topic Re: Smart hub and bridge mode in Broadband & Landline

Smart hub and bridge mode

Markvk — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 14:55:41 GMT

Hi All.

Been an EE customer for ever. We had FTP installed and EE couldnt provide a service where we kept our phones, so we moved to BT. When i signed up, i told them i was using my own router and BT said the could accommodate this...

Turns out they cant, i must be the shortest retained customer ever, i cancelled the service with 2 hours of it going active... So im looking for another provider.

EE say that the smart hub can be used in bridge mode, is this true? they didnt seem very sure! If not, what router are yo using for FTP?

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Mustrum — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:00:14 GMT

@Markvk You need to break your questions down a bit.

Assuming you are talking about FTTP/FULL FIBRE/FIBRE TO THE PREMICES?

You can use your own router with BT and EE.

However to use BT digital voice you need their router..

You don’t need the EE router in bridge mode, providing your router has a WAN interface that supports PPOE you can connect direct to the ONT.

HTH

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Markvk — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:07:03 GMT

Thanks for the info. I spent 2 hours on the phone with bt trying to
persuade them that i should be able to use my own router. They were having
none of it. They wouldnt give me any of the details to enter into my
router. I think ive sussed the details and will try them.

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Mustrum — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:09:57 GMT

The details for BT are easy enough to find, it is the digital voice/phone service that won’t work with your router.

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Markvk — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 12:32:54 GMT

Again, thanks for the help. My old vigo does have these features but i cant get it to work, it is 10 years old so owes me nothing.
The jury is still out on if the EE smart hub can be used in bridge mode. Believe it or not the tech team arnt sure.... I think plusnet use the same router and they say it can be used in bridge mode, guess ill just have to wait and see.

Can you recommend an alternative if it doesnt, that will work? i dont need WiFi i have wired AP's.

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 12:38:16 GMT

The EE SH can't be used in Bridge/Modem-Only Mode but on FTTP it doesn't need to as it connects directly to the ONT which is the modem.

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Markvk — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 12:46:49 GMT

Thanks for your help, I have a mikrotek router that is set up with 6 different vlans, DHCP, NAT and all of my fire wall rules how do i continue to use this? I cant completely re set up my network every time i change ISP's

Would you be able to point me in the right direction as to how to set this up please? im not asking for step by step instructions, i just need to know what equipment to buy.

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 12:55:55 GMT

Let's get this clear! Which BB package have you got from EE? Is it FTTP (Full Fibre)?

@Markvk wrote:

I cant completely re set up my network every time i change ISP's

You will almost invariably have to. Each ISP usually requires specific BB creds, Username & pwd, to authenticate. Anyway you won't be changing ISPs more frequently then ever 18 months, will you?

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Markvk — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 13:06:09 GMT

Hi Its FTTP.

Yes each isp has its own login and pw, but that is all i should have to change, i have over 600 smart devices all with reserved ip's over 6 vlans i cant re do that every 18 months it took weeks to set up and refine. All i want to do is exacly the same as when i was on standard broadband, i used my own router for the network management and then another router/modem (again my own) to act as a bridge modem. stupidly i thought just enter the new user and PW into the same modem/router and away we go....

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 13:10:33 GMT

You just connect your router on its WAN directly by Ethernet to the ONT. No modem required. In Home Broadband settings you'll find almost everything you need to set up your own router.

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Mustrum — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 13:39:31 GMT

@Markvk with your previous broadband the router/modem just converted the DSL signal from your phone line to an ethernet connection. The ONT does the same thing, so as per re[ly 2. do you not have a WAN interface that supplies the username and password on your router?

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

Markvk — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 14:37:56 GMT

Thanks, im now well on the war to being sorted. im looking at youtube vids on how to configure WAN ports on my microtik.

Re: Smart hub and bridge mode

XRaySpeX — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 15:17:00 GMT

Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.