Alternative router suggestions.

[#1]

Any thoughts on suitable candidates to replace the Hub2 ?

My gripes are only having 3 wired ports, no 'real' wifi off switch, and not the best ergonomics on my setup.

For low speed FTTP, but I do shovel data around internally

I have considered just adding a switch which is looks the cheap option and suffer the faff going via the GUI to turn off the hub wifi.  Still two devices though.

I need 5+ network ports

Not fussed about the fanciest wifi as I'm 90% wired, but still need some 802B/G at least.

I'd like a real switch to turn off the wifi 

QoS might be handy for VOIP (but 'well don't do anything else' has worked fine on ADSL so far)

Inbuilt VOIP a nice to have (avoids an ATA and yet another mains plug)

Not silly price, I'm not keen on the price tag on Draytek 2927's for example.

[#2]

I'd go for an improved Router and a decent switch, if the Router fails then the switch will still keep the internal network runing.....

[#3]

@mwwagain 

might I suggest you use Gemini AI or similar input your requirements and check the results. 

Make sure you enter the details of you current connection speed along with any future features you may want.

Many routers for the domestic market only offer 4 LAN ports.

Maybe consider a router with no WiFi some have more than 4 LAN ports, they do come at a cost.

[#4]

Indeed 3 or 4 LAN is the limit on domestic routers, I suppose most people are using wifi (and wondering why their 'internet' is rubbish).

However some progress if in an unusual way  😀

While the AI merely found where I had already reached, going into the couple of current models the manufacturer blurb helpfully said which models they replaced and why. 

As those updates were around wifi updates or dual 2.5GB WAN ports, the older ones suit me fine.

Candidates are

Asus RT AC88U

DrayTek 2927ac

(The ac denoting the older wifi standards)

So off to eBay to look for those models being sold on by gamers !

Any feedback or other suggestions still welcome

[#5]

The fritzbox seems to be highly recommended in multiple places, but not tried it myself.  If its just one extra port can you swap anything onto wifi?

 My big a3 printer is in the same room as the router and seems to work equally well on the network with wifi or cable.

[#6]

I would keep the PN router and add a switch (foe extra network points) and a Wireless Access Point to improve WiFi performance and give you additional wireless functionality such as split bands, multiple ssids etc

[#7]

@mwwagain 

I would be very surprised if a current new router WiFi would not be backward compatible.

The FRITZ!Box 7530 AX mentioned many times on this forum like the Hub Two supports ADSL/VDSL, it can be used as a router only. As a consequence it will only have three LAN ports all 1Gb, it does have a working phone socket and WiFi 6, the Hub two is only WiFi 4 and 5 (2.4 and 5 GHz).

If you are moving data locally around your network, i would consider a router with 2.5Gb LAN ports or a switch connected to the router is 2.5Gb

My internet works fine mainly WiFi only, but there again I have a WiFi 6 router with WiFi 6 devices.

[#8]

Thanks to all, hopefully also a useful discussion for others looking at alternatives.

@Spik3y 

I have already economised on LAN more than is sensible, my printer is on USB from the primary PC (not a big issue, and could USB attach from a router if I wanted wider access), my NAS box is daisy-chained from the VOIP phone and the 2nd feed into the lounge is not connected at all.

@spile @Dan_the_Van 

My intent is switching the wifi off 99% of the time - ideally with a hardware switch (as my old TP8970). Greater coverage or performance beyond having ac 5GHz is not of interest.  As such I am reluctant to pay for premium 'shiny gamer bling' (wifi6 wifi7) which will be not be used.  Hence my interest in secondhand '802.11 ac' kit from people who have just bought aforementioned bling.

[#9]

Have you still got your old hub 1 to reconfigure?  I've just had a clear out and found 2 older plusnet routers which they evidently didn't want back as they were outdated. (note to self must stop hoarding). 

[#10]

I have never had a Hub1 - my old ADSL router is a TD-W8970.

Using that as a swtich with the new Hub2 would give a total of 5LAN across the two (assume that is OK) and has a wifi off switch, but the wifi is 2.4GHz / 802.11n only and (minor point) means two mains plugs.

I seem to be heading towards ASUS RT-AC88U's or ASUS RT-AX88U's on eBay

[#11]

Do you have any lan devices that dont need/have the throughput compared to NAS?

I appreciate pass through port on voip phone/ata essentially gives an extra lan port however i gather daisy chaining a NAS through it isnt recommended as limits NAS to that of voip hardware which maybe 10/100Mbs ethernet port compared to NAS likely being 1Gbs port. Also (though less likely) potential of NAS going offline if voip phone hangs/fails

Reading through posts. Hub2 wifi 4/5 seems fine for your requirements, so if you can live with no hardware wifi on/off than small network switch cascaded pfd hub2 would suffice.

If going for 2nd hand router, might be worthwhile checking CeX UK for stock as they offer 5yr warranty and maybe even have one local as 390+ stores.

I have used rt-ax88u (non pro) previously which has 1G WAN and 8 1G lan. I gathers is essentially an ax version of the rt-ac88u. There is also rt-ax88u pro version that came equipped with two 2.5WAN/LAN ports but only four 1G Lan ports