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

[drmeister]

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:

1. EE Smart Hub to provide incoming internet and digital voice as Primary Router;
2. EE smart hub to connect to a third party router via LAN (or WAN) to act as Secondary Router;
3. EE Smart Hub to NOT provide any other ethernet or wireless connectivity to any other device;
4. 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.

[JimM11]

@drmeister Hope you set up the second router with a pc/laptop and took care of all the DHCP side for NO Clash...

[JimM11]

@drmeister If all fails, just buy an Asus and get on with it, work out what you need to get and do it, Asus is certainly not the cheapest by a long shot, but they just work and work and work.... AI Mesh and wired backhaul if you can you will never look back, when fttp comes to town just plug into ONT set user and password, good to go. My Asus pic links.

Broadband & Landline - The EE Community

Broadband & Landline - The EE Community

[drmeister]

Yes, it is setup with ip address of 192.168.2.254 and ip range of 192.168.2.64 to 192.168.2.253

Whilst primary is on the default of 192.168.1.254 and ip range of 192.168.1.64 to 192.168.1.253 

DHCP is ON for both ... and temporarily the WiFi is off on the secondary but intend to switch it on secondary only when this part is sorted

[Mustrum]

@drmeister  As I said earlier, more trouble than it is worth as it is expecting to be a primary router and use the PPOE username and password.

Best you could do is connect a LAN port to a LAN port of your primary router.

[JimM11]

@drmeister If you are not prepared to move you router then do not expect any other to be overly better. The miss postioning of the router is the most common issue for poor wireless signal. Central positioned router and at a height if possible 5' is the far more acceptable place to be, either that or leave were at and look to extend the signal by, mesh, RE, AP or powerline what ever way that you feel is best.

[drmeister]

I could not agree with you more! Unfortunately the master is near the corner of the house and when I do get fibre I will damn make sure it's somewhere near the middle! Alternative is to have a long RJ11 and place the router central but I believe elongating RJ11 broadband cable is not good either.

[Mustrum]

@drmeister  Once you have your third party router or mesh, you should be able to see an improvement in your line speed, and be able to position your router or mesh for best wifi signal.

Using a long RJ110 DSL lead will slow doen your VDSL speed, so a shorter lead and closer to the master socket will improve your basic speed. Then if you use LAN/Cat5E or better cable to your secondary router you can carry that improved WAN speed to subsequent connections.

Have you narrowed down your plan/router/Mesh?

[JimM11]

@drmeister Wrong. a good quality longer RJ11 - RJ11 cable will have little effect on the quality / speed of the signal and especially if you have a good master socket type 5c. You may have a slight drop so measure before/after and sling to rough position, even if you move it 10' towards the area with poor wifi, at least you will see what is needed. otherwise powerline wifi to the room you need.

[drmeister]

Yes I intend to get an Asus XT8 or similar and use that with the EE Smart Hub. Hopefully one of the mesh routers can sit in the landing area which ought to cover the whole home, whilst the main one can sit next to the EE hub.

[JimM11]

@drmeister NO NO NO, you only have to get the Asus where you need it, and a Ethernet cable from the Asus wan port to the EE lan port, once you get FF then worry about positioning and ports you need, XT8 only has 3 lan ports so you know for future ref. You have not once said that you are un happy with the EE Smarthub (2003) operational wise.