FTTC Modem
Related Pages on the A&A Website:
With FTTC, BT will supply and install a VDSL modem (the Active NTE in BT speak), You will then need a PPPoE device (router or software) to use the service.
- PPPoE Service Name = Blank
- PPPoE username = as supplied, eg x@a.1
- PPPoE password = as supplied
- MTU = 1500 (if your equipment can handle baby jumbo frames and RFC 4638), otherwise 1492
- Auth Protocol CHAP
FTTC Modem
Here is an image of a BT supplied FTTC modem
The modem is supplied by BT, if it develops a fault then AAISP can contact BT and report a fault.
If the sync light flashes, then there is no sync, and will probably need to be reported as a fault.
Router Throughput
With the switch to FTTC (especially from low sync'd ADSL connections) your modem is suddenly confronted with throughput possibly 10 or even 20 times more than before!
| Router | Sync Speed | Throughput | Notes |
| Linksys WRTU54G-TM | 24Mb | ~18Mb/sec | Running OpenWRT trunk from here. Disconnected PPP due to link saturation at default settings - adjust PPP options for stability |
| Netgear WNR854T | 24Mb | 24Mb | Running OpenWRT 10.03 (Backfire). Probably capable of more - have asked BT to move cabinet closer, but they seem unwilling! |
| FireBrick 2700 | 16Mb | 16Mb | It should be able to handle around 350Mb/s! |
Notes:
- Green throughput - not bottleneck on connection
- Red throughput - bottleneck on connection
Billion 7800 Notes
The Billion 7800 is a popular router with our customers, but take note that when configuring the WAN side, it may need a reboot when changing the WAN type (ADSL/eWAN), and then a reboot when changing the WAN Profile.
FireBrick 2700
The Firebrick 2700 is a great router for FTTC, and even bonding FTTC. See the FireBrick pages for more info
Testing and using FTTC with just a computer
You can connect a computer to the FTTC modem directly, and use PPPoE to make a connection to get online. This is good for testing the FTTC modem with a device other than your normal router.
Windows
- Control panel, Network and Internet
- Click Network Sharing Centre
- Click Setup a connection or network
- Follow the wizard
- You should be online, you may want to check firewall settings
Remember to keep the service name blank
OSX (Apple)
- Go to System Preferences, Network
- Click the + icon on the bottom/right (you may need to click the unlock icon first)
- Interface=PPPoE, Ethernet=Ethernet, Service Name=AAISP
- Then will in the account name and password, click Connect (keep service name blank)
- You should be online, you may want to check firewall settings