which router to use with full fibre 300?

[#1]

Can someone pls help me out? I used to be tech minded but that has since long gone, Now i know very little lol.  I've pretty much only ever had Virgin broadband.  To me, that was fibre and any thing else that came through what looked like a phone line was not. 6 months ago I switched to PlusNet 300 full fibre. It's been good, but always had an issue with the wifi distance. So i decided to upgrade the hub 2 to my own router/modem.  Now don't laugh but this is where years of getting left behind in tech has caught up with me. 

I thought because i had a small phone like wire connecting my broadband i didn't have fibre, I thought I had VDSL/ADSL internet.

so done some research and bought a VDSL/ADSL modem/router, TP-Link AX1800 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gigabit VDSL/ADSL Modem Router (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CP68X741?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title)

I've had issues installing it and getting it to work, despite inputting the settings for "standard broadband ADSL".  I done more research, logged on into my account for the 1st time today (to double check my p/w and log in name) and it stated Full Fibre 300 😲

So my questions to you are, is it stating the obvious, and i do in fact have full fibre? 

Do i need a ADSL/VDSL router modern? 

I can I use any modern router/modem with a WAN port? like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-OneMeshTM-HomeShield-Archer-AX72/dp/B09VPTT9GY/ref=sr_1_10?s=comput...

thanks for be patient lol... 

[#2]

Do you have full fibre? - Well, if your contract is for Plusnet "300 full fibre" BB, you must have!

Do you need a ADSL/VDSL router modern? - You need a router that supports full fibre broadband! (Not just VDSL)

You have "a small phone like wire connecting my broadband" - where from? For full fibre you need an Optical Network Terminator (ONT) present at your premises - this will need to be supplied with power. The ONT provides an Ethernet socket where you plug your router into - via the WAN Ethernet socket on a PN Hub 2 router.

Can you use any modern router/modem with a WAN port? - Presumably so, if it supports FF BB.

[#3]

@Colin_S1 the tplink vx1800v router you already have will work with Full fibre

I've had issues installing it and getting it to work, despite inputting the settings for "standard broadband ADSL"

You should be looking at the settings for 'a fibre router connected to a BT Openreach modem'

You need to use the 'Set Up an Internet Connection in Wireless Router Mode' section of the XV1800v manual ( page 16 ) , ensure that VLAN ID is disabled., select PPPoE and enter your Plusnet username/password. Then you connect the ONT to the router EWAN (WAN/LAN) port using the ethernet cable.

[#4]

@Colin_S1 while the TP-Link VX1800v (assuming that's the model you have) probably isn't the most suitable from TP-Link's range for full fibre it should do the job.

I've had issues installing it and getting it to work, despite inputting the settings for "standard broadband ADSL".

That's because you don't have "standard ADSL". Follow the instructions as @MisterW suggests and you should be good (there is no need for VLAN information with the Openreach ONT).

What you thought was a phone wire is a single core fibre (Virgin incidentally is co-ax copper not fibre so the cable is bigger).

If you can return your router, there is an extremely similarly named TP-Link product which would be a better bet:

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-ax1800/

That has a dedicated WAN port and no ADSL/VDSL connections so you end up with an extra LAN port.

Having said that, other than the WAN taking one LAN port I'm not sure there is much other material difference.

There are other TP-Link products with a blue WAN port (an example being "TP-Link WiFi 6 OneMesh Router") which you could also think about.

[#5]

Thanks people for the responses, i really appreciate it. Everything you've all mentioned is starting to make sense now. 

I do have a powered white box on my internal wall with an Ethernet connection from it to the router hub 2. 

So now i know what ive got 😆, i need a good range wifi router/modem.  I can return my AX1800, it only arrived yesterday and i'm paying for things i dont need when i could get a better router. So i'm thinking of returning it and getting 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09VPTT9GY/?coliid=I4M4KTDCKWG4I&colid=3TTZ6PREQDM9N&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_o...

I'm assuming this will work fine? it seems a higher spec modem/router 

[#6]

@Colin_S1 

For WiFi coverage one thing to consider is can you run ethernet cable - either internally or externally.

You can use this to "feed" a WiFi Access Point (WAP) - perhaps even power it / them over POE (Power over Ethernet) with the right equipment.

Brian

[#7]

@Colin_S1 Your latest Amazon link looks more promising.

If you want good WiFi coverage throughout a house, often a mesh system is a good idea.

Also, if practical, extra (cabled) WiFi points will help.

The whole mesh "thing" is a very complex topic and experiences vary. You can also spend quite a lot of time and money on this.

[#8]

Believe it or not, I have already run cat 6A into every room in the house from a POE network switch. This connects our Nvidia shield tv and NAS drive.  We're not gamers and even if we did, its all powered through ethernet. It's only wifi that's the issue and that's only in 1 room, my daughters! So you can imagine the emergency 😂.  I tried an extender, bought the wrong one lol. only bought a single frequency one, plus i don't really want extenders plugged in and more things to deal with, so for me the solution would be to sort the wifi out from source and everyone is happy. 

We only moved in about 6months ago hence the move from Virgin and discovering little issues like dead spots, but i'll over come it. 

[#9]

@Colin_S1 

From what you say, it appears all you need is a WAP, possibly POE powered. As an alternative I believe some old routers can be used as a WAP. Others may advise on this. Just plug it into the ethernet cable.

Brian

[#10]

@Colin_S1 

Just joined this community and read your post. Lots of good advice and you’re probably sorted but thought I’d post this just in case. 

im using a deco x50 as a router and another one offering WiFi in a different room via mesh. I’m on 900mb fibre broadband and getting 900mb+ on the main router, even via WiFi and the mesh WiFi on then 2nd device is giving me around 400-500mb

This is what I have 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Deco-X50-AI-Driven-HomeShield/dp/B09QMN7PRZ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=21JLHPC...

[#11]

Hi guys

Why is nothing ever simple, it drives me mad! 😵

So i bought the TP-Link Archer AX5400

(https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09VPTT9GY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1)

it arrived today and I still can't get it to work!!!

I used the settings  "What settings should I use for a fibre router that's connected to a BT Openreach modem?" 

connected the ethernet to the WAN port, 3 lights are on the BT Openreach box, Power, PON, LAN. Used my log in details for my Plusnet online account and these are settings i'm using on the TP link Tether app. 

Connection type - Dynamic IP, Static IP,  PPPoE (no option for always on), L2TP, PPTP 

IPv4 - says its disconnected, connection type is PPoE and no ip address

IPv6 says disabled. 

IPTV/VLAN - was off, tried it with it on but not sure which option to use, it had 3 options: Custom, Bridge, ISP Profile.

I just can't get the internet to work.  I plug the HUB2 back in and works fine. 

any help would be great

[#12]

@Colin_S1 

double check the PPPoE settings. Username is <youraccountname>@plusdsl.net and the password is the one you use to login to the member centre https://www.plus.net/member-centre/login

TBH I would use the router gui initially to set it up , rather than the app.

If that doesnt reveal any problem, then maybe export the system log and post it here

[#13]

ok my bad, i'm an idiot.  

i was inputting my username without the @plusdsl.net on the end of it   its all working now that i've actually did what was told of my lol... hopefully this might help someone else.