This topic

Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:11:22 GMT

My existing setup is: Fibre to Premises with a ethernet cable coming out of Port 1 going to BT Smart Hub 2.

To extend the wifi range I have bought a Netgear R7000 router and aim to swap this with the BT Smart Hub 2.

But when I swapped the Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router I did a 20 second hard reset

Then saw that on the Netgear that the Internet LED was off (no connection detected) with no internet and 0.0.0.0 on IPV4. I then swapped back to the BT Smart Hub and used a LAN port out from Smart Hub to the Internet (WAN) port of the Netgear then the Internet LED light went on solid white (connection detected).

Do I need to set the TCP/IP on the Netgear to the same as that for the BT Smart Hub (broadband IP address, default gateway, primary DNS, secondary DNS)? I am a new starter and don't know much. Help please.

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Kimberlin — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:27:29 GMT

@Jake12 Are you aware that the Netgear R7000 AC1900 is officially End of Life and no longer receives maintenance or security updates? It is now fairly ancient tech having been around since 2013.

I own one, haven’t used it for over 4 years, slung it up in the loft. You would be better buying a more secure router all round. The latest EE routers appear to be selling like hot cakes on the well known auction site for less than £30.

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:32:37 GMT

The Netgear R7000 is the most advanced router compatible with ExpressVPN (installed on the router) . I am aiming to install ExpressVPN onto the router and that router is the most modern that there is

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

licquorice — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:55:18 GMT

Did you configure the Netgear with the generic PPPoE credentials of username bthomehub@btbroadband.com and password BT?

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:59:57 GMT

No. Do I have to use the BT Smart Hub 2 (as a modem) and the Netgear R7000 as a router? This setup means disabling the BT Hub's wifi and putting wifi on the Netgear (Netgear sets DCHP)

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

licquorice — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:57:40 GMT

No, unless you require a Digital Voice landline, just connect the Netgear WAN port directly to the ONT using the credentials in my previous post.

You don't need the BT hub at all

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:03:32 GMT

The Network R7000 manual (see attached) says that the Netgear needs to be connected using a front end modem. The Netgear router does not have a modem in it. The BT Smart Hub 2 is a router plus modem. Are you sure that I don't need a modem alongside the router?

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

licquorice — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:16:57 GMT

The ONT IS a modem!!

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:23:17 GMT

What is an ONT? I have a BT smart hub 2 (router plus modem) and I have a netgear R7000 (just a router).

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

licquorice — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:26:31 GMT

The ONT is the optical device that you have connected the hub to. The hub is not using it's built in modem, that is only required for copper connections.

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Kimberlin — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:33:07 GMT

@Jake12 I appreciate you have clearly set your sights on using the Netgear R7000, but I would like to correct your earlier statement about it being the most advanced router that has Expressvpn built in. There is another router called the Aircove Go specifically designed for Expressvpn built in to the router. It’s available on Amazon.

I used to have exactly the same router as you when I was on FTTC back in 2018. I had to have a separate Vigor modem as we were still on copper back then at our old house. My Honest opinion of the R7000, is that is was garbage and again in my opinion, using that router as an end of life unsupported product, is a retrograde step.

It is your choice however and you’re the one who has to live with it.

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:33:37 GMT

I have a Huawei 1-port modem (FTTP) with 1 ethernet cable coming out of port1. The Netgear Router does not recognize the internet connection from Port1, so how will those credentials help?

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

licquorice — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:37:49 GMT

Oh for goodness sake, those credentials are needed to connect to the internet. You need to configure the Netgear WAN as a PPPoE connection with those credentials.

I'm getting increasingly annoyed that you seem to be questioning my solutions when you clearly have no network knowledge yourself.

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:41:17 GMT

I'll do what you said tomorrow after work. Not questioning: others in Facebook netgear groups say you have to keep the BT smart hub with the Netgea behind the Smart Hub. I have no network knowledge.

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

licquorice — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:43:42 GMT

I have, listen to what I'm saying.

They are talking about a copper connection or requiring Digital Voice.

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:46:24 GMT

I have 2 Essential Digital Home Phones connected via WPS to the Smart Hub. Netgear has WPS. So can I switch these Home Phones over to Netgear too?

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:54:34 GMT

I got a 2nd hand Netgear R7000 for £30 the aircove go is about £200. Cost is the only reason

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

licquorice — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:56:24 GMT

Now you say.

No, you can't connect DV phones to anything but the BT hub2.

If you want to keep your landline you will need to use the BT hub connected to the ONT and then connect the Netgear WAN port to a hub LAN port.

This will entail an entirely different configuration of the Netgear.

You will need to configure the Netgear to use a different IP subnet to the BT, e.g 192.168.2.xxx

Give the Netgear WAN port an IP address of 192.168.1.10, subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and Gateway 192.168.1.254

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:56:29 GMT

Can you copy and paste all the details of what I need to put into the Netgear router? Ppoe mode. VLAN 101?

Re: Replace BT Smart Hub 2 with netgear R7000 router

Jake12 — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:04:06 GMT

With that setup can I disable WiFi on my Smarthub and enable WiFi with DCHP on my Netgear? Will the Landline voices work without WiFi but with WPS? I bought the netgear to extend the WiFi range and to install ExpressVPN