topic Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade? in Mobile Broadband

EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

gibfahn — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 17:00:11 GMT

I have the EE 5G Router 2021 (rebranded Zyxel NR5103), and I see that EE now offer the Askey HH20C as their new 5G router.

Has anyone used both, or have any comparison data between them? The Zyxel has been mostly solid, but will have issues requiring a full reset and re-setup every now and again.

Also not sure whether I can upgrade to the newer router without cancelling and starting a new contract.

Looks like the new one doesn't support external an antenna (which I don't have so that's fine), and is charged by USB-C. Also seems to support WiFi 6.

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Leanne_T — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 07:52:09 GMT

Morning @gibfahn

Thanks for coming here.

If you would like to discuss upgrading to a new router, please get in touch with our mobile guides who will be happy to help. If you order online or over the phone with EE and you decide to return the router, you can do this within 14 days 🙂

Hopefully some other customers will come along soon and let you know how they are getting on with this router.

Leanne.

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

gibfahn — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:02:52 GMT

Thanks Leanne. I ended up upgrading. Differences between the two as far as I can tell are:

Includes 6GHz WiFi (WiFi 6E), which should make things faster
Micro-SIM not mini-SIM (you can pop out your old one)
Power cable is twice as long (a little over 2m) and USB-C
Router is a bit smaller overall
Can't split 2.4/5/6 GHz networks any more (hopefully fixable in a software update)
Defaults to WPA3, so should be a bit more secure in general

My before/after (maybe unfair, as restarting the old router would often make things a lot faster as well):

Before: 34ms ping, 70.3 / 33.4
After: 13ms ping, 161.5 / 35.1

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

MikeS6 — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:26:47 GMT

Hi Leanne,

I too have been having awful problems with my 2021 smart 5G router over the last 3 weeks after 16 months of fairly stable use. Mainly dropping out every day around 5-6 times with me having to reset it.

Tech support we’re fairly useless advising I should take my faulty router to a local EE shop for repair where it could be up to 2 weeks to do so. Expressing my feelings this was unacceptable to me they advised I should purchase another unit and connected me to sales.

Sales initially advised I could purchase another 2021 5G smart unit for £50.00, then phoned back to tell me they were all out of stock and would not be getting anymore in as EE would not be selling them in the future. The member of staff offered me a 2020 5G router with the privilege of bringing my contract forward even further than the 45 days allowed (by permission of her manager) to save me a £75.00 upgrade fee. This was yesterday and I stupidly agreed, albeit I know I have the 14 day cancellation in hand from today when the 2020 router arrived via DPD.

I write to ask how I go about purchasing the HH20C router as this appears to be a better and more stable way forward.

Best

Mike

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Leanne_T — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:43:59 GMT

Hi @MikeS6

Thanks for posting.

If you would like to discuss your options and see which routers would be available, please call us again and the team will be happy to help.

Leanne.

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

MikeS6 — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:07:42 GMT

Thank you Leanne, I might do that following my cancellation of my new contract where EE tried to provide me with 4yr old technology which uses WiFi-2. The 2020 new router arrived yesterday as said.

Either that or I will put up with the shenanigans of my existing 2021 Smart 5G router, wait until the contract runs down this May, and go elsewhere.

Trying to shift old stock I would have to conclude and at the same time treating a client like a fool.

I've sent the sales lady 3 x emails yesterday posing questions regarding the new contract with includes terms and time (24m) that do not emulate my existing contract, and also asking why I wasn't offered the HH20C. If I had been offered it I would have purchased it - but it would appear nobody is prepared to reply to my questions. Not yet anyway.

Mike

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Leanne_T — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:04:56 GMT

Hi @MikeS6

If you call us our guides will have access to the account notes, stock availability and your options for the account to help you further 🙂

Leanne.

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

MikeS6 — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:10:05 GMT

This would be by phoning 150 and asking for sales?

