Three UK Add New ZYXEL 5G Hub for Unlimited Home Broadband
Customers of mobile operator Three UK, specifically those looking to adopt their 5G unlimited Home Broadband packages (£20 per month – first 6 months at £10), may like to know that they’re no longer shipping it with a ZTE based router and have instead replaced it with the Zyxel NR5103E. But getting 5G to work is another matter.
According to Three UK’s website, the new Zyxel NR5103E router is powered by the Mediatek T750 processor (chipset and 5G modem) and features support for WiFi 6 (4×4 MIMO), 2 x 1Gb Ethernet (LAN) ports, 1 x USB port and 1 x Nano SIM slot. The device’s theoretical maximum speed capability is also stated as this: “4.7Gbps Download (Three UK Network – Up to 1Gbps)“, but in the real-world you will of course typically get much slower 5G speeds.
Sadly, the details on Three’s website are limited and fail to mention that the new router also features 4 x external TS9 ports for connecting an external antenna on the back, as well as an internal/external antenna switch, and it can handle 64 devices at the same time. The USB port is also v3.0 and one of the two LAN ports can act as a WAN port, which is something we don’t often see on mobile routers.
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The router will also work with 4G connections up to a peak theoretical speed of 1.6Gbps (download), which once again is nothing like you’re ever likely to experience in reality on a UK mobile network. But generally, this is a really premium piece of kit and one that can also work with Zyxel’s complementary mesh WiFi kit. The same router retails for upwards of £600!
However, some of the readers on our forum who spotted the change and received the new router (here) have struggled to get it to connect properly with their local 5G signal, which may well be a firmware issue. Customers on the more recent V1.00(ACBJ.0)b10 firmware seem to have no problems getting 5G to work, while those who got the kit with the older V1.00(ACBJ.0)b8 firmware are running into difficulties. At some point the operator’s OTA update process should resolve this, but there’s no way to force that if you’re already on b8.
One of our readers also noted that Three’s router seems to ship unlocked and thus worked on their EE SIM too, although officially the router is supposed to be locked and so this may not last for future orders.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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>Three supplied router
>firmware issues
kek. what else is new ?
I didn’t think SIM-network locks were allowed any more?
Only applies to mobile handsets and tablets
No 5G with these hubs
Useless until three sort it
I’m still stunned that Three decided to light up 5G in the small rural market town of Holt (Norfolk), with a footprint that just about covers the built up areas (it’s a surprisingly hilly part of Norfolk).
Yes there is a chunk of new housing but that’s mostly been equipped with FTTP from the outset (older areas stuck with 36Mbs FTTC for now, served by a small newish exchange in town centre) and yes it’s quite affluent (although a bit behind Burnham [up]Market)
Strange commercial choice. But this new router will certainly complement it (and if unlocked, when EE on the same tower catches up with 3 it will be happy days)
Can the USB port be used for connecting storage (to create a NAS) and/or a printer/scanner?
Only two ethernet ports is a bit limiting, any serious use would need more (needing an additional hub/switch).
It would be interesting if samknows can recruit some customers for monitoring the service.
The catch with all Three 5g router devices is that the router remains the property of three even if you are out of contract. As per their terms and conditions they can ask for their router back at any time after you have completed the minimum contract period or cancelled and decline to renew with them. This differs from phone or other device contracts where you own the device once you complete the minimum contract term.
Some have suggested that even though this is the case, Three do not enforce it and it is more an accounting gimmick which allows them to offer the low prices for their 5g contracts typically seen.
A £600 device will not allow them to recoup their money with the contract prices they offer if they don’t enforce it.
In any case the buyer must be aware….
Find it interesting they are offering this new hub on a 1 month rolling contract with no upfront fee
@Jack, yep, that would indicate they are now going to be enforcing their returns policy vigorously for both short and long term contracts
I got the first cpe pro on a 12 month contract and they never asked for it back after the contract ended. Given the retail price of that router, that would indicate they gave me a free £370 to £400 device or I paid for the device and got free 12 months internet with cashback on top.
And even though the device probably remains on their books as an asset, a lot of people have probably sold theirs so eventually they will have to write it off.
As their customer base grows, this is clearly not sustainable.
Get it from Amazon unlocked buy it outright of course you got to pay upfront full payment lot cheaper than having it on contract from any network
I thought we had one until I realised that it was our soap dispenser.
