topic Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh in Broadband & Landline

Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

RKS1 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 21:09:38 GMT

Hello,

I’ll start by saying I’m a complete novice. I recently bought 4 ASUS XT9 mesh system. I’m currently on 1Gb Virgin Fibre. I couldn’t edit the router to work as a modem only so I’m considering moving to full fibre 1Gb with EE and I’ve been told that I’d get the SH+ router. Now from what I can see, it won’t allow me to use it as a modem only.
Is there a work around to this or is there a router I can buy that I can use instead of the SH+ that will allow modem only mode so I can use the mesh system fully? The current fibre has a very small connector that is about 5mmx5mm ie not a wlan connector.
When I bought the XT9 it said it would work as a router but the fibre connector obviously won’t fit into the WLAN connectors on the back of the XT9.
I’m at a complete loss and confused as heck.
any advice would be greatly appreciated but if it’s possible to put into layman/idiot language hopefully I’ll get the gist.
Thank on advance

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

XRaySpeX — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 21:21:22 GMT

@RKS1 wrote:

The current fibre has a very small connector that is about 5mmx5mm ie not a wlan connector.

What are you talking about here? Is it the VM fibre connection into the the VM router? All EE connectors are standard Ethernet.

The SH+ can't be put into modem-only mode but you could disable WiFi on it & use the Mesh for all WiFi connections.

If you're not having DV or EE TV you could plug the Asus straight into the ONT & set its WAN up as PPPoE.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

Mustrum — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 21:51:04 GMT

@RKS1 The simple answer is you do not need to use the EE Smart Hub Pro, unless you need Digital Voice and/or EE TV.

You simply plug the Asus WAN Ethernet into the Openreach Lan connector and use the PPOE settings in the EE Help Page https://ee.co.uk/help/broadband/getting-started/using-and-configuring-a-third-party-router

As you say, thr XT9 is a very powerfull router as well as Mesh system, assuming you have more than one device.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

RKS1 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 21:54:36 GMT

the top photo is the small connector that brings the virgin fibre into their router. The bottom photo is the back of the XT9 mesh/router.
Do you mean the fibre from EE comes into the house as an Ethernet connector? If this is the case I’ll be able to use the XT9.
I’ve even considered the 1.6 smart hub pro instead of the mesh system.
With virgin I installed a long 30m cable from the router up the side of the house and into the loft that went down into my son’s bedroom and speeds were great for him but the bedroom next door was poor WiFi. I’ve connected that same cable to the XT9 and it’s poor on his wired connection but WiFi in the room that was initially poor is better. Flummoxed.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

RKS1 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 21:58:08 GMT

Sorry what is DV and ONT & how would I go about setting up the WAN up as PPPoE.

I really appreciate the help but I’m a complete newbie to routers/mesh set ups etc. 😳

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

XRaySpeX — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 22:09:10 GMT

DV = Digital Voice, replacement for landlines if you have 1.

ONT = Optical Network Terminal, a modem box fixed to the wall that brings the Full Fibre into to the home & presents an Ethernet port which can be connected to the router.

What is the box in top image that the small connector goes into? It seems to be VM's equivalent to the OR ONT.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

JimM11 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 22:21:23 GMT

@RKS1 You need to step back, go to the asus uk site, download section and enter XT9, will take you to the support page, download the UK English Manual, if that is your language of preference, and take a read.

Your VM connections are ALL redundant when you move to EE, fibre from VM is not the same as from OR...

Every Asus XT9 is a FULL blown router just so you know, i use 2 XT8's to cover the whole home.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

Mustrum — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 22:21:40 GMT

@RKS1 Ok, so the customer inteface on VM is ethernet, and I beleive there is a way of changing their router to be a modem or similar, and on the EE system the ONT is the Optical modem. So in both cases, yje XT9 has a WAN ethernet interface which needs to be connected to the Openreach ONT, or if you stick, the VM router.

The XT9's are hugley powerful and with four of them could cover a hige area and some would say better than anything VM or EE could offer, so what is it you are looking to do.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

RKS1 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 22:23:20 GMT

I get it now after seeing this. Yeah the white wire is the fibre into VM box but if EE installed this, I get that the LAN goes into the XT9 and I can use that as a router

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

RKS1 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 22:34:20 GMT

Great tip. I used the ASUS app to set it up, but after downloading the manual you advised I see there’s so much more to it. So much for out of the box setup 🫣
I’ve learnt now that the white VM cable will be replaced and a ONT box will be installed.

thank you for the tip. Appreciated.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

JimM11 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 23:03:08 GMT

@RKS1 You are welcome, did not want to see 4 superior Asus XT9's being wasted as AP's on a stupid VM system modem X5 that ALL VM complain about, lack of modem mode, not needed on OR, ONT is the modem... You just got to worry about wither landline or EE TV is required.

Re: Does an EE SH+ work with XT9 Mesh

JimM11 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 23:19:57 GMT

@RKS1 As before, the VM Fibre system becomes redundant, OR are not allowed to touch VM equipment and vice/versa, when installed by VM, the engineer not sure if he did, fibre link socket on wall to the 5x router/modem, anyway however it was done, fibre caps would have been left to protect the fibre end and keep dust/dirt out, and if socket install cap to plug the removal of fibre, i taped them to my son's x5 so they did not get lost as that happens, when changing and should you decide to go back to VM in the future. Won't matter too much if you can't VM will only request you send the x5 back to them.

Once you have digested the Asus side manual, you can start to plan what and where you need the ONT to go, how and were you're XT9's are going to connect wired if you can, cannot then AI wireless mesh mode. You got a learning curve ahead of you but need advise just post back.