Which VMG4005-B should I choose?

Choose Zyxel VMG4005-B50A or VMG4005-B60A depending on your country, ISP and supported standards at your location.

Difference between VMG4005-B50A(Annex A) and VMG4005-B60A(Annex B)

Note: The VMG4005-B60A is the most suitable model for Germany. However, before you purchase any device, please confirm with your ISP and technical support to make sure it's compatible with your service provider and network. This step ensures optimal performance and avoids potential connectivity or service-related issues.

Disclaimer: This article's information is based on current data from Zyxel and ISP sources. Specifications may change, so we recommend verifying compatibility with your ISP and consulting Zyxel support for the most up-to-date details before making any decisions.

In Germany, Annex A is a DSL standard primarily used in other countries but supported by a few Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for ADSL and VDSL connections. While some ISPs in Germany do offer Annex A support, it is not the most common standard used.

German ISPs Supporting Annex A

• Deutsche Telekom: Offers ADSL and VDSL services with Annex A support.
• 1&1: Provides ADSL and VDSL connections with Annex A support.
• O2 (Telefónica Deutschland): Also offers ADSL and VDSL connections with Annex A support.
• Vodafone: Annex A is supported for certain DSL connections depending on the region and connection type.

Key Points:

• Annex B and Annex J are the more commonly used standards in Germany for ADSL and VDSL connections.
• Devices like the Zyxel VMG4005-B50A, which support Annex A, may not be compatible with most German DSL connections.
• In some isolated cases, users have been able to make the VMG4005-B50A work with Annex A, but these setups are exceptions. 

Annex A is used in countries with analogue telephone networks (e.g., USA, Canada, Austria, France). Here, analogue voice signals occupy lower frequencies (0-4 kHz), while DSL uses higher frequencies.

Annex B relies on digital voice and data signals at higher frequencies (0-80 kHz), with DSL starting at 138 kHz. With VDSL and vectoring, speeds have increased, but Annex B remains the standard in Germany.

Disclaimer: The information below may differ from actual details. Please verify compatibility directly with your service provider.

• Telekom: Deutsche Telekom has transitioned its networks to All-IP, with Annex B as the standard for this infrastructure.
• Vodafone: This provider has also moved to IP-based connections, where Annex B is utilized.
• O2: O2 similarly operates with IP-based connections compatible with Annex B.
• 1&1: This provider has also transitioned to All-IP, with Annex B as the standard.

Here is a list of major German ISPs and the main DSL technologies they support:

Note: The above information is based on general DSL standards supported in Germany. For specific compatibility details, please feel free to contact the respective ISP.

Given that German ISPs primarily use Annex B and Annex J for DSL connections, the Zyxel VMG4005-B60A, which supports these standards, would be the appropriate choice for use in Germany. The VMG4005-B50A, supporting Annex A, is more suitable for countries where Annex A is the standard for DSL connections.

Additional settings - German ISP

Additionally, you may need to configure VPI/VCI and specify the corresponding service VLAN.

VPI/VCI Settings for German ISPs:

Disclaimer: The information below may differ from actual details. Please verify compatibility directly with your service provider.

In the ATM PVC Configuration section, You may need to change the following information:

• VPI (Virtual Path Identifier): This identifies the virtual path of your DSL connection. The VPI value varies depending on your ISP (e.g., VPI=1 is common in many areas, but you should verify with your provider).
• VCI (Virtual Circuit Identifier): The VCI identifies the virtual circuit. Like VPI, the value is ISP-specific, and typical values might be 32 or 35, but you will need to confirm this with your ISP.

VLAN Information for Major German ISPs

Here is a summary of the VLAN IDs used by major German ISPs, primarily for DSL and FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) connections: