[kev2021]

Only other provider I seen that *may* be cheaper is Talk talk but i’m a little weary after there data breaches etc.  Never been with talk talk for anything, not even Mobile.

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Yes, not too much saving to be had this year it seems…

For me, I see the same £0 for 3 months then higher prices than last year and they want to tie you in for longer periods now i.e 24 months.  Last time I renewed it was 18 month contracts, up from 12 months the time before.

I suspect I will have to renew wit them again in May as doubt many other providers will offer much else or fibre with no line rental costs but hopefully in couple of years time, I can drop the line and just have fttp for £25-30 max prices. as by then I suspect will see more providers available to me.

What you plan on doing? go with PlusNet, if no better prices?

I do think as competitors grow and can also provide FTTP, BT will drop or lower costs of BT voice/line, at present, if I went to FTTP I have no option of getting BT voice, which I don’t need as I got separate VOIP provider now.

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

will do, thanks.

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Thanks, I saw that but the most recent version of firmware update says just 86U , no mention of the 86S, unlike the previous version which says 86U and 86S so I figured they are not all for both models?  I’ve downloaded the previous one in preparation as didn’t want to risk it.

From what I recall from brief looking around, it was devices dropping off WIFI I believe. However some people have said it’s ok so not too sure, guess it depends what devices you have. Just sloghtly concerned due to Nest but fingers crossed it will be ok :)

I’m going to set it up tomorrow as I need to do it all live as the router seems to want me to go through setup stuff, even if choosing manual so I’ll let it do its think when I connect it all live.  I need to make a note of some settings etc to re-apply when router is up and running.

Plan is :-

Set wired and WIFI devices to DHCP (prob be easier incase switching fails, i wont have devices set in wrong IP range)

unplug BT cable from BT smart hub but leave it on so all devices still connected, just no internet.

Setup Draytek & 86S, run through wizard and get it online

Update to latest firmware

Turn off features don’t use

Setup main WIFI and Guest WIFI, turn off BT smart hub WIFI and enable on 86S so devices should see no WIFI for a few seconds then see the 86S WIFI and re-connect.

Re-setup few WIFI and wired devices on fixed IP on new router, making sure to just DHCP range to allow for static devices.

Fingers crossed all goes well.

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Thanks, i saw on another forum some people having issues and having to go back to August firmware so i might hold fire for a bit and see….

Do you know if there is much difference firmware wise for the AX86U and AX86S? As currently thinking setup the 86S the same as 86U, update it to latest firmware and then set it up.  If all is ok, then in theory do my 86U and hopefully would be ok too :)

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Not had that issue with nest-e yet since initial setup issue so will find out.

Plan is to pre-config the router offline with main wifi, guest wifi and correct IP address range want to use and some features turned off that don’t use.

Then, I might just turn off WIFI on bt homehub and boot up the ASUS & modem.  The BT hub I’m hoping will still function for lan devices, even though it won’t have internet. Then  can change all wired static devices and then plug cable into the router (I have a switch which all devices connect to and then 1 cable from switch to router)

Thanks

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Hi,

Thanks, not too many devices, approx 12 devices, give or take.

Main ones are: smart plugs and nest-e & heatlink that need to be online.

Can cope with a small amount of down time but I’ve found at my parents place, if Nest is not connected to WIFI in few minutes, it seems to not reconnect without turning it off and back on so hence my idea was to setup same SSID on new router and then turn off BT WIFI, enable it on new router and then plug in the draytek modem to get that up and running online.  Once that’s done, I can then sort out the static IP address items and make them fixed again.

Critical devices are approx. 7.  The rest are phones/tablets/nas which worst case I can change after.

Thanks

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Out of interest, can you turn off WIFI on a BT home hub?

If so, I’m thinking:-

Set static WIFI devices to DHCP

Setup new router with same WIFI details.

Turn off WIFI on BThome  hub and let all devices connect to new router & get new IP details.

Then change static IP addresses on remaining wired devices (using old router via a wired connection) and then plug cable into new router.

Let wired devices get IP from new router.

You think this is viable?

Thanks

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Out of curiosity, I guess that BT homehub just uses NAT right? Can’t imagine its anything more than that?

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Thanks

Its coming Thurs so lets hope its ok.

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Hi all,

Went for the RT-AX86S – from what could tell, only above options were different.

Not too concerned RE the 2.5G port and not too worried about CPU as have some features turned off.

Only real concern is the 512MB ram but it seems at the price point I was looking at, they are all 512MB ram so not too much can do.

Advantage is, it has the lights on/off button and it has the same VPN options so at least should be compatible with each other.

So now its just working out, how I setup the VPN :)

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Whats your take on the RT-AX86S?

Looking at the specs it seems differences are:-

 

RT-AX86U

1.8 quad core CPU

1gb ram

2.5G port

 

RT-AX86U

1.8 quad core CPU

512mb ram

No 2.5G port

Would you still consider the RT-AX86S?

Thanks

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Hi,

Ideally was going to leave as stock as it seem the Asus routers support VPN natively?

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Hi all,

So have now decided to replace my BT router and get a replacement router.

Looking to setup a VPN between my place and parents when needed.  I.e. I initiate the VPN when i need it, not have it up 24/7 so I figure having another Asus router would be the best option for this?

in light of this, which Router would you suggest?  Ideally no looking to spend a fortune, maybe £100 or so?

Upon a quick look on Asus website, would the RT-AX82U, RT-AX86S, RT-AX68U be ok to use?

Main criteria required is:-

1. WIFI 6

2. Ability to work with a Draytek modem (one i bought before)

3. Ability to work with FTTP in the future by just removing Draytek modem and plugging cable from ONT into the WAN port (like I did on existing router)

4. Ability to VPN (remote location connecting to this router and also connecting to remote location)

5. Ability to turn of the lights on it

Slight concern over the 512mb ram, considering my AX86U runs at 433mb ram with most stuff turned off, doesn’t leave much room in ram but it seems they are all 512mb ram.

Many thanks, looking to order asap as ideally want to get it Thursday so can set it up as I’m off work :)

Thanks

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[kev2021]

Thanks, so if I went to the previous version (next one up from current firmware) and then updated to the latest, it wouldn’t need a Factory reset?

Thanks

Kev

You need to login in order to vote

[Author]

Posts