FTTP Router Recomendations

We have just migrated to the Aquiss 333/50 FTTP package from an AAISP 125/20 Home1 connection.

On AAISP we were using their provided Thomson DGA0122 router with a Netgear Orbi RBR50/RBS50 MESH combination in access point mode providing the wifi, with an ageing Draytek Vigor 2762 acting as a back up router if required. The main reason for using the DGA0122 in combination with the Orbi was for ease of support by A&A should we have had any issues with our line.

Both the Vigor and the Orbi have now gone end of life and will not have any further firmware updates, which leaves me with the DGA0122 as the only supported router, however its wifi isn't good enough to reach the whole house.

Our house is wide and not very deep (roughly 40' x 18') and unfortunately the FTTP connection comes in one corner of the house, so we need something that can give good wifi coverage to bedrooms on the upper floor at the far end of the house.

Our usage is fairly modest: mostly browsing and emails. We don't pay for TV other than having access to Amazon TV as aport of Prime and have no plans to upgrade to any of the High Definition TV services.

The Orbi worked well for wifi as it was a MESH system with a dedicated wifi backhaul, but probably ought to be replaced if it isn't going to get any future updates.

Our budget is fairly limited (probably £250 max) and I haven't really kept up with the latest wifi standards and router offerings.

What would you recommend as a replacement for the Orbi? Is there any reason to move away from a Mesh system (particularly as aesthetics are an important consideration)?

If the Orbi mesh works well enough don't bother with an upgrade - the Orbi is sitting behind your router so it's not going to get hammered with hacking attempts in the same way it would if it was directly connected to the Internet.

You could use the 2762 as your Router, as it's still getting updates from Draytek. It's should just about cope with 300Mb, and if you disable the Wifi and use the Orbi mesh, it should all work fine?

If the wifi mesh that you have works sufficiently well, I wouldn't change it. If you want to change the router, then maybe take one of Aquiss' recommended models, just to make support easier.

If you were installing something new for wifi, then ideally you'd have a couple of well-located wifi access points, and have them Cat5e-cabled back to the router - like the Unifi U6+ or U7 Lite, which can be ceiling mounted. The reliability and performance of cabled APs is streets ahead of a mesh.

Having the cabling pulled to these is obviously disruptive - but if there *were* a time when you were doing some major redecorating, that would be a great time to do it.

Otherwise, just enjoy what you have if it works well enough. I am on Aquiss 300/50 too BTW

In reply to a post by Spud2003:

If the Orbi mesh works well enough don't bother with an upgrade - the Orbi is sitting behind your router so it's not going to get hammered with hacking attempts in the same way it would if it was directly connected to the Internet.

Thanks for your input.

The latest firmware update is Feb 2025 albeit with no additional firmware updates planned, so it looks as though I might be safe for a while yet with operating it in access point mode only.

In reply to a post by Adduxi:

You could use the 2762 as your Router, as it's still getting updates from Draytek. It's should just about cope with 300Mb, and if you disable the Wifi and use the Orbi mesh, it should all work fine?

I thought the 2762 was end of life from a support perspective, but that appears not to be the case. Whilst the product was discontinued in May 2023, Draytek is still planning to support it for another 12 months.

Although the firewall is only rated to 300 Mbps, it gives comparable speed test results to both the Technicolor DGA0122 and the Orbi in router mode.

Thomosn don't seem to seem to support the DGA0122 like other manufacturers do their products. I have been unable to find any published forware for the router.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

If the wifi mesh that you have works sufficiently well, I wouldn't change it. If you want to change the router, then maybe take one of Aquiss' recommended models, just to make support easier.

If you were installing something new for wifi, then ideally you'd have a couple of well-located wifi access points, and have them Cat5e-cabled back to the router - like the Unifi U6+ or U7 Lite, which can be ceiling mounted. The reliability and performance of cabled APs is streets ahead of a mesh.

Having the cabling pulled to these is obviously disruptive - but if there *were* a time when you were doing some major redecorating, that would be a great time to do it.

Otherwise, just enjoy what you have if it works well enough. I am on Aquiss 300/50 too BTW

I of course know that cabled APs are the best technical solution. However, putting cables in would be a major hassle as we have solid sub-floors on the ground floor and a tiled bathroom floor above where the router is sited. I'm not sure the ear ache would be worth it either!

The Orbi works well enough for us at the moment, so will consider leaving that in place and possibly purchase one of the Aquiss recommended routers, as you suggest, in the future.

In reply to a post by jaydub:

I thought the 2762 was end of life from a support perspective, but that appears not to be the case. Whilst the product was discontinued in May 2023, Draytek is still planning to support it for another 12 months.

Just for info if the DrayTek 2762 is still being used,
the latest firmware release for the 2762 (v3.9.9.4_BT) was released 3rd September 2025
available from - DrayTek 2762 latest firmware download
As it's a "Critical - Upgrade recommended immediately" release, then it's probably worth upgrading.

Edited by purleigh (Sat 25-Oct-25 12:41:19)

Many thanks for this, Purleigh.

As it happens it was taken out of the box for the first time in months about 10 days ago to do some troubleshooting and whilst I had it up and running, noted that there was new firmware available so upgraded.

I have to say I was blissfully unaware it was a critical upgrade, so appreciate the additional information.