ISP PlusNet Launch Faster Hub Zero 2704n Broadband Router

[#1]

Had a call from your retention chaps today to try to get me to sign a new 18 month contract (didn't see the point, as would have been the same as what I'm paying now). 
Basically the chap the other told me you are now offering a new dual band fibre router.  Any information on this.

[#2]

It's their new Plusnet 2704n router I reckon - no idea who makes it!
Edit: Looks to be Sagem http://www.sagemcom.com/broadband/gateways/dsl-gateways/fst-1704n-2704n/

[#3]

Sagem probably as the number matches

[#4]

Looks to be dual band (2.4/5Ghz) also:

Quote

WLAN 802.11n 1*1 (F@ST 1704N) WLAN 802.11n 2*2 (F@ST 2704N

[#5]

There is no mention of dual band wireless on any page I've spotted so far. The sagem page describes it as b/g/n which suggests only 2.4GHz. Dual band devices would usually be described as a/g/n or perhaps a/b/g/n.
2x2 indicates two spatial streams (300Mbps using 40MHz bandwidth and SGI). Two antennae, not dual band! The 582n also is 2x2.
1x1 would be "n150", one spatial stream, only one antenna.

[#6]

Ah - looking at a few foreign ISP sites, the router looks to be of a similar spec to the TG582n.

[#7]

So this new Sagem router doesn't have a built in VDSL modem?  Not even dual band or gigabit....
Surely PN will start offering self-installs later this year when I understand Openreach will stop providing fibre modems ?

[#8]

I was told by chap over the phone that it was dual band.

[#9]

If it is a 2704N, then it definitely is 2.4GHz single band only looking at Sagem specs.
Even Plusnet's help page only seems to mentions setting channel numbers 1 to 13 which applies to 2.4GHz band only.
http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/hardware/plusnet-2704n-wireless.shtml
There seems to be only one other ISP based in Brazil currently using the 2704N.

The 1704N/2704N appears to be a basic entry level modem router.
The lowest model in the entire range to feature dual band wireless N is the 5340. It also has built in VDSL modem too.
http://www.sagemcom.com/broadband/gateways/dsl-gateways/

[#10]

Can the staff offer any clarification on this?

[#11]

The router is a Plusnet 2704n and it's single band.

[#12]

and it's fugly too.
for some reason, router manufacturer don't seem to be able to produce a product that would actually look decent sitting in your living room (or wherever you happen to place it).
they are always big plastic monstrosities, with 100 LEDs on the front.

[#13]

But flashing coloured LEDs can be quite pretty
More seriously, there doesn't seem to be an awful lot of information about it out there on the web or on sagemcom pages, just a basic spec. Plusnet's pages have more info 

[#14]

Seems a bit shortsighted on PN's part to go for a new router that doesn't have any of:-
1) VDSL capability or a proper EWAN port
2) Gb Ethernet
3) Dual band Wifi

[#15]

I guess PlusNet's approach is to provide something as cheap as possible that will be adequate for most of their users; under the assumption that anyone who cares will get their own router.
Though it does seem odd to bother to change router at all to one without VDSL as they'll presumably have to provide VDSL ones fairly soon.