Alternative Router

I notice some commented that the BT SmartHub was not a 'real' router. Can someone recommend a 'real' router please? Also I've noticed this 14 day reset business on my unreal BT Smarthub; is this because I'm on a BT line or is it the hub?
Many thanks in advance.

If you use a real router instead of the smart hub, you will lose the BT wifi hotspot and you may lose BT TV.

The 14 day reboot is usually due to the BT smart hub

I don't use either of those.
So any recommendations?
Thanks

I can't really recommend the router I use, It's pfSense software running on a virtual machine on my server with several Eeros providing the wireless mesh. I mean it's brilliant but not exactly plug and play.

In reply to a post by WildCottage:

I don't use either of those.
So any recommendations?
Thanks

If money isn't an issue, then the Billion 8900AX, TP Link VR2600 or Netgear D7800 are all top class 4x4 stream routers - the 8900AX is the current creme da la creme of all-in-one routers, with a price tag to match, closely followed by the Asus DSL-AC88U:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Billion-MU-MIMO-Wireless-Gi...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XWYYK32
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/aan/TP-LINK-Archer-VR2600...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Modems/NETGEAR-D7800-100U...

For 3 x3 routers around the 100 notes mark, I would recommend the TP link VR900 but the Billion 8800NL and TP Link VR600 are also good options:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Connections-UK-Arc...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Connections-UK-Arc...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Billion-8800NL-R2-Wireless-...

If you want an el-cheapo router then the TP Link W9970 is your best bet

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Wireless-Support-UK...

Edited by baby_frogmella (Sun 09-Jul-17 14:25:09)

Asus RT-AC68U - been using it for a few years now and its rock solid, no complaints and wifi range and speed is excellent. Have recently overclocked it and running Merlin custom firmware on it as well for extra features and monitoring.

Netgear R7000 Nighthawk is also a good contender.

What features do you hope to gain by switching router?

We can then advise.

I seem to be out of my league here!
Not having the hub re-set every 14 days would be good for a start.
Otherwise, just more reliable. The first BT Smarthub I had when I moved to Infinity2 stopped working on the wi-fi within a week.

Thanks everyone who has replied - I'll check out the possibilities ...

Are you having any issues now? Other than the 14 day reboot which frankly isn't that big of a deal as it usually does it around 3AM.

Unless you spend a decent amount you may end up with a worse spec device. The smarthub is AC2600 you'll find a lot of devices around sub £100 are only AC1200.

In the absence of any issues other than the 14 day reboot, and without knowing yourself any additional feature you want / need it doesn't make a lot of sense to invest. A lot of the guys here who buy their own devices do so because they have features they know they want such as band steering etc.

Specs of the smarthub:
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/n...

Edited by ukhardy07 (Sun 09-Jul-17 17:32:55)

Thanks ukhardy07

The only real problem I have with the reset is the new IP address. It's a pain because I use FTP to upload to several websites I control. I then have to 'whitelist' the new IP before being able to do so. A static IP address would solve the problem, but at what cost I ask myself.

But you're right, too much of an investment for little reason.

Many thanks to you all.