BT Fibre 100 Halo 3 v EE Fibre Max 100

[Aphid]

My existing BT Fibre 2 contract ends soon (typically 70mbps download with SmartHub 2) and I’m considering upgrading to a faster Fibre 100 service. Although BT has always worked well for me I’m considering the EE variation which would be about £5 cheaper per month as an existing EE mobile customer.

Any thoughts on the wisdom of changing, or am i better off staying put? Oddly, average BT speeds quote 145mbps whereas EE say typically 100mbps...and I thought all providers were much the same on that score.

[XRaySpeX]

• EE Smart Hub = BT Smart Hub 1
• EE Smart Router = BT Smart Hub 2

You might be given either for FTTP as G.Fast is not available there.

[Aphid]

Understood, although this presents more confusion...?

pip11 suggested yesterday that the EE SmartHub they provide is the same as the BT SmartHub 2. You are suggesting that is wrong, that it is only the same as the older lower spec BT SmartHub 1...that I dispensed with 18 months ago in favour of my current BT SmartHub 2?

Ive read no mention on the EE site of an EE Smart Router?

[XRaySpeX]

The EE Smart Router is of much the same spec as the EE Smart Hub except:

1. It includes a G.Fast modem intended for the G.Fast version of EE Fibre Max packages. This has no relevance to you on FTTP.
2.  You can't split the combined WiFi Bands/SSIDs as you can on the EE Smart Hub. This applies equally to BT Smart Hubs 2 v. 1.
3. It is white rather than black.

Other than the above the specs are identical.

Either will work on FTTP as you don't need its modem, this being supplied by the ONT. However I would expect as you are ordering the FTTP variant of EE Fibre Max you would get the same EE Smart Router as has to be supplied with the G.Fast variant. BTW: For EE Fibre Max 100 EE does give an average speed estimate of 145 Meg not the 100 Meg you quote in your OP.

You can see the EE Smart Router as part of EE Smart WiFi Bundle

The lower spec BT Smart Hub 1 you have experience with, is that the original BT Home Hub 6A w/out any Ethernet WAN port? The EE SH is a rebadged BT Home Hub 6B, the one designed for FTTP customers. Unlike the Home Hub 6A, it has one of its yellow LAN connectors converted to a WAN port. This is identified with a Red sticker over port 4. However this does not prevent it being used just for FTTC.

[Aphid]

Thanks for the explanatory reply. Very helpful.

”For EE Fibre Max 100 EE does give an average speed estimate of 145 Meg not the 100 Meg you quote”.

I did come across the same clarification from subsequent searches but I appreciate you pointing this out. The estimated/average download speeds I initially quoted was from comparison sites, which obviously could be clearer.

I am not sure about the specifics of my first BT SmartHub - now BT SmartHub 1. I believe it was referred to as Hub 6 or something along those lines. What it had at the back i just can’t remember. Enough though for me to connect other devices, like a HomePlug and Philips Hue Bridge to control lighting. It worked very well but I pushed for BT SmartHub 2 out of principle when I negotiated a new 18 month deal, soon to come to an end....hence considering my options.

Touch and go between the BT Fibre 100 Halo 3 and the EE Fibre Max 100 but EE is about £5 cheaper a month and is an 18 month contract rather than BTs 24 months.

The EE £25 set up is a bit of a sting (free set up with BT) so that adds about £1.35 a month to the overall cost.

The jury is out...