Billion Bipac 7800N Dual WAN ADSL2+/Broadband Wireless-N Gigabit Firewall Modem Router £95 @ Amazon Cleverboxes

2nd Aug 2013

very good deal, and arguably the best router on the market...

My one concern is on their forums now they have the 7800DXL out, this has been left to rot, the forum use to be used well, now you dont see any support help in there, and questions go unanswered...

completely different story in the 7800dxl forum, I am not saying they dont support it in terms of failures, but general help seemd to of fallen off a cliff

2nd Aug 2013

Can't go wrong with a Billion

2nd Aug 2013

I know I'm supposed to want one of these (which is usually reason enough to buy), but I'm not clear on what my £95 is buying me that I don't get from my BT HomeHub 3. Can anyone enlighten me?

2nd Aug 2013

pedd
I know I'm supposed to want one of these (which is usually reason enough … I know I'm supposed to want one of these (which is usually reason enough to buy), but I'm not clear on what my £95 is buying me that I don't get from my BT HomeHub 3. Can anyone enlighten me?

Not sure if this helps

community.bt.com/t5/…405

B

2nd Aug 2013

pedd
I know I'm supposed to want one of these (which is usually reason enough … I know I'm supposed to want one of these (which is usually reason enough to buy), but I'm not clear on what my £95 is buying me that I don't get from my BT HomeHub 3. Can anyone enlighten me?

Compared to the BT HH3 (and most other of the "free" ADSL routers) this would give you - better ADSL stability & data rates (especially if you are on a long wire), better WiFi range/throughput, better WiFi stability, Gigabit ports, lot's of software functionality/configurability, upgradeability to Cable/Fibre, detacheable antennas, better security and probably a few other things too.

By all accounts the BT HH3 is not especially good - especially the WiFi range. It's possibly still one of the better "free" routers but only really the best of a bad breed. People who want stability, performance and flexibility (i.e. more control over their particular networking requirements) typically upgrade a couple of levels to the high end offerings from Billion, Asus and TP-Link.

The only thing I don't like about this model is that it doesn't have any USB - i.e. no print or media server support - and the WiFi is only single band. The 7800DXL adds all that but it's a lot more expensive and the antennas are not detacheable (which is a big deal for me as I want to remotely mount an antenna to increase the range around a big house).

FWIW the TP-Link TP-W8980 (which does everything this Billion does plus a bit more) is now available at <£70 so you are paying a big premium for the Billions. But the Billions are generally regarded as best of breed and the extra £30-£60 may be worth spending if you have a lot of network traffic or want the best performance, security and stability.

Regardless of what you actually need this is a great price for an excellent product. Gets some heat from me!

Edited by: "qyestionmark" 3rd Aug 2013

2nd Aug 2013

but virgin gave me a free one...

2nd Aug 2013

how is the wireles signal on these, I got a netgear dgn2200 and the wireless is quite bad in some rooms, and does it struggle with gadgets?

Edited by: "zerowing" 2nd Aug 2013

2nd Aug 2013

Anyone has set this up on a Sky broadband? Tried googling it and it seems sky don't provide username and password like O2 used to. This means we have to use Sky provided modem.

2nd Aug 2013

everybody knows the BT home hub has a built in samurai sword to slice through all the interference in your home.............

BT talk ****.

but billion are a good brand and the support for cable / adsl future proofs it for anyone.

heat from me

2nd Aug 2013

ah_heng
Anyone has set this up on a Sky broadband? Tried googling it and it seems … Anyone has set this up on a Sky broadband? Tried googling it and it seems sky don't provide username and password like O2 used to. This means we have to use Sky provided modem.

youtube sky router password and they have tutorials to get the user detials from your router,

involves downloading a wifi sniffer application and finding code , quite easy to do

but it does clash with the T&C of sky. so u wont get support in the future...

(or just plug in sky router and call when u have an issue)

2nd Aug 2013

Oh... Thanks Zero. Will try youtube now. Not so worry about the support as you rightly mention, I'm just going to plug in their modem when I call them Just thought of getting one modem and router with dualband all in one.

