How important is the router if you have a wired network and wireless APs?

Deep · 8 Mar 2023 at 12:22

I'm planning my home refurb and I'll be having a total of around 30 Cat 6s dotted around the house, I'll have 5 APs covering my house and garden

I'm planning on having a 2 ethernet ports going to 2 separate switches;
1 x 48 port 1Gig
1 x 5 port 2.5Gig

I would loved to get a 48 port 2.5gbe switch for future proofing but they're well expensive so completely out the question. The 2.5GB will be feeding all the access points, which I'll be upgrading to Ubiquiti Wifi 6E APs.
In addition to the access points, I'll have a Synology server, Intel NUC for inhome Steam Link, Shield TV, PS5 and a few other bits and bobs. Nothing that is overly demanding but I want to make sure I never have any issues with the "quality" of the connection.

Is it worth replacing the HomeHub or SuperHub with another router, even though I'm not going to use any of the wireless abilities? I've head about pfsense and stuff, but that's all far too complicated for me!

Caged · 8 Mar 2023 at 12:25

The main reason it would be worth getting a more capable router would be to do some proper QoS stuff on it. I don't know any ISP-provided router that can be configured to allow someone to max out a connection by downloading Xbox updates while a video call happens at full resolution without any dropped frames on another client, but it's fairly straightforward with a lot of 3rd-party options.

Orcvader · 8 Mar 2023 at 12:34

Another thing I found, not sure how the current ISP routers are, but I had issues with my smart home devices communicating with each other on the BT hub (Hub 5 I think it was?). Sometimes for example asking Google Home to turn on my TV did nothing even, but swapping for my own it works flawlessly.

Might as well see how the ISP router goes and if you do notice some weird issues then go for a different one. Don't even need to go for an expensive one if you don't need any of the advanced features, TP-Link/Netgear/Asus/etc will do.

Caged · 8 Mar 2023 at 12:41

There was a firmware release on the Smart Hub that did some strange things with communication between Wi-Fi clients on the 2.4 and 5GHz radios (as in, it broke them) but that was fixed.

Deep · 8 Mar 2023 at 13:19

I know very little of what QoS offerings would be relevant to me tbh, I can only think that ensuring the data passing through is being done as quick as possible.
I can imagine that if I'm streaming a game for example (not that I've tried this yet!) if the packets aren't being processed quick enough it'd lead to lag and stuttering

I found the hubs so crap for wifi when I used them previously, I remember my SuperHub (3?) used to go to dial up speeds for wifi. It turned out to be a bug that can happen randomly, that's when I discovered the access points and it changed it all.

WJA96 · 9 Mar 2023 at 06:41

BT‘s hubs always have been some of the best ISP supplied routers around. Try it first and see how you get on. If you can see it bottlenecking your system then there are other options.

lmfy2k · 9 Mar 2023 at 08:14

Deep said:
I'm planning my home refurb and I'll be having a total of around 30 Cat 6s dotted around the house, I'll have 5 APs covering my house and garden

I'm planning on having a 2 ethernet ports going to 2 separate switches;
1 x 48 port 1Gig
1 x 5 port 2.5Gig

I would loved to get a 48 port 2.5gbe switch for future proofing but they're well expensive so completely out the question. The 2.5GB will be feeding all the access points, which I'll be upgrading to Ubiquiti Wifi 6E APs.
In addition to the access points, I'll have a Synology server, Intel NUC for inhome Steam Link, Shield TV, PS5 and a few other bits and bobs. Nothing that is overly demanding but I want to make sure I never have any issues with the "quality" of the connection.

Is it worth replacing the HomeHub or SuperHub with another router, even though I'm not going to use any of the wireless abilities? I've head about pfsense and stuff, but that's all far too complicated for me!

Solid plan. Just remember to check the 5 port switch actually has 5 ports plus 1 uplink. Or you will be one port short for an AP.

You may need an 8 port 2.5gbe switch, room for expansion too

Deep · 9 Mar 2023 at 13:27

lmfy2k said:
Solid plan. Just remember to check the 5 port switch actually has 5 ports plus 1 uplink. Or you will be one port short for an AP.

You may need an 8 port 2.5gbe switch, room for expansion too

That's a very good point I didn't consider that at all!
Thanks

Demon · 9 Mar 2023 at 14:52

Deep said:
I'm planning my home refurb and I'll be having a total of around 30 Cat 6s dotted around the house, I'll have 5 APs covering my house and garden

I'm planning on having a 2 ethernet ports going to 2 separate switches;
1 x 48 port 1Gig
1 x 5 port 2.5Gig

I would loved to get a 48 port 2.5gbe switch for future proofing but they're well expensive so completely out the question. The 2.5GB will be feeding all the access points, which I'll be upgrading to Ubiquiti Wifi 6E APs.
In addition to the access points, I'll have a Synology server, Intel NUC for inhome Steam Link, Shield TV, PS5 and a few other bits and bobs. Nothing that is overly demanding but I want to make sure I never have any issues with the "quality" of the connection.

Is it worth replacing the HomeHub or SuperHub with another router, even though I'm not going to use any of the wireless abilities? I've head about pfsense and stuff, but that's all far too complicated for me!

A good compromise in keeping things simple, with lots of tutorials would be to go SDN (software defined networking), since you mention Ubiquiti, you could get their stuff.. I have the TPLink equivalent (Omada) and have put my Superhub in Modem Mode and have:

- TPLink ER7206 Router
- TL-SG2008P Managed 8 Port POE Gbe switch
- TL-SG2210P (x2) 10 Port + POE Gbe managed switch
- TL-SG2218 - 18 Port Managed Gbe switch
- EAP 620HD Wifi Access Point
- EAP 660HD Wifi Acess Point

I've setup VLANs and segregated networks throughout the house, which sounds complicated, but you can follow tutorials on youtube, so I have a Management , general devices, IoT and Guest Network, so ensure that dodgy WiFi christmas tree cannot compromise trusted devices/networks.. And all the consoles work well together, all get a fully open NAT status and have been so reliable.

Of course, you could stick with individual APs and not use any 'managed' complicated setup, but I love the control and 'simplicity' in that you configure it all from a single front end which will propogate rules/settings automatically to all relevant devices.