Alternative Router/Modem with WiFi Button for Full Fibre

[Dinosaur2]

Can anyone give me some suggestions for an alternative router/modem for Full Fibre that has a physical WiFi button on?

We don't usually use WiFi in the house (Ethernet connections for most things) and it's a nuisance to have to switch on the computer to turn the WiFi on or off when someone visits. In fact, I wonder what many elderly people do who have to have an internet connection installed as they will be needing it when copper landlines are switched off in the future, and who may not use computers themselves and wish to turn off WiFi?

I have the Sagemcom FAST 5464 at the moment.

[slarty*1]

The current hub 3 is supplied by TalkTalk for all speeds and can be used for ADSL (old broadband), VDSL (fibre to the cabinet) and using a full fibre to the home set up (with ONT).

In your pictures, the routers with the holes in the case are either hub 1 or hub 2 or one of the very early hub 3 that is no longer supplied.  These do not have a WiFi on/off switch.  The lowest picture shows a Shell Energy branded 5359 and that does have a WiFi on/off switch and a WPS switch on the side.  That is currently under £10 on eBay.   I am currently using one of those for my fibre65 (FTTC) connection, having been migrated from shell energy - who used the TalkTalk connection..  And yes you do just plug it in and it connects with no fiddling of any parameters (though you may want to change the WiFi name and password to what you already have)

[Dinosaur2]

The TalkTalk adviser I chatted to the other day said that Hub 3 was only suitable for faster speeds (150), not the Full Fibre 65 that we have. Is that not the case? 

[Dinosaur2]

Would I be able to just swap it over, or are there settings to deal with? There's a reason why I'm called "Dinosaur"... I've just looked on eBay but can only find two with that description (not under £10 though) and neither appear to have a switch for WiFi on them. Are you able to send me a link to show me what it might look like? I've added a couple of images to show you the ones I've found.

[Dinosaur2]

Well, yes, although when I was "chatting" to someone from TalkTalk they said you had no routers suitable for the speed of my Full Fibre internet and that the only solution was to upgrade to a faster one, pay more and then get the only router you provide with a physical switch.

Someone has suggested I can buy a 2nd hand (Shell Energy) one - Shell Energy Sagemcom F@ST5359 router - which would work, but I'm not sure if that will need some kind of technical know how to use it with my TalkTalk internet?

[KeithFrench]

Of course, the current Hub 3 does have the WiFi toggle button. However, the problem is that are are still a few older stock WiFi Hub 3s that don't have it.

[slarty*1]

You could buy a Shell Energy Sagemcom F@ST5359 router from e-bay, used for under £10.  These are the same model as the current TalkTalk Hub 3  but with Shell Energy branding and a slightly older software version (without all the bugs !).  They would not be updated by TalkTalk in the future - but they work perfectly well on all TalkTalk packages and have a physical wifi on/off button.  

[Mandisa-TT]

Hi @Dinosaur2 I'm sorry to hear that, please confirm if you still need assistance with your query.

[ferguson]

OK. Well it is unlikely that TalkTalk will offer you a new router on that basis. If you find it too much trouble to switch it on and off via the router interface then the only alternative is to buy an alternative which has a physical button. 

[Dinosaur2]

I did mention earlier that we have someone here who is electrosensitive and can't cope with it being on all the time. 

[ferguson]

So just leave it on? Apologies if I'm missing the point. 

[Dinosaur2]

It's not a problem for anyone visiting to use our password as they're all family. Once they've "connected" it works every time they visit. Why complicate matters? The only issue is having to turn the WiFi on and off via the computer which we don't have on all the time. 

[ferguson]

@Dinosaur2 

Instead of giving out the password, why not set up a Guest network?

[Dinosaur2]

It's just a bit of a pain having to fire up the computer every time we want to turn the WiFi on or off. Much simpler with a switch, which we had on a previous router some time ago! Also we've been on a fixed price since Dec 2023 of £26 and don't want to pay more and have an increase of about £3 every year by changing our plan!

[Gliwmaeden2]

Maybe more straightforward if you try to remember to switch on the wifi while using the computer shortly before visitors come?

If your router works perfectly well generally, they won't be likely to change it for free unless you set up a new contract  - that doesn't necessarily mean an upgrade.

But the Hub3 is the only one they send out now. 

[Dinosaur2]

We give them the password when they first visit

[Dinosaur2]

I'm being told by TalkTalk that the Wifi Hub 3 is only for faster speeds, not what we have. They suggested that the only solution is to get a new plan which costs more, in order to get the only hub that has a physical switch on!

[sabelo-TT]

@Dinosaur2, for more information on this, kindly get in touch with our BetterValue team using 0345 172 0088 Monday - Friday 9am - 7pm; Saturday - 9am - 6pm; Sunday - Closed. 

[ferguson]

You are not the only one confused by this. Perhaps the support team can shed some light when they are back online tomorrow. 

[Dinosaur2]

Hi again, sorry to keep on about this! Is there a particular model I should ask for, as when I Google Sagemcom 5359 it seems to come up with 2 versions, one that looks like my device with no WiFi button, and another plain black one that does. Someone is selling one on eBay that was a TalkTalk one, but that one doesn't have the button.

[KeithFrench]

Then, as I said, @Dinosaur2, you need to contact the Better Value Team.