Any use for old Plusnet router and modem

I just recently upgraded to a new shiny Plusnet Hub One. Is there anything I can put the old Plusnet Technicolor router and Openreach Modem (apart from a door stop) to use.

Edited by Timalay (Sat 23-Jan-16 12:55:54)

Usually an old router is only any use as a wireless access point or switch. You disable DHCP on it and connect it with wires to the main router (ethernet cable or powerline).

Otherwise, Plusnet can send out a returns bag for the router if you don't want it.

Edited by Oliver341 (Sat 23-Jan-16 12:37:41)

I'd hang onto the modem if it's a Huawei HG612 especially if you're on a Huawei cabinet.

Even an ECI would be useful if the Hub One went down.

And change its preset IP address.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Even an ECI would be useful if the Hub One went down.

I've decidedly still going to keep them both that very reason.

Edited by Timalay (Sat 23-Jan-16 22:36:16)

I still keep them for a back up if the Hub One goes down.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

And change its preset IP address.

Yup To an address within the subnet, but outside of the DHCP range of the main router. Plusnet, BT, Technicolor (and probably other) routers usually have a large chunk of non-DHCP addresses below .64 for this purpose.

In reply to a post by Timalay:

I just recently upgraded to a new shiny Plusnet Hub One. Is there anything I can put the old Plusnet Technicolor router and Openreach Modem (apart from a door stop) to use.

How on earth did you get Plusnet to give you one of them, did you sign your life away? A mate of mine had a problem with his router and plusnet said they would not replace it as they said only new customers was getting the new hub, so he told them it would be a better idea to look after their current customers and offer a service they are supposed to offer. Eventually, they did send him one as he told them if he can not get onto the net due to a faulty router then he will change to another provider that will get him on-line.

What surprised me is that they did not lock him into another contract, I think they knew he would find it difficult to find a supplier that does broadband only.


I would not lock myself in for another 18 months just to get a one hub.

I just called them up and asked. I'm out of contract also so they probably wanted to keep me. I'm more than happy with my service from Plusnet, so a 18 month contract doesn't both me. There are a few that do broadband only (where you can have a phone line somebody else), but most of them seem more expensive than Plusnet.

In reply to a post by Timalay:

I still keep them for a back up if the Hub One goes down.

I would have honesty thought that was an obvious consideration in the first place

Well I obviously wasn't going to throw them away.

In reply to a post by Timalay:

I just called them up and asked. I'm out of contract also so they probably wanted to keep me. I'm more than happy with my service from Plusnet, so a 18 month contract doesn't both me. There are a few that do broadband only (where you can have a phone line somebody else), but most of them seem more expensive than Plusnet.

Some smaller providers will do broadband only but as you said they are more expensive. i still have till August until my contract is out, I am not sure if I will move either. I will have a look and see if my old ISP have sorted things out and I may go back to them. i still have their equipment on my roof, so at least they will not have to charge me installation fees.

The only problem is could I go back to 10Mb/s?

I suppose there is no way that one can connect a USB disk drive directly (with the right adapter) to an ethernet port on a PN router?

Meldrew
(I voted NO in 1975 and look what has happened since!)

This?

But seeing as the Plusnet router will not be in use ...?

Whether or not it would work technically is another question, but cheap enough to try in to a router that doesn't have a USB socket. Or has a printer already on it. Or to a switch.

I always found getting disks or printers to work on a router's USB port was messy, and different for every make of router that I did it on.

Selfishly I was thinking of my PN router! As I don't trust the "cloud" I was thinking of attaching a memory stick with some files on I could access from a remote location without turning the computer on.

I do like a nice cheap gadget though. Many thanks!

Let us know if it works or not. Could be useful to someone.

Getting the USB memory stick drivers up and running probably isn't going to happen, even if the computer was running. Maybe if it was loaded before the computer was turned off it would work and continue to, but I have doubts.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 26-Jan-16 14:54:45)

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

This?

That's a curious device. The details seem to suggest it will only be suitable for connecting a USB modem to a LAN port. As far as I was aware, modems and routers use Ethernet for networking, not USB. Hmm.

Only thing I can think of is one of those 56k dial-up usb modem things, but I doubt that will work unless plugged into a PC with drivers.

I couldn't find any details .

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I couldn't find any details .

I had a poke around out of curiosity, and it appears not to support usb storage devices. It would be neat if it did.

I think a NAS drive is what you need or be creative with a Raspberry Pi.

The original modems provided with ADSL connections were USB - the old Alcatel Stingray being BTs modem of choice in the early 2000's.

In reply to a post by ian72:

The original modems provided with ADSL connections were USB - the old Alcatel Stingray being BTs modem of choice in the early 2000's.

Yup. Although I doubt this little device has drivers within it to drive a USB modem, ADSL or 56k, let alone the ability to configure it in terms of modulation, VPI/VCI etc.

Edited by Oliver341 (Wed 27-Jan-16 09:41:02)

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

Yup. Although I doubt this little device has drivers within it to drive a USB modem, ADSL or 56k, let alone the ability to configure it in terms of modulation, VPI/VCI etc.

Yes, this just can't work. Its something made by someone with an idea, but no technical knowledge. USB needs software to function, even if the USB device is self powered, the USB interface is complex.