topic Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router in Broadband

Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Skipperskeeper — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 19:59:44 GMT

I'm considering changing my router to a HUB 2 version, I do not have full Fibre BB will I notice any improvement between the Hub 1 and the Hub2 please?

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

jab1 — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:09:52 GMT

@Skipperskeeper Welcome to the forums. Depends what you mean by differences, really. The Hub1 is now getting a bit 'long in the tooth', technology-wise, but is still a serviceable kit. It is no longer getting upgrades, but still performing its core functions.

The Hub2 is obviously more up-to-date, but is not an 'essential' upgrade for the vast majority of home users.

just note that you can't just get a Hub2, AIUI, they are usually only offered at re-contract time, unless your Hub1 is failing.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Skipperskeeper — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:29:43 GMT

Many thanks for the prompt reply. I am about t renew my contract and just wondered if the router upgrade would be worthwhile. My existing Hub1 is working OK.

regards

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

jab1 — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:32:44 GMT

I'd take it.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Townman — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 22:23:02 GMT

One notable difference between the two routers is the Hub 2 only provides 3 LAN ports.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Dan_the_Van — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 07:09:30 GMT

@Skipperskeeper

Although a newer product the Hub Two has some notable differences to the Hub One

1) As previously stated only three LAN ports

2) Both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz wireless share the same name (it is not possible to split them)

3) Can be configure to use your preferred public DNS providers (or use your own local DNS server like pi-hole)

4) Can be configured to 'bridge mode' (modem only), allows for cleaner implementation of a mesh system or 3rd party router

5) Can be configured to respond to ICMP (ping), this allows the use of Thinkbroadband Quality Monitor

6) The option to export event logs and status screen as a csv file, which is useful for fault finding.

I find the DHCP server a bit quirky

HTH

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Skipperskeeper — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:59:12 GMT

Thanks for all that technical information, much of it I'm afraid was lost on me. I do understand that the Hub2 appears only to support 3 LAN ports but as I only currently use one for an ageing HP printer I won't be concerned. The current router password was changed by myself several years ago as a move towards providing a little more security?

As a nearly 80 year old internet user I stumble my way through todays technical jargon and electronic 'bells n' whistles' quite successfully - so far anyway. So many of my contemporaries either steer clear of the internet as a whole or tie themselves in electronic knots because of confusion or 'fear' of the whole system.

I guess that if the HUB2 serves me as well as my existing HUB1 I'll be well satisfied.

KBO ( a Winston Churchill expression)

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Sharpenyourimag — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:17:46 GMT

Hi, sorry to jump in here but I have a similar question. I have been using a Hub One router for a couple of years and was sent a Hub Two when we renewed the contract some weeks back. I came to install it and realised that the Hub One router used a re-ended ethernet cable from our OpenReach master box and that plugged into the red WAN socket on the Hub One. As pointed out above, there are then four Ethernet socktes to use and I am using three of them. (The phone line for the house comes off the Openreach master box into a separate single socket).

However, the Hub Two installation states that I should plug into the phone socket on the Openreach master. Is that still appropriate? Will the speeds be as before (or better) using the phone line? I would have thought that the ethernet cable route was better, but the manual states: "WAN port, do not use".

Can someone advise, please? Thank you.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

jab1 — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:19:43 GMT

@Sharpenyourimag Are you on FTTC or Full Fibre?

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Sharpenyourimag — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:27:29 GMT

FTTC

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

jab1 — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:29:43 GMT

@Sharpenyourimag In which case, the RED port cannot be used. It replaces the grey one if/when you move to Full Fibre, but does not work as an ethernet port.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Sharpenyourimag — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:32:49 GMT

OK, thank you, but can you confirm I would still get my usual speeds using the phone socket, they wouldn't be restricted using this connection? I'm currently getting 58-60 Mbps down, 17 upload using Hub One.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

jab1 — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:34:46 GMT

Your Hub2 connects exactly as your Hub1, so there should be no difference at all.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Sharpenyourimag — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:39:34 GMT

But this is what I don't understand, John. The Hub Two doesn't connect exactly as the Hub One. With the Hub One, I have a red-ended ethernet cable from the Openreach master to the red WAN socket on Hub One. With HubTwo I have to use the phone cable, that's why I am puzzled by it. I am happy to swap connections and see but I wanted to get confirmation that speeds wouldn't be restricted by changing.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:45:25 GMT

@Sharpenyourimag

What do you mean by "Openreach master "? Openreach Modem?

These are the help pages for a Hub Two for FTTC https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/router-setup-guides/hub-two/#adsl

HTH

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

jab1 — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:51:04 GMT

@Sharpenyourimag wrote:

But this is what I don't understand, John. The Hub Two doesn't connect exactly as the Hub One. With the Hub One, I have a red-ended ethernet cable from the Openreach master to the red WAN socket on Hub One.

It sounds like you are on Full Fibre in that case. On FTTC, the GREY cable plugs into the GREY port on the extreme left of the Hub, looking at it from the rear, the other end into the modem socket of your phone master socket. On Full Fibre, the cable plugs into the ONT at one end, and into the RED port on your Hub.

Can you post a picture of your Hubs connection please.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

RealAleMadrid — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:54:23 GMT

@Sharpenyourimag If you are using the HUB1 WAN socket you must be connecting to an Openreach Modem, or a Full Fibre ONT box not the Incoming phone line master socket. If you are on FTTC the modem is no longer needed, both the the Hub1 and 2 can be connected to the phone socket as they contain an internal modem.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:58:43 GMT

I am wondering if the OP was originally supplied a Openreach Modem with a Hub Zero or 582n router for FTTC and replaced either with a Hub One at some point, keeping the WAN connection from the modem.

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

jab1 — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 15:59:40 GMT

@RealAleMadrid I wonder, following your post, if @Sharpenyourimag is on a very old FTTC connection originally using a TG582 and OR modem, and was not correctly advised when they got the Hub1, to disconnect the modem?

@Dan_the_Van Snap! 😀

Re: Hub2 Router Vs Hub1 Router

Sharpenyourimag — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:05:49 GMT

Thank you for all pitching in here. We were connected FTTC about 11 years ago.

Picture shows what I referred to as the Openreach "master", red ethernet cable going off LAN1 to the Hub One. The DSL line goes to the phone sockets seen below. Second picture shows the Hub One connections, red ethernet into WAN, three other ethernet cables going to main PC, a printer and the TV Freeview.

Simon