WPA3 compatible router

[asan]

I found that my smart hub 2 doesn’t support WPA3. Are there third-party/ non-BT routers to get WPA3 security with a BT connection? Thanks

[Kimberlin]

@asan 

Indeed there are plenty of 3rd party routers out there that support WPA3, just do a search ‘ont interweb.

I use a TP-Link gaming router and that is now almost 4 years old and supports WPA3.

Be aware however, that there are still lots of older IOT devices for example that aren’t compatible with WPA3 and so will automatically switch to WPA2 protocols depending on how the router is set up.

In any case, it’s absolutely worth having a decent router with better security especially if you have lots of devices connected. Plus, a good replacement router should now at least be WiFi6 capable. As I understand it and as has been mentioned many times previously in other threads, you can buy a brand new EE router off the auction sites for peanuts that are perfectly usable with BT. It all depends on how much money you want to spend.

[WSH]

Just be aware that if you are on Digital Voice, (or likely to be switched to it in the near future), it only works through the Smart Hub 2 as it's a proprietary version of VoIP.

There are ways to use the Smart Hub 2 inline with your own router or use your own router as just a wireless access point.  Plenty of posts elsewhere on here about doing both.  Plus WPA2 is still perfectly adaequate for most domestic applications, provided a sensible length of password is used and it's random letters, numbers and symbols.  One of the few good points about the short range of wireless is that someone needs to be within about 50m to get a stable enough connection to even try to break in.

[Kimberlin]

I keep forgetting that there are still folks out there that use a landline phone 😂

There’s also the subject of DNS servers because obviously you can’t change that at router level with ISP equipment.

[licquorice]

Yeah, you can if use it in conjunction with PiHole as I do.

[Kimberlin]

@licquorice 

To be fair though, the use of pihole might be a tad too technical for some. Let’s face it, there are folks who seemingly can’t use a VoIP phone with their supplied ISP router or they are unaware of how to resolve DNS issues just by changing DNS servers on laptops etc.

[Crimliar]

Just be aware that WPA(3) only secures the WiFi, it does not provide end to end encryption!

Personally there's a lot of IoT here, and the network the IoT is mostly connected to still uses WPA2 due to incompatibilities with WPA3 *AND* WPA3/WPA2 combo modes - one day I'm going to throw my HP printer out the window!