topic Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub? in Broadband & Landline

Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

drmeister — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 11:49:49 GMT

Hi,

I have Fibre 67 Essentials with Digital Voice package. My connection is FTTC, so my grey broadband cable is connected to the EE Smart Hub (2023) for internet and my DECT phone into the green DV socket. I want to set up my network as:

EE Smart Hub to provide incoming internet and digital voice as Primary Router;
EE smart hub to connect to a third party router via LAN (or WAN) to act as Secondary Router;
EE Smart Hub to NOT provide any other ethernet or wireless connectivity to any other device;
Secondary Router to provide all network connectivity to devices within the home and all Parental Controls, Security etc. as well as extension of wireless via mesh;

Is this technically possible - is it even right? Likely to purchase an Asus ZenWifi AIMesh router set but want to know this will work.

Reason: The EE App and Router config, especially segregated Parental Controls are quite limited plus the Smart Hub's wireless reach is short (not sure if EE Smart Hub Plus with WiFi 6 would be any better if EE could be persuaded to provide that).

Any help will be highly appreciated and I apologise if this has already been explained elsewhere already.

Thank you.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

XRaySpeX — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:38:10 GMT

Yes, this is possible. Connect the WAN port of the Secondary Router to a LAN port of the SH (2023). Disable the Wireless of the SH (2023).

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

Mustrum — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:18:44 GMT

Actually, the other way round, connect the WAN port of the Secondary Router, to a LAN port of the EE router.

Make sure the DHCP address range on your secondary router is different to the EE one. Many routers will do this automatically - but not all.

Switch off WiFi on the EE royter.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

drmeister — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:31:16 GMT

Thank you @XRaySpeX and @Mustrum for your responses. I have not bought the Asus router yet until I know this can be done so that is very helpful to know.

So I assume I do the following:

Leave EE Smart Hub as is except switch off it's both wireless channels;
Leave DHCP on EE Smart Hub alone - or should I switch that off as well?
Connect LAN of EE Smart Hub to WAN of the Secondary Hub;
Change the normal DHCP address range of 192.168.1.64 to 192.168.1.254 to say 192.168.2.64 to 192.168.2.254?
Lastly, do I need to do anything about Subnet settings?

I do have a spare EE Smart Hub which I can experiment with this setup? Or will the EE Smart Hub be restrictive for this sort of setup?

Thank you for your help.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

XRaySpeX — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:39:12 GMT

Thanks, @Mustrum . Sorry, got it wrong way round 😞 .

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

XRaySpeX — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:44:12 GMT

In this sorta config. subnet mask is always 255.255.255.0.

I'd leave the DHCPs alone to start with & then maybe play around with them.

You could experiment with a spare EE SH.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

Mustrum — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:43:27 GMT

@XRaySpeX you were close though!

@drmeister

2. Leave DHCP on the EE router as it is.

4. You may find a pre-set range to just pick from on the ASUS.

5. Leave as default.

Your spare router will want to also use the EE or BT username and password, and likley to cause more problems than it will help you with.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

drmeister — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:11:28 GMT

Thank you both, @XRaySpeX and @Mustrum ... I will try this later when I get a chance. However I made an error above, I have a spare EE Smart Hub PLUS which I acquired from a colleague at work who doesn't use it (he has FTTP and no DV so connects his 3rd Party Hub - an Asus GT-AXE11000 - directly to the ONT).

To add more context, perhaps helpful for others as well, my house is an L-shape 8m by 11m; see diagram below with my hub located upstairs - room in red is where wireless signal is virtually nil and all walls are brick - I wonder if the Smart Hub PLUS would give a more powerful wireless signal to reach that room?

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

Mustrum — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:16:18 GMT

@drmeister the Smart Hub Plus has WiFi6, so you will potentially get faster speeds close to the router, but it won't be any better firther away, unless it also comes with the appropriate extenders.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

drmeister — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:32:08 GMT

Ok ... so time to invest in mesh setup ... but at least I can practice this network setup! I would use EE stuff but I find it hard to use the EE app plus it is a tad limited. I shall let you know how I get on later today!

Thank you all for your help.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

JimM11 — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:28:20 GMT

@drmeister Make sure that the EE Smarthub+ is the SW31B with the DSL port as the SW32B is FTTP only if you intend to later use the + router as the primary. You will have no issues, Asus XT8 wan to EE lan user with 2nd XT8 in AI mesh, and let the Asus do everything, and you will be able to Admin the EE through the Asus router with no issue's. Only one that's come across so far is printing attached to the EE side but not a major issue. WiFi on the EE play's very well with the XT8's but not able to comment any any other router, RP-AX58 is also fine wireless to the EE.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

XRaySpeX — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:10:38 GMT

@JimM11 : Any SH+ can be used as a secondary router. You are not using its DSL connection; only its Ethernet WAN.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

JimM11 — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:29:34 GMT

@XRaySpeX Edited my post to make appropriate change.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

drmeister — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:30:44 GMT

So I currently have the Smart Hub 2023 (non-plus) and that is one EE provided me. They are reluctant on my package to give me the Smart Hub Plus, but then again if the Smart Hub Plus is not going to be any better for signal strength of WiFi then I need to get my own router / mesh anyway; EE's offering (Smart WiFi) just adds to the subscription so avoiding it. The Smart Hub Plus I have acquired (SH31B) is not recognised by the EE presumably as it is not linked to my account and not provided by EE.

So ultimately I want this setup so that the EE Smart Hub is just a dummy terminal allowing internet connection (and importantly my Digital Voice) and all the DHCP, Ethernet and Wireless leg work is done by the secondary router. If it works I'll be happy! Will update here once I have tried!

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

JimM11 — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:40:39 GMT

@drmeister So you know, your EE Router, will never be a dummy terminal as you put it!

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

drmeister — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:43:22 GMT

But can it be idle and not do anything other than internet in, DV in and ethernet out to other router who does the distribution to the household devices? I appreciate it can't be just a modem.

Thanks

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

Mustrum — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:49:48 GMT

@drmeister yes, stick to your plan, it will work fine. Find a router or mesh that suits your needs, and the EE router just to look after your DV.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

JimM11 — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:56:19 GMT

@drmeister Your question has been answered by @Mustrum .

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

XRaySpeX — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:17:54 GMT

@drmeister wrote:

The Smart Hub Plus I have acquired (SH31B) is not recognised by the EE presumably as it is not linked to my account and not provided by EE.

In what way is the SH+ (SH31B) not recognised by EE? I also have a SH+ (SH31B) that I have "acquired" & is not linked to any EE a/c. It runs on EE BB quite happily w/out having to do anything other than connect it up. So in that sense it is recognised by EE.

Re: Smart Hub(FTTC) with DV for primary hub; can I use 3rd party as secondary hub?

JimM11 — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:03:56 GMT

@XRaySpeX May be on the DV side, if it needs to dump down info to set up the router correctly also possible slight difference depending on used routers also all this app what/where/when works, are you on a DV system as yet, or still landline on the master socket?