ZyxelWireless N300 VDSL2 4-port Gateway with USB - Annex A / POTS [VMG1312-B10D]

I bought this to use as a FTTC modem, to replace an unlocked Huawei HG612, in conjunction with an ASUS wifi router. I've not tried the wifi, because it's only 2.4GHz, while the ASUS (RT-N66U) gives my also 5Ghz. My comments are only about its use as a modem.I set it up with similar settings to the HG612, including various sync caps I had in place to stop DLM degrading my rather flakey openreach line.It was reasonable easy to set up, compared to the HG612 -- more rational and easy to set up via the command line over ssh. (The Huawei has only an obsolete version of ssh.) I use it with the "mydslwebstats" site to record my line stats (which was easy-ish to set up). The firmware I'm using is two versions out of date, and I've not yet upgraded it, for reasons that I'll give in a moment.The zyxel doesn't *seem* to be as good. at handling the line. I can't swear that it's the Zyxel's fault, because with FTTC you can't know what other things might be going on on your line, but my errors rates and line stats don't look as good, with more errors of various kinds, despite my sync caps.Strange: I think both modems use a Broadcom chip (the same?) for modem duties. I'm contemplating moving the Huawei back in.The physical construction of the Zyxel is absurd. I knew this when I bought it, but still, the amount of brain-fade that must have gone on to design something that weighs about as much as a packet of cigarettes, with connectors rendering it impossible to mount-vertically (despite having the appropriate mounts) is astonishing. Even mounted horizontally, I have to tape it down so the cables don't pull it over. The dsl and PPOE leads supplied were short and flimsy. I used my own.Another rather bizarre feature is that it seems impossible, or at least difficult to do various things like turn off unnecessary ports on the LAN side (that I need to record line stats), because one needs "superuser" (as opposed to "administrator") access to things like the firewall; and this looks pretty much locked down. (Not uncrackable, apparently.) I expect this will only get worse with the latest firmware -- that I will try to see if it handles modem duties any better. If not, I'll consign it to my mausoleum of spare broadband gadgetry, and lessons learnt, for 50 quid or so.Four (generous!) stars for its rational ssh interface. At least one off for its bizarre physical construction. Probably another 1/2 or 3/4 off for it's inability to control a less than perfect FTTC line with current firmware. Who knows what for its wifi capabilities. Maybe it'll be superb on an ADSL line, or someone else's VDSL line. But for me, a reluctant "meh" so far.

Router died within a year.Tried to push for an RMA and given the run around. Told to re apply for an RMA multiple times without having it authorized even though a hardware fault was confirmed.

Worked as expected.

This does what is is supposed to do - a VDSL (fibre-to-the-cabinet) router with wifi. The VDSL and wifi performance are both good (I am on a Huawei cabinet). But it does have some maddening quirks. In particular:* Whoever it was who decided to put the power and network sockets on the back of the device, clearly didn't get the memo that said the case was going to have slots for wall mounting (see picture). If you wall mount it, you can't plug in handy things like - um - the power inlet plug. How does this sort of stuff get through the ZyXEL design phase? (Messages like "This will take about few minutes to complete" [sic] suggests the UI messages aren't very well checked either.)* The browser-based GUI is a pest. It used to be that ZyXEL devices (like the USG20W, which I have grown to love) had a big tree-type expanding menu. But not for the VMG1312. You look at the home page and think, "right, I'll bet it has loads of settings somewhere - but where?" So you start clicking - nothing. So you start hovering - aha! Magical menus pop up when you hover over some items and pause for a bit - you then choose from the links in what popped up. Such a fun game (not). Not quite as bad as the GUI in the old Technicolor ST546 (which possibly reached a nadir in modem GUIs), but definitely not good. Some GUIs don't look great but actually work rather well (e.g. Gargoyle), some look great but get in the way of operating them. And some (including this ZyXEL) manage to look naff AND get in the way of operating them.* The GUI is slow, and some things (like DNS settings) cause parts of the device to restart. So my tip: if you change something, give it a full two or three minutes before testing to see if it did what you wanted (e.g. a NSLOOKUP against it).So, overall it is mostly a good product. But those quirks mean it gets a rating of "meh" rather than "good".

My company actually sell these as low cost fibre routers, as whilst far from perfect they are one of the better devices at the price point. I wanted to post this review to highlight a resolution for a common complaint in other reviews, regarding wall mounting. Whilst the design is undoubtedly ridiculous, simply screw a small wooden batten to the wall and insert your mounting screws into that, bringing the mounting point out far enough that you can plug everything in. The batten is behind the router so you don't see it and you still only need two holes in the wall.

First class modem/router with all latest facilities including the option to turn off and on the wi-fi manually if required.Everything has worked perfectly from the start.

I have just received this ZyXEL VMG1312-B10D from my ISP and my first impressions are it is very flaky on the connection where as my old router a linksys was solidThey are sending me out another one for testing just in case there is a fault with what i havei will update this post as and when i have received the replacement

Item was dead on arrival.Had to return for full refund.Bought a billion router instead and it is working great.