Your Internet Router
Our home has a 1 Gbps “fibre to the premises” internet connection. It has proven reliable since it was installed in June 2022. Our internet service provider EE (part of the BT group) are neither the best of worst suppliers. The monthly cost is not especially competitive and so we may be looking to move providers next Easter. However, that is a matter for the future. For the present there is a more immediate issue. Starting on Friday 21st November, our internet connection has started randomly dropping. Furthermore, both the Wi-Fi extender in the lounge and the wireless printer in my office have become disconnected from the network. It was as if their details had been erased from the router. I suspected that a recent firmware upgrade may be the culprit although EE denies it. However there are posts online from other customers with similar technical issues.
Our home has a 1 Gbps “fibre to the premises” internet connection. It has proven reliable since it was installed in June 2022. Our internet service provider EE (part of the BT group) are neither the best of worst suppliers. The monthly cost is not especially competitive and so we may be looking to move providers next Easter. However, that is a matter for the future. For the present there is a more immediate issue. Starting on Friday 21st November, our internet connection has started randomly dropping. Furthermore, both the Wi-Fi extender in the lounge and the wireless printer in my office have become disconnected from the network. It was as if their details had been erased from the router. I suspected that a recent firmware upgrade may be the culprit although EE denies it. However there are posts online from other customers with similar technical issues.
Like many people, I use the router supplied by my ISP. Such devices can be a lottery and I have had some in the past that have been poor. By which I mean they did not support the latest protocols and features, had limited functionality and unreasonably restricted user access. However, I do not think that is a fair description of my current router supplied by EE. The Smart Hub Plus (Wi-Fi 6) is their standard router for FTTP plans. It offers dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) across a reasonable range (up to up to 30 meters or 98 feet). It copes well with our brick built bungalow and I get a speed of 70 Mbps in the lounge where the media player, satellite receiver and TV are based. I can access and manage the router from my phone and it allows for a degree of customisation of DNS, VPN and Wi-Fi services. However, recent problems have mitigated these benefits.
In light of the recent problems, I reported the fault to EE and an engineer came to site and tested the fibre connection. He indicated to me that the fault lay with the router and a replacement was duly ordered. I have learned subsequently that there was also a fault at the junction box on the pole in the street but this was not made known to me at the time. While waiting for the replacement router, I did consider buying a third party router and using that instead of the one supplied by the ISP. There are numerous models that are compatible with UK fibre specifications which offer improved performance, better Wi-Fi coverage, and greater control over your network. A third-party router can provide advanced features, faster Wi-Fi speeds (like Wi-Fi 6 or 7), enhanced security options and far more user customization. It can also help you avoid monthly rental fees if that is part of your contract.
However, pursuing this option would present some additional problems. Although EE does not prohibit the use of third party routers, the moment you install one you will no longer receive technical support within the confines of your premises. They will guarantee the internet connection to the point of entry but no further. The purchase cost, security and ongoing maintenance of a private router all fall to you. Going forward, there may well be compatibility issues if your ISP makes any changes to their network or security protocols. Although there is a lot of information in the public domain regarding setting such a router up, none of it is officially sanctioned. I watched a YouTube video recently in which someone replaced their EE router with one made by TP-Link. It required firmware updates and a great deal of troubleshooting to work and when it did it offered no tangible benefit.
So I have decided to stick with the router supplied by EE. A new unit arrived today and it is a later model. I installed it and then set about reconnecting all devices. This proved problematic as the router crashed twice while I was logged in as administrator. Expecting the worst, I called EE who reset my internet connection, while I rebooted the router and Openreach modem (ONT). This resolved the problem and I was able to connect all remaining devices. The internet connection and router have remained stable since then. This issue has been a timely reminder that internet technology can develop faults like any other household device. Furthermore, although domestic technology designed for customer use is often restricted in functionality, it comes with contractually mandated support. Sometimes it is preferable that someone else does the heavy lifting with regard to trouble shooting.