Cheers...

zerowing
youtube sky router password and they have tutorials to get the user … youtube sky router password and they have tutorials to get the user detials from your router, involves downloading a wifi sniffer application and finding code , quite easy to dobut it does clash with the T&C of sky. so u wont get support in the future...(or just plug in sky router and call when u have an issue)

2nd Aug 2013

I'm fed up with my BT hub. The BT toolbox says that 8.1Mb comes into the house but only 1.9 comes out of the router. I need 3.5 (approx) for smart TV etc and wondered if a decent router like the Billion is going to get me what I need. Confused....

2nd Aug 2013

ah_heng
Anyone has set this up on a Sky broadband? Tried googling it and it seems … Anyone has set this up on a Sky broadband? Tried googling it and it seems sky don't provide username and password like O2 used to. This means we have to use Sky provided modem.

Head over to skyuser fibre section, all the help you need on getting the user name/password. I'm using an asus n66u with sky.

2nd Aug 2013

Ugly thing.

2nd Aug 2013

masai
Head over to skyuser fibre section, all the help you need on getting the … Head over to skyuser fibre section, all the help you need on getting the user name/password. I'm using an asus n66u with sky.

Really? Will try that too... Cheers...

2nd Aug 2013

Is this much better than superhub 2?

2nd Aug 2013

I have this router. I live a long way from the exchange and this has proved to give the most stable connection. However there are some minor points which date it and which would make me think hard before a re-purchase:

It is not dual band (it only operates at 2.4ghz) - it is dual WAN (it has adsl modem and ethernet wan ports).
It cannot run two separate wifi networks (eg one trusted, one public)
It has no USB port

2nd Aug 2013

COLD - avoid.
Lack of 5GHz band, lack of 3rd party firmware (like dd-wrt or OpenWRT). way overpriced.
It's posible to have way better router without ADSL modem AND ADSL modem for less than 50 quid!!!

2nd Aug 2013

zerowing
youtube sky router password and they have tutorials to get the user … youtube sky router password and they have tutorials to get the user detials from your router, involves downloading a wifi sniffer application and finding code , quite easy to dobut it does clash with the T&C of sky. so u wont get support in the future...(or just plug in sky router and call when u have an issue)

You will get support, Sky don't care. Confirmed a week or two ago when I called about being unhappy about my line speed and they said they could tell there wasn't a sky router on the line, said sky routers are rubbish and the guy laughed and said don't worry so many users do this now that Sky just accept it and the person still called out a BT engineer (which is a big thing as it costs Sky big bucks if engineer doesn't find fault).

2nd Aug 2013

HaraldBB
COLD - avoid.Lack of 5GHz band, lack of 3rd party firmware (like dd-wrt … COLD - avoid.Lack of 5GHz band, lack of 3rd party firmware (like dd-wrt or OpenWRT). way overpriced.It's posible to have way better router without ADSL modem AND ADSL modem for less than 50 quid!!!

For example?

2nd Aug 2013

Quality bit of kit. Have had it for two years and can't fault it. Sync speeds better than your usual modem/routers and bulletproof stability.
Not to mention loads of advanced config options.

2nd Aug 2013

SpragClutch
I'm fed up with my BT hub. The BT toolbox says that 8.1Mb comes into the … I'm fed up with my BT hub. The BT toolbox says that 8.1Mb comes into the house but only 1.9 comes out of the router. I need 3.5 (approx) for smart TV etc and wondered if a decent router like the Billion is going to get me what I need. Confused....

That's not the routers fault, that's the fault of the ISP (BT), in some areas especially with ADSL1 at least as you will be on, the line train speed is defined at the server side so even if you are training at 8mbit, it won't actually be trained at that speed at the ISP end, hence your problem.

Defo not the router.

2nd Aug 2013

Best router I've ever own. Rock solid stability going strong after 2 years, don't get regular wifi dropouts and other common router problems, and don't get random crashes. Unlike my numerous routers of the last 10+ years I've been through (Been through many netgears, Belkin, Linksys etc).

