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Router - EchoLife HG612: Difference between revisions

Router - EchoLife HG612 (view source)

Revision as of 02:56, 13 February 2017

No change in size ,  13 February 2017
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=What is it?=
 
The Huawei EchoLife HG612 iswas one of the two modems (the other being the ECI B-Focus) which used to installed by BT Openreach with new VDSL installations.
the ECI B-Focus) which used to installed by BT Openreach with new VDSL
installations.
 
It has proven to be a very reliable modem and, when upgraded to the latest unofficial firmware (also described as "unlocked"), provides both a web and telnet interface exposing a lot of statistics and information about your DSL connection. The official firmware blocks access to these interfaces - hence the term "unlocking".
latest unofficial firmware (also described as "unlocked"), provides
both a web and telnet interface exposing a lot of statistics and
information about your DSL connection. The official firmware blocks
access to these interfaces - hence the term "unlocking".
 
It was provided by BT for use as a VDSL modem, but can equally well be used for ADSL connections. It can support a 1500 MTU in both modes.
used for ADSL connections. It can support a 1500 MTU in both modes.
 
Note that whilst BT Openreach initially matched the manufacturer of the modem to the manufacturer of the equipment in your local VDSL cabinet (DSLAM), this practice stopped in 2013 and modems were provided randomly.
the modem to the manufacturer of the equipment in your local VDSL
cabinet (DSLAM), this practice stopped in 2013 and modems were
provided randomly.
 
The HG612 has two advantages compared to the ECI modem - it can easily be unlocked (providing access to the configuration interfaces), and it supports G.INP, a recent improvement to BT's VDSL service.
be unlocked (providing access to the configuration interfaces), and it
supports G.INP, a recent improvement to BT's VDSL service.
 
=Where and how to buy=
 
The only downside to the HG612 is the lack of any official supplier. There are no known sources to purchase new HG612s - it can only be purchased second-hand, with eBay being the main source.
There are no known sources to purchase new HG612s - it can only be
purchased second-hand, with ebay being the main source.
 
With a little patience you can pick one up in an auction for as little as £5 or if you want to "buy it now", expect to pay around £25-£30 (in February 2017).
as £5 or if you want to "buy it now", expect to pay around £25-£30 (in
February 2017).
 
Note that there have been various hardware revisions of the HG612, with revisions other than the "3B" being susceptible to overheating or other hardware faults. It is therefore recommended that you only buy a 3B.
with revisions other than the "3B" being susceptible to overheating or
other hardware faults. It is therefore recommended that you only buy
a 3B.
 
This hardware revision is displayed in large letters on a sticker on the base of the modem - most ebay auctions will include a photo of this label for you to check. If the item you're looking at doesn't, then move onto another.
the base of the modem - most ebay auctions will include a photo of
this label for you to check. If the item you're looking at doesn't,
then move onto another.
 
In addition to the obvious "HG612" or "HG612 3B" search terms, cheap auctions can often be found by simply searching for the more generic "openreach modem", and then checking the photos to see the model (i.e. that it is not the ECI variety) and hardware revision - not all sellers will use the "HG612" model number in the title of their listing.
In addition to the obvious "HG612" or "HG612 3B" search terms, cheap
auctions can often be found by simply searching for the more generic
"openreach modem", and then checking the photos to see the model
(i.e. that it is not the ECI variety) and hardware revision - not all
sellers will use the "HG612" model number in the title of their
listing.
 
As you will see in the next step, "unlocking" the HG612 is relatively trivial, so there is little value in paying the premium some ebay sellers attempt to charge for "unlocked" versions of the modem - all modems can be easily unlocked and it is always recommended to upload the latest firmware version yourself before you use it.
trivial, so there is little value in paying the premium some ebay
sellers attempt to charge for "unlocked" versions of the modem - all
modems can be easily unlocked and it is always recommended to upload
the latest firmware version yourself before you use it.
 
=Update to latest unlocked firmware=
* Follow the on-screen instructions to upload the latest firmware.
 
After this process has completed you should be able to log into the main web interface at the same http://192.168.1.1 address. The default username and password are "admin" and "admin".
main web interface at the same http://192.168.1.1 address. The
default username and password are "admin" and "admin".
 
=How to connect to your router=
 
There are two ways you can connect the HG612 to your router and maintain access the web/telnet interfaces.
maintain access the web/telnet interfaces.
 
In both methods, you first need to connect LAN1 on the HG612 to the "WAN" ethernet interface on your router. This is the connection over which the router will make the PPPoE connection.
your router. This is the connection over which the router will make
the PPPoE connection.
 
==Access with a second cable over LAN2==
 
In its default configuration, the HG612 has the IP address 192.168.1.1 on its LAN2 port. To allow access to the HG612 over its LAN2 port from any device on your network, you need to do the following:
on its LAN2 port. To allow access to the HG612 over its LAN2 port from
any device on your network, you need to do the following:
 
* Change the HG612's IP address (under "Basic -> LAN" in the web interface) to be an unused address on your LAN. e.g. if your LAN is 192.168.1.0/24, with your router using 192.168.1.1 you could change the HG612 to use 192.168.1.2.
* Under "Basic -> WAN" on the HG612, ensure both "Port binding:" checkboxes are unticked and press the Submit button to save the change. This step enables LAN access via LAN1.
 
At this point, your router knows where to send packets from devices on your main LAN to the HG612, but the HG612 doesn't know where to route responses (it can't be configured to have a default route via your router). To fix this, do the following:
 
* Add a static route ("Advanced -> Routing" in the HG612's web interface) from the HG612 back to your main LAN. e.g. if your LAN is 192.168.1.0/24 and the router's WAN interface is 192.168.2.1 then you would create the following route:
=VDSL Configuration=
 
In its default state, the HG612 is configured for use with UK VDSL connections - nothing needs to be changed.
connections - nothing needs to be changed.
 
Note that the modem is configured with TR-069 support, which if enabled allows them to access the modem remotely. You should check that this is disabled in the "Basic -> WAN" settings page. Click on the "TR069_INTERNET" row in the table at the top of the page and ensure the "Enabled" checkbox is unticked (this should be the default with the unofficial firmware).
Note that the modem is configured with TR-069 support, which if
enabled allows them to access the modem remotely. You should check
that this is disabled in the "Basic -> WAN" settings page. Click on
the "TR069_INTERNET" row in the table at the top of the page and
ensure the "Enabled" checkbox is unticked (this should be the default
with the unofficial firmware).
 
=ADSL Configuration=
Reedy
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