Billion 7800N firmware

[Bill]

For those interested, the non-beta version of the 1.06d firmware has been available for a day or two:

http://www.billion.uk.com/esupport/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=282

Everything still seems to be working

[Steve]

I've just done a file comparison of this release as it's the same date and size as the version I've been using for a couple of weeks and the binary information is exactly the same.

[pctech]

Whoa!  I thought I was geeky 

[Steve]

They released a 1.06d version on or around the 26th May and then a 1.06d version on the 7th of June claiming this to be the official release, it was quicker to check the binary data than update the router firmware.


For those without developer tools installed on the Mac KDiff3 seems to do the job

http://kdiff3.sourceforge.net/

[Bill]

Mine are slightly different- the "new" file is 12 bytes bigger, and the Mac says it's a Unix executable whereas the older one is a document

[Steve]

The other file I found Bill was from a link on TBB which has exactly the same characteristics to your 'old' file- UKBillion7800NV6_1.06d.dc1.afw.

I think Billion have been doing a bit of spring cleaning and also published a release note this time

[Bill]

Yup, that's the "old" one, it was allegedly the beta.

You could be right about the spring-cleaning.

[Steve]

I'd be interested to see how the IPv6 stands up as I've had to reboot a couple of times to regain IPv6 connectivity.

[Bill]

I'd be interested to see how the IPv6 stands up as I've had to reboot a couple of times to regain IPv6 connectivity.

I've had no troubles with IPv6

I did have problems at one time when I tried to use fixed IPs on the WAN side, but then I decided I couldn't think why I'd ever need them so now I'm getting the WAN side IPs from IDNet and running fixed IPs (v4 and v6) on the iMac, but the laptops use DHCP for both.

There's a firewall entry to allow pings through to the iMac (so I can run the pingtest on test-ipv6.com) and it all seems to work well.

[Steve]

I just wondered Bill whether it was an issue with this firmware or something else  everything looks ok with regards IPv6 addresses and IPv6 DNS but no IPv6 connectivity. It's happened twice in the last 7 days. I do not recall similar with the beta 1.06c

[Bill]

Actually I've just remembered... on a couple of occasions (and I can't remember which firmware versions I was running) I've lost IPv6 with nothing odd showing on the router, on both occasions it happened when the router had been up for about three and a half days.

But it's not repeatable, and I've no idea whether it's the router or something at IDNet.

IIRC I didn't have to do a reboot- a simple disconnect and reconnect from the status page cleared it.

[Bill]

But it's not repeatable

Yes it is, if you do the right repeating...

Every 84 hours (ie twice a week) after a connection is established, something runs in the router that interacts with the IPv6 DHCP. If the initial connection is the one made during a restart, the first run clashes with a 12-hour DHCP request from my print server and the IPv6 promptly bombs out. A disconnect/reconnect puts the two out of phase and lo! no more problems

It's taken me over two weeks to track that down, a problem that only occurs twice a week is a right royal PITA

Workaround- after a router restart, wait a while (a few minutes is probably enough) and perform a disconnect/reconnect.

A ticket has been submitted to Billion, but I made it clear it was just for information possibly pertinent to the next firmware release so I'm not expecting a response.

[pctech]

This router seems seriously high maintennce for something that costs £120.

Hardly set it and forget it is it?

Others have had my poor experience when using it with ADSL, glad I sent it back I have to say.

[Bill]

It seemed to be a hurried release of 1.06.dc1 (the beta) to the official version, I tend to regard the IPv6 side as still in late beta

There's a few bits that appear in the log that look like debug messages for the developers that they forgot to take out- they've been made aware of them!

I'm surprised at your ADSL experience, the messages I've seen on tbb seem to commend it for its ability to sync high and hold on... the tweakable target SNR doesn't hurt it any either.

[pctech]

I suspect I had a Friday afternoon one  but TBH at the time I did not have the time nor was in the state of mind to pursue issues with Billion UK.

After my tweaking of the MTU after discussions with Zen tech support I was on 2.4 although I pulled the cable while the storms passed by last night and am now down to 2150.

MikroTik have been mentioned favourably too so I may have a look.

Alternatively I may just stick with the DG834G for the moment and see what Zen release as they say they test the models thoroughly before offering them for sale.

[Bill]

Of no interest to you I suspect (yet, anyway), but Billion have a VDSL2 modem with a 4-port Ethernet switch out now:

http://www.billion.uk.com/product/vdsl/8200m.htm

Doesn't seem to be in the shops yet so can't find a price, but could be a useful replacement for the OR modem if it's reasonable- it goes up to 100Mbps on the VDSL2 side, which I'm not sure if the OR modem will do.

[Gary]

If it works...leave it  IPV6 can knock on my door when routers have got it sorted and its not so 'new' same with OS X Lion and anything new now, I like my life as simple as possible tech wise. 

[Glenn]

It's available from £74.49, according to a shopping search on Google

Of no interest to you I suspect (yet, anyway), but Billion have a VDSL2 modem with a 4-port Ethernet switch out now:

http://www.billion.uk.com/product/vdsl/8200m.htm

Doesn't seem to be in the shops yet so can't find a price, but could be a useful replacement for the OR modem if it's reasonable- it goes up to 100Mbps on the VDSL2 side, which I'm not sure if the OR modem will do.

[Steve]

This router seems seriously high maintennce for something that costs £120.

Hardly set it and forget it is it?

Others have had my poor experience when using it with ADSL, glad I sent it back I have to say.

I strongly disagree this router's adsl performance on my line is rock solid , The IPv6 implemenatation  has a few quirks, ignore that and use IPv4 only and it's a damned fine router IMO.

[pctech]

I can get 100 Mbps FTTP where I am but am waiting to see if the price is right at the end of the summer.

Zen did me a deal on my ADSL sub so am loathed to move off it unless they will haggle a bit on the price for FTTP or VDSL 2.

No doubt I could go to BT and get it for peanuts but that of course means having to deal with the BT script monkeys when it goes pear shaped.

[Bill]

It's available from £74.49, according to a shopping search on Google

Cheers Glenn, I wonder what I typed in wrong?

A bit much for a spare modem at the moment...

[pctech]

I strongly disagree this router's adsl performance on my line is rock solid , The IPv6 implemenatation  has a few quirks, ignore that and use IPv4 only and it's a damned fine router IMO.

I probably got one built in the dying moments of a Friday shift 

[Steve]

I think it was either faulty or just didn't suit your line/dslam combination.

[pctech]

it was supposed to be broadcom based which the netgear I have is too.

When I plugged in a 2700 it reported the DSLAM manufacturer as ALCB which I understand indicates Alcatel-Lucent.

[Steve]

Of the top of my head it's the same chipset as the DGND3300