This topic

New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Mon, 31 May 2021 19:46:26 GMT

Planning to move to BT FTTP (BT confirmed FTTP overhang cable availability.

Currently Virgin Media cable feeds into Asus RT-AC86U.

Ports on AC86U feed PC, 2 connections feed two 6-port switches and a free port (out of 4) left.

Can I connect BT supplied Modem / router into the RT86U so all other outlets remain as they are?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

licquorice — Mon, 31 May 2021 19:52:25 GMT

Yes. You won't need the BT supplied router unless you require Digital Voice service, just connect the Asus directly to the ONT (modem).

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Mon, 31 May 2021 21:49:00 GMT

If I need the Digital voice can I attach the BT modem to the Asus 86U?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

licquorice — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:15:23 GMT

You can, but it will be a bit messy. The hub will need to connect to the ONT and then the Asus to to the hub. It will mean double natting.

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:21:57 GMT

Sure but I guess this probably is the only way to get Digital voice connection. Do you know how many connections at the back does the BT modem / router have?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:24:02 GMT

@wizzard wrote:

Sure but I guess this probably is the only way to get Digital voice connection. Do you know how many connections at the back does the BT modem / router have?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:35:32 GMT

Thanks for that. Not sure if the BT hub can be set up as Modem mode only. Wat disadvantages will I have if I were to connect the Asus 86U to it as mentioned above?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

welshgit — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:59:36 GMT

if its just the case that you don't want to go thro the fuss of setting all devices with the new wi fi key do what i do , i just change the new hub's name and password to the same as the old one so then everything connects as before but before i send the old hub back if possible i put back to factory settings

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 08:11:21 GMT

@welshgit

Appreciate that but would like to use my Asus 86U. Can the BT Smart Hub 2 be used as a modem only?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

licquorice — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 08:21:45 GMT

@wizzard The ONT is the modem, the hub doesn't have a modem only mode. You need to connect the ONT to the Hub WAN, disable DHCP and Wifi if you wish to use the Asus for those functions and then connect the Asus WAN port to one of the Hub's LAN ports to create a new subnet.

As previously stated, the disadvantage is that you will be double natting. If you are not into online gaming this won't have an impact.

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 11:09:43 GMT

@licquorice

Many thanks! Not into gamming at all, so hopefully no issues. Will obviously figure out how to use the Asus 86U as router with BT modem / router.

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 19:43:26 GMT

@licquorice

"You need to connect the ONT to the Hub WAN, disable DHCP and Wifi if you wish to use the Asus for those functions and then connect the Asus WAN port to one of the Hub's LAN ports to create a new subnet."

Many thanks. I assume this makes it perform as a "dumb modem" as far as the Asus RT86U is concerned. Will the Digital Voice (Telephone) still work on the BT router?

Is there such a thing as a Third Party like Asus who provide a router that has a Digital Voice point on it (like BT router)?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

licquorice — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 19:51:52 GMT

@wizzard wrote:

@licquorice

"You need to connect the ONT to the Hub WAN, disable DHCP and Wifi if you wish to use the Asus for those functions and then connect the Asus WAN port to one of the Hub's LAN ports to create a new subnet."

Many thanks. I assume this makes it perform as a "dumb modem" as far as the Asus RT86U is concerned.

Pretty much, although it will still be routing rather than bridging so the Asus will have a separate subnet to the hub. Forgot to mention, make sure you also turn off Smart Setup on the Hub.

Will the Digital Voice (Telephone) still work on the BT router?

Yes, otherwise there would be no point in using the SH2 at all.

Is there such a thing as a Third Party like Asus who provide a router that has a Digital Voice point on it (like BT router)?

No, it is a proprietary system.

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 18:33:33 GMT

@licquorice

You can, but it will be a bit messy. The hub will need to connect to the ONT and then the Asus to to the hub. It will mean double natting.

Appreciate this will happen but if I were to turn off the BT Hub HTTP and Wi-Fi, will this work? I guess the BT Hub firewall will need to turned off as well. Not sure if I need to

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

licquorice — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 18:53:04 GMT

As already stated, yes it will work, but it isn't ideal.

You need to turn off DHCP and Smart setup on the hub, you can also turn off the wifi if you wish or you could leave it as extra wifi access, entirely up to you. There is no need to turn off the firewall.

The hub will have a subnet in the range 192.168.1.XXX and will deal with the PPPoE credentials. The Asus WAN will need to obtain an IP address from the hub or you could give it an address in the range 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.63. It will then need to create another subnet for its LAN in the range 192.168.2.XXX

Do a bit of Googling and read up on connecting 2 routers together LAN port to WAN port.

It might be simpler to not bother with BT Digital Voice and use a third party VOIP for voice calls and omit the hub completely.

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 19:01:30 GMT

@licquorice

It might be simpler to not bother with BT Digital Voice and use a third party VOIP for voice calls and omit the hub completely.

Appreciate your responses. Only want to use BT Hub for Digital Voice as it is offered as free!

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

licquorice — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 19:16:59 GMT

But as far as I'm aware, you still have to pay for calls as normal. It is only the capability that is free.

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

wizzard — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 19:27:28 GMT

@licquorice

Very good point! - quoted 7.50 for 700 minutes. Any good VoIP companies for home recommendations?

Re: New FTTP order - will existing setup work?

licquorice — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 19:43:52 GMT

Afraid not, I'm still old school copper landline.

Best Router solution with Smart Hub 2

wizzard — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 17:00:16 GMT

Having received excellent advice here on FTTP / Digital Voice options, have ordered the 300mb Fibre package.

Need the 3rd party router option (for 2.4 / 5 frequency options). So, the final question is - has anyone successfully managed a third party router option successfully on FTTP option please? Have read here optons to turn off wi-fi, DHCP, double NAT options. These are, from what I have read here, are not necessarily perfect solutions - hence a final request for a stable solution.