Ok so I finally got the new service installed yesterday. The good news is that it was installed upstairs, but I still want the router in my room. I've decided to purchase a 10m cat5e ethernet cable which will connect from the modem to the router which will be moved to my room.

I also purchased a 5 port gigabit switch as I have a few devices and the linksys router only has one spare ethernet port. I was wondering, can I use one of my existing routers rather than the linksys as they have more ethernet ports? I have the sky hub 4.2 and bt smart hub 2. I've heard that the smart hub 2 can work with another isp, but I may have to return it as I joined BT after december 2019 (I wasn't under contract).

So if the smart hub isn't an option, can the sky hub 4.2 work instead? Or will I have to purchase a different router such as the TP-Link Archer C6 AC1200?

The less devices I have to use and plug in, the better.

A small additional switch doesn’t sound too bad from a device proliferation perspective. How many ports do you need altogether?

I’d be reluctant using another ISP supplied router on another providers service. Just me. I just don’t like it. There are far better options out there.

If your spare router from the other ISP has multiple LAN ports, then you could use it as both a switch and wireless access point. That'd give you the extra ethernet ports where you want them, *and* a strong wireless signal in the same room.

What you'd need to do is to turn off its built-in DHCP server, and ensure its management IP is different to your main router's management IP - although preferably on the same subnet - e.g. change 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.2.

Then connect both the main router and any other local devices into its LAN ports, ignoring its WAN port.

EDIT: I didn't notice you've said you've already bought the switch, and already moved the router to where you want the wireless signal. In that case, just use those two boxes.

It's simple, reliable, no compatibility issues, and no problems if there's a fault you need to report.

Edited by candlerb (Thu 30-Sep-21 10:50:12)

You could do that, giving 3 useable ports on either the BT or Sky box plus 1 left on the Velop box (unless he stacks them all, for a total 6 ports, but I think he wants to reduce boxes and it’s rather inefficient powering 3 boxes for so few ports)

I think he has ordered a 5-port switch so altogether would have 4 + 1 useable.

Depends how many wired devices he needs to support.

Edited by Pheasant (Thu 30-Sep-21 11:29:49)

My sky hub 4.2 and smart hub 2 both have better wifi coverage in my house than the linksys. I've read how to use the smart hub as a router, but unfortunately i'd have to return it. How can I try the sky hub as a router? It would save space and electricity if it works.

You could switch off the WiFi functionality on the Linksys, however leave it as the main router (for now anyway) and run the Sky box as a WiFi access point (not in router mode and with its DHCP server function switched off).