This topic

Using my own router

asd230 — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 13:43:07 GMT

What details do I need to enter to be able to use my own router ?

Re: Using my own router

imjolly — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 13:45:06 GMT

if you use smart setup in own router selecting BT broadband then

username bthomehub@btbroadband.com

password can be anything but many just use BT

Re: Using my own router

licquorice — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 15:17:48 GMT

Connection type is PPPoE

Re: Using my own router

TimCurtis — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:15:37 GMT

@asd230

What type of package are you on as the setup might vary depending?

Re: Using my own router

Kodikid — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 12:29:39 GMT

For simplicity and efficiency if you're on a BT 300mbps or above just spend £20 on a EE router from e Bay

Literally plug and play.

Personally think 3rd party router's look hideous, akin to a dead spider.

Re: Using my own router

TimCurtis — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:22:56 GMT

Give me a 3rd party router - preferably Asus - any time.

Re: Using my own router

Kimberlin — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:34:42 GMT

Agreed, I’ll take a good third party router every time over an ISP offering.

Re: Using my own router

Kodikid — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:00:38 GMT

Why?

Emperors new clothes?

Re: Using my own router

pippincp — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:25:04 GMT

@Kodikid simple. a 3rd party router give you much more control that ISP equipment doesn't offer.

Re: Using my own router

Kodikid — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:07:33 GMT

You have to admit though they are aesthetically horrific

Re: Using my own router

Kimberlin — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:30:20 GMT

@Kodikid Everybody's needs and requirements are different. I've got around 30 wireless devices connected at any one time and they're split between the 3 WiFi bands on my router. I then have many of my IoT devices split onto Guest Networks. Same when any guests come to stay, they get the Guest Network to connect to.

My router's settings allow me to change things an ISP router might not (depending on whatever router might be supplied), such as DNS settings on the router itself. So I use Quad9 DNS for instance. I don't want my ISP deciding what DNS I have to use. Yes, granted, you can change DNS settings on your laptop/desktop, but I just prefer to change it within the router settings.

Just recently, I changed the bandwidth for 2.4ghz to 20mhz, not sure if that can be done on an ISP router as it's been that long since I used one. I also set the channels on my router so that I was using the least congested channels on 2.4 and 5ghz (I use inSSIDer to analyse which channels my neighbours are on). As a consequence, my devices don't drop out at all. There are also other settings within the router settings that I can change to suit my needs.

And then there's the security protocols. I have set mine to WPA2/WPA3-Personal. Some routers don't have the option of WPA3 (AFAIK). It might not seem important to many as some may cite that WPA2 is perfectly adequate.

I fully accept that many 3rd party routers aren't asthetically pleasing to the eye for many people. ISP routers are deliberately designed to 'fit in' with 'modern' homes, whatever that is supposed to be. And of course, ISP routers are deliberately designed to be 'idiot proof' plug and play. My router is sat behind my large flat screen TV and no one can see it. And before anyone wonders, no, I don't get any loss of signal to any of the devices on my network.

To address the point about buying a EE router off the famous auction site, well of course one can do that. I personally wouldn't because you literally have no idea where that router has come from, but then again, if you're only paying 20 quid for it, you won't care anyway. There is of course the low risk that you could be getting a router infected with malware, but that's a risk you take. I'm hazzarding a guess that all of the things I've mentioned, you will be completely aware of anyway (others might not). None of it might be important in your environment, but I like the fact I have some sort of control that I might not get with an ISP router.

Re: Using my own router

asd230 — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:15:11 GMT

Thanks, yes that's what the auto detect said