Buying a VDSL modem in China

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Buying a VDSL modem in China

jamesmcd

62 posts

Master Geek

#166147 4-Mar-2015 10:02

Hi all,

I will be in China for a week shortly and when I come back I'm joining BigPipe for VDSL.

While I'm in China I may as well buy a VDSL modem as it will be far cheaper and the same stuff you can buy here anyway. Can anyone recommend a brand or model that works well with BigPipe?

Also... does anyone foresee any compatibility issues here? VDSL is VDSL right? Right??

Cheers,
James

l43a2

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#1250807 4-Mar-2015 10:07

http://help.spark.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/812/~/can-i-use-a-broadband-modem-i-purchased-overseas%3F

jamesmcd

62 posts

Master Geek

#1250813 4-Mar-2015 10:10

Ah, Telepermit tick, got it - thanks for that. Looks good.

So... brand/model suggestions? I'm going to be using my Cisco/Linksys ac router for the important bits... just wanting a good modem.

wellygary

8315 posts

Uber Geek

#1250826 4-Mar-2015 10:29

jamesmcd: Ah, Telepermit tick, got it - thanks for that. Looks good.

So...

In a word, if you want to do it legally don't bother....

There is no guarantee that a device you buy O/seas will have the same spec as the NZ Model and it is highly unlikely that you will find devices overseas labelled as complying with the NZ Telepermit (too small a market)

To certify an individual device for NZ use is cost prohibitive for retail devices....

jamesmcd

62 posts

Master Geek

#1250829 4-Mar-2015 10:38

Sorry for a moment I thought TP was an international standard. My bad.

Ok, still worth a go I think - the last time I was there I saw a bunch of VDSL compatible modems (same brands as here) and the pricing was substantially less. If it doesn't work I'll just have to get one from NZ. The range is a bit rubbish here I notice.

J

richms

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#1250831 4-Mar-2015 10:42

The reason the range here is less is because they have had to be routers as well up untill the change to pppoe was possible on VDSL, so most people expect them to be routers and anyone that was to just sell a VDSL modem would have upset customers who were suprised that they had to add more hardware to get more than a single computer online or have wireless.

If you stick to brands and models that are available here, you should hopefully be able to get a local software load onto it, but there is no guarentee that the hardware is the same.

With how cheap a VDSL modem is here, I wouldnt want to waste suitcase space on one when there are much more interesting things to be bringing back.

Richard rich.ms

BigPipeNZ

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BigPipe

#1250859 4-Mar-2015 11:06

Great to hear you will be joining us :)

However, I would strongly recommend you don't buy a modem in China.

The risk of buying something that is just a real PoS is very high, and of course you'll have no way to return it.

Whilst we can give general setup support for most models of modem in NZ, if you can't get a Chinese bought model to work with us then we can't really help you in any way.

And finally, Chorus occasionally make changes to the way they do VDSL. Beforehand, they test these changes with VDSL modems. This won't apply with one bought in from China, so there is a real possibility that even if it works to begin with, it might just stop working one day.

For the sake of saving $50 or so, it;s just not worth the hassle IMHO
If you want to save money, you'd probably be better off getting something off trademe second hand. Any Telecom/Spark VDSL modem will work fine on Bigpipe.

Here is one for $69 'Buy now'
http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/networking-modems/wireless-networking/routers/auction-854653738.htm

bigpipe.co.nz
https://www.facebook.com/BigPipeNZ
https://twitter.com/BigPipeNZ

jamesmcd

62 posts

Master Geek

#1250877 4-Mar-2015 11:17

Thanks for the welcome and it's cool to see the company active on Geekzone :)

Thanks also for the info. If I'm lucky and they have this exact model over there for half the price, I might give it a go: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MODNCM1055&name=Netcomm-NF8AC-VDSLADSL-AC1600-WiFiGigabit-Modem-Ro

And I suppose if it craps out then I'll at least have a router!

J

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Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

richms

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#1250881 4-Mar-2015 11:23

It was all tp-link and random non english brands when I had a brief look at a couple of places at the markets. Since there was no wifi at the hotel someone got a $14 tp link N 150 ethernet router which was apparantly way too much to have paid for it and the UI was all chinese with no option to change to english because of the software on it.

I dont rate your chances of finding a netcomm over there, its an aussie brand

Richard rich.ms

jamesmcd

62 posts

Master Geek

#1250889 4-Mar-2015 11:30

Maybe I'll have to sneak into their factory. I presume it's made there along with everything else :D

All good, I'll see what I can find.

Cheers
J

PS: I can read Chinese, no worries with the UI.

sbiddle

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#1251306 4-Mar-2015 20:12

jamesmcd: Thanks for the welcome and it's cool to see the company active on Geekzone :)

Thanks also for the info. If I'm lucky and they have this exact model over there for half the price, I might give it a go: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MODNCM1055&name=Netcomm-NF8AC-VDSLADSL-AC1600-WiFiGigabit-Modem-Ro

And I suppose if it craps out then I'll at least have a router!

J

You won't get that over there for half price. End of story.

If you're planning on using a 3rd party router just buy a Draytek DV130 in NZ and be done with it. Penny pinching isn't the solution, and remember that you plugging in a non Telepermit (well now technically a Chorus Permit) device is illegal. Nothing you buy overseas will have one.

jamesmcd

62 posts

Master Geek

#1251310 4-Mar-2015 20:17

sbiddle:

You won't get that over there for half price. End of story.

If you're planning on using a 3rd party router just buy a Draytek DV130 in NZ and be done with it. Penny pinching isn't the solution, and remember that you plugging in a non Telepermit (well now technically a Chorus Permit) device is illegal. Nothing you buy overseas will have one.

Fair enough, worth asking anyway. Incidentally I wasn't aware of the Telepermit issue. I imagine quite a few foreigners plug in their overseas equipment here.

richms

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#1251318 4-Mar-2015 20:27

They do and things usually work fine. But if you have low speeds or disconnections and a non permitted router guess what happens when the technicians one syncs fine at good speeds? Suddenly that small amount saved doesn't look that good.

Richard rich.ms

hyperman

418 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1251332 4-Mar-2015 20:42

snip

And finally, Chorus occasionally make changes to the way they do VDSL. Beforehand, they test these changes with VDSL modems. This won't apply with one bought in from China, so there is a real possibility that even if it works to begin with, it might just stop working one day.

As the purposed change to bandplan 998

http://www.telepermit.co.nz/news.html

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

sbiddle

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#1251335 4-Mar-2015 20:44

hyperman:

snip

And finally, Chorus occasionally make changes to the way they do VDSL. Beforehand, they test these changes with VDSL modems. This won't apply with one bought in from China, so there is a real possibility that even if it works to begin with, it might just stop working one day.

As the purposed change to bandplan 998

http://www.telepermit.co.nz/news.html

Yip that's a very good point - there are brands of VDSL2 capable hardware out there now that don't support 997 so won't work in NZ.