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Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

nplusone — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:42:59 GMT

I have a smarthub 2 and a master socket which has two plugs - one for broadband the other for a digital phone i think. The smarthub admin page says i have "Fibre Broadband VDSL". I have a landline telephone. I am looking to tighten up my network security and bought a Asus RT-AX59U router as this model has special security features like a free VPN built in.

I have been looking through previous questions here but none of the answers have helped me get this sorted so far. I need detailed instructions on my options and how to go about setting the equipment up. For example, i have read here that if i don't need to use the landline i can put the smart hub aside completely. I tried experimenting and plugging the Asus directly into the master socket, but it does not connect to the internet. Please can someone either help by providing me with detailed instructions to do the following OR by providing a link to a thread here or elsewhere which will show how:

1. Asus direct connection. Is it possible NOT to use the smart hub 2 at all with my master socket setup? Note there is no separate modem or box provided by BT. If this is possible should the Asus connect to the broadband simply by plugging the cable into the master socket? I have noticed that this master socket seems to take the small plugs and also ethernet style plug. What cable should i use to make the connection and what port should it come from on the Asus? After getting the cabling done, are there any special settings that need to be made to the router for it to work?

2. Alternatively, how exactly do i go about using the Asus with the smarthub if all i want the smarthub to do is to take care of the landline phone? What cables go where and what are the settings inside the router to change?

I would appreciate any help on the above. Thank you very much

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

licquorice — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 15:01:31 GMT

First of all that device is just a router, you need a modem/router combined to connect directly to the master socket or alternatively, a separate modem.

You need an Asus DSL xxxxx variant not RT.

A VPN doesn't offer security, it offers privacy (although that is dubious in my opinion, it just moves any snooping from your ISP to the VPN provider).

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 15:02:44 GMT

ASUS "RT" routers don't have a modem, so can't be directly connected to a master socket.

To use in conjunction with the BT Hub you would have to set it up as an access point, as detailed in the manual. But that's unlikely to give you access to the features you desire. So your best bet, assuming ASUS don't make a "DSL" version of that router is to buy an HG612 modem from Ebay.

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

nplusone — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 15:28:58 GMT

OK thanks - so i will rule out connecting direct to the master socket. I would then like to connect the router to the smart hub 2. I would hope for a set up so that: The smart hub will deal with the landline phone only and all other 'traffic' to other devices would go through the router. Please could you help me to achieve this setup or a link with detailed instructions to do it?

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

licquorice — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 15:35:12 GMT

Ok.

Disable DHCP and WiFi on the SH2, put 192.168.1.10 in the DMZ of the hub

Give the Asus WAN port an IP address if 192.168.1.10 , gateway 192.168.1.254, subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and set its LAN subnet to the 192.168.2.xxx range.

Set the connection type of the Asus to static IP and connect it's WAN port to LAN port 1 of the hub.

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

nplusone — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 15:41:11 GMT

Thanks rbz5416 - i have resigned myself to returning the router. Sadly, the modem variants - ASUS at least are significantly more expensive 😞

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

nplusone — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 15:45:21 GMT

Thanks - but ive read time and time again its a bad idea - a true security risk - to put anything in the DMZ. Are you certain this would be ok?

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

licquorice — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 15:50:16 GMT

It is a security risk to put a device without a firewall in the DMZ, putting another router with a firewall isn't. It is no different to connecting the second router directly.

To be perfectly frank, I'm not sure why you think the Asus will be any more secure than the BT hub. Both devices have an adequate firewall. As stated previously, a VPN doesn't offer security.

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

nplusone — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:13:23 GMT

licquorice - the box says
"Enhanced Security Anywhere: A free subscription to AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro, provides automatically updated protection for all your connected devices. ASUS Instand Guard also allows you to share an encrypted VPN connection between multiple devices when away from home"
They cant just make this up. It must add something substantial to enhance network security! Thanks for your time and for pointing out to me that i got the wrong type of device. It is unfortunate that the trade off in upgrading will be that i wont use Digital Voice for the time being at least.

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

licquorice — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:19:55 GMT

That doesn't say the VPN enhances security. Presumably its the AiProtection Pro that allegedly does that. No idea what it does though.

Just Googled it. Sounds no more than a firewall and protection that any Anti Virus software will give you. But I'm happy to be proved wrong.

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

WSH — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:22:04 GMT

While I don’t use quite the same IP range, I can confirm that what Liquorice has said should work. I run an SH2 connected to a Draytek in the same way, for DV and my own LAN management. I would also concur with his comments about the security. I would emphasize turning off the wi-fi on the SH2.

Edit: ...and as far as them making it up is concerned, its called marketing. They can say anything they like so long as they can make the technical aspects opaque enough.

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

gg30340 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:23:53 GMT

@nplusone

Don't fall for all the hype about VPNs that the manufacturers selling/using them tell you. They can offer some additional security in certain circumstances but they are not necessarily something that everybody needs.

Do an Internet search for " Reasons not to use VPN" and then decide if it is something that you need.

Re: Detailed instructions setting up Asus RT-AX59U with BT Fibre Broadband (VDSL)?

Crimliar — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:51:50 GMT

As standard a router firewall, doesn't allow in any connections that haven't been initiated by a device on your LAN. AiProtection submits your connections to Trend Micro's servers and will additionally block all access (in and out) to sites that could be problematic, even if the connection was initiated by a device on your network. So, it's not doing much more than Web-Protect and additional Web filtering - but in the process, it is sending out data on your connections to a third party. OH, and AiProtect hasn't been properly maintained and tends to throw errors into the router logs, and occasionally cause the router to reboot.
*It's on my Asus GT-AX6000 router, and it is IMHO more problematic than it's worth. Running the Merlin firmware on some Asus routers does give access to the "Skynet" firewall which instead uses local lists of problem sites, but still allows for the submission of reports to a third-party site where reports are collated.