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.

[KeithFrench]

By the 2nd router, do you mean the Shell one?

If everything works OK, then you do not really have to worry about Double NAT.

[Dinosaur2]

As we've disabled the DHCP on the 2nd router anyway, as suggested in the advice my wife found online, I presume it'll be ok to leave it like that? As for your first sentence, you'll have to explain that to me in lay terms...

I have just looked again online and saw this advice given to someone with the same idea. They too suggest disabling the DHCP on the 2nd router:

"You need to configure it properly, otherwise you'll have a double NAT, which is bad.

I'm assuming you want to use a second router to function as a wireless access point/switch.

If your router has an option to use it as an access point, or WiFi node, enable it. And connect it to the other router as described by its documentation. If it does not have this feature, perform the following steps:

1. Reset the second router

2. Disconnect it from the lan.

3. Connect a PC to one of its LAN ports, (not the port that you would normally connect to your modem)

4. Navigate to the router's setup page, refer to your router's documentation.

5. Disable DHCP (again, refer to documentation).

6. Configure your WiFi SSIDs as needed

7. Disconnect the computer from the second router.

8. Connect one of the primary router's LAN ports to a LAN port on the secondary router.

DO NOT CONNECT ANYTHING TO THE SECONDARY ROUTER'S WAN PORT, YOU WILL NOT USE THIS AGAIN ON THE SECONDARY ROUTER.

you may now connect devices to the SSIDs belinging to the second router, as well as the second router's remaining lan ports"

[Dinosaur2]

I did say "relatively" simple! All it took was a small change in the Shell router's settings which, according to my wife, was simple enough for her to do (we're both OAPs!!)

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Dinosaur2 

Yes, that will work, provided that you do not need any incoming connections from the internet, as you have created a double NAT scenario. This can be sorted if you do need such a solution, just ask me & I will advise.

Just a couple of points, though, there is no need to disable any DHCP servers at all. Just make sure that each router is on a different subnet, e.g:-

TalkTalk router connected to the ONT:  192.168.2.1/24

Shell router: 192.168.1.1/24

[ferguson]

“Simple solution?” You’re joking! 🤭

[Dinosaur2]

hi slarty*1

I did update my previous post as my wife found this information online, turned off the DHCP as you suggest, and also gave the Shell router a slightly different IP address so that we can log into either router as required. And, as you said, she connected the two together via an Ethernet cable between the yellow ports. 

I'm the Dinosaur, but she's pretty good with computers/technology in general (and more or less dictated what I am meant to write on this thread!!) However, I'm surprised that nobody on here came up with this relatively simple solution for my original issue.

[slarty*1]

That is because the TalkTalk router is taking over the internet connection.

You could get round this by making the TalkTalk router the main gateway (with its wifi turned off) - and redeploying the Shell router as a wifi access point.  To do that, turn off DHCP on the Shell router - so it gets its address from the gateway - and then connect the two routers together with an ethernet cable between two normal (yellow) ports.  The Shell router will then provide the wifi solution you require  and the TalkTalk router will provide the phone connection.

[Dinosaur2]

Update:

My wife found some info online and she disabled the DHCP on the Shell Router and she gave it a different IP address so that she can log into it as well as the TalkTalk router (they previously had the same address so she had to connect them each individually to access the settings).

My wife had thought she had had a moment of inspiration and came up with a solution. She reconnected the TalkTalk router, disabled the WiFi online and connected the Sagemcom F@st 5359 router to the TalkTalk one with an Ethernet cable into the Sagemcom's WAN port. She was able to turn the WiFi on and off using the switch,  and access WiFi using her phone, but then shortly after it lost the connection. But thankfully it now seems to be sorted!

I imagined we would have to change some settings on the 2nd router but I'm not tech savvy enough to know what to do!

[ferguson]

---

@Dinosaur2 wrote:

Nobody phones us on the landline anyway and we don't have free calls so we don't phone out. 

---

If that's the case then you have done what you feel is best for you. I will just reiterate as others have said though, don't expect any support for the Shell Router going forwards. 

[Gliwmaeden2]

Ex Shell customers were always sent through to the "Shell Migration team" with Talktalk, @Dinosaur2, so even in that scenario, support was not straightforward. 

[Dinosaur2]

What puzzles me is that I have read that Shell Energy broadband has been taken over by TalkTalk, and that Shell Energy customers were told that their equipment would still work. So clearly TalkTalk have been able to "tweak" the Shell Energy routers in some way to make them compatible. But they don't seem to be able to "tweak" mine to make it work for VOiP!! 

I have decided that having the convenience of being able to turn WiFi on and off easily without using a computer, which is handy for anyone staying here without having a computer available, surpasses having a "landline" available. So I'll just live with the latter now. 

[Gliwmaeden2]

@Dinosaur2, yes there are instructions [use the forum search engine for instructions for the setting up of non Talktalk routers] but that's not the same as "support" for any aspect such as firmware updates etc.

[KeithFrench]

 Ask them what the supplied grey broadband cable is for, then? The one that is probably already connected to a new microfilter.

[Dinosaur2]

Latest from TalkTalk sales agent:

"I completely understand your concerns and the situation. However, even if we send you the Traltlak Wifu Hub 3, it won't work with your current package."

[KeithFrench]

Sorry, there is nothing I can do to help with that!

[Dinosaur2]

This is what I'm being currently told on TalkTalk chat. They seem to think I'm asking about the WPS button, and also suggest using the Power button to turn the WiFi on or off:

"Just to confirm, you want to know about the wps button?
Based on my experience there is no such button as wifi button on any of the routers.
And may I know for which purpose you want to use that button?"

[KeithFrench]

The Hub 3, like the Hub 2, will connect to your current package and full fibre. The correct model of Hub 3 does have the WiFi Toggle button, but it seems like some older stock has to be used first, in an older case, which does not have the WiFi switch. Both versions of the Hub 3 run the same firmware and have the same facilities.

[Dinosaur2]

Having been chatting again with TalkTalk, it seems they are saying that the WiFi Hub 3 that they provide has no physical WiFi button. Here's what I was told just now...

 

[Dinosaur2]

Apparently TalkTalk have helped others set up their own routers. And, as I explained, we don't use the computer every day and don't want WiFi on all the time. As a customer, I feel the service provider should cater to what the customer requires, not expect us to accept a below-par service. 

[Dinosaur2]

Ok. Can you remind me about the router that TalkTalk now provides for Full Fibre 65? Did you say that it should be like the one I bought from eBay? The Sagemcom F@st 5359? Because I don't seem to be getting anywhere when I contact the TalkTalk sales people who say that the WiFi 3 hub (?) isn't compatible with my package?