Replace my Homehub 5?
- Thread starter Columbo
- Start date
Put the HH into bridge mode and grab an Asus RT-N66U. Merlin firmware if you don't need QoS, Shibby Tomato/AdvancedTomato (same firmware, different UI) if you do.
The AC66U/AC68U are options if you have loads of AC devices, but I'd say sticking with N makes sense for the next few years.
The AC66U/AC68U are options if you have loads of AC devices, but I'd say sticking with N makes sense for the next few years.
The home hub 5 is an all in one unit isn't it? I have a modem and separate router with my infinity install. If there is no modem only/Bridge mode you could get hold of a modem from eBay perhaps and then a router of your choice (I have the Asus n56u)
Be careful if you use the bt TV Internet channels as they only work with certain routers and settings
Be careful if you use the bt TV Internet channels as they only work with certain routers and settings
- No customisable DNS (and BT's servers don't for example resolve CNAMEs to local IPs which is a problem for development servers).
- Some annoying DNS intercept error pages (e.g. troubleshooting page when net is down, parental controls page when you first connect a mobile device to Wifi).
- Half implemented NAT loopback.
- Virtually no port forwarding options.
- No way to limit access to ports by remote IP.
- No QoS at all, so you can't even for example give a VOIP phone's IP high priority.
- And so on.
It depends how you use the internet really and how much you need to configure your router. If the most you ever do is forward ports for games then the HH5 should be almost good enough.
WiFi is decent though. Not so much the range or anything but a common problem I have with other routers is that they can't sustain high bandwidth duplex WiFi traffic for long periods without crashing, which the HH5 seems good at presumably because it needs to be for BT Sport, Youview, etc.
I'm going to live with the HH5 for 6 months or so until there's a good router with built in VDSL, 802.11ac and customisable firmware. I can't be bothered with bridging crap these days as you do lose line stats etc.
Without wishing to speak for the OP I thought I'd answer since I've just ditched my homehub 5 in favour of a modem/router combo. Your take on this may be different as a potential BT customer (I'm with Plusnet) but the thing that made me swap out the HH5 were the built in intrusion features planted by BT (and impossible to remove currently).
Looking at my router logs for the last few months the I see regular activity by BTs remote agent (sometimes up to 10 events a day). Now not knowing what exactly these events are for you might think 'why care?' but the other issue is that a proportion of these remote accesses culminate in a router reboot and, given BTs DLM policy (and my reducing downstream connection speed) I can't help but feel that it's BT and not any inherent line stability issues that are reducing my speed.
That was enough to make me decide to get rid and go for a hacked modem and separate router - it is a shame though because, as you've pointed out, as far as performance and features go the HH5 is a decent bit of kit. Pity but there you have it...
Looking at my router logs for the last few months the I see regular activity by BTs remote agent (sometimes up to 10 events a day). Now not knowing what exactly these events are for you might think 'why care?' but the other issue is that a proportion of these remote accesses culminate in a router reboot and, given BTs DLM policy (and my reducing downstream connection speed) I can't help but feel that it's BT and not any inherent line stability issues that are reducing my speed.
That was enough to make me decide to get rid and go for a hacked modem and separate router - it is a shame though because, as you've pointed out, as far as performance and features go the HH5 is a decent bit of kit. Pity but there you have it...
I assume you mean BT Agent which as far as I know is just an implementation of TR-069. Even some third party routers have TR-069 support (pretty sure a lot of Netgears do, hence why ISPs used to give them out).
I don't know why people are suddenly fussed about BT Agent on VDSL when cable ISPs (C&W, Blue Yonder, NTL, Virgin, etc) have had the same access to your modem for decades and nobody cared.
BT's reasoning is most likely to be able to perform remote troubleshooting and to deploy new features as they become available (e.g. all the disabled IPv6 stuff in the HH5, and presumably 30a and vectoring in the future).
Sure, things like automatic firmware updates are pretty scary and could be very annoying on more advanced routes. I just don't understand the sudden paranoia around the net about this old feature.
EDIT: Just to clarify, I do think that stuff like TR-069 can be a problem and a lot of the recent router backdoor exploits (D-Link last year, Netgear this year) sound like badly implemented TR-069 responding to remote IPs instead of just internal IPs. But framing it as "BT spying" or "BT intrusion" isn't accurate.
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As Kyle has stated really but the lack of DNS options mixed with extremely limited port forwarding choices are pretty stupid.
The hardware is actually pretty good, its just utterly spoiled by BT's stupid firmware.
In terms of framing things I think you'll find you're on your own with the 'BT spying' one but hey artistic license n all that eh
I was referring to TR-069 - yes but to be frank, what its official title is or how long it's been around in whatever guise really doesn't interest me. As stated (sans spying accusation) - my (real) issue is BT's implementation of whatever you want to refer to it as, causing disconnects on my line - end of. Now they (BT) may have the best of intentions with this 'service' but, again, I don't really care because the only tangible effect I have seen is detrimental.
Given that the only disconnects on my line have been as a consequence of TR069 intervention and that in turn, BTs DLM appears to have reduced my sync, I don't think it's too critical to say that BT's 'service' amounts to intrusion but - if you insist I shall retract it and call it 'interference'...that better?
No real axe to grind here just looking to make it clear that:
a) I aint sporting a tin foil hat
and
b) BT agent/TR069 IS interfering with my HH5 and causing apparent line instability
If you have a look on the BT forums you'll also see I am not alone in being a bit miffed about it.
cheers
In terms of framing things I think you'll find you're on your own with the 'BT spying' one but hey artistic license n all that eh
The IPs BT chose for TR-069 are allocated to the DoD. They're de facto private IPs but not de jure.
This means that the first thing a lot of people notice is their modem seemingly phoning home to the DoD which gets a lot of accusations about spying.
I wasn't directing the "spying" at you, it's just that most references I see to BT Agent (outside of the BT care forums) are people paranoid about what it does and wanting to find out who it's phoning home to. This gives it a much worse reputation than what it really does (i.e. a remote admin tool).
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thanks for the reply.
Is it possible to put the HH5 in modem mode and use my own router if needed?
Not that I know of.
I'm torn between getting an Asus RT-AC68U (802.11ac, no modem) and Huawei HG612 modem off ebay, or just waiting to see if the Asus DSL-AC68U ever launches in the UK (802.11ac + VDSL built in).
The benefit to having separate modems + router is that you can reboot one without the other (and thus not effect sync rates or profiles). A disadvantage is that you have two devices and when in bridged mode you can't access line stats. Standalone modems like the HG612 have no NAT etc and thus don't need to be put into a bridged mode so you can still access the admin interface and telnet in.
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