2nd Aug 2013

SpragClutch
I'm fed up with my BT hub. The BT toolbox says that 8.1Mb comes into the … I'm fed up with my BT hub. The BT toolbox says that 8.1Mb comes into the house but only 1.9 comes out of the router. I need 3.5 (approx) for smart TV etc and wondered if a decent router like the Billion is going to get me what I need. Confused....

this bit of kit will allow you to tweak your SNR to achieve faster sync speeds. Your prob suffering from a unstable line and BT will manage your line profile to give you a reliable connection at the expense of speed.

2nd Aug 2013

I have one, best router I've had

2nd Aug 2013

I have one of these.
Well recommended.

2nd Aug 2013

rollmesome
Is this much better than superhub 2?

I'm not too sure Lala, does anyone know? As i'm in 2 minds either to get this or SUPERHUB 2

2nd Aug 2013

Absolutely rock solid router, great price for it

2nd Aug 2013

If we can Shoehorn Linux on to it, then I'll be able to run it up the flagpole and push the button on that.

Then I would consider the heat factor

2nd Aug 2013

robo989
You will get support, Sky don't care. Confirmed a week or two ago when I … You will get support, Sky don't care. Confirmed a week or two ago when I called about being unhappy about my line speed and they said they could tell there wasn't a sky router on the line, said sky routers are rubbish and the guy laughed and said don't worry so many users do this now that Sky just accept it and the person still called out a BT engineer (which is a big thing as it costs Sky big bucks if engineer doesn't find fault).

Openreach bill whether an issue is found or not, they will just claim it was an 'enhancement' for broadband use and the line was meeting SIN349

2nd Aug 2013

I'm using one of these with Sky BB (used Wireshark to sniff the username & password from the sky modem).

Due to distance from the exchange my speed with the (new) Sky router was 1.8Mbps - with the Billion I get 2.5Mbps - a ~30% increase and I can now watch stuff on iPlayer without buffering.

On the subject of 3rd party firmware - probably the reason there aren't any is that the firmware on this is so feature packed there's no point.

Edited by: "eastendpark" 2nd Aug 2013

2nd Aug 2013

Mine replaced a Sky router, the latest posh one, and it has improved my download speed by about 25%, however it did not increase my wireless range

2nd Aug 2013

Have been using one for 6 months replaced an older netgear. Downlink speed increased from 4.3 Mb to 6.4 Mb and upload from 600k to just over 1Mb. Since install Line hasn't dropped once best purchase I have made. Wifi range alot better than old router as well.

2nd Aug 2013

madpoweruk
Openreach bill whether an issue is found or not, they will just claim it … Openreach bill whether an issue is found or not, they will just claim it was an 'enhancement' for broadband use and the line was meeting SIN349

Well regardless, point being Sky didn't see me not using their router as an issue for being willing to callout BT. But I appreciate the extra trivia general knowledge I can add to my mind box.

2nd Aug 2013

Reminds me when I first got broadband, called NTL about something, they said that connection WiFi routers and sharing the connection was not allowed.
The big co's take such a long time to catch up with reality.

2nd Aug 2013

I nearly bought this but opted for the Asus N66U a few weeks ago as it better suited my needs, probably worth doing the comparison yourself before taking the plunge.

I waited a long time before actually upgrading hoping to see the price come down on these and never seen it dip below £115 so this is a good deal.

2nd Aug 2013

Amazon now the cheapest at £100.93, which easily beats the marketplace sellers.

Tempted but just been given a replacement router by my ISP, so will probably just wait another while.... nice deal though.

2nd Aug 2013

Advanced settings fiddling took my 6Mb sync up to nearly 8Mb with this. Solid as a rock with 25+ devices at home. Only 2 minor problems or so in approx 3 years.

2nd Aug 2013

HaraldBB
COLD - avoid.Lack of 5GHz band, lack of 3rd party firmware (like dd-wrt … COLD - avoid.Lack of 5GHz band, lack of 3rd party firmware (like dd-wrt or OpenWRT). way overpriced.It's posible to have way better router without ADSL modem AND ADSL modem for less than 50 quid!!!

ROFL

Name one with DualWAN less than 50 quid.

2nd Aug 2013

Price has now gone up

Billion Bipac 7800N Dual WAN ADSL2+/Broadband Wireless-N Gigabit Firewall Modem Router £95 @ Amazon Cleverboxes

Groups

Popular Groups

Top Merchants