Plusnet Moden/Router or my own

I'm soon to switch to Plusnet for Fibre BB. I have a new modem/router I would like to use. Should I use it at the outset of switchover or should I use the one Plusnet sends me and after the 10 day test period switch it?

FTTC has no 10 day test period, the line will usually see the major changes after the first 24 hours but lots of errors/fiddling at any time can force the DLM to react.

If this is first time on FTTC or switching away from an LLU then probably best to use supplied kit initially to avoid ISP support blaming your kit.

the plusnet supplied one will be total [censored], if it works at all! use your own one if it compatible with fttc (has a wan port)

Edited by deleted (Mon 26-Sep-16 02:59:47)

When I first got fibre the Plusnet kit was pretty horrible. A separate VDSL modem and a router with poor wifi. I bought my own in the end.

A friend has just moved to PN 80/20 fibre. the current PN modem/router is the BT Home Hub 5, rebadged to Plusnet. A neat unit that works just fine.They happen to have a good line so the sync speed was around 78/19 and has stayed that way. Download speed using the TBB tester was poor at the very start but within a few hours settled at a very acceptable 72/17.

The only gripe so far is that you can't see the line statistics. If checking for problems it would be nice to see SNR, attenuation and error rate.

Edited by ppppenguin99 (Mon 26-Sep-16 06:46:16)

This will be my third switch on FTTC. BT, Plusnet, BT and now back to Plusnet. Reason for switching is contract runs out and the deal becomes so much better if I switch. Currently using BT HH5 but it seems to drop out a quite a bit. Never did when it was connected via the openreach (white box) modem. It got fried and so I went to just HH5 modem/router. I knew the Plusnet router was to be HH5 so I bought an ASUS ac68u.

I've used Hub One since switching to fibre at New Year.

Has been perfectly stable and no problems with 2.4 or 5Ghz wi-fi

Software has recently updated

Plusnet Hub One | Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.226 | Last updated 21/09/16

In reply to a post by Speedchaser:

ASUS ac68u.

If that doesn't have VDSL support you will need to get another VDSL modem, perhaps an old openreach one from ebay. I have an AC68U with the openreach VDSL modem, works well on plusnet.

If it is the DSL-AC68U it will have VDSL modem, but some have reported less than stellar performance from the modem side, whereas the router is the great normal Asus standard.

In reply to a post by Ripcord:

the plusnet supplied one will be total [censored], if it works at all! use your own one if it compatible with fttc (has a wan port)

A wan port isn't much use without a modem ....

Yes I have the DSL version so it has a modem built in. So am I better to start off with the Plusnet HH5 and then switch? Or am I better to try and start off with the inteneded router? Second question, was the ASUS router performance problems you cite related to high speeds. My FTTC speed is only 7MBS.

In reply to a post by Ripcord:

the plusnet supplied one will be total [censored], if it works at all

That is just nonsense. It will work and the best option is to use it initially before considering a change.

Edited by kasg (Mon 26-Sep-16 11:21:54)

My HH5 was rock solid no drop outs when it was connected to the open reach modem. Since running on its own the connection drops out intermittently throughout the day. The whole connection is lost. Though sometimes wifi will run but Homeplug connections stop. It usually lasts less than 5 minutes and then the connection returns. A real pain though if your in the middle of something eg streaming movie or kids playing online.

+1
And the user knows they have a working spare.

Issues were more related to performance on VDSL overall, rather than throughput.

If your estimate is only 7 Mbps then I'd start with the HH5 and look at getting a different VDSL2 modem long term e.g. unlocked Huawei HG612 to ensure vectoring/G.INP support

Also what is the range of speeds given, 7 Mbps on VDSL2 is in the area where estimates can be much more varied. If you have 4 to 5 Mbps from ADSL then I'd recommend staying with that.

The one supplied now is an all in one BT homehub type thing, Mate got one, I was not that impressed, seems worse wi-fi than his old Technicolor.