Looked on Amazon you can buy the same 5G router for £380 unlocked delivery is next day
I hope that because my current router is faulty they might replace it with one of these – I still have 11 months of contract left until I can dump it.
Just buy a 5G Android phone (~£150) that supports reverse ethernet tethering and connect it to a USB-C hub that has an ethernet port to connect to your routers WAN port.
That will end up needing a battery change in around 18 months if used via the charger constantly.
I’ll spent the extra 200 quid for a purpose built unit, much more reliable.
The cheapest 5g phone will likely be beaten by a comparable model of 5g router anyway.
If you have the budget I’d just get a Mikrotik Chateau 5G, but a £150 phone with a few battery replacements is still cheaper than a 5G router and I’ve found even a weak 5G signal on a phone is good enough to get 1-200Mbps.
People with an existing good router looking at this as a backup couldn’t go too far wrong with a Chateau. Get VRRP and some simple routing in play you’re good to go.
Looks as if these firmware issues are resolving via OTA updates overnight. Mines solved it’s self after auto upgrading to B10 from the B8 faulty firmware. Now getting good 5G speeds from it and it also has supprisingly reliable WiFi.
hey bud. had the device for a couple days now, how long did it take for the B10 firmware to come down? I’m stuck on the B08 firmware and can’t seem to do anything to coax it along.
I am on their 4g network and speaking from an equipment issue I had with that I can say returns are very keenly tracked and enforced unless staff override this.
Are you using one of their 5g devices for their 4g network? Their 4g devices are yours to keep once the contract is up unless something has changed recently.
Scratch that, I misunderstood your comment. My bad
Does anybody know would any port blocked from accessing outside?
Because I would like to access my NAS from somewhere else.
Cheers.
I mostly think Three network had supply issues with ZTE that’s why they changed.
This is good as the one I have is total pants and I am hoping they will change it- it keeps dropping connection and needing a reboot
Given how our 4G speed has dropped off a cliff recently (down from 80mbps to around 7), I honestly wouldn’t trust 3 to deliver a reliably fast connection with 5g for any length of time.
I really hope Three do a better job of protecting assets in ALL areas.
I have a Zyxel fresh from Three and the b*****d keeps dropping connection. 200 meters MAX line of sight from the brand new mast! So don’t be in a hurry to sign up folks!
Took out a mobile broadband contract on Wednesday 28 September at a store, exchanged the ZTE for the Zyxel today Saturday as the salesman gave me the wrong router, 30 days free trial – why not.
Using it on 4G currently as we have no 5G here although most of the city is covered – typical. I’m hoping the hub will support port forwarding so the administrator can access the VU+ box as and when necessary otherwise it can go back and I’ll reluctantly have to stay with Virmin in April when the contract is due to end.
Does anyone here know if it will support port forwarding, I need to set up 3 ports.
Thanks
I have the ZTE 5G on Three hitting out average of 300mbps, I bought the router via eBay for £127 then got my self a data only sim for £6 on a business connection (alongside some £5 sims for the family).
Overall cost of the broadband connection: Router was £127 (eBay) + The £6 unlimited data sim £144 = Total £271 (over 24 months) Divide over 24 months works out to be £11.29. BARGAIN!
Hope that helps.
By law mobile providers cannot sell locked devices anywhere in Europe. Also threes customer service and 4g network suck but their 5g is very quick. I’m using both EE and 3 with antennas on the side of the building getting just shy of a gigabit over my ubiquity solution. I’m really happy with this router.
I wouldn’t go near three for handsets or anything that requires you to actually speak to them.
Europe or the EU?
Four TS9 sockets, are these all for the 4/5G signal or is it possible to add external WIFI antennas as well? One of the gripes with the older ZTE model was poor (at least compared to a TT router) WIFI coverage.
Let’s face it, all four of the mobile networks in the uk are as bad as each other, massive underinvestment coupled with a willingness to hide them in wooded areas level with or below the tree line, ensuring as much of the signal is absorbed before it reaches its “on paper” intended target area.
Then 5G came along and suddenly 10mtrs isn’t high enough, well you don’t say, so now it’s 20mtrs, and they believe that will cure their problems, with 6G already on the horizon how will they ever cope.
Any wonder there’s underinvestment when contract prices are so cheap. My partner pays £5 a month for 5 gig, that won’t cover the AC cost at the base station up the road.
Hi.
Just received one of these from three. Anyone have an idea what I need to buy to use this as part of a mesh network, according the the Zyxel site this has easymesh r2 whatever that means.
Thanks