Changing broadband provider, hardware question.

anotherbob

When my current fixed price contract runs out with Plusnet it looks like I will be paying a lot more to keep the same level of service. I'm happy to consider changing providers but I don't want any disruption of how my hardware is set up.

Currently the BT primary socket is connected to an adjacent BT Openreach modem and from this an 8 metre RJ45 cable goes to the WAN socket in a Plusnet Hub One router.

I don't want to move anything so what I'm wondering is if I change supplier can I simply replace the Plusnet router with one provided by the new supplier?

flashg67

Not sure why you want to keep the 2 box solution? I binned that when I had plusnet in favour of a BT smart hub,which is compatible with Plusnet and gave me better wireless than the plusnet router. But to answer your question, yes, Most routers will work as an wireless access point as your plusnet router does.

TadleyBaggie

One thing I always do before putting in a new router is to make it look as close as possible to the existing such as:
 
 - Same WiFi SSID and password
 - LAN configuration, i.e. same IP subnet setting

[Deleted User]

flashg67 said:

Not sure why you want to keep the 2 box solution? I binned that when I had plusnet in favour of a BT smart hub,which is compatible with Plusnet and gave me better wireless than the plusnet router. But to answer your question, yes, Most routers will work as an wireless access point as your plusnet router does.

It will still need to be a router even when connected to a modem, it is not correct to change it to a wireless access point so this above is incorrect advice - dedicated modems don't do routing.

Depending on which supplier you go for you may have connections for either or both RJ11 direct to telephone socket or RJ45 ethernet to connect to a modem if the OP wants to retain that set up - impossible to say until you know exactly which provider you opt for and what they supply.

Worth checking the modem spec though eg ADSL / VDSL to make sure it is compatible with whatever package you choose next.

To be honest all the "free" equipment supplied by ISP's is poor anyway and I'd rather use my own equipment to get a good internet experience, but seeing that the aesthetics and money saving is more important to you, I'd just check your new supplier provides a modem/router with an ethernet WAN port and instructions on how to configure your existing modem to connect to their service.

For clarity because many people mix up the terminology:

Modem: converts analogue signals to digital, typically an ADSL/VDSL phone line signal or cable / optical to digital such as ethernet.

Router: provides a gateway from one network to another, typically home network to internet by routing multiple local devices/IP addresses through a single internet connect.

Switch: Connects multiple ethernet devices together - can be a separate device but also found on a router and bridged to the WAN / internet connection as part of the router functionality.

Wifi access point: Bridges an ethernet connection to wireless, a type of switch.

Some devices combine all of the above but if you have a dedicated modem only - you still need a router among other things.

A router is nothing to do with Wifi either. It just so happens that household ISP "routers" also contain a switch and wifi access point for convenience.

Residential gateway: Typically contains all of the above and is often branded as a "hub"

debitcardmayhem

I have just switched to Plusnet , but have kept my nearly useless modem/router from my previous ISP because it can be set to bridged mode and I use my ASUS Zen mesh wifi router , it's a pity because according speedtest I only get 67.9Mbps on wireless but then the line VDSL line maxes out at 67.91

anotherbob

I'm happy to say this is now a non-problem.

After calling Plusnet I have negotiated a deal which will actually be £5 less than I'm paying now for the same level of service.

Thanks to those who have offered guidance.

SebC

you don't need the two-box solution anymore, which has been redundant for a while apart from Gfast for TalkTalk. Good, you have been able to keep the original setup though less to change.