topic Re: WiFi 6 in My Router

WiFi 6

peterb — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 19:00:52 GMT

I'm on plusnet unlimited fibre. Router plusnet Hub One, which plusnet suppied and I paid postage. Works reasonably well although a few internet cold spots in the house.

I'm thinking about a new computer, specs include Wifi 6. Plusnet Router Hub One doesn't do WiFi 6. I don't think Hub Two does either.

I wondering whether WiFi 6 is a worthwhile upgrade? Worth buying a special router?

Alternatively would it be worthwhile to see if plusnet would let me have a Hub Two which might be an improvement ?

Re: WiFi 6

jab1 — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 19:09:30 GMT

@peterb Plusnet do not offer the Hub2 - isn't that a BT Broadband offering (and fairly new)? Is is it Wi-Fi6? Personally, I would invest in a BT HH6 - while there are still some on the market - which is a great improvement on the Hub1. The HH6 is not WiFi6 either, and although I have not looked at those on the market that are, their price is astronomical.

Re: WiFi 6

peterb — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 19:44:42 GMT

Thanks reply. I'm thinking about Plusnet Hub Two on this page: Information about your Plusnet Router | Help | Plusnet

Re: WiFi 6

bmc — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 19:50:59 GMT

@peterb

Well, well, well!

PlusNet have a new router on offer. You appear to be the first to notice it.

The HubOne is a re-badged BT HH5. I would hazard a guess that the HubTwo is a re-badged BT SmartHub One or Two.

Brian

Re: WiFi 6

jab1 — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 19:59:23 GMT

Sorry - I didn't realise they had released the Hub2 - I'm no longer a PN customer, so don't spend much time looking at their Help pages any more. I'm guessing here, because I haven't looked at the BT HH6 specs, but this could be the Plusnet version of it.

@bmc has beaten me to it, but I think he is correct in his assumption of it being the re-badged version of the SmartHub1. I note, though, that you can't split the 2.4/5Ghz bands, which is a slight retrograde step.

Re: WiFi 6

dvorak — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:06:23 GMT

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Fibre to My Router

Re: WiFi 6

Anoush — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 22:11:18 GMT

We’ve had a trial for the Hub Two and even though you can’t split the SSIDs, I’ve heard a lot of good things, so I imagine it switches the frequencies really well.

It’s released for business customers first and residential’s coming soon. I can’t say a timeframe though.

Re: WiFi 6

bmc — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:51:16 GMT

@Anoush

Is it a re-badged BT SmartHub1 or SmartHub2 ?

Brian

Re: WiFi 6

dvorak — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:32:05 GMT

I believe it's a SmartHub 2, though don't think it has the extra disk.

Re: WiFi 6

bmc — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:11:40 GMT

@dvorak

Thanks

For some reason I've always thought BT Hubs went HH5, HH6, SH1, SH2 but having a look round the BT Help pages I can't see any sign of a SmartHub1 listed - even although every other Hub BT have used is.

So no SmartHub1 then which means the PlusNet HubTwo must be a re-badged SmartHub2.

Brian

Re: WiFi 6

Baldrick1 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:29:18 GMT

@bmc

Smarthub is the proper name for what many call a HH6 or Smarthub 6 (to cover both options). Its replacement is a Smarthub 2.

Re: WiFi 6

Baldrick1 — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:38:58 GMT

@peterb

You may want to think why you would need a WiFi 6 router, or modem/router if you want to use it on a FTTC service. Are you a super gamer with a computer with a brain the size of a planet and or multiple gamers who must have the very fastest response? If so you also need a faster internet service, GFast ot FTTP. Do you want to network your internal devices wirelessly? If so this will help if all devices are WiFi 6 compatible. However you would do far better installing Ethernet cable.

Do you want better WiFi connectivity throughout your property? If so why put all your eggs in the one WiFi 6 basket? For about the same money consider installing a Mesh system.

Do you just want the latest bells and whistles plus bragging rights? If so just go and buy one.

Re: WiFi 6

peterb — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:44:34 GMT

Plusnet help desk say that Hub Two is not available until November. Said they normally supply new routers only if existing router is not working.

I prefer to use 5GHz band, because it faster. What is the signficance of Split Wi-Fi bands/SSID on Hub Two? I have my wireless adapter set to prefer 5GHz. So normally it uses 5GHz. Would no Split Wi-Fi bands/SSID have an effect on that?