Think of joining plusnet. Would like to check HUB TWO features. WOL. Multicast. Port forwading.

[#1]

Hi,

Recently I got a replacement router from Talktalk. It is so tied down I am having problems with features no longer supported. So before I switch I would like to check these features are available on HUB TWO.

Wake-on-LAN across internal network. Not internet.
Multicasting on internal network (from a Raspberry Pi to any device on network. I use DVblast.)

I also use but work OK on Talktalk.
Port forwading (multiple external ports to multiple internal ports on multiple devices connected on my network).

No problems with OpenVPN. Server is on a Pi.

Thank you.

[#2]

@Pi_fan For something like that, I would suggest a third-party router - i don't know of any ISP-supplied kit with those features.

You can use your own kit on Plusnet.

[#3]

@Pi_fan 

For more details of the Hub Two see  https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/router-information/ 

The Hub two like other ISP supplied routers does have restrictions on what can be configured.

Some details of the Hub

1) Three LAN ports, One WAN port
2) Both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz wireless share the same name (it is not possible to split them)
3) WiFi performance - Max Rate 2.4GHz 216Mbps, 5GHz 1730Mbps
4) Seven internal antennas (3x 2.4GHz, 4x 5GHz)
5) Beamforming (Implicit and Explicit Beamforming)
6) Can be configure to use your preferred public DNS providers (or use your own local DNS server like pi-hole)
7) Can be configured to respond to remote ICMP (ping), this allows the use of Thinkbroadband Quality Monitor
8  )The option to export event logs and status screen as a csv file, which is useful for fault finding
9) Does NOT support router or dsl stats applications
10) Can be configured to 'bridge mode' (modem only), allows for clean implementation of a mesh system or 3rd party router
11) On/Off front panel light setting

I have used a Hub two in the past.

It does support port forwarding, Wake on LAN does work. Can not comment on streaming, not something I do.

I host a raspberry pi Wireguard VPN server and that works fine.

Which features have TalkTalk restricted?

Any question please ask.

[#4]

Hi Dan_the_Van,

I did eventually get WOL working on the Talktalk router. I am not exactly sure why it started working but I had tried many things over the past few days to get it going.
Just in-case WOL breaks I have now set a BIOS option to reboot machines on a power failure. All my main machines now have a Tapo or Kasa Network controlled mains switch so can be booted by simply turning off and on the power supply to each.

I still cannot get the multicast to work. I have a shell script running on a Pi that allows me to select which TV channel to broadcast over my network. It broadcasts to 239.255.1.4 port 5001. Then I can use VLC running on a laptop, phone or tablet (even an old Amazone FireHD for Kids works) to watch TV. I have had this working faultlessly for years on my previous Talktalk router but broke and now doesnt work on the replacement one so I assue it is blocking it somehow. Talktalk's solutions was to upgrade me to a £60/month full fibre system. That is a jump from £25/month ASDL service which I am not prepared to accept. They did say I could use a TpLink AR400 instead on an ADSL/VDSL system but I have yet to confirm if that supports multicast. But will I be forced to Full Fibre soon and it too will become obsolete?

I think Port Forwarding should be OK on any router. It was even supported on my 20 year old Netgear WGT624v3 for NTL and later VirginMedia.

I use OpenVPN servers on two Rasberry Pis. I can access either from my mobile phone network and then watch my home CCTV cameras on 192.168.0.x using a dedicated app.

So bottom line is that I need to get mutlicast to work and be sure it works on any replacement system.

Consumer winge..... Why dont ISPs provide complete documentation guide for the routers they supply and a full user manual? Even TpLinks router reference manual is pretty vague in some areas. I guess it is so if something does not work as it should they dont have to support it.

Thanks.

[#5]

Might be TP-Link VR400, it can be switch to router mode, but it is not really suitable for faster Full Fibre speeds. TP-Link do another DSL modem/router which is better than the VR400; TP-Link VX1800v AX1800Mbps Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gigabit VDSL/ADSL Modem Router, 1201 Mbps/5 GHz, 574 Mbps/2.4 GHz.

This link https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/emulator/ is handy for checking what a router GUI is like. 

I see IGMP Snooping setting on both the above tp-link routers.

"The IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) Snooping feature allows the router to only forward multicast traffic to ports that have requested them"

I've used port forwarding on four different routers over the years, not one issue.

[#6]

@Pi_fan 

Consumer winge..... Why dont ISPs provide complete documentation guide for the routers they supply and a full user manual?

Because most customers want  to operate in a 'plug and play' situation. They (Plusnet) don't want people to read a manual and 'think 'ooh , I'll just have a play with that setting and see what it does', that just causes problems for support!

For anyone who really want to change things like wireless SSIDs and channels , then there are online hlep guides that people who want to do this are going to be capable of finding!

[#7]

Exactly, @MisterW ! I am now quite happy to 'play around' with my router/browser/w.h.y. , but I always take a very careful note of working settings, and what I change. Got caught out a couple of times in the dim and distant past, but not now.