Low cost ISP Plusnet has announced the introduction of a new Hub One router for their “fibre broadband” (FTTC) customers, which features the latest AC spec WiFi and also allows them to offer a self-install service like most of the other big ISPs have already been doing.
Unfortunately we haven’t been supplied with a full spec sheet or a close-up picture of the new router (hopefully we can solve that for you very soon), although from what we’ve been told the Hub One appears to just be a re-branded HomeHub 5A device from BT (details of that here and here).
Plusnets Statement
From the 11th of November, Fibre customers will be changed to a Self-Install process and receive our latest hardware, the Plusnet Hub One.
This means it will no longer be necessary to wait in for an engineer to attend your property to setup the connection, and on the day your connection goes live you can setup the router at your leisure. This will help to speed up the provision of fibre for Plusnet customers. This self install process will be available for all new Fibre customers and any existing ADSL customers who upgrade to Fibre after the 17th of December.
We have updated the site to provide customers with an estimated speed range for fibre rather than, rather than a single figure. This ensures that we give you the most accurate indication of what speed you can expect.
The move to adopt the same device as BT’s Consumer division is perhaps the quickest fix for Plusnet, which has struggled a bit due to Openreach’s plan to stop supporting their separate VDSL Modems (here) and the need to find a suitable self-install compatible replacement.
Previously Plusnet’s new FTTC subscribers were simply given the not particularly impressive Hub Zero router (details), which only supported ADSL and thus still needed to be used alongside Openreach’s separate VDSL Modem/Router device as part of a Managed Installation.
The new Hub One does of course integrate a VDSL modem, just like BT’s HH5A (G.INP support on the 5A is limited), plus you still get 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB port for external storage devices. Sadly only new “fibre” subscribers will get the Hub One and as such they won’t need an engineer (Managed) to visit for the installation.
Meanwhile existing subscribers that want to upgrade will, for the moment, continue to receive the Hub Zero router. We understand that PlusNet are looking at providing this to existing customers too, although at present there’s no official announcement or time-scale. We will try to get some more details.
UPDATE 1:35pm
One of our sources has kindly furnished us with a picture of the new device, albeit from an earlier version than the one now shipping to customers (see article photo).
Apparently the reason for using the HomeHub 5A as a basis, rather than the 5B, is simply because it’s all they had to work with at the time.
We also understand that the BT WiFi (FON) specific features are not supported by Plusnet’s device (no surprise there as those aspects aren’t shared between the two ISPs) and the HomeHub’s Smart setup routine has apparently also been disabled because it caused too many irritations.
UPDATE 18th November 2015
Plusnet has kindly furnished us with the requested spec sheet, which is handy if you’re not already familiar with the HomeHub 5’s capabilities.
Features:
• VDSL Support (No need for an Openreach Modem for FTTC)
• Dual band Wi-Fi
• Wireless AC
• Supports WPS for easy Wi-Fi setup
• Gigabit Ethernet (up to 1000Mbps wired)
• Built in help flows in the router user interface to help if the customer has a connection problem.
• Will be used for new Plusnet Fibre customers
• Fits through the customers letter box
• USB port for connecting storage drive
• Automatic setup, no need to enter customer details on first connectionTech Specs:
• Supports PPPoA, PPPoE, VDSL and WAN Ethernet
• 4 x RJ45 10/100/1000Mbps LAN Ethernet ports
• 1 x RJ45 10/100/1000Mbps WAN Ethernet port
• 1 x USB 2.0 port
• Wireless 802.11b/g/n/ac (Dual band – 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
• Supports same SSID across 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless bands (Default), offers option to change these individually
• Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) support
• Automatic channel selection on 2.4GHz and 5GHZ wireless bands
• Wireless Encryption (2.4GHZ): WPA2 (Default), WPA, WEP 64/40
• Wireless Encryption (5GHz): WPA2
• Wireless Channel operation (2.4GHz): 20MHz (Default), 40MHz
• Wireless Channel operation (5GHz): 80MHz (Default), 40MHz
• Power management – Hub functions are monitored and individually put into power save mode when not in use
• Dynamic DNS support
• IPv6 support
• UPnP Support
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