PlusNet Hub One or Billion 8800NL R2?

Called PlusNet retention to ask for an offer to sign up to a new contract as I am out of minimum contract and asked for the same price as Sky is offering new customers. I said I would get FTTC if they offered the same price of £25/month as Sky is offering. Which they agreed so I am getting 30 to 40 Mbps with Call Plan: Unlimited UK and Mobile calls total of £25/month for 18 months.
The new contract connection will start on Friday 29th January.
I have received the PlusNet Hub One but I have a brand new Billion BiPAC 8800NL R2 wireless-N VDSL2/ADSL 2+ so, my question is: is it better for me to set-up the Billion rather than the PlusNet Hub One?

My approach would be to do an initial setup with the HubOne and once you're happy that everything is working OK then start thinking about experimenting.

Thanks @longedge will do.

Agree with setting up the PN router - apart from anything else they may not 'assist' you if there are problems with any other router. Once you are settled, as longedge suggests, go for the Billion - - a good router,

Edited by mikejp (Wed 27-Jan-21 22:01:19)

In terms of the retention plan, the 18 month contract is a PITA. You can get line rental saver for 12 months but the remaining 6 is full price.

In reply to a post by fireants:

In terms of the retention plan, the 18 month contract is a PITA. You can get line rental saver for 12 months but the remaining 6 is full price.

It's not an issue. You can also have 12 month and 24 month broadband contracts. I've had both.

I also save a few quid by having LRS.

Edited by longedge (Thu 28-Jan-21 11:43:19)

I have a Billion 8800 AXL here and have used it for a few years now. It's mostly rock solid.
The model you're considering has the same problem as the original Billion 8800NL - the LAN ports don't have Gigabit Ethernet, so only 10/100 rather than the AXL's 10/100/1000.
If your internal network can live with that, it should be fine.

The Billion 8800NL R2 has a cheap/budget Broadcom chipset.
The older 8800NL R1 had a premium Broadcom chipset.

It's bait and switch. Releasing a product with premium components and then releasing a 2nd revision with the same model number but with inferior components.
The majority of good reviews you will read about the Billion 8800NL will likely be for the older model.

I found it (the chipset) quite unstable on my line.

Personally I think you would be better off with the Plusnet Hub One.
If you are able to I would recommend getting a refund on the Billion.

I too have had bad experience of Billion routers, £80 down the drain. However the PN Hub One (rebadged HH5 I think) has its limitations and for the past couple of years I have excellent results from the BT HH6 which cost me £15 on Gumtree. PN Community website has full instructions on setting it up.

Me too..been using a secondhand BT hub 6 since I subscribed to Plusnet and can confirm it works very well