PLusnet FTTP installed today - speeds slower than before!

Openreach installed FTTP at my house today Previously FTTC getting about 40mb/12mb.. I opted for Plusnet 145mb/30mb which the Openreach workers said was a 160mb line. It came with Plusnet Hub 2 router. Speeds have however been extremely erratic, varying from 1.5mb (no kidding) to 80mb, but generally around 30mb download. Oddly, upload is nearly always around 22 to 29mb, These are through Wifi. Connection with an ethernet cable get me the expected 150mb/30mb. I can stand right next to the router and get these low speeds. My Sky Q box cannot see the network SSI so can't connect. Seems to me like a bad router - but is there some settling in period? I haven't called Plusnet yet, just wanted to see if any words of wisdom here and what others have found with new FTTP installs.

Sounds as if the Plusnet router isn’t very good, or there is a lot of interference. Ethernet cables are the way to get speed, and if the Q box can’t see the WiFi SSID then complain to Plusnet their router is rubbish.

There is no ‘training’ or ‘setting in’ on FTTP the speeds are constant, it works or it doesn’t, no rate adaptive as on copper.

I think it's faulty, the Plusnet Hub 2 is the same as the BT Smart Hub 2. There's lots of complaints I could make about it but the Wi-Fi performance was never one of them.

Anyone around who might have a different device that you can test the wifi on ?

That it’s good via ethernet shows the connection is good.

Have you got a older Plusnet router to try?

Wi-Fi is moving goal posts, especially on these types of consumer routers that do it all automatically. It may have picked different channels than your previous router and now has more interference, or trying to use more bandwidth to get more speed means it is more likely to suffer interference. Have your devices connected to the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio on the router, 5GHz generally faster.

5GHz can take at least 15 minutes or more to start working on a new device just plugged in (due to checking for radar) so it is possible your devices have gone to the 2.4GHz radio and stayed sat there.

Give it a few days and things may sort themselves out.

Otherwise if you can give the 2.5GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi different names (SSID) and force your devices to connect to the 5GHz radio and see if they perform better. (Not sure if this is possible on these Hubs though).

Edited by E300 (Thu 09-Feb-23 08:23:19)

Unfortunately the Hub 2 doesn't allow the different bands to have different names.

Having checked, that surprised me . But just as a test you could do what I do normally and switch the 2.4GHz channel off.

Have you tried resetting the router? As long as you know your username and password you can set it back up.
Could be a faulty router, it does happen. Try Ethernet and see if that works.

That's helpful, thanks, and I will give it a few days. With the Plusnet Hub 2 you can't give 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands different names, and I notice that my laptop tends to pick the 2.4 band, which is baffling as the 5ghz works better but your answer is maybe a pointer. Previous I had a BT hub 5 which you could rename the bands and that worked well.

Yes, restarted the router several times. Ethernet works 100% so I guess the Wifi in the router might be defective.

Download a FREE copy of inSSIDer from MetaGeek - you do need to register but don't worry they are reputable. Run that and see what other WAPs or networks are around and try to find an empty slot.

In reply to a post by clarkac:

Yes, restarted the router several times. Ethernet works 100% so I guess the Wifi in the router might be defective.

I think you are right, the Router has a problem, get in touch with Plusnet and explain to them, they should send you a new router and a box to send the faulty one back

In reply to a post by MHC:

Download a FREE copy of inSSIDer from MetaGeek - you do need to register but don't worry they are reputable. Run that and see what other WAPs or networks are around and try to find an empty slot.

Or if you have a Win10/Win11 PC there is a free WiFi Scanner in the Microsoft Store, and there is a (paid) similar app in the Mac App Store. There are some good tools for Android phones, but nothing for iPhone as Apple restricts access to the hardware on iOS.

I've also used Acrylic WiFi as an alternative to inSSIDer Home on some machines.

Edited by jchamier (Thu 09-Feb-23 21:32:48)

Best way get your own wifi router and it far much better than Plusnet Hub 2 are rubbish at wireless as you can''t change 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz with different name. Plusnet hub 2 are HORRIBLE one.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

I think you are right, the Router has a problem, get in touch with Plusnet and explain to them, they should send you a new router and a box to send the faulty one back

No point of that. All plusnet hub 2 router have the same wireless issues. Pretty rubbish.

The old plusnet hub one should solved the wifi (this router can change between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz in difference name) he should ask plusnet to sent out old hub one instead.

In reply to a post by adslmax:

All plusnet hub 2 router have the same wireless issues. Pretty rubbish.

That is simply not true.

In reply to a post by adslmax:

No point of that. All plusnet hub 2 router have the same wireless issues. Pretty rubbish.

The old plusnet hub one should solved the wifi (this router can change between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz in difference name) he should ask plusnet to sent out old hub one instead.

You are wrong, sorry, but you are, If they were that bad then Plusnet would have done something about it, also I know someone who have just had a new Plusnet hub 2 and it is fine, I know it is fine as they live 3 houses up the road and I can just about pick it up on my phone when i am upstairs.

Plusnet Hub 2 can't changed seperate 2.4GHz (433Mbps link speed) and 5Ghz (higher than 433Mbps link speed)

In reply to a post by adslmax:

Plusnet Hub 2 can't changed seperate 2.4GHz (433Mbps link speed) and 5Ghz (higher than 433Mbps link speed)

Most people will not want to change them, I admit it is a bit strange since it can be done in the older hubs, but the BT hub can't be changed either. Are you saying that the Plusnet routers can't go higher than 433Mbs on Wi-fi?

Still 433 is fast enough for most people, if they want more, then get a different router. ISP routers have never been great, they are built to a price and is enough to get people online that is what they do. If the provider offers 1Gb Internet, then maybe the Wi-fi should be able to cope with it, but anyone with any sense would wire up stuff like TVs, set top boxes and desktops computers and even laptops if they can. Sadly, a lot of laptops don't have the facility

The only reason i had to turn off 5Ghz is to set upo my smart home stuff as most of them don't set up when the 5Ghz band is on. i don't know if it is possible to turn off 5Ghz on a hub 2 as I myself have never touched one.

As I said the one up the road I can see the SSID from here on my phone, so it is pretty strong.

I decided last week to get myself a TPlink router as I think it is better for me, the price was good. For people who want something better and know what they are doing they can get a cheap router, even for FTTC. TP link VDSL routers don't seem to support Wifi 6, The Archer VR2800 support wifi 5 and can go to 2167Mbps on 5GHz,but it costs a mighty £175.
Better of to buy a second hand openreach modem on Ebay for around £30 or less and then get a router only like I have, then they have the router for FTTP if they change to it.

Saying that the Archer VR600 is £74 on Amazon at the moment can do 1700Mb/s on wifi, which is more than fast enough, and you will never get that anyway.

I already had a modem. I have found out why my router say it is connected to the wan at suboptimal speed, the modem Ethernet is 300Mb/s only, makes no difference to a modem that is used for FTTC.

In reply to a post by adslmax:

Plusnet Hub 2 can't changed seperate 2.4GHz (433Mbps link speed) and 5Ghz (higher than 433Mbps link speed)

This is deliberate and identical to how expensive mesh systems work. When implemented properly this gives you both speed and range without having to mess around.