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Oh no - More WIFI 6 Routers

Meatball

ULTIMATE Member
More new routers announced from Technicolor and more to come.

BT, Sky, Vodafone and Virgin will continue to do their own thing and Talk Talk are looking at a customised Mesh/Router (as opposed to a Router with Mesh). Other routers are for ISPs who can brand but not bespoke completely.

We have all experienced a history of separate modems, then routers and now multi functional devices along with awaited ADSL, FTTC and WIFI developments. They have also increased in size to accommodate antenna on the circuit board and increasing locking of firmware functionality.

What is clear when visiting the local recycling centre is the pile of discarded Routers, switches and WIFI devices of which I bet many are probably still working and functional. I know that the leading ISPs own their equipment and have recycling processes but these are often never enforced and its not clear what happens to the redundant kit, probably the same. The problem can only get worse as more proprietary kit is added such as "Boosts", WIFI Mesh etc. It may even include ONTs in the future (even though owned by a network provider).

I was therefore hoping that as we move forward to an FTTP world backed up by Mobile that ISPs would actually return to a more basic device design, about the size and functionality of an Ubiquiti Edgerouter X, with two WAN feeds, balanced or backup, possible bridge and basic router even if there is some ISP locking. Allowing the home owner to invest long term in their own wired Ethernet, switches and WIFI Mesh which is likely to last far more years providing good service between upgrades and would be independent of the ISP. In addition a small discrete device can sit tucked away with the ONT away from our living spaces.

For those technically minded we can still do it now but it is becoming increasingly difficult with the main ISPs where users are forced to use the ISP router for their services.

As confirmed by recent BB reviews for two close relatives, the loyalty of staying with an ISP is clearly still not rewarded (actually the opposite) meaning a change of provider at contract end and their CPE (even Sky to Now which technically should be the same). The change out disruption and fear that the change will not be without issue means some may stay (which is what the ISPs want) and pay the price but with the current cost difference the reality is people will toggle between providers.

An opportunity for a forward thinking ISP?
 
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This can be tricky for ISPs because the biggest players also need to keep their networks secure, conduct speed tests to the CPE (Ofcom's speed code) and be able to correct for problems. So that means applying custom firmware updates, which you can only do with devices that are designed to work exclusively on your own network. Then, since technology is forever evolving, every few years you need a new model.

But I'm in favour of anything that simplifies the home setup and gives end-users the freedom to manage their own networks. Having to own lots of different boxes just to get around restrictive ISP kit is a pain.
 
Your average Joe Public simply wants to plug the router into the ONT/wallsocket/demarcation point and get online. So the current 'model' works very well for most people, where the ISP sends you a pre-configured router and that works out of the box without faffing around with stuff.

Wrt returning an old router after switching ISPs, there should be an incentive for the customer to do that. For example, the losing ISP could offer say a £20 cheque upon receipt of an old router or offer Amazon vouchers or similar - such a scheme would drastically reduce the number of old routers you see at recycling centres etc.

Even better, gaining ISPs could offer not to send a router out at all and offer a small discount in lieu. Trunk Networks already do this, but to be fair to ISPs if every customer started to use a third party router then trying to trouble shoot customer's own kit by ISP support staff would become a nightmare.
 
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Your average Joe Public simply wants to plug the router into the ONT/wallsocket/demarcation point and get online. So the current 'model' works very well for most people, where the ISP sends you a pre-configured router and that works out of the box without faffing around with stuff.

Wrt returning an old router after switching ISPs, there should be an incentive for the customer to do that. For example, the losing ISP could offer say a £20 cheque upon receipt of an old router or offer Amazon vouchers or similar - such a scheme would drastically reduce the number of old routers you see at recycling centres etc.

Even better, gaining ISPs could offer not to send a router out at all and offer a small discount in lieu. Trunk Networks already do this, but to be fair to ISPs if every customer started to use a third party router then trying to trouble shoot customer's own kit by ISP support staff would become a nightmare.
Some ISP's do, for example Sky, and the incentive is don't return, you pay for it.

Broadband equipment has now gone the way of satellite tv, back in the day you could get a decent satellite receiver to cover more than the current sheeple system we now 'enjoy'

Non ISP routers are not cheap, and can be more complex to set up for most non technical users. In the past one ISP made it very difficult to use third party routers till Ofcom gave them a quick smack.

Sadly in the main ISP routers are rubbish, hence all the cries of help from the non-tech users.

FTTP apparently has issues where instead of being able to go straight from the ethernet socket to your own router, some suppliers have to complicate matters.

Hopefully we wont end up having bigger issues with China, if we do then we need to be looking at home grown equipment at a reasonable price.

Covid19 & the ex leader of the free world's interference has shown how fragile globalisation has come, bet no one saw that coming, or did they?
 
One of my test lines is with Sky, and I've got a pile of old routers from them, which they've never requested to be returned. All reflect upgrades that occurred out-of-contract.
 
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