HomeChoice Alcatel Speedtouch modem with BT Openworld & other ISPs

HomeChoice is a video on demand service provider operating in the United Kingdom. When using their modem with other ISPs, an extra step is required to disable the ATM port used to provide the video services. This is particularly useful with wires-only ADSL services (i.e. no modem or engineer visit provided by BT), as you can switch from HomeChoice to another ISP at very little expense: just keep hold of the HomeChoice modem.

1. Connect the modem directly to the Ethernet port on your computer using a straight-through (i.e. normal) cable.
2. Set your computer's IP address to 10.0.0.1 and subnet mask to 255.0.0.0. The gateway address is not needed.
3. Ping 10.0.0.138, which should be the IP address of the modem. If you don't get a response, try pressing the recessed factory configuration button on the back of the unit.
4. Point your browser to 10.0.0.138. If you have to login, see the instructions for getting the username and password for telnet below.
5. Click the upgrade button and use the interface to upgrade (if necessary) to version KHDSAA3.261. The file is available here. (This website has gone down, hopefully temporarily. Meanwhile, try here.) Make sure it appears as the active software version when you've finished. I had some trouble uploading the file and found that it was necessary to power-cycle the modem immediately before uploading.
6. telnet to 10.0.0.138 and login with username EXPERT.
7. The modem displays a line beginning "SpeedTouch". Copy the whole line and paste it into the box at the bottom of this page.
8. Enter the response that the web site gives you as the password.
9. The next step is only needed for modems with an ATM port, as supplied by HomeChoice: Type "atmf list". There should be one entry; use the command "atmf delete vpi=X vci=Y", replacing X and Y with the values shown by "atmf list".
10. Do a "config save" and reset the modem.
11. Reconnect with your browser and delete all phonebook and PPTP entries. Add one PPTP entry with "VCMUX" encap and "keep" HDLC framing, and one corresponding phonebook entry with VPI 0 and VCI 38, type PPTP.
12. Check that the Line Sync light is continuously lit. If not, your ADSL line isn't ready yet. Have a Grolsch.
13. If using Windows, create a dialup connection choosing the "Connect to a private network through the internet" option. Give the modem's IP address and the login details provided by your ISP. Note that, for BT Openworld, the username must include the "@hgXX.btopenworld.com" part.
14. It is possible to upgrade your Home router to a Pro free of charge (this makes it act as a router so that you don't have to "dial-up" in Windows anymore). The instructions are here (English version starts about halfway through). This works for me, but it's easy to permanently break your modem using this method. Also, note that file sharing applications may not run very well in the configuration where the modem dials up.

I hope this works. Since I haven't reset my modem and followed it step-by-step myself, there is probably something missing. Please let me know if so by email.

© 2005