Looking to upgrade ISP's router (BT Smart Hub) with 802.11ax router

[King Mustard]

We have a BT Smart Hub (sometimes called the Home Hub 6), which was released in 2016.

The BT Smart Hub Wikipedia article tells me the modem is "VDSL2".

I am looking to replace it with something more capable and future-proof.

I don't want to pay over £100.

I believe these are my options:

• £60 Huawei WiFi AX3 (AX3000)
• £70 TP-Link Archer AX10 (AX1500)
• £70 D-Link DIR-X1560 (AX1500)
• £95 Asus RT-AX55 (AX1800)
• £95 Asus RT-AX56U (AX1800)
• £100 TP-Link Archer AX20 (AX1800)

Does anyone have any thoughts?

[DanceswithUnix]

Why are you trying to replace it?

A quick look, I'm not seeing a VDSL2 connectivity in these, so you would have to have one of these routers plugged in as well as your old smart hub.

[jimbouk]

Also interested in a response here. We're moving hopefully at the end of the month and it's going to be a while before I can drill holes and cable everywhere again. Were you thinking about a full replacement on keeping the old Smarthub as the modem only? I'm currently on EE and their hub is in router mode but wifi disabled and I have a separate Wi-Fi box elsewhere (TP-Link 300 Mbps N Access Point) which will probably end up in the new garage covering outside when I've got cables and PoE sorted.

I guess it's worth getting matching adapters at the same time. I know there are standards but the same manufacturer? Or is there a handy lookup table so you can see who uses the same chipset underneath?

(Sorry for jumping on your thread).

[King Mustard]

Why are you trying to replace it?

A quick look, I'm not seeing a VDSL2 connectivity in these, so you would have to have one of these routers plugged in as well as your old smart hub.

I appreciate your response!

If the router would also need to include a modem, ax will be out of my budget and I really don't want to keep the BT router in play, even in bridge mode.

[Saracen999]

.... ax will be out of my budget ....

Several of those you listed are AX, and the model numbers suggest all probably are, though sometimes you do have to look a bit carefully to be sure quite what they mean (like the AX backhaul in some Asus Mesh routers).

I've not looked at any of those models but generally, Asus have a pretty good odffering (though no doubt you'll find some who disagree).

One thing to watch out for is that some companies like to advertise some "included" router facilities, usually on the malware protection or parental guidance capabilities without bothering to mention that it is effectively a time-limited trial and on-going support comes with a subscription fee.

I'm about to order an Asus router and one reason (but not the only or main ones) is that such services are not either limited or on subscription. It is, however, a more expensive model than those and I'm not aware what is included in those on your list, or on what terms. I'd advise you to check that if you care about those features.