Router for using with Plusnet Hub 2

Philtor

Philtor

Philtor

Soldato
Joined
20 Nov 2009
Posts
7,093
Hi Folks

I have Plusnet FTTP and using their Hub 2 which does not allow for splitting the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

The Hub decides which frequency devices use and I want to have my work machine always connect on the 5GHz band.

So is the TP Link Archer AX1500 a good choice? Can be had for £40 at the minute.

Should be simple enough to put the Hub in bridge mode and then have this do the donkey work (he says) :D
 
You won't need the Hub Two at all with FTTP. Just connect the new router directly to the ONT on the wall with an ethernet cable. The ONT is basically the modem. You then just input the PPPoE details on the router: https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/broadband-connection-settings/

I would suggest looking at Cudy WR3000 devices in that price bracket. Not to say there is anything wrong with TP-Link but the Cudy has more options of firmware etc. I also feel like TP-Link is introducing way too many versions of the same product it can get confusing come update time. Also cheaper at around £30 for the Cudy.
 
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Thanks :) Networking stuff was never my forte so didn’t know about not needing the Hub and just using the router! Even better then. Will look at them options you mention too.

Edit: on the above link, I assume I just use the ‘what settings do I use for fibre broadband’ rather the other one that mentions the modem? Just when you said about the ONT being the modem..
 
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Philtor said:
Edit: on the above link, I assume I just use the ‘what settings do I use for fibre broadband’
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Sort of. Makes more sense to look at "What settings should I use for a fibre router that's connected to a BT Openreach modem?". I know that sounds counter productive but they are basically the same info on each part, just the other talks about VLAN tag 101 which you don't need to do on FTTP as the ONT also does that for you. They really should clean that documentation up a tad.
 
Ok thanks again!

Why I didn’t do this years ago I will never know as that Hub Plusnet supply isn’t great as is most ISP supplied gear I guess.

Get’s the job done but not being able to split the bands was a bad choice and frustrating. Very limited control over stuff also given it’s locked down.
 
The Hub2 is just a rebranded BT/EE Hub, it was actually one of the better ISP provided CPE options, but Plusnet always pulls BT’s hand me down equipment a few years later, it also had no issues providing 5Ghz clients 5Ghz. If your device isn’t getting a combined 2.4/5Ghz signal, I would suggest the issue likely lies elsewhere, either poor signal strength or the client side. Devices can be dropped back to 2.4Ghz when the signal is poor as 2.4Ghz has better penetration than 5Ghz, I suspect this may be your issue, and if so, a hard wired AP or mesh node in a more appropriate location is a much better answer.
 
Philtor said:
Thanks :) Networking stuff was never my forte so didn’t know about not needing the Hub and just using the router! Even better then. Will look at them options you mention too.

Edit: on the above link, I assume I just use the ‘what settings do I use for fibre broadband’ rather the other one that mentions the modem? Just when you said about the ONT being the modem..
Click to expand...
I’ve only recently had Plusnet FTTP installed and I’ve not use their router at all, just plugged my Asus router in to the ONT, set the connection type to pppoe, put my username and password in and left all other settings as they were.
 
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Avalon said:
The Hub2 is just a rebranded BT/EE Hub, it was actually one of the better ISP provided CPE options, but Plusnet always pulls BT’s hand me down equipment a few years later, it also had no issues providing 5Ghz clients 5Ghz. If your device isn’t getting a combined 2.4/5Ghz signal, I would suggest the issue likely lies elsewhere, either poor signal strength or the client side. Devices can be dropped back to 2.4Ghz when the signal is poor as 2.4Ghz has better penetration than 5Ghz, I suspect this may be your issue, and if so, a hard wired AP or mesh node in a more appropriate location is a much better answer.
Click to expand...
Yeah but you cannot disable the automatic smart selection and create two separate SSID’s for each band which is what I want to do.

It’s not a bad hub really but that is a big negative for me.
 
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Philtor said:
Yeah but you cannot disable the automatic smart selection and create two separate SSID’s for each band which is what I want to do.

It’s not a bad hub really but that is a big negative for me.
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Agree.

A friend who just signed up is having issues because of this some of his devices like lights wont work they need to be on 2.4ghz and even with trying to disable 5ghz and getting them to connect before turning it back on it runs into issues still.

It's very poor that they don't allow the option to have them separate. (a lot of people in there own forums complaining about it)

Is the Cudy WR3000 a good cheap replacement?
 
GregI said:
You won't need the Hub Two at all with FTTP. Just connect the new router directly to the ONT on the wall with an ethernet cable. The ONT is basically the modem. You then just input the PPPoE details on the router: https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/broadband-connection-settings/

I would suggest looking at Cudy WR3000 devices in that price bracket. Not to say there is anything wrong with TP-Link but the Cudy has more options of firmware etc. I also feel like TP-Link is introducing way too many versions of the same product it can get confusing come update time. Also cheaper at around £30 for the Cudy.
Click to expand...
I did not know this... great info... looking forward to fttp going live in my town!
 
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