3rd party router with Bt hub for digital voice

[Skydog]

Hi,

I know this has been asked and responed too many times. But sadly for me the solutions become slightly too complicated to follow or suppose a level of a degree of knowledge.

Usual question. I need to set up Bt smart hub and a 3rd party router (Netgear R7000)  to enable to have DV but without using the Bt hub for anything else but DV.

Be nice to have a simple step by step guide on how too. I get the jist of what to do but get confused of the minute detail of changing settings in the Netgear. 

Any help much appreciated. Thanks

[WSH]

Not familiar with the Netgear R7000 but this is adapted from a technique I’ve used in the past and I believe it should work:

Smart Hub 2 router settings:

I’d recommend DHCP set to off.

Router itself set to static IP of 192.168.1.254 (the default)

Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 or /24 (again, default)

DMZ host set to 192.168.1.1 (Stops double NAT problems but only really needed in my experience if you run a server etc.)

Turn off both WI-FI bands in favor of own router.  (This may also be a good security move if you do enable the DMZ host.  I would still expect Wi-Fi traffic to go through the SH2 firewall but I can’t be sure how it’s set up internally).

Connect DSL port to phone socket (FTTC) or connect the WAN port to the ONT (FTTP)

Phones/extension can then plug into Smart Hub 2 for DV.

Own router settings:

DHCP on, range set as 192.168.0.2-192.168.0.200, (for example, doesn’t have to be the same range as here).

Router itself on static IP of 192.168.0.1

Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 or /24

EWAN port enabled and set to fixed IP of 192.168.1.1

Gateway set to 192.168.1.254

DNS set to 192.168.1.254 (or whatever you usually use).

EWAN socket on own router (probably port 4) connected to a LAN port on the SH2 router.  (NB. This will not work if connecting to the DSL port on your own router).

[Crimliar]

The Netgear R7000 and the Asus RT-AC68u (they're basically the same device!) were great in their day, but that day was 11 years ago!  What is it that you need the R7000 for that you believe the SH2 is not capable of?

[Skydog]

Good Morning WSH,

Thank you , and for the detail. I shall attempt later today.

regards

[Skydog]

Good Morning Crimliar,

Thank you for response. 

It's to enable a simple reliable Guest Network.   Which is not or was not available with the BT hub. It maybe possible but did'nt seem so.  Also the R7000 seems more reliable. does not crash as much as the Smart hub nor the range.

regards

[WSH]

Having looked it up, @Crimliar has a point.

If you are using it with FTTP, a router of that era will probably have firewall throughput limited to only 300 – 400 Mb/s and it may well be out of security support by now.

[Skydog]

Thanks, yes we do have FTTP,

Ok, understand, last update was last year ?  but sure you are both correct and appreciate the advice. But unless I can get guest network via Smart hub2, then I'll need a 3rd party router either the R7000 or a newer one? 

Don't mind either way but needs to the Plug n play as much as possible.  Not particularly keen on spending time on this sort of thing.

kind regards

[Crimliar]

The SH2 has a simple reliable guest network!  The range on the R7000, when it launched, was exceptional, but by modern standards, it's pretty run-of-the-mill.  When it comes to reliability, the only router I've ever had that used to crash was an Asus RT-AC86u, most of those crashes were just logged and you'd never know, so full-blown coming to a standstill I think it did that twice!

I'd try with just the SH2, and if that's not enough, then you'll probably need something newer and more powerful than an R7000!

For the record I use an Asus GT-AX6000 meshed with a single RP-AX58 (just to get the signal into a service cupboard).  I'm not against using 3rd party routers, and I certainly use features not found on the SH2!

[Skydog]

Oh right, thanks. I was not aware that smarthub2 had guest network. Pretty sure when speaking to BT regarding DV change over, I asked this and was told no. But more than happy to try.

If you could advise on how, I'm currently logged into router but cannot see obvious Guest Network.

Many thanks

[TimCurtis]

@Skydog 

I've done similar with my Asus but made additional changes to the SH2.

I used a subnet mask of 255.255.252.0 firstly.

Disabled the firewall and wifi (prevents BT Wifi access).

Fixed the router as a permanent IP address and port forwarded all IPv4 & 6 traffic to the router. Also I set the router in the DMZ.

Backup your SH2 settings and once you've set up your contacts in the phone(s) export the contacts, otherwise on a full reset all is lost.

Think that's about it.