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[Internet] Bell Questions for a friend in Ottawa

Hello.
He has 25/10 VDSL2
Please excuse my ignorance. I'm in BC and only have experience on Telus DSL and Shaw Cable systems. He currently has a Sagecom but may want to replace it.

1. How do you tell if you are on a Stringer or ALU DSLAM?
2. About IPTV. How do you use it with your own router? I'm thinking of getting him a TomatoUSB router. I read something about having to set VLANs. His STB's have DHCP reservation on the network.
3. Modems. Would the Actiontech V1000H work with Bell? It's the most abundance VDSL2 modem around here and I know how to easily bridge it. I can't see why it shouldn't after configuring settings.

If anyone has any questions I will ask him and get back to you.

Hi,

I can answer partialy your question number 2.

IPTV and Internet are running on 2 VLANs. VLAN 35 and 36. I do not remember what is what but if you want to use both, you'll need to support VLAN, yes.

1. Check the modem GUI under "advanced settings/services" and see if it flags for PPPoE or DHCP. If it's PPPoE you're on a stinger and if it's DHCP it's a 7330.

2. You can do it, but it's tricky. Don't know how though. As mentioned, you need to handle two VLANs - 35 for regular internet and 36 for IPTV.

3. Don't know...

1 - Ottawa is almost entirely 7330's. Except the part that's FTTH.
2 - You should be able to simply put your router's WAN port to the Bell modem's LAN1, and put your PPPoE credentials into your router. With DSL, you don't need to set the VLAN.
3 - That modem would probably work for Internet, but if you plan on getting FibeTV, then you probably won't be able to get it working. You're better off using the modem they provide, in that circumstance.

info for your friend in ottawa.

the current promotion in ottawa can give your friend the wireless pvr and NOW they get 2 free receivers so they can hook up two tv s this is all installed by bell no configuration needed for your friend to do. it also supports wireless connection for pc laptop, tablet cellphone etc. they set it up for your friend and can eliminate as much additional hardware as possible (bell pvr and modem, two receivers for the tv s thats it ). just stick with the bell boxes it will be easier all the way around for your friend

An issue you might want to consider is the hardware warranty on the supply equipment and by that I mean the equipment that Bell still owns. If something goes wrong with your friend's router...he or she will have to replace it at his/her cost. The hardware that Bell provides...the modem and the wireless transmitter is covered under a blanket warranty and will be fixed/replaced if needed during the length of the term. Please correct me if I am wrong here but it might be better to place your friend's equipment behind the Bell equipment and "carry on" as others have mentioned.
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My Canada includes Quebec.
Disclaimer: If I express an opinion, it is my own opinion, not that of Bell or its related companies.

Thank you for your advice everyone!
Just wondering is there any sync-no-surf problems using Bell's hardware? I know his wifi drops out every few hours. We tested with ethernet and it was fine except when Bell techs came to redo the lines and get him 25/10. He had 25/7 before.

sync no surf if your using bell equipment is a non issue. when you start adding other hardware thats when it gets more complicated to sort things out. and believe me the push for bell fibe and fibe tv in ottawa is just nuts you cant turn around without seeing an ad. this push is unheard of in ottawa for any sort of service from any company.

you see you pretty much responded to your own question....the wifif from a 3 rd part hardware drops out when you hook it up with a wire it was fine...just stick to the bell hardware and your friend should have a seemless transition to better tv and internet (damn that sounds like a bell ad. sorry but i have family members with the service and its pretty sweet)

As most have said, stick with the bell equipment especially if your friend is moving to tv, as it complicates things as we run two separate streams one for tv and one for internet so they dont affect each other. Im a bell tech in Ottawa and lots of people have been switching and I get this question a lot and its possible to use your own equipment but if it fails and you call in a repair and its proven to be your own equipment thats a $99 charge, where as if its an issue with any bell stuff it's a free replacement.
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My opinions are my own and do not represent the opinions or wishes of BCE or any of it's subsidiaries.

btech is so correct. bell wants him to show up in your home once, set things up and never hear from you again. and that is probably what your friend wants as well. you look at the past bell has done its best to make things easy for the consumer. you ll have a bit of a learning curve with the tv interface and the pvr but thats understandable. good luck to your friend no matter what choice she/he makes