Smart Hub Pro Stinks

[biggeorge007]

Just got my new broadband installed on the 29th with the new Smart Hub Pro 1.6gb.

All seemed well until day 3 when I started getting my security cameras disconnecting then other IOT loosing connection too, web pages taking up to 10 seconds to load then even worst my main computer even losing connection, ethernet.

Have been investigating since day 4 to try fix the issues, the web pages taking up to 10 seconds to load I believe is down to EE locking down the router to use their default dns servers, you can't change to google or cloudfare.

My honest opinion is the router stinks and is a basic wifi 7 router totally locked down to advanced users/settings.

The wifi 7 speeds were brilliant on it with my Samsung S24 Ultra but the constant drop outs were driving me crazy.

I just took delivery today of TP-Links BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router, best I could afford at £200 and the difference is night and day.

Has taken me 2 hours to go through all my devices and redo the wifi on each to a seperate IOT network on the new router and everything is working brilliantly. 5 camera, 4 nas boxes, fridge, washer, dryer, 2 beer machines, 4 televisions, 2 computers.

Fully testing over the next couple of days but so far, web pages load within mili seconds (using google dns) yes you can change default dns (shame on EE blocking that function, your default dns are crap or overloaded).

Now stuck in a dilemma, keep the service which seems to be working great now on new router, speed tests at (fast.com) constantly coming back at 1.6gbps (on EE Smart Hub Pro Router it was up and down, lowest was 800mbps).

Obviously the price they are charging must include the new router as a loan/hire device which I don't want to use or need.

Paying full price for just the faster speed of 1.6gbps is a little high, have a few days before my 14 days period is up to be able to cancel, may just give them a call see if I can get a price reduction and send back the router, would not hold out much hope though.

The £200 cost of the new router is a killer but I highly recommend it, been running for 4+ hours without a hiccup at all, can't say the same for the Smart Hub Pro.

Will update this post after further testing...

[JimM11]

@Hawkspian There is a posting with an OP starting out with the new Pro/Smart wireless will find it and link for you.

Review of WiFi 7 Pro Router & 1.6Gb Service - Mixed Feelings. - The EE Community

[XRaySpeX]

@Hawkspian : You should be able to ID them from Setting up Smart WiFi & Set up your Home Broadband EE Router 

[Hawkspian]

Thank for all the replies. Engineer was here for all of about 6 minutes. Got everything switched over. On my iPhone I’m getting a great speed. Hasn’t changed a thing in the bedrooms. Still getting max 250mb down. But now I have the WiFi extender. Plugged that into the Xbox via Ethernet in the bedroom and getting a solid 1.2GB down which is massive for us. I’ll share the extender with the bin lids when they need to download something. 

The internet has gone off once which was about 40 mins after the engineer left but he said it would do this to update the firmware. Holding steady, just downloaded starfield 112GB in less than 10 mins. 

Now  I’ve just got to work out how I swap my gamepass ultimate over to the one I get free. It’s not letting me access it right now. 

[JimM11]

@Hawkspian You are not going to get full speed over wireless wi-fi everywhere and at all times, the further you get away from the router then the slower the speed get's it is the laws of physics, throw a wall/door/floor board/ceiling into the mix and that all impedes the signal strength, lower strength lower speed. At least it is all moving in the right direction, and 250mb/s is NOT a bad speed....

[Hawkspian]

Hi Jim. Thanks and yeah I’m aware of that. I’ve been messing with networks for about 20 years on and off,  I used to use TP link power line adapters and such so  I consider myself somewhat tech/computer and networking savvy. I just thought from sky I’d get a lot more than 250mbs over WiFi from a 1GB connection when the router is literally 15 feet away and certainly more on a WiFi 7, 1.6GB connection 🤷🏼

We have run into a huge problem now though, something we’ve never had issues with on sky in 10 years that I’m really struggling to diagnose. When the wife is playing COD team deathmatch not war zone, she is lagging so hard. It’s old school lag where she’s teleporting about, or when she throws a nade it’s delayed and comes out half a second later, impossible to win gun fights, when she’s walking forward the game is jerking and stuttering and pushing her back. 

No one else is using the internet. The series x is plugged into the WiFi pro hub via Ethernet with NAT open and saying we’re getting 980/1120mb down with low ping and 0 packet loss. Going to unplug the booster which will then mean the Xbox will need power cycling as doing this seems to change the NAT to moderate. We’ll see how that goes but that means we’re back to 250mb down and literally back to square one making the whole change to EE absolutely pointless. 

[Hawkspian]

As I thought we’re having no issues whatsoever now but we’re right back where we were before. On the one internet whenever I wanted to download a game on the Xbox (this is primarily what are internet is used for) I would plug a 20ft Ethernet cable in and run it up the stairs directly to the Xbox or PlayStation. This was a ball ache and also dangerous when you’ve got a 10 and 12 year old running about the house. It seems that this switch which is costing double the money is going to be similar. Play on WiFi and when wanting to download plug the WiFi hub in. So we’re paying double to eliminate the Ethernet cable on the stairs which totally doesn’t seem worth it to me. 

I think I’ll give it a week and play about and see if it stabilises. I’m sure they’ll be running tests and stuff during the fist week so not expecting an amazing or consistent connection. I mean back in the day they’d tell you that it wouldn’t be stable for a week while your internet works out what its speeds are going to be. It’s been many many years since changing to sky so not sure how relevant that is anymore.

I’m not paying almost £80 a month for the convenience of not using an Ethernet cable when I want to download though, that’s a fact. 

[JimM11]

@Hawkspian I am way to old to be a gamer for sure, but and this is a but, the SON is avid both PS5 and the Gamming PC that i built for him but to his spec, BOTH i made sure are wired cable Ethernet, have been now for about 18 months, apart from a hic-up via VM and having to fix the DNS on the PS5 network setting's he has been 100% happy, ETHERNET is king no other way to do it, wireless is just to sloppy for consistent stability.

[Hawkspian]

Yeah I hear ya. When I used to live alone and play against people online competitively, I would only play hard wired. Fortunately even though my wife plays cod daily (not much but a few games) she’s very very casual and the WiFi speed is perfect for her now it’s set up and not lagging. She’s actually really good and usually finishes top of the score board. I married a keeper 😂.  I’ve been playing for the last few hours and I’ve got no issues on Xbox  now the booster is off. 

A new issue I’m finding is that my emails on my iPhone take an eternity to load if they even load at all. Disabling WiFi and using 5G for things is not how I envisioned this! 

😡

[Hawkspian]

I really cannot get my head round the fact you cannot play games at all while hardwired through the booster to the Xbox. It says NAT is open. 900mb+ down but when you launch a game, the Xbox will disconnect from the internet kick you back to desktop then reconnect. Only way to play is on wireless. Can’t find anyone else with this issue.