In reply to a post by nadger:

I've used Hub One since switching to fibre at New Year.

Has been perfectly stable and no problems with 2.4 or 5Ghz wi-fi

Software has recently updated

Plusnet Hub One | Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.226 | Last updated 21/09/16

you got 5Ghz working? my mates router hub one will not work on 5Ghz, the router say it is on, but it do not work. My phone should connect to either band, but only connect to 2.5, the 5Ghz do not exist. Maybe it is a fault router. Not a problem for my mate as he only have 2.5Ghz devices anyway.

The crazy thing was when I first moved from BT ADSL to BT VDSL2 FTTC, FTTC was a lot cheaper! Currently with BT FTTC and I get 7-8Mbs. Just the HH5 seems to drop out every so often. I do blame it though as I have never had that problem with any other set up with the openreach modem.

5ghz and 2.4 ghz are named the same out of the box. Due to lack of band steering most devices automatically go into the 2.4ghz ssid only.

Drop outs are very common on these devices over wifi mainly because devices are switching between 2.4 and 5ghz bands.

The fix on my homehub 5 (same device) was to split the 2.4 and 5ghz SSID and all drop outs stopped. You must only connect into one SSID and forget the other one.

Also the hub scans for wireless interference and often changes the wireless channel which can cause devices to drop out. Here fixing the wireless channel to a specific channel resolves this issue.

So overall advice on this device:

1) Split the 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz SSID - connect devices to only one of the SSIDs
2) Disable smart wireless, set a fixed channel on 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz

Edited by ukhardy07 (Mon 26-Sep-16 21:32:02)

That explains why another mate of mine kept having problems with his Homehub 5 connecting to his Iphone for wi-fi calling. He was with AOL before and as soon as he pulled into his drive his phone would connect to Wi-fi calling, but would not with the hub. I did separate and gave them different names, but the Iphone was still not having having it, so I disabled the 5Ghz and of the hub and all been well since.

the more advanced these routers get the more trouble they are, I have a cheap Tp-link and it been fine and it is getting on now.

Using a homehub on one line and when it has the rare drop (no more than other hardware) do find it takes longer to get around to being a useable connection, and the wireless signal drops in/out while it is syncing.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

the more advanced these routers get the more trouble they are, I have a cheap Tp-link and it been fine and it is getting on now.

I've had dual band WiFi for years using various tech, and I usually avoid using any of the ISP issued routers.

Sadly its a case of the ISP routers being made to a price, rather than quality. For some reason all of us in the UK are motivated by very low prices rather than sensible levels of quality for a fair price.

iPhone 5 and later work fine with 2.4GHz and 5GHz with both transmissions using the same SSID - in fact Apple sell a router that does this - but like every other router you can split into two SSIDs which I also recommend for reliability.

Yes WiFi calling with a HH5 factory configured is not a good experience.

Take an iPhone 6 and a Homehub in the living room.
You go into the living room, start a WiFi call at 5Ghz. You then walk during the call to the back of the house, where 5Ghz coverage is low, so it switches on the fly to 2.4Ghz. The user sees on screen a constant wifi coverage, but the WiFi call drops out due to the band changing "on the fly."

Second scenario - you are in the living room, start a WiFi call at 5Ghz. You remain in the living room. The Homehub "Smart Scan" technology identifies that another wireless channel is more clear than the current one and on the fly changes the channel in use. The WiFi call drops out.

The best ISP to date for this is probably virginmedia who seperate the 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz bands, and their auto channel selection barely ever changes the channel being used.

My iPhone seamlessly roams across my HH5s while on a wifi call.

Vodafone or EE? My EE one does not.

EDIT: I have two smarthubs though

Edited by ukhardy07 (Tue 27-Sep-16 12:20:53)

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

My iPhone seamlessly roams across my HH5s while on a wifi call.

HH5s - is that an Apple branded HH5?

[groan]

No it's a plural