topic Re: What routers work for direct connection? in My Router

What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 23:26:37 GMT

I've just signed up for the Fibre 900, but I don't want to use the ancient, possibly worst in class router that PlusNet forces on it's clients.

So I'm looking at a WiFi 7 router with at least 2.5GbE ports.

I've seen people mention 2 routers but I've also seen people mention using the PlusNet/BT (because it's the same as BT use) router and the plugging that in to a new WiFi hub - I don't want that, I don't want another zombie power leaching device.

So can PlusNet or someone confirm a direct connection to the wall socket with a 3rd Part Router before my installation? Thanks.

Edit: Am I correct in thinking any pppoe router would work?

And I think the credentials for logging in are whatever I use for my actual account.

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

MisterW — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 07:29:16 GMT

@ItsAdam

Edit: Am I correct in thinking any pppoe router would work?

Basically, yes. Just make sure it can handle the WAN-LAN (NAT) throughput of a FF900 connection

And I think the credentials for logging in are whatever I use for my actual account.

Again, correct , the PPPoE username is your accountname suffixed with @plusdsl.net

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

Pygar — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 08:27:14 GMT

TP-link BE 550 works for us.

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

mystreet1 — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:10:12 GMT

Flint 2 (only wifi 6) or the newer v3 which is wifi 7.

Wait until the 20th and see what is on amazon, price wise

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:42:48 GMT

Yes, I'm waiting for Black Friday, however I will only look at Wifi 7 Routers with at least a 5gig port, pref a 10gig, both for LAN and WAN.

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

jab1 — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:46:40 GMT

Are you running a multi-national company from your bedroom? 🤣

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:48:30 GMT

Good to know, I bookmarked the GE550 (2x 5gig ports) and was looking at the higher ones as they have one with SFP+ 10gig (i have a SFP switch) and 2x 10gig ethernet ports, but they seem to be like Unicorns at the moment. If I recall correctly that was the BE800.

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:50:04 GMT

Nope but I do like being future proof, I was running a 2.5GbE network like 6 years ago or something, it's now 2.5GbE on 1 computer and 10gig sfp+ on 2 others.

Virgin Media has been sending routers with 5 and 10Gig Ethernet for a while now...

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

MaxSync — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:16:42 GMT

@ItsAdam wrote:

... I will only look at Wifi 7 Routers with at least a 5gig port, pref a 10gig, both for LAN and WAN.

A few suggestions -

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

dvorak — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:39:21 GMT

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Full Fibre to My Router

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:38:07 GMT

Already bought the GE550 which has Dual 5GbEEthernet and then the rest are 2.5GbE.

Confused to see ONT boxes are using 1gig ports though, seemds like incredible, pathetic amounts of ewaste using lowly 1gig ports to people on 900+ packages. Not to mention the cost of an Engineer visit to come and replace it when you upgrade.

This is precisely one of the reason the UK is 10 years behind Europe for Internet speeds.

For the past 3 years my Parents who live in a tiny little "in the middle of nowhere" cottage in France have been on 2gig 1:1 connection. And I've known people in Poland nearly 10years ago on over 1 gig internet.

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

jab1 — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:43:47 GMT

@ItsAdam wrote:

Confused to see ONT boxes are using 1gig ports though, seemds like incredible, pathetic amounts of ewaste using lowly 1gig ports to people on 900+ packages. Not to mention the cost of an Engineer visit to come and replace it when you upgrade.

So far as I am aware, the OpenReach network only (currently) supports up to 1GbE - if you really need faster, you need to be on an alternative network.

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:47:37 GMT

Well then you're utterly unaware then. Since OpenReach has been supplying 1.6gig for quite some time. It was initially a EE (BT) Exclusive, but has has been available on vodafone for a very long time.

1.6 has been available for like 12-18 months.

Note: I can go ahead and buy Vodafone/EE 1.6gig now, and no, I'm not part of any altnet here, only Virgin and BT.

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

Dan_the_Van — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:53:31 GMT

@jab1

With EE I can order 1.6Gb Full Fibre

There is value having a 2.5Gb ONT for use with a Full Fibre 900 product

I agree it is short sighted for Openreach to be installing 1Gb ONT

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

jab1 — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:58:17 GMT

Sorry I was mistaken with that statement - humble apologies - but the vast majority of home users, even if they have the 900 package, probably don't need it - and as you say, even within BTCD it is only available to EE customers.

@Dan_the_Van OK

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:02:42 GMT

Re: What routers work for direct connection?

ItsAdam — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:16:31 GMT

EE and Vodafone have 1.6, it was a BT (EE) Exclusive for 12 months, but Vodafone have taken it and other wholesale customers are starting to sell it too.

The speed issue is usually upload speed is increased with the higher download speeds. Other EU countries don't have this issue because most of them do 1:1 contention rations.

UK is broken here, mainly because of NTL/Virgins network limiting upload - which has left BT to cheap out and offer very limited upload speeds. It's only the altnets that are currently offering 1:1 connections.

What's laughable is that even with their 1.6 services BT is hard limiting customers with their already terribly low 105-115 upload speeds.

I like upload speeds, I stream and send videos and files to my parents in France which is the limiting factor for me. Otherwise I'd have gone with either BT/Vodafone packages.

Also in terms of pure annoyance my plan is to put my openreach ONT behind my desk which would also be behind a rack cabinet. If PlusNet was to start offering 1600 with a 300+ upload speed in 3months+ I would instantly upgrade - meaning having to pull out and disconnect everything just to fiddle again for another engineer visit.

I agree, most customers won't really even care, but for power users, it would make much more sense to offer that option - although to be perfectly honest in 2023-2025 the cost between 1GbE and 2.5GbE is rather minimal, especially considering the cost of an Engineer callout to replace ewaste later on.

But as I said it's indicative of the UK's penny pinching jokes. But it's just part of BT's fake economy again.

Virgin Hubs have had 2.5GbE ported Routers for a long time (I'd know I've been Gig1 for 3+ years), iirc all customers in their Gig2 areas are getting routers with 10GbE ports on them. That's not incoming, that's outgoing for direct PC or to a switch.