topic Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router in My Router

Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:10:08 GMT

I have been a Plusnet customer for about 18 months and have a fibre only connection with the supplied Hub 2 router/modem. The system works fine, except I’d like to improve the range of the WiFi signal.

My question is in 2 parts:

1. Would it be worth changing the supplied modem/router to a different manufacturer, and would this be difficult?

2. Assuming the answer is ‘yes’ then which make and model of modem/router would be best. There are a bewildering array of products in the market, at first sight something like this TP-Link AC 2800 for only about £50 from Amazon would seem to fit the bill, but I’m not up to date with all the nomenclature.

TP-Link AC2800

What I would like is something I could plug the wire from the fibre into directly and would give me better Wi-Fi range and wouldn’t be too difficult to set up with a laptop. Would this fit the bill?

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

mystreet1 — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:15:55 GMT

Depends on your max price and what you use the Internet for. I purchased a flint 2, which I used to replace my BT whole home mesh system.
https://amzn.eu/d/0mK51IW

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:24:33 GMT

@alanothen

Your posts suggests you have a part Fibre product so you still have a copper wire connection?

If you have the space, you can put the Hub two into bridge mode which makes it a modem only device and then buy a standalone router. The router would need to support PPPoE connection. It would allow you to consider a mesh system

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:26:01 GMT

Thank you so much for replying so promptly.

I’d ask whether it would be worth investing in the Flint 2 model instead of the TP Link, bearing in mind it is more than twice as expensive. I would have no problem with spending £120 on a solution, but would not if the £50 model would do the job.

I wouldn’t describe myself as a heavy user, my house isn’t particularly big (a 3 bed bungalow), but it is quite spread out to the detached garage, summer house and a couple of remote security cameras. The supplied Hub 2 is right at its limits to the furthest reaches of the network. I just want something with a better range.

Do I need to pay £50 or £130?

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:30:14 GMT

No, Dan_the_van, it is a full fibre connection. I really don’t want to have a separate modem and router, I want it all in one box like it is now.

I’m happy to pay for a replacement box, but I don’t know which one I need, that is all.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:45:35 GMT

Deleted incorrect information

Buying a new router does not necessarily mean you'll get better coverage.

Using a ethernet cat5e or above cable are you able to relocate the Hub two to a new location in the house? The ethernet cable would run between the ONT (fibre modem) and the hubs WAN port

I use a TP-Link AX53

EDIT: you do not need to buy a modem/router product with Full Fibre a standalone router is all that's needed.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:49:32 GMT

Thank you Dan_the_Van,

Whilst I could run a long Ethernet cable and relocate the router to another part of the house, that would be inconvenient and unsightly. If you are telling me that buying a different modem/router would not improve the range and strength of the WiFi strength then it wouldn’t be worth pursuing this idea of mine.

The Hub 2 modem/router supplied by Plusnet does work, but the WiFi signal is on its limits at the extremities of the property - such as the garage. If there is a replacement box that will improve the situation then I’m happy to buy it - but I don’t want to start running cables around the house.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Baldrick1 — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:57:02 GMT

@alanothen

Rather than spend big money on a fancy router, spend it on a multi unit mesh system. Tp -link do some very reasonably priced kits. It’s not hard to set up and there’s plenty of help here if needed.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:58:43 GMT

Thank you again Dan_the_Van,

I have just noticed your edit about not needing a modem/router, but just a router with a full fibre connection. At the moment I have a wire that comes from the BT Openreach installed box that plugs into the WAN socket in Plusnet supplied Hub 2 box (I’m sorry, I don’t know the technical names for the type of wire or the connections) - as in the photograph. Are you saying I can just plug this into a router? What is all that VDSL/ADSL stuff about? I’m a bit confused as to which box I need.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:03:57 GMT

Wireless around a property can be a bit hit and miss, very much like mobile phone signal.

I'm lucky my ONT and TP-Link router are in a central location of my property and I get a good signal around my house, for the garage I use TP-Link powerline adapter TP-Link TL-WPA4221 KIT AV600 Powerline Adapter WiFi Extender Kit, WiFi.

This gives me an upto 100 mbps wired connection and supports the wireless wizz lights and ring cameras in the garden. the TP-WPA4220 wireless access point is 2.4GHz only which is helpful for those devices.

Like @Baldrick1 says look at a mesh system

EDIT: ADSL/VDSL uses a copper phone line for it's connection, something not to worry about.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

mystreet1 — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:06:01 GMT

Black Friday is coming soon. The Flint 2 I got was on £105 then. Bst bit about amazon is that you can return it, if it is not for you.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:10:03 GMT

Thank you Baldrick 1.

I have no idea what any of that means. I’m a simple soldier and just want to replace the supplied Plusnet Hub 2 box with another one that would give me a better range for the WiFi so it will reach out to the garage and outhouse better. I want to be able to plug in the same wire that comes from the BT Openreach box that goes into the WAN socket on the Hub 2 box, I don’t want any more Ethernet cables going around the house or any more boxes. I don’t know any of the technical names for the wires or boxes, but it is a full fibre connection from Plusnet.

I have folk telling me I don’t need a modem/router - just a router, and that if I change the box it won’t necessarily improve the WiFi range. I have no idea whether any of that is tight or not. I’m just trying to work out whether a one for one box swap will work, whether it will improve the range and if it will then whether I need a £50 box or a £120 box.

