2 week review of EE 1.6gbs

[Bluenose_Dave]

Having been on the new 1.6gb/s service now for 2 weeks, and here are my views,

i have the EE new smart router plus and 3 extenders, first off i know the EE smart hub plus only has 1gb LAN ports, speeds have been ok and stable WIFI rangers from about 650-820  what is not bad, i m running with them hardwired with a lan to them, i know WiFi 6 max speeds are 1200 but rarely get them in the real world 

this package feels like it been rushed out, my reason for saying this are,  openreach engineers laptops have 1gb Ethernet ports so they are unable to check speeds from ONT or any other Speedtest at your home if you are on the 1.6gbs package

the EE router having only 1gb LAN, also it comes with a cat 5e cable, this cat of cable does up to 1gb, so if you are on 1.6gb/s you will need to get a new Ethernet lead to connected the smart hub plus to the ONT

all the WiFi features like work and game mode and WiFi controls dont work, it say page not found, i have heard that the WiFi enhanced feature has been turn off so the team can look at it and fix it as it affecting a lot of users and should be back after a month, i am unable to check speed via the router page this time it asking for me to make an EE account

speeds and connection has been stable and good, but i did have a lot of issues getting the service

i know of people who have bought a 3rd party router so they can get full access to the raw 1.6gbs speeds, and they are having no issues on speeds as router has 2.5gb LAN on them unlike the EE smart hub plus

i have bought a usbc to 2.5gb Ethernet adapter so i can test the raw speeds at the ONT, plus if openreach do need to test speeds at my home they will be able too

so in short i hope you can see why i think this package has been rushed out from the fact openreach dont have the kit to test speeds at the customer home, to all the issues with the new smart hub plus

[Bluenose_Dave]

I remember her what with me being in my 50s

[gmbuspunk]

@Bluenose_Dave didnt relise you were in 50s thought late 20s eaely 30s at best any news on the routers as of today the team were ringing though but a 20 then 30 minute wait no thanks

[PB321]

I’ve had a very different experience with the Next Gen team - told that the 1.6 package is a WiFi offering so speed of Ethernet ports are irrelevant and it is considered that obligations of the contract are met. 

I’ve been told that in the next week or two there is expected to be comms for existing customers on a process. 

I can’t say that I’m enamoured with their response - I appreciate that they are probably being inundated with calls but it is obvious that there would be demand from existing customers and this should have been foreseen and a process in place with comms ready to send from the day of release. Very dissatisfied with the customer experience. 

[cliffy37]

After speaking to the Next Gen team on Saturday and being told my order for the WiFi 7 Router was placed i called again today as had no email confirmation. Basically was advised that on Saturday my name would of just been added to a list of people who want the router (existing customers) and that there is still no process in place for the existing customers to order the router. Had a laugh with the service rep on the phone as not his fault and he seemed genuinely frustrated at the situation also.  Was advised that they do not even have a time line for when these orders can be placed yet

[JimM11]

@PB321 It has been stated by EE to customers and forum members before, that the router can and does achieve the speed, it is also stated that it is a shared resource which it is ethernet/wireless to the speed, but also everyone is aware that ethernet wise you have to upgrade HW to get there unless you already have it. It is going to be a very interesting response, and EE may just turn on the screws. 

[Bluenose_Dave]

Replacement smart hub plus has came with todays post

[Bluenose_Dave]

So the replacement smart hub plus worked out of the box, then went to ee app to set it up it wanted to update firmware and then it failed to get a connection, looping on trying to connect, so I put smart hub 2 back in, so I’m guessing it a firmware issue, just when I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel. 

[moggs4]

Just phoned Next Gen and have been put on a waiting list for the WiFi 7 lets see ho long it takes.

[Bluenose_Dave]

I plugged in the smart hub plus the replacement again. It worked for 10 mins and died and lost LAN light on ONT this is the same issue the other smart hub plus. Smart hub 2 works fine no issues, so again points to router, I’m thinking a bad firmware behind it all

[JimM11]

@Bluenose_Dave Do you know what FW is on the Smarthub+, latest i can see is about 1 month ago.

Firmware version: r1.35.0-R-1138091-PROD-83002