This topic

Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

dazza76 — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 17:59:02 GMT

Got upgraded to FTTP last week and now have one of the Nokia Openreach ONT's bring the fibre line into the property. Due to the severe limitations of the Smarthub 2 I'm looking to use my own choice of gear.

Does anyone know if you can connect a router directly to the ONT and just use PPPOE log in to access the internet or do you still have somehow have the Smarthub involved.

Think if getting an Orbi mesh system in place.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

imjolly — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:18:31 GMT

You should be able to connect your own router to ONT and set username as bthomehub@btbroadband.com and password anything but many just use BT

if you have digital voice that will only work with SH2 connected to ONT

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

dazza76 — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:27:00 GMT

Thanks for that. Deliberately cancelled the digital voice as I knew it was something that would lock me into the SH2. Just kept the copper line for the phone.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

StuartHK — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:40:38 GMT

@imjolly

Just for future reference as I suppose I'll be in this position sometime soon, does it have to be through the SH2 or would an ordinary phone work if plugged directly into the Tel socket on the ONT?

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

stevebrass — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:46:27 GMT

No TEL socket on the ONT.

Either Digital Voice via Smart Hub 2 or plug into copper fed landline socket.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

licquorice — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:47:10 GMT

Digital Voice only works via the SH2. The Tel socket on the ONT is for the now discontinued FVA, fibre voice access.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

stevebrass — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:48:44 GMT

@dazza76wrote:
Got upgraded to FTTP last week and now have one of the Nokia Openreach ONT's bring the fibre line into the property. Due to the severe limitations of the Smarthub 2 I'm looking to use my own choice of gear.
Does anyone know if you can connect a router directly to the ONT and just use PPPOE log in to access the internet or do you still have somehow have the Smarthub involved.
Think if getting an Orbi mesh system in place.

I have used Orbi Mesh with my ONT- works with no problem.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

StuartHK — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:52:32 GMT

Thanks for that imjolly/liquorice.

Sorry for hijacking the thread but just one more question then, if I may. Would it be possible to connect my own router to the ONT via a switch and then plug the SH2 into the switch to provide DV?

If DV only works through the BT's hub this seems a bit of a marketing blunder on BT's part. A lot of people are going to want to run their own kit these days so I can see that killing DV at birth.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

imjolly — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 18:55:11 GMT

If and when you are switched to DV your copper landline will no longer work

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

licquorice — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 19:03:26 GMT

@StuartHK wrote:

Thanks for that imjolly/liquorice.

Sorry for hijacking the thread but just one more question then, if I may. Would it be possible to connect my own router to the ONT via a switch and then plug the SH2 into the switch to provide DV?

If DV only works through the BT's hub this seems a bit of a marketing blunder on BT's part. A lot of people are going to want to run their own kit these days so I can see that killing DV at birth.

No, you can't do that. You can only connect one router directly to the ONT.

Not everyone wants a landline voice service, most people use mobiles for voice calls. Digital Voice is just BT's VOIP service, there is nothing preventing you using a third party VOIP provider with your third party kit.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

StuartHK — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 19:08:46 GMT

Thanks for that liquorice.

Yes, I'm aware of the third party VoIP alternative and the decline in landline use. Still seems like them limiting their potential market though.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

dazza76 — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 19:27:49 GMT

That's great Steve. That's exactly the type of reply I was hoping for. Someone that's done it already and it's worked.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

dazza76 — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 19:32:58 GMT

Would you mind offering your experience with the Orbi system? Was it a simply "login and go" kind of set up or was there much fiddling with settings required? Has it been solid or have you suffered any issues with it?

It's an expensive system and with both my wife and I working from home still, a solid, reliable wifi is a must.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

Will168 — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 19:46:19 GMT

@StuartHKwrote:
Thanks for that liquorice.
Yes, I'm aware of the third party VoIP alternative and the decline in landline use. Still seems like them limiting their potential market though.

I would guess that the vast majority of BT broadband customers (regular folks) would just stick to the supplied equipment.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

stevebrass — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 08:55:20 GMT

Orbi RBR40 and one satellite works well with BT ONT. Hasn't missed a beat. Worked with VM as well.

I don't know if this precise model is still available, but plenty available second hand and the successor is I think less than £200 for the router and one satellite.

Re: Nokia FTTP ONT with 3rd party router

Gary_C — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 09:02:13 GMT

Im using a TP link TL-R605 (or ER605) and thats working fine. Simple PPPoE setup and wifi free so fits in with the existing mesh I have. Box is about the size of a netgear 6 port switch so easily hidden out of the way . Nice and cheap (£40) and has enough bandwidth to run the PPPoE service (but not if you use some of the more advanced security options)
Just due for an upgrade to IPv6 as well.