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Leanne_T — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:22:04 GMT

If you call 150 and select account queries, one of the guides will be happy to help @MikeS6

Leanne 🙂

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

MikeS6 — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:24:14 GMT

👍

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Teffhead — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 12:28:57 GMT

Hi could you help me. I have ordered the new 5g smart hub but have been sent the wrong router out the one I have got is the 5g wifi 2 its flat and not like the tower version that I requested. reason behind the question is that does the 5g wifi 2 box support wifi 6e standard as the 5g smart hub. as can't seem to get a straight answer from the sales teams.

much appreciated

Julian

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

MikeS6 — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:26:50 GMT

I very much doubt it Julian is my understanding of your question. I'm certainly no expert but WiFi 2 technology seems a country mile away from Wifi 6. If you read my previous posts above, you will read they tried to fob me off by selling me a 2020 5G router (which was also flat like yours when it arrived), advising me that the 2021 5G Smart hub I wanted to replace my existing 2021 with like for like (they advised mine was faulty) was out of stock and not to be used/sold ever again by EE. I would suggest they have done the same to you also.

I sent mine back utilising my 14 day cooling off period when I read here that what I actually needed was their new HH20C router, but I was unfortunately not offered it. I am now left with my original 2021 Smart 5G router which continues to drop out around six times daily and needs a manual reset each time. It was ok for 16 months prior to this happening during the last month, but as my contract runs out in May I will make a decision at that time as to what I might do then.

It's the HH20C router you need, not some 2020 version technology that they appear to be selling/shipping to get rid of old stock - thats how it would appear to me anyway, treating customers as mugs.

Mike

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

XRaySpeX — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:04:47 GMT

@Teffhead : According to EE Business mobile broadband the 5G Smart Hub supports WiFi-6E. The EE 5G WiFi 2 makes no such claim, so I would assume WiFi-5.

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Teffhead — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:52:40 GMT

Thanks Mike for getting back. it amazes me how some of these people get jobs. I spoke to a lady in the technical department who clearly had no technical training what so ever. I was very kind and patient with her as I understood that she was obviously not capable of giving me the answers I needed before going forward. A 5g wifi 6e compatible router which as I knew was the 5g smart hub advertised on there website wifi 6e compatible. I made sure that she was certain that this was the one that I would be getting she assured me that it was the wifi 2 version, I said no that's not what we discussed. I need the other. yes all sorted she said. DPD turned up wrong bloody router. trying to get any competent answers out of ee is like clawing through fog.

anyway sorry for the rant and very appreciated the kind info you sent over.

cheers

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

MikeS6 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 09:41:18 GMT

No worries. I blame the BT effect, years ago EE were brilliant to deal with. Now, not so.

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Jwbox911 — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 23:01:23 GMT

Hi well I wouldn't - it's no better. EE seem to have a monopoly on selling useless routers and then telling you it's your fault !!

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Jwbox911 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:05:51 GMT

I have one - from new on a new contract. wouldn't touch one again - complete rubbish - randomly changes from 5 bar v good 5g signal to a mast that's further away and 4g !!! i.e start google - go make a cup of tea. EE support 1st or 2nd line have no idea, I think I spoke to all 10 of them !! , couldn't even figure out what mast I was connecting to ! I did it myself ( according to them there is no way I could connect to that 5g mast as it's 9 miles away. when I reassured them it was because all the dings give me that mast ( although tamworth is only 5 miles away I can't connect to it !) do not get one

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

Peterpie10 — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:15:09 GMT

The new 5g smart hub. Keeps dropping to 4g easily 5 times a day. I have had the router 5 days.and when you Google the issue its a very common complaint. I have tryed calling technical they do not help. Now i am being advised to cancel my contract, but when i try they keep passing my call to a different person.

When its on 5g i get full signal and 240mb download but it will drop to 4g and i get 15mb. My ee phone never looses its 5g connection

Re: EE 5G Router / Smart 5G hub: Zyxel NR5103 -> Askey HH20C worth the upgrade?

AJJ1967 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:07:33 GMT

had issues with 10mbs through mesh network, router seemed to pump out 300Mbps on 5G. So decided to buy latest EE 5G router which EE said was £200 plus. Bought on Amazon and now get 300mbps everywhere. Def an issue withe first gen .