2Gbps pre-registration open

At https://www.zen.co.uk/pre-register-full-fibre-max#pr...
Choice of eero 6 or eero Max 7.

Why eeros? They demand registration with Amazon to even get you online. Hopefully anyone signing up can use their own router.

I think it will be a tail-wagging-dog thing where ISPs feel they need Wi-Fi meshing / whole home answer that does not require any technical capability from users. Either that or cost per unit for routers with ports for > 1G and/or Wi-Fi 7.

The Fritz!boxes had a meshing option but you had to understand the feature and where to find it, especially if using multiple and needing to change the Internet "mode" on other units.

I think ISPs should be focusing on the Internet connection itself, but marketing and the increased line speeds are driving them to handle the LAN stuff as appliances since if the home Wi-Fi is under performing or having other issues the customer may still be complaining to the ISP.

Paradoxically none of that LAN stuff is a factor if you are a leased-line customer paying way more but with an SLA, there is a clear demarcation of responsibility.

One aspect I am not clear on is whether Eero offer the same standard remote management (TR-069) that Zen use with the Fritz!box as the latter makes it easy for the ISP to reconfigure to enable VoIP during the PSTN switchover for example.

Edited by prlzx (Sat 24-Aug-24 09:46:03)

In terms of whole-home stuff there's a split between companies that are large enough to develop something in-house (EE/BT, Sky, Vodafone, maybe VM) and people like Zen who aren't, so just sign deals with Eero.

The cost difference in someone like EE supplying you a Wi-Fi 7 router and what it's going to cost Zen (at least per-unit excluding development costs) is going to be massive, and I wonder what that means for the future. The days where BT would give you a basic single-band wireless N device that did nothing special and so the competing ISP bundling a Technicolor router didn't register as anything to worry about when comparing the offerings are definitely over.

I'm a bit out of the loop, been quite happy with my fritzbox on 900mbps. What is your preferred router that could handle 2gbps?
I hope they won't force "prosumers" into using kit they don't want.

In reply to a post by AndrewNi:

Why eeros?

Amazon are (must be) giving them a very good deal.

In reply to a post by Irby:

I'm a bit out of the loop, been quite happy with my fritzbox on 900mbps. What is your preferred router that could handle 2gbps?
I hope they won't force "prosumers" into using kit they don't want.

If you're happy with your present fritzbox then have a look at their latest offering.
https://en.avm.de/products/fritzbox/fritzbox-7690/

If you just want to route 2gbit then there are a good few that will do that.

My low energy Topton N100 box will do that but will take a hit with VPN or any CPU intensive plugins such as IDS. MikroTik/Unifi etc will have something at a reasonable price. Personally I wouldn't be using a mesh wifi as my router but can see why ISPs would offer them.

Most of the lower-priced consumer 2.5 Gbps routers only offer one 2.5 Gb port, with any extra ports being only 1 Gb. OK I suppose if you have lots of wireless devices clamouring for speed, but what about connecting one PC with a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port to 2.5 Gb broadband? If you want multiple 2.5 ports it gets expensive.

I am using a "mid price" one The GL.iNet GL-MT6000 (Flint2) its got 2 x 2.5G ports and 4 x 1G.
It runs a custom version of OpenWRT by default.

Quite a nice device lots of CPU and Memory for around £120