Replace Home:120 with 250

[3Deviant]

Yeah, basically has anyone done this? and are there any pitfalls to it.
I have an intermittent connection problem. Problem is, when i call ntl to troubleshoot it they do their monkey see monkey do tests and tell me everything is fine. Well, yeah because rebooting the modem brings it back only for it to drop out again later on.

Anyway, its difficult for me to troubleshoot as the connection is at a remote site i use - and without being there to jump through their hoops they refuse to help. Im 99.9% certain the home:120 modem needs replacing - but try telling them that.

There are plenty of 250 modems on ebay im happy to get and install but...

Reading around this and other cable forums people say it simply cannot be done unless NTL themselves register the modem and send it out themselves... well great, they wont send me a new modem and i cant buy/install one myself?

Can anyone confirm/deny this?

First time having to replace any cable modem any input gratefully recieved, cheers.

[jellybaby]

The only way is to do it through NTL i'm afraid.

[gazzaaa]

Hi Mate,
i have had a long running problem with my 10MB connection and my 120. Apart from the unit having a Ethernet port problem (if modem or cable moved the connection was lost), i was losing the connection several times a day. Rang NTL and spoke to a brilliant techy, who ran a diagnosis programme there and then, who found that my connection had dropped out 23 times in 3 days.....
Any way engineer arrived and replaced the 120 for a 250, and also determined there where other problems with my connection. After a couple of phone calls the installation was complete. I have been running it constantly over the last couple of days with no lose of connection and virtually 10MB speed.
I agree with Jellybelly that you should speak to faults, who sorted my problem that i had been putting up with, within a couple of days.
Thanks,
Gary.

[Nikesh]

I think you will have to keep trying with the ntl faults department because ntl modems can't be replaced without an engineer.

[nffc]

You can't.

The modems are property of ntl, you can't actually buy or sell them, because it's not yours to sell.

Selling ntl modems on ebay is pretty much theft.

[punky]

Originally Posted by 3Deviant

There are plenty of 250 modems on ebay im happy to get and install but...

All ntl modems belong to ntl, so buying an ntl modem somewhere else is buying stolen goods. Therefore we won't tolerate any discussion on this matter.

(Plus, as nffc said, it probably won't work anyway)

[157taff]

I totally agree with all thats been said yet still feel cheated as my 120 is unreliable and ntl are useless!

[3Deviant]

I appreciate the replies thanks.
Im still getting conflicting views, some people are telling me it can be done. Ofcourse it can but weather i can do it is still in the grey area.

I understand the modem is the property of NTL - like master sockets belong to BT, that didnt stop me ripping out their shoddy work and re-wireing those. I think 'theft' is a strong word to use to describe when someone sells something that although to the letter of law belongs to NTL, the modem has probably been paid for 10x over and is/was a fixture of the users home/property. I know when moving house NTL often provide new modems without claming old ones too, those are bound to account for atleast some cable modems available to buy from various sources.

Im not trying to be clever here, im just a little stuck with it being a remote site and their seeming lack of enthusiasm to help. I can understand that a little as they must see me a user trying to self diagnose the problem and tell them what to do - but im 99.9% sure the modem is at fault.
Ill give NTL another go when i get chance to go there and hopefully ill get through to someone a little more responsive this time round.
Ill try swapping modems as a last resort.

[homealone]

Originally Posted by 3Deviant

I appreciate the replies thanks.
Im still getting conflicting views, some people are telling me it can be done. Ofcourse it can but weather i can do it is still in the grey area.

I understand the modem is the property of NTL - like master sockets belong to BT, that didnt stop me ripping out their shoddy work and re-wireing those. I think 'theft' is a strong word to use to describe when someone sells something that although to the letter of law belongs to NTL, the modem has probably been paid for 10x over and is/was a fixture of the users home/property. I know when moving house NTL often provide new modems without claming old ones too, those are bound to account for atleast some cable modems available to buy from various sources.

Im not trying to be clever here, im just a little stuck with it being a remote site and their seeming lack of enthusiasm to help. I can understand that a little as they must see me a user trying to self diagnose the problem and tell them what to do - but im 99.9% sure the modem is at fault.
Ill give NTL another go when i get chance to go there and hopefully ill get through to someone a little more responsive this time round.
Ill try swapping modems as a last resort.

your comparison with 'rewiring' a bt socket isn't relevant, the bottom line is that without illegal means you cannot provision a different modem to that provided with your connection, without NTL:Telewest being involved

[Matt D]

It won't work...

If you buy one off ebay or wherever, as well as buying something which still actually belongs to ntl, you'd simply be wasting your money - ntl would have to associate it with your account & register it on the network.


Just keep pestering ntl. Hopefully you'll get through to someone who'll send out an engineer with a 250.

[3Deviant]

Originally Posted by homealone

your comparison with 'rewiring' a bt socket isn't relevant, the bottom line is that without illegal means you cannot provision a different modem to that provided with your connection, without NTL:Telewest being involved

The only comparison i made was to the legality of doing it.
I was not sure if it was possible to replace the modem myself atall, thats why im here!
I now believe it is possible to replace the modems, but it involves cloning mac addresses and possibly modified/chipped modems. - im not desperate enough to want to get that deep lol. As it happens i had some time today to go to the site and called NTL again, i have an engineer coming next week. Result.
Only ball ache is he can arrive anywhere between 12-4 so i could endup wasting a good portion of my day waiting.

Thanks.

[GeoffB]

BT never asked for their Alcatel 'frog' USB modem back. It's still croaking somewhere in the cupboard. I saw lots on Ebay. That's because most people upgraded to routers or home hubs more recently. An ISP is never going to ask for obsolete equipment to be returned or bother if you sell it.

---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:56 ----------

3-Deviant. When I had my broadband installation, they were booked for a 1-6 in the afternoon slot. They came at 8.10am!!

[etccarmageddon]

NTL sometimes abandon modems when people close their accounts or move house - so the ones sold on ebay might be ones that NTL couldn't be arsed reaquiring after losing a customer.

[Stuart C]

Originally Posted by GeoffB

BT never asked for their Alcatel 'frog' USB modem back. It's still croaking somewhere in the cupboard. I saw lots on Ebay. That's because most people upgraded to routers or home hubs more recently. An ISP is never going to ask for obsolete equipment to be returned or bother if you sell it.

Two things: First, do BT rent you the modem, or give/sell it to you? If the latter, then you are free to do what you want it. NTL only rent cable modems, so they retain ownership.

Second, NTL don't change their modems very frequently, and their current "top-of-the-line" modem is the NTL 250, which they have been giving out for a couple of years now. I personally do believe that NTL should pick up the modems (or at least send a pre-paid envelope for you to send it back. As for whether they bother with action when they find people selling modems? Well, NTL do take action, but for obviousl reasons, I do not know what action.

[etccarmageddon]

so even if you do buy one that isn't stolen (ie. one that NTL have abandoned) - it's useless on their network unless you tamper with it in which case you would be probably breaking the law.