Using EE Full Fibre Optic internet with eero 6+ mesh router

[itsthomas]

Hi,

I'm currently using Virgin Media broadband. To use my eero mesh routers at home, I had to set the Virgin Hub to modem mode so the eero could act as my main Wi-Fi router.

I’ll soon be switching from Virgin Media to EE Full Fibre (FTTP). Do I also need to set the EE Smart Hub to modem mode in order to use my eero system?

I read that with EE Full Fibre, I can connect the eero directly to the ONT (Optical Network Terminal) and simply enter my BT PPPoE credentials which is bthomehub@btbroadband.com, with the password either left blank or set tobt.

Is this information correct?

[JimM11]

@itsthomas None of the EE Router have or support modem mode, and not using the Router then you forego any DV Landline system connected for a EE system.

The EERO will connect direct to the ONT as a third party connection with the settings password is BT incase it is case sensitive.

[Mustrum]

@itsthomas   yes that is correct, just connect your eero to the ONT, not need or ability to set the EE router to modem mode, the ONT is the modem..

You can find more info on this help page https://ee.co.uk/help/broadband/getting-started/using-and-configuring-a-third-party-router 

[Matt_124]

You've read correctly, you would just have to input the PPPoE credentials after connecting via Ethernet to the ONT.

Reason you would have had to do the above with VM is that I believe their internal connection is terminated into their Hub, and not into an ONT as on Openreach.

Help article is here if you need something to refer to: https://ee.co.uk/help/broadband/getting-started/using-and-configuring-a-third-party-router 

[itsthomas]

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@JimM11 wrote:

The EERO will connect direct to the ONT as a third party connection with the settings password is BT incase it is case sensitive.

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Thanks. I assume the steps are as follows:

1. Connect the WAN port of the main eero router to the ONT

2. Open the eero app

3. Enter the EE broadband username and password

Will the eero app automatically detect the ONT connection at step 3 and prompt me to enter the PPPoE credentials?

[itsthomas]

Thanks. I assume the steps are as follows:

1. Connect the WAN port of the main eero router to the ONT

2. Open the eero app

3. Enter the EE broadband username and password

Will the eero app automatically detect the ONT connection at step 3 and prompt me to enter the PPPoE credentials?

[Mustrum · Accepted solution]

@itsthomas   if I remember right, from another post, the Eero needs to be connected to the internet before you can make PPOE changes.

If so you would need to, set up the EE Hub first,  connect the Eero to a LAN port on the EE Hub, make the changes, then plug the Eero into the ONT after removing the EE Hub.

[tb73]

Hi - I've just spent the last hour on the phone with an eero support engineer trying to get PPPoE working. This is with my eero directly connected the full fibre ONT, no EE router in the setup.

Here's the problem: According to the engineer, the eero setup will only accept a PPPoE password of between 4 and 8 characters. In the case of EE's default config, the use of 'BT' (or blank) will not work since the eero will not accept it.

They have told me the only way this will work is contact EE and ask them to specifically apply a PPPoE password of between 4 and 8 characters. To be honest, I'm not convinced as I don't believe I'm the first EE customer to try and directly connect an eero and ditch the EE router.

I'm equally unconvinced EE are going to set me up with a new password so I can use a 3rd party router. Anyone here got any thoughts??

[JimM11]

@tb73 Not going to happen, BT or blank are the two choices on the pppoe as far as the Wan is concerned. Time to ditch the eero if it does not work direct on the ONT wan connection.

Does it work when connected Wan/Lan and using DHCP with the EE hub up front? 

Asus Routers work direct connected to the ONT and also routing double Nat behind the EE.

[tb73]

@JimM11  - I wasn't holding out much hope of EE changing their password config just for me. This is really something eero will have to fix then.

The eero works fine in 'Bridge' mode sitting behind the EE router, it also works in DHCP mode in the same config. But both still mean that double NAT is going on, hence wanting to remove the EE router in the first place.