saved config
Randomly resets itself when editing config eg adding service to mac or ip
Occasionally forgets about services that have been added

I've tried factory reset from both CLI and from web interface, no
improvement.

It came from Demon in early 2009, I have no idea of date of manufacture
but I've seen references to similar problems and comments related to the
great chinese dodgy capacitor electrolyte issue on various forums.

Currently I'm looking at 4 possibilities on broadbandstuff.co.uk:

Thomson Speedtouch 510 v6
Zyxel Prestige P-660R-D1
Billion BiPAC 5200 ADSL2+ Modem/Router
Netgear DG834 v4 ADSL2+ Modem Router Firewall

These both have a 4 port switch that I don't need, as I already have an
8 port 10/100.

The netgear has the advantage of third party firmware support.

I doubt that any of the alternatives is actually more resilient to the
risk of dodgy capacitors than the others, but comments from the users of
any of these on their experiences in use might be useful.

Rgds

Denis McMahon

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:22:52 +0100, Denis McMahon wrote:

> Currently I'm looking at 4 possibilities on broadbandstuff.co.uk:
>
> Thomson Speedtouch 510 v6
> Zyxel Prestige P-660R-D1
> Billion BiPAC 5200 ADSL2+ Modem/Router Netgear DG834 v4 ADSL2+ Modem
> Router Firewall

I have a P660R-D1, and I'm happy with it. Not too bad to set up (once you
get to the web interface) and it does have a (sparsely documented) Telnet
interface that can be enabled if desired (just to the LAN, of course).

It replaced a Zyxel that I bought in 2002, only because the old one
(unsurprisingly) didn't support ADSL2+. The old one ran 24/7 from 2002
until 2009, utterly reliable.
--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:12:35 +0100, Peter Crosland wrote:


> Save your self lots of grief and buy a 2Wire 2700HGV (Badged BT Business
> Hub) for less than a tenner on eBay. It will out perform all the
> alternatives you have in mind.
>
> Peter Crosland

Good advice - read this: http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2010/Aug/95

"Flasher" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:i3unli$4l8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:12:35 +0100, Peter Crosland wrote:
>
>
>> Save your self lots of grief and buy a 2Wire 2700HGV (Badged
>> BT Business
>> Hub) for less than a tenner on eBay. It will out perform all
>> the
>> alternatives you have in mind.
>>
>> Peter Crosland
>
> Good advice - read this:
> http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2010/Aug/95
>


I would have thought the answer is simple. If it means a hacker
can compromise an administrator session then disconnect the
Interweb when fiddling with the beast? Realistically what is the
chance of a big bad hacker just trying to access your router at
the instant you are in an admin session? There are MUCH bigger
fish for them to go swimming after.

Note that the 2W is almost exclusively supplied by BT to business
users using private DSL. It is made for the US market where lines
are generally long and of considerably lower overall quality that
those that we are used to and have come to expect in the UK. Net
effect is that it will always produce better results that almost
any other device.

Otherwise I would recommend Netgear.


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

On 11/08/10 18:59, Woody wrote:

>> Good advice - read this:
>> http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2010/Aug/95

> I would have thought the answer is simple. If it means a hacker
> can compromise an administrator session then disconnect the
> Interweb when fiddling with the beast? Realistically what is the
> chance of a big bad hacker just trying to access your router at
> the instant you are in an admin session?

Pretty much zero for me, as all the kit here is hardwired, and I'd
disable the wireless interface on the beast (soldering iron > firmware).

Rgds

Denis McMahon

Denis McMahon wrote:
> I'm getting steadily more and more pissed off with my failing Thomson
> Speedtouch 510 v6. I suspect one or more of the caps in it may be
> failing, although I can't see any visible sign, symptoms include:
>
> Can't save config
> Can't restore saved config
> Randomly resets itself when editing config eg adding service to mac or ip
> Occasionally forgets about services that have been added
>
> I've tried factory reset from both CLI and from web interface, no
> improvement.
>
> It came from Demon in early 2009, I have no idea of date of manufacture
> but I've seen references to similar problems and comments related to the
> great chinese dodgy capacitor electrolyte issue on various forums.
>
> Currently I'm looking at 4 possibilities on broadbandstuff.co.uk:
>
> Thomson Speedtouch 510 v6
> Zyxel Prestige P-660R-D1
> Billion BiPAC 5200 ADSL2+ Modem/Router
> Netgear DG834 v4 ADSL2+ Modem Router Firewall
>
> These both have a 4 port switch that I don't need, as I already have an
> 8 port 10/100.
>
> The netgear has the advantage of third party firmware support.
>
> I doubt that any of the alternatives is actually more resilient to the
> risk of dodgy capacitors than the others, but comments from the users of
> any of these on their experiences in use might be useful.
>
I love my billion for being bloody configurable. And having everything I
could want.

I hate the fact that to get it working at all requires navigating
through dozens of unrelated menus..

Best hardware and system software, worst user interface.

:-(

> Rgds
>
> Denis McMahon

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:15:47 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> I hate the fact that to get it working at all requires navigating
> through dozens of unrelated menus..

That's because you are a retard.

In article <4c62c07d$0$18332$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Denis McMahon <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I'm getting steadily more and more pissed off with my failing Thomson
>Speedtouch 510 v6. I suspect one or more of the caps in it may be
>failing, although I can't see any visible sign, symptoms include:
>
>Can't save config
>Can't restore saved config
>Randomly resets itself when editing config eg adding service to mac or ip
>Occasionally forgets about services that have been added
>
>I've tried factory reset from both CLI and from web interface, no
>improvement.
>
>It came from Demon in early 2009, I have no idea of date of manufacture
>but I've seen references to similar problems and comments related to the
>great chinese dodgy capacitor electrolyte issue on various forums.
>
>Currently I'm looking at 4 possibilities on broadbandstuff.co.uk:
>
>Thomson Speedtouch 510 v6
>Zyxel Prestige P-660R-D1

I sort of liked Zyxels for a while some years back, then went off them
after I had 2 fail... Been using Drayteks since then. However, I've just
had a need for a couple of cheapish routers (for cheapskate customers)
and bought a pair of Zyxel P-660H routers and so-far so-good. Easy enough
to setup and run. Even the QoS/traffic shaping for VoIP seems to be OK
too - not bad for a 50 quid router...

However, I've no idea what the difference is between the P-660H and the
Prestige P-660R is...

Gordon

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:38:42 +0000, Gordon Henderson wrote:

> However, I've no idea what the difference is between the P-660H and the
> Prestige P-660R is...

The H has wiresless, doesn't it? The P660R is a single port modem/router
with 100Base-T.

--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

Flasher wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:15:47 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>
>> I hate the fact that to get it working at all requires navigating
>> through dozens of unrelated menus..
>
> That's because you are a retard.

No, many things I am, a retard is not one.
Sorry.