Alternatives to default ISP routers

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
I am with Telecom Liechtenstein, and was given a Thomson TWG870 which is a pretty sucky router. Frequent connection drops, reboots, slowdowns, bad wifi range etc. This is a cable router, with a USB port which cannot even handle USB functions such as plugging in printers or hard disks.

My problem lies with the fact this router has a screw coax copper cable connector for receiving the internet signal, not an ethernet-in port, and yet every cable router I see has a blue ethernet connector instead.

Aren't we supposed to be allowed free choice of using our own hardware here? I know when I joined they asked if I needed a router or if I already had one of my own... If there are routers with the screw connector, please suggest some.

2
You can connect a router of your choice to this gateway. (I got this one as well from UPC cablecom TGW870)

Once you log on to the gateway; In the "Switch Mode" Settings select "Disable Mode" and connect a router of your choice to one of the ethernet ports. ( I am using my own simultaneous dual band wireless N router with bandwidth control and hardware NAT.) and your router will inherit the ISP provided IP address, etc. Your gateway IP address becomes "192.168.100.1"

3
Won't that fail to address the disconnect issues though, since the internet is still going through a rubbish piece of hardware? It would sort my wifi signal problem, but I am entirely unsure about the actual connection stability problems.

4
If your connection is dropping at the cable level then this would not solve this issue. This will fix the problem of poor Wifi / network level dropouts.

It would be helpful to check your SNMP logs and the `connection status' on the gateway and verify if indeed the cable connection periodically drops out.

I had a problem initially with upstream channel locking, and UPC cablecom changed an amplifier block situated in my condo cable-room. (the gateway was fine).

5

Coax?

The 80s called, they want their ethernet back.

Looking at this page:

http://www.telecom.li/cfdocs/cmsout/...D=171&meID=283

it seems like all their routers come with RF-connectors at the WAN-side.

Anybody got experience with media-converters?

;-)

I'd call them and complain about the drops, again and again, until they fix it.

6
haha yeah that is what I meant. RF copper cable. I have complained to them numerous times, but as the only cable company in liechtenstein (cannot get UPC or swisscom here due to contractual reasons between them and the FL government) they are pretty much useless. They initially fitted a device to reduce incoming signal strength by 10 as it was originally too strong, but often enough, this doesn't actually resolve the issue. This is despite me being right next door to the LKW (Liechtensteinische Kraftwerke) building which serves the signal to Balzers, FL.

Come to think of it, seems we may have to get back to them. Last time we called them, we enquired about their Connecta Homeserve packages. They were supposed to send us info but we still didn't get anything :s

7
These gateway devices combine a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem with a network router, thus the reason for the RF connector.

8
http://i.imgur.com/LI9dMtr.png

What does your gateway show on this page?

9
Pretty much the same information, except Telecom FL only have 4 downstream channels currently, and 1 upstream. All other channels are unlocked.

Additionally, all my downstream Powers are in between 1.7 and 2.1dBmV and upstream is at 43.2dBmV - all pretty optimal

Thanks for that info. It actually helps me with searching for alternatives. I straight away googled network router DOCSIS 3.0 and it gave me a page for an HP router and several others, all which have RF connectors. I also found this instantly at the top of Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-Char....0+cable+modem

10
I just want to point out that if you replace your actual cable modem with one of those you have found on Amazon, you should report to your ISP. They have to register the MAC address of your new cable modem.

11
If that's the case, then it's probably against the ISP's terms to use non-standard ISP provided devices anyway meaning that it would probs be a TOS violation to use a new gateway :/

12
From here :

"Bitte beachten Sie, dass nur die von der Telecom Liechtenstein gelieferten Geräte eingesetzt werden können."

Apparently you can not use your own modem. Drop them a line and explain to them that you have considered an alternative modem, they would explain if it's allowed or not.

13
Of course it says that. How stupid of me. Imagine a world where you could interchange routers or join a company using your own. They'd make less money from selling you trashy hardware....LOL. it's a shame that they don't sell people hardware with good reputation for reliability though such as Arris, Motorola, Linksys, Cisco, ZyXEL etc. It would cost them less overall as many reputed routers by these companies are less than $100 at retail, vs the CHF 180 for the Thomson/Technicolor stuff.

Ironically I see that my router isn't even listed anymore there, but the Technicolor one is very VERY similar in my eyes. Did they just release a different colour of the same product but by Technicolor instead of Thomson? (they are indeed the same company).