well BT's fibre broadband needs a newer type of router to a adsl2 router, so if your netgear is an ADSL2 router thats your problem.
but there are alternatives to BT's
I use Zytel routers , currently the P660H, for adsl2
BT broadband is i believe VDSL2, so if your netgear is not VDSL2 then thats the problem.
Any electronics can fail, is the netgear also known as DGN1000 if so thats just adsl2
alternative to the BT hub
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/Sp ... ctID=15196, would be the one i would buy.
but i have not tried it so you have to take that recommendation with a pinch of salt...
ps you sig has an error, linux miy be efficient but wont run in 16 mb of mermory
regards peter