This topic

Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 22:33:21 GMT

Hi all, I've bought an Archer AX5400 router and connected it via ethernet from a port on the smart hub 2 to the WAN of the AX5400 and the internet works fine, the file transfer speeds on my shared network drive have now significantly improved. However I've read online that this is not a good idea due to "double nat" and can cause issues when online gaming (which I do a lot). Since the Smart Hub 2 can't be used as a modem only, is my only solution to buy a modem like the huawei hg612 to use with the AX5400 to eliminate the double NAT?

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

Crimliar — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 01:07:57 GMT

Double NAT is a problem, when its a problem, and when its not its not! I probably have to mention that while I'm definitely an Asus fan, double-NAT is something Asus probably doesn't manage as well as much of their competition.

The setup here is complex, and has just about everything that is going to cause problems if I were to double NAT. But if you're not experiencing any issues, I'd not waste your money on any additional equipment. In addition to that many of the BT modems you'll see out there are coming to their end of life, and so may not be as reliable as they once were.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 07:10:43 GMT

You could run the TP-Link in access point mode to get rid of double NAT, but you'll probably lose a lot of it's features. Whether that actually matters, you can probably only find out by trying it. Much like whether double NAT is actually causing a problem rather potentially causing a problem.

Other options depend on whether you have/need a telephone service. If you do then when you're moved to DV, assuming you haven't already been, you'll still need the SH2. So not much point in throwing money at an option that's going to be rendered obsolete sooner rather than later.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 07:57:15 GMT

Thanks for the reply. I have an old Plusnet Hub 2 in my cupboard from my previous provider which I believe has a bridge option and can be used as a modem only? Would that work?

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

licquorice — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 08:45:04 GMT

Is your current setup actually causing you any problems?

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

Crimliar — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:05:21 GMT

One thing that's not mentioned when talking about running modem/routers in bridge mode is that they will often have their own "buffers". That's great for downloading files, and watching streaming services, but it's terrible for online gaming!

The earlier comment about potentially running your TP-Link router in AP is spot on. If you don't need any of the "better" management features and just want the better Wi-Fi, it could well be the way to go!

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:27:09 GMT

I purchased the new router for WiFi 6, better signal strength and to improve my shared HDD speeds, currently I do not need any other features so I think I will just use it in access point mode.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:59:06 GMT

Out of curiosity I decided to try the Plusnet router in bridge mode and it works fine. However I have a problem, when I enable IPV6 on the Tp-link I get no internet. Does anyone know what settings I must use on the Tp-Link to get IPV6 working?

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

licquorice — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 14:12:02 GMT

https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/IPv6-setup-on-PPPoE/td-p/2439761

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:24:22 GMT

No luck. My internet simply stops working when I enable IPV6. Setting to "Non-address" which fixed it for the person in that thread hasn't fixed it for me. I've also tried SLAAC+RDNSS as suggested.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

Crimliar — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:28:37 GMT

Sorry I'm confused here! If you are still using the TP-Link router in AP mode, there should be no IPv6 settings - it's an AP!

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:42:54 GMT

I've changed the Tp-Link to router mode as I was curious to see if I could get it working with the Plusnet router in bridge mode. The internet works fine, speeds are normal but IPV6 does not work.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:59:23 GMT

@ttimms

Plusnet don't support IPv6, so maybe the firmware in their router doesn't? Try it in router mode without the Netgear & see if IPv6 is present then.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

licquorice — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:07:24 GMT

If its in bridge mode it should be transparent.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:41:03 GMT

@licquorice

Agreed, but a simple thing to test. There's a trial of IPv6 ongoing at Plusnet, but I don't know if firmware was updated to facilitate it.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

licquorice — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:43:46 GMT

I guess the other way to prove it is transparent is to put the hub back in full fibre mode and connect the Plusnet router to the WAN port of the hub.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:25:51 GMT

I've tried the Plusnet hub in router mode and it does support IPV6.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

ttimms — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:04:40 GMT

Thought I would update this. I've bought an Asus router and it has no issues getting a working IPv6 address with the Plusnet hub router. I've read online that Tp-Link routers don't support /56 prefix which BT uses? So that probably has something to do with it.

Re: Using a TP-link AX5400 (third party router) with the Smart Hub

TimCurtis — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 16:56:32 GMT

@ttimms

What internet service do you have because if it's full fibre then you connect the Asus directly to the ONT so no need for another device connected unless you have digital voice.

If you have FTTC then just ignore the above please.