This topic

BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Smogsy — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:20:24 GMT

Hi,

Soon be moving to BT Firbe 2 package FFTC (70Mbps) from Sky, It seems that I might end up with the Smart HUb 2 as a router which seems “meh” compared to what I’m currently using…

Is seems the best way to replace this router is to get a dedicated Modem, So have more options for A decent Router

Is my understanding correct?
Buy decent WiFi Router like the Netgear RAXE300

Open to modem & router suggestions just need 2/5/6Ghz ideally 4x4

Set Router to PPOEE
set username and password to btbroadband@somthing.com (need to look it up)
password bt
VLAN 101?

Anything I’ve missed or need to be aware of?

[Mod Edit - links to third party online stores removed, please do not share these]

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

imjolly — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:10:53 GMT

are you keeping your home phone and moving to digital voice? if so you need to use the SH2 as first connection but if not keeping phone then up to you what you decide to use

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Smogsy — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:17:20 GMT

Got BB only package didn’t need voice 🙂

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

gg30340 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:56:28 GMT

You need to remove your links to the ecommerce sites which is against the forum rules.

You can name the devices and where to get them without links.

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Smogsy — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:05:34 GMT

Would if I could, can no longer edit the first post

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Kodikid — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:06:32 GMT

Easiest solution is to buy a EE wifi 6 router. Literally plug and play with BT broadband, it's the equivalent of the Sky max router

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

gg30340 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:07:40 GMT

You only get an hour to edit posts and it has obviously now past that. I have notified the moderators who will edit it for you.

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

chrisjp — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 19:48:39 GMT

"Easiest solution is to buy a EE wifi 6 router. Literally plug and play with BT broadband"

As a matter of interest, would this EE router provide a full broadband and DV service for a BT rather than an EE account?

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Crimliar — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 20:31:55 GMT

The better of the two BT modems used to be the Huawei HG612, but these are getting rare because they are also getting rather old and unreliable. The slightly less flexible (you can't pull the modem stats) ECI 061513 modems seem to survive better, but the youngest are from around 2015! That leaves you with Zyxel modem routers that can be put into modem only mode - but thanks to their buffering they're useless for gaming thanks to the latency even if they maximise the throughput. Your final "sensible" options may be a Huawei MT992 or a Draytek Vigor (absolutely must be the UK version) 166/167.

As for the router TP-Link had one of the most cost-effective AXE routers, but they seem to be reevaluating their market position thanks to trust issues. Then there's Ubiquity/Unifi, with the possibility of a separate and the use of a connected Access Point (these will mesh). Personally I may be heading down that final route at some future time, or possibly even a friendlyelec device with an AP and mesh.

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Kodikid — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 20:36:35 GMT

Since getting my BT 500mbps fttp I've been using a EE wifi 6 router with no problems

Can't comment on DV as like 90% of the population I can't see the point of domestic landlines

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

imjolly — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 21:35:16 GMT

@Kodikid

Can you post the link where you got the information that "like 90% of the population I can't see the point of domestic landlines" as that does not seem to agree with all the press coverage and the number of forum posts

I no longer use home phone

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Crimliar — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 09:22:49 GMT

Over the last few years, a few articles have suggested that the use of landlines by younger age groups has declined dramatically. I'm loath to post links to the articles on the BT forums because we don't seem to like links on here. A quick search on your favourite search engine for "uk landline use by age group" will pull up not only some idiot AI, but also some real results. 90% is still a bit of an exaggeration, but some articles certainly suggest 70-75% have given up on having a landline.

*I feel the same way about my mobile number as many do about their landline numbers. My mobile number started life as a Motorola pager number back in the late 80's or early 90's - it's been transferred sooo many times! Landline phone, haven't actively used one in probably 15 years!

**When autocorrect goes rogue and insists on correcting landline to LANDMINE!!!!!

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

gg30340 — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 10:41:44 GMT

According to Ofcom's annual technology tracker 47 per cent of homes have a landline phone in 2024.

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

chrisjp — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 11:34:16 GMT

"Can't comment on DV as like 90% of the population I can't see the point of domestic landlines"

Quite a few people have elderly relatives who don't have mobile phones and use their landline to keep in touch with sons, daughters and other family members. Although they could access these family members' mobiles from their landlines, they often go by habit and dial the landline numbers that the family members have always had.
That's why quite a few people still want to keep their landlines!

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

dazzlr — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 11:39:23 GMT

Thanks for the info. Where are the best places to buy an EE router?

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

WSH — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 11:52:55 GMT

@chrisjp @Crimliar Interesting point.

I'm "older" generation but I keep the DV landline for incoming calls.

I use the mobile for outgoing, (due to the free minutes). I only put the mobile on when I want to use it, however, so anyone trying to reach me is bug...d. That's why I decided to keep the landline. I suspect a lot of older people are in a similar situation, so although a lot of older people retain the landline, their actual usage has probably also have gone down dramatically.

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

Kodikid — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 12:15:39 GMT

All those waxing lyrical over landlines remember DV is usless in a power cut so best rethink your strategy if you're elderly/infirm and depending on it.

Best place to buy EE wifi router is ebay. Obviously make sure its wifi 6 or 7 enabled

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

WSH — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 12:27:26 GMT

@Kodikid you missed the point. The landline is for incoming only. No skin off my nose if someone can't contact me in a powercut.

Re: BT Router replacement, Are these best solutions?

gg30340 — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 12:30:24 GMT

@Kodikid wrote:

All those waxing lyrical over landlines remember DV is usless in a power cut so best rethink your strategy if you're elderly/infirm and depending on it.

Best place to buy EE wifi router is ebay. Obviously make sure its wifi 6 or 7 enabled

Nobody is waxing lyrical about landlines they are only pointing out that doing without one does not suit everybody at this time and at present anybody with a cordless phone also can not use it in a power cut so nothing unique about DV regarding that.