I just want a simple life 😎

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Baldrick1 — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:21:43 GMT

@alanothen

1. You are on full fibre and do not need a separate modem.

2. It you buy a new router you will have to enter a few configuration details to connect it to your Plusnet service.

3. A mesh unit consists of a main unit, which requires setting up as per 2. In addition you typically get two satellites, which connect wirelessly to the main unit. These you position at points around your property. This gives you wireless connectivity throughout the property as devices automatically swap to the nearest unit.

4 As an example ,look at the Tp-link M4 at just over £100

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:26:24 GMT

Thank you again Dan the Van,

I’ve looked up the router you suggested:

TP-Link Archer AX53

… which is only about £60 on Amazon, which would be fine. Without using any more acronyms that I won’t know about, may I ask:

1. Would this box be an exact one-for-one replacement for the Plusnet Hub 2 box I have now (no more wires or other boxes)?

2. Would this be easy enough to fit and configure with a laptop myself (I have a technical background in the past, but am now retired from mainstream work so I’m well out of date with the technology).

3. Would this box be likely to give me better signal strength and coverage than I have now without adding anything more to the system?

4. Why would I need a £120 solution that someone suggested above when a £60 solution will work - or have I misunderstood something else?

If the answers are all ‘yes’ then I’m happy to order the part - but I may wait a few days fir the Amazon Prime event this week to see if it saves me a few pounds.

Many thanks for your help to everyone that has responded. What seemed like a simple question to start with has become quite complex (to me).

Alan

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:36:17 GMT

Thank you Baldrick 1. You have far exceeded my knowledge; I’ve looked up the system you suggest on Amazon:

TP-Link Deco M4

… which is only about £100 on Amazon, which would be fine. Without using any more acronyms that I won’t know about, may I ask:

1. Would this box be an exact one-for-one replacement for the Plusnet Hub 2 box I have now (no more wires or other boxes)?

3. Would this box be likely to give me better signal strength and coverage than I have now without adding anything more to the system?

If the answers are all ‘yes’ then I’m happy to order the part - but I may wait a few days for the Amazon Prime event this week to see if it saves me a few pounds.

Many thanks for your help to everyone that has responded. What seemed like a simple question to start with has become quite complex (to me).

Alan

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:53:15 GMT

@alanothen

I've used TP-Link products for a few years now and have always been happy with them.

TP-Link have a range of router products https://www.tp-link.com/uk/explore/wifi-router/

If you scroll down the page you will find "What type of residence do you have?" this will help you select a router.

With regards to setting up a new device you can either use a PC/Laptop or for Apple/Android devices there is a Tether app.

Some TP-Link routers also support 'Easy or One Mesh' devices which allow for a wireless access point to be added. Which is handy as if required you could add a mesh node at a later date to improve wifi coverage.

Answer to questions

1) Yes

2) Hopefully but not guaranteed, see above

3) Yes, a mesh system would give better coverage.

4) That's a hard question to answer, purchasing decisions are often based on personal affordability.

I think everyone who as joined in the thread are all retired.

Happy to help with any setting up questions if/when you get to that point.

Have you tried moving the hub to a different spot within the limitations of the current cables?

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:15:06 GMT

Thank you again Dan the Van,

I think this is worth a £60 punt to see it makes things better - what I have works most of the time, but at the edges it is a bit flaky. I’d just like to make it better, and as I have the time and money to do so I might as well.

Amazon is having a bit of a Prime sale starting on Wednesday, so I may as well wait until then to see if that saves me a few pounds. In the meantime I’ll read up a bit on the TP-Link and Mesh products.

Cost isn’t particularly a factor in that all of these products are as cheap as chips compared to when I was involved in computing 15-30 years ago. I’d feel a bit daft if I procured a system that was enormously more capable than I needed - but that doesn’t mean I won’t end up doing it to satisfy my technical curiosity 😎.

What I need to do now is have a break from thinking about this, so I’ll take Bob (the dog) for a walk to the beach and I think we’ll end up at the Charnwood Arms for a nice Sunday lunch. I’ll have a quick look at that website you suggested before Bob and I leave.

Alan

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Baldrick1 — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:26:56 GMT

@alanothen

The great advantage of getting an EasyMesh compatible AX53 is that if the signal is weak in any area you can buy an add on compatible mesh satellite without having to start again.

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

alanothen — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:36:58 GMT

Thank you again Baldrick 1.

one more question if I may before Bob (the dog) and I go for a walk to the beach: would I be right in thinking that I’d need an AX53 modem to plug into the wire from the BT Openreach fibre optic box, as well as the Mesh 4 system you suggested earlier? So the Mesh system is just a range extender and I still need the but to plug into the wall (please excuse the layman’s terms, I’m a surveyor, not an IT engineer).

Bobwalkin time - I’ll drop in again this evening.

Alan

Re: Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

Baldrick1 — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:56:50 GMT

@alanothen

No. The Ax53 becomes the mesh unit main unit. By buying additional mesh satellites you are replicating the mesh system that comes as a complete set. You can add as many satellites as you need.

Range extenders are far inferior as they generally use different SSIDs (the transmitted wireless name) and can be problematic. When you move around the property they rely on your connected device releasing a diminishing wireless signal and pick up the nearer transmission. Mesh satellites, as the name suggests, are all synchronised with the same name etc. and provide a seamless connection in all areas within the wireless range of any of the units.