Router recommendations please (to replace Smart Hub 2)

[DonnaD14]

I've just recently had fttp installed and I'm on the 900 plan. It's achieving the guaranteed minimum speed to the house, however even on ethernet it gets nowhere near those kind of speeds (network test on PS5 ethernet  connection is achieving around 250). And even though I'm sat only about 2.5m from my router (in the same room), the wifi signal to my phone is showing as "poor" when tested in the MyBT app.

I know the SH2 is the most basic bit of kit, and I'm looking to upgrade to a 3rd party router. I'm here to kindly ask you for your recommendations please, if you've chosen to get a 3rd party router yourselves.

I live in a 3 storey house and currently use a single TP Link wifi extender to reach the parts of the house that would struggle to receive a wifi signal otherwise. 

Also, how complicated is it to set up a 3rd party router? Thanks in advance.

[imjolly]

do you have digital voice or no longer have a home phone and just broadband only?  If DV then you need to connect the BT hub first in line but can still then used 3rd party router as well

[licquorice]

The SH2 isn't as dire as folks make out.

Third party router setup is simple 

[WSH]

It's probably got more to do with where you have the hub positioned.  Setting up Wi-Fi is not quite as easy as the ISP's would like you to believe.  For example, you may only be 2.5m away but is there any furniture in direct line of sight between the device and the hub?  If so, try raising the hub up above it.

[DonnaD14]

Thanks for your replies. The router is sat on a table near the openreach point.

[DonnaD14]

No I don't have digital voice. I have broadband only, no landline.

[Kimberlin]

@DonnaD14 

Best thing you can do, is read through reviews online. Much depends on how much you want to spend on a third part router. I spent £300 on mine and it’s a great bit of kit but my requirements may not be the same as yours.

As has been stated already, 3rd party router set up is relatively straightforward. You just need to learn what a router is capable of and that’s why you need to go through the settings and set them up for your own requirements.

I’d suggest looking for a tri-band router which will almost certainly be WiFi6/7 capable. It would also be WPA3 capable.

The BT SH2 is undoubtedly perfectly fine for the vast majority of domestic users but it is now a 7 year old router which doesn’t allow the end user to change much within the settings. So, no changing DNS server at router level for example, no WPA3 which many will argue doesn’t particularly matter because WPA2 is adequate for most. Plus there will be other optional settings on a third party router you just won’t be able to achieve on a ISP supplied router.

Personally, I won’t go back to an ISP router, but that’s because the benefits of a third party router outweigh ISP routers in my experience.

[Kodikid]

Another alternative is to have a look at the EE router offerings 

Wifi 6 and 7 EE router's are widely available on e bay and they work seamlessly with BT broadband. 

One thing to consider with thrid party router's is if you have a broadband problem you'll have to re install the original SH2 as BT might charge you for any work as like most other  isp's they don't support thrid party router's. 

[gg30340]

Can some one explain why if the EE router is so great that there apparently so many for sale on Ebay!

It can't be because the seller has moved ISP and has decided to sell it because like BT, EE want them back or the person will face a charge of £70/£85.

[Kodikid]

The fact they are there dosnt imply inferiority 

Technically there shouldn't be any as there supposed to be handed back.

But there's literally dozens of brand new sealed routers on e bay so I suspect a bit of skullduggery from EE staff.

Same goes for the pro box.