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 Make sure that the EE Smarthub+ is the SW31B with the DSL port as the SW32B is FTTP only if you intend to later use the + router as the primary. You will have no issues, Asus XT8 wan to EE lan user with 2nd XT8 in AI mesh, and let the Asus do everything, and you will be able to Admin the EE through the Asus router with no issue's. Only one that's come across so far is printing attached to the EE side but not a major issue. WiFi on the EE play's very well with the XT8's but not able to comment any any other router, RP-AX58 is also fine wireless to the EE.

[XRaySpeX]

@JimM11 : Any SH+ can be used as a secondary router. You are not using its DSL connection; only its Ethernet WAN.

[JimM11]

@XRaySpeX Edited my post to make appropriate change.

[drmeister]

So I currently have the Smart Hub 2023 (non-plus) and that is one EE provided me. They are reluctant on my package to give me the Smart Hub Plus, but then again if the Smart Hub Plus is not going to be any better for signal strength of WiFi then I need to get my own router / mesh anyway; EE's offering (Smart WiFi) just adds to the subscription so avoiding it. The Smart Hub Plus I have acquired (SH31B) is not recognised by the EE presumably as it is not linked to my account and not provided by EE.

So ultimately I want this setup so that the EE Smart Hub is just a dummy terminal allowing internet connection (and importantly my Digital Voice) and all the DHCP, Ethernet and Wireless leg work is done by the secondary router. If it works I'll be happy! Will update here once I have tried!

[JimM11]

@drmeister So you know, your EE Router, will never be a dummy terminal as you put it!

[drmeister]

But can it be idle and not do anything other than internet in, DV in and ethernet out to other router who does the distribution to the household devices? I appreciate it can't be just a modem.

Thanks

[Mustrum]

@drmeister   yes, stick to your plan, it will work fine. Find a router or mesh that suits your needs, and the EE router just to look after your DV.

[JimM11]

@drmeister Your question has been answered by @Mustrum .

[XRaySpeX]

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@drmeister wrote:

The Smart Hub Plus I have acquired (SH31B) is not recognised by the EE presumably as it is not linked to my account and not provided by EE.

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In what way is the SH+ (SH31B) not recognised by EE? I also have a SH+ (SH31B) that I have "acquired" & is not linked to any EE a/c. It runs on EE BB quite happily w/out having to do anything other than connect it up. So in that sense it is recognised by EE.

[JimM11]

@XRaySpeX May be on the DV side, if it needs to dump down info to set up the router correctly also possible slight difference depending on used routers also all this app what/where/when works, are you on a DV system as yet, or still landline on the master socket?