Hub 2 with FTTP ?

[#1]

@Flourgrader 

I would go with the minimum you require - even if that's FF145

You can upgrade at any point in your contract at the cost of a new contract. Downgrading costs money!!!

Brian

Edit  : Your IP address will change with moving to PN. If required you can get a Static IP address for a one off charge of £5.00

[#2]

Do you know what CPU is in the Hub 2

No, but I'm reliably informed that its designed for and can handle a 1Gb FTTP connection.

I have just fired off a email asking helpdesk at TP to give me that information.

Be interested to hear what response is forthcoming.

For information I currently use a Ubiquiti ER-X running OpenWrt which has a dual core 880Mhz MT7621 processor. With hardware NAT enabled it will handle my 900 Mb FTTP connection fine. Disable h/w NAT and it peaks out at around 450Mb.

[#3]

---

@Flourgrader wrote:

I have a load of stuff on ethernet (CAT7) and tied MAC & IP addresses. so to retain my current router would save me a shed load of work. CPU in the Archer VR2800 router is a bit [-Censored-]. its slow on big file transfers across the internal network.

---

You will find the Hub Two DHCP server not as configurable as any TP-Link router, with the VR2800 you are able to add the devices MAC address and assign a IP Address before you connect it. This is not possible with a Hub two, the device has to be connected have an IP Address assign before you change it to what you wish and make 'always use this IP Address'

Alternatively you set the devices on your network which requires one with fixed IP Addresses.

Also you can not use some 10.0.0.0/8 network ranges.

Before you change any setting on the VR2800 take a backup.

In advanced setting change >Operation Mode  change to Wireless Router Mode

Then setup the PPPoE connection >Network >Internet >+Add 

Plusnet use CHAP so you could also change Authentication Type to CHAP.

Then 'Save'

EDIT: LAN4 will become the WAN port for connection to the ONT

HTH

[#4]

Thank you  Dan_the_Van,

I found the info useful & appreciated the

time you had taken to include a screen shot

of the Archer Router 👍 

[#5]

@MisterW:
Be interested to hear what response is forthcoming.
"Hello,
Thank you for contacting TP-Link support.
This device have 3 1000Mbps RJ45 LAN Ports and 1 1000Mbps RJ45 WAN/LAN Port.
For full specification of the device, click on this link: https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/dsl-modem-router/archer-vr2800/#specifications
Thank You."
Seems to me they side steped the question ?

[#6]

@Flourgrader they either sidestepped it or didn't understand it

Just because it has 1Gb capable ports doesnt mean it can handle 1Gb throughput. The spec link they referred to says nothing about throughput, whereas if you compare with one of their 'business' routers the ER605 , it quotes throughput figures https://www.tp-link.com/uk/business-networking/omada-sdn-router/er605/#specifications

[#7]

TY. MisterW

I agree with what you say!
I am thinking of ordering the Plusnet Full Fiber 300 Mbps package.
In your opinion do you think the VR 2800 MU-MIMO VDSL/ADSL Modem Router
would be able to handle this load.
I do Not use the QoS on the router because I think it is rubbish
at doing the job.

[#8]

@Flourgrader   if you are going for full fibre, don;t waste your money getting a DSL/ADSL Modem version of the router. Just go for the router only version of whatever router you decide.

[#9]

Hi Mustrum

I am all ready using the DSL/ADSL Modem Router

Its stuffed with all my customized settings.

It makes life a lot easier to keep the Hub2 in its cardboard box

and connect my DSL/ADSL Modem Router to the 

Openreach modem(ONT)

[#10]

@Flourgrader 

I am thinking of ordering the Plusnet Full Fiber 300 Mbps package.
In your opinion do you think the VR 2800 MU-MIMO VDSL/ADSL Modem Router
would be able to handle this load.

My guess, and its just a guess, is that it should. AFAICS it has a Broadcom 63138 SoC which is a dual core 1Ghz ARM processor.

The simple answer is take @Dan_the_Van s advice and make sure you order the Hub 2 , it will only cost you £6.99 P & P. Then try the VR2800 and see it can handle the throughput. If it can , then fine , keep the Hub 2 as a spare. If not, then use the Hub 2.

[#11]

Yes, That was my line of thinking.👍

If the Archer Router can't manage the data throughput will it

not work at all  ? As in nothing will happen.

or

will it just run slow?

Hence I won't get the 300Mbps that I would be paying for!

[#12]

@Flourgrader 

it will just run slow!. First thing would be to run an speedtest using the Ookla (speedtest.net) tester via a wired connection to the router. If that shows significantly less than 300Mb then its use the Hub 2 I'm afraid.

As an example of what happens when the router can't cope:-

When I originally moved to FTTP, I was on the 80/20 FTTP trial product (now called FF 74). I was using my trusty Draytek 2830 and was getting the full 80Mb download. When the full FTTP products were released I went to the FF900 and was a little surprised to be only getting around 100Mb download on a speed test!. First thought was , is the 2830 WAN port only 100Mb, No its 1Gb!. Second, is my cable from ONT to 2830 Cat5e , yes it is!. Sure enough the 2830 shows a 1Gb sync on the port connected to the ONT. Further investigation showed that the 2830 (its quite an old product now!) was only capable of around 100Mb Wan -> Lan throughput.

Cue new router...

[#13]

@MisterW

TY.. I am getting a better understanding of all of this 👍.

I am just having a few final thoughts here!

As I know very little about the Hub 2 could you tell me if you know

how it performs as a provider of internel networking?

We have a number of PCs and Laptops all connecting to a

Netgear ProSafe 8 Port Gigabit Switch.

Most computers are conneting using ethernet CAT7 Cable

We Run Microsoft windows and andorid and Appple

hardware here

Any of your  thoughts on this subject would be Welcome?

[#14 · Accepted solution]

@Flourgrader whilst I do have a Hub 2 , I haven't really used it in anger, it was part of the initial trial about 2 yrs ago.

In terms of wired networking, its got 3 gigabit LAN ports. Wireless is Wifi 5 compatible and so the 5ghz band will max out around 400Mb and the 2.4ghz around 50Mb. Note that the 5ghz & 2.4ghz bands have the same SSID and can't be split.

All in all its the sort of thing you'd expect as a pretty capable ISP provided router, with few bells & whistles.

[#15]

@MisterW

Thank you very much indeed @MisterW for your thoughts!

This is the first time I have used this forum,

I have found it a very good experince!
I am a lot wiser now, than what I was before
I came on here.
You have covered everything that I can think of right now
So I will sign off here and click on
"This fixed my problem"
Thank you again 👍