This topic

New EE Router

speechless — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:54:59 GMT

I’ve just had FTTP installed by 2 engineers (M.J. Quinn for Openreach). After connecting the ONT to a new EE router they left. They did not unplug the ethernet cable and phone from my old BT Smart Hub 2 or plug the ethernet cable from my computer into the new EE router to ensure that everything was working OK. Should they have unplugged and re-plugged and tested before leaving? Should the ethernet cable from my computer be plugged into the 2.5G socket or one of the ethernet sockets?

Re: New EE Router

Kodikid — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:10:42 GMT

Is it working ok?

Have you done a speed test?

If you're happy and it's working then it's academic

If it's not to your satisfaction then contact EE

Re: New EE Router

iniltous — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:57:59 GMT

It’s not that clear what the issue is , if the installers have left the old BT router connected to the copper pair infrastructure , and provided the new FTTP infrastructure (the ONT etc) and connected the new EE router to that , you should be good to go , disconnecting the old router so it can be returned to BT (or disposed of if BT don’t want it back ) isn’t their job , but as far as I know they should demonstrate the new service working on one if your devices, they don’t need to reconnect all your equipment to the new EE router , just show it working , is the new FTTP working ?

For your wireless devices , if you have many , it may be worthwhile changing the EE SSID /password on the new EE router to be the same as the old BT router , that may save entering the password etc on your wireless devices as they should then automatically connect …otherwise you need to connect your phone /tablet etc to the new EE router using its SSID and password.

As far as wired devices (Ethernet cables ) if the new EE router is in the same location as the BT router you just move the cables , if the new router couldn’t be near the old router location ( either your decision, or the installater said the location had to change for practical or it woukd have taken too long to provide the ONT near the existing router , then unfortunately you would need to move things around .

TBH , if you were changing provider but not going onto FTTP , or had a faulty router and a new one sent out in the post , you would be doing most of this yourself anyway.

Re: New EE Router

speechless — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:19:29 GMT

The issue is that as part of the service should the engineers at least have demonstrated/tested the connection of my computer before they left? And I'm still wondering if the ethernet cable from my computer should be plugged into the 2.5G socket on the new EE Router.

Re: New EE Router

iniltous — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:39:52 GMT

The ONT should already be connected to the WAN port , the other 4 ports , if it’s the latest EE router are all 2.5Gb LAN , it doesn’t matter which you use , the images I’ve seen of the latest EE router the WAN is red (but should not be available because of the cable to the ONT ) and the LAN’s are all yellow , as far as your computer, they only need to demonstrate service on a device, that could be your phone , tablet , smart TV , it’s to show you have connectivity , not to set up your home network.

TBH , if they were contractors time is money , they get the same ££ for a quick job as a time consuming one , and they are not going to ( as they see it ) hang around once they have done what’s contractually required of them , if they can pick up another installation and get it completed and get paid for it , the incentive is to be as quick as possible , AFAIK at the rate they are paid , they need 3 to 4 installations a day to provide a decent income, that’s maybe 2-2.5hrs per job including travelling

Re: New EE Router

speechless — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:52:20 GMT

If all the ethernet sockets are all the same why is one labelled 2.5G ? What’s the difference?

Re: New EE Router

speechless — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:07:39 GMT

It's working but I still want to know why of the ether net sockets is labelled 2.5G and should I plug into that or one of the other sockets. What's the difference?

Re: New EE Router

licquorice — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:18:15 GMT

Unless the device you connect to it also has a 2.5G NIC, it is academic, it will just connect at whatever speed NIC your device has. Presumably a Gigabit Ethernet card.

The yellow ports are all LAN ports, just that the 2.5G one is capable of faster speed.

Re: New EE Router

speechless — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:21:48 GMT

Thanks ... I finally got an answer!

Re: New EE Router

iniltous — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:47:49 GMT

You presumably have the Smart Hub 7 Plus , rather than the Smart Hub 7 Pro as the Pro has 4x2.5Gb LAN sockets (so they are all the same ) , the Plus 1x2.5Gb and 3 x1Gb LAN , you could have just connected your PC into any of them , this information is somewhat academic as at worst the 1Gb Ethernet ports are still the equivalent to the ones on the BT hub .