This topic

Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Dangerousdriver77 — Wed, 03 May 2023 21:41:51 GMT

Hi guys,

Yesterday I had my Fibre 900 installed and am not impressed at all with the Smart Hub 2 in terms of performance and range, so I ordered this which arrives tomorrow - ASUS DSL-AX82U (Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable xDSL Modem Gaming Router)

I have looked at the search feature before posting, but cannot find the settings I need to put into the ASUS as I am going to connect from the mater socket directly to the WAN port of the new router.

Can anyone please help?

TIA

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

jac_95 — Wed, 03 May 2023 21:52:09 GMT

@Dangerousdriver77

Copper based master socket is no longer used for full fibre.

You need to use an ethernet cable from lan port of ONT (the box as shown below) to WAN port of the router you want to use

You then need to use connection type PPPoE with username bthomehub@btbroadband.com and Password BT

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Dangerousdriver77 — Wed, 03 May 2023 21:56:28 GMT

Yep, cheers. I was going to connect direct to the WAN port of the router from the ONT, it was just the settings I wasn’t sure of.

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Crimliar — Wed, 03 May 2023 22:04:54 GMT

@jac_95 's info is spot on. If you need more help setting up your router (the DSL-AX82 is not the best choice) then you might want to visit SNBForums for many things Asus router related.
The output from the Smart Hub 2 does seem to be significantly lower than my GT-AX6000!

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

licquorice — Thu, 04 May 2023 07:08:22 GMT

@Dangerousdriver77YYou really should have bought the RT version of the Asus rather than the DSL version. The DSL modem portion of the Asus isn't needed with FTTP, you just need a router

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Crimliar — Fri, 05 May 2023 12:42:50 GMT

Oddly the DSL-AX82U has often been cheaper than the RT-AX82U and as they both have a WAN port I can see why might want to go for the DSL variant. Though with the current price of the RT-AX82U on the Asus Eshop (£100 less than Amazon), I'd suspect it's no longer in production.

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Dangerousdriver77 — Fri, 05 May 2023 13:47:02 GMT

To be honest I didn’t do my homework and check that there was a non DSL variant. I’ve returned it and ordered this instead.

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Dangerousdriver77 — Fri, 05 May 2023 13:42:40 GMT

I didn’t even know there was a non DSL variant! I should have done my homework lol. I’ve returned it and ordered another one anyway. Hopefully that will be better than the Smart Hub 2!

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

gameinn1 — Fri, 05 May 2023 15:52:43 GMT

One thing to note. The smart hub 3 is slated for a July 20th release. Its WiFi performance will basically be the rt-ax82u plus it will be free on a recontract.

If you still want to go Asus and can't wait 2 months then the tuf-ax5400 is an rt-ax82u in different clothing. Currently £132 at amazon

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Stu_H — Sat, 06 May 2023 11:21:03 GMT

Is it the same chipset then with drivers?

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Crimliar — Sat, 06 May 2023 12:10:22 GMT

Probably a slightly later chipset, but as far as consumers are concerned it's just a router so no drivers are needed!

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Stu_H — Sat, 06 May 2023 14:19:55 GMT

So not the same then. What’s the licences behind BTs routers. Do they use the chipsets manufactures drivers which I’ll guess is Broadcom or are they using open drivers?

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

jac_95 — Sat, 06 May 2023 14:40:15 GMT

You don't need to install "router specific" drivers. Ethernet and WiFi interfaces are standardized protocols you just need to make sure your clients (i.e devices) are capable of using the higher capable standard protocols that router offers.

BT will usually use 2 or more vendors for the manufacturing of their hubs so they may use 2 different chipset vendors too. However, the interface's are standardized.

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 06 May 2023 14:40:17 GMT

@Stu_H

Some GPL code.

https://www.bt.com/help/user-guides/bt-hub--bt-voyager-and-connected-devices-gpl-code

BT Smart Hub 2 and Disc

BT Smart Hub 2 GPL Release_DISC_20190110.xls (41KB)

BT Smart Hub 2 GPL Release_HUB_20190107.xlsx (30KB)

disc.tar.zip (130MB)

sh2.zip (159MB)

Re: Using 3rd party router with FTTP900

Stu_H — Sat, 06 May 2023 15:11:51 GMT

That’s not what I meant, Keith linked it for me.
So for example Netgear, Asus, Unifi, Cisco all use licensed drivers from the chip manufacturer. These are used to handle for example the WIFI side.
Others like many of the unknown type routers found on Amazon or other sites use open drivers which don’t have the same performance but might allow more alteration.
So it could be Broadcom, Qualcomm, Mediatek and god forbid Intel.