Can a DG8041W TalkTalk Router be used with Fibre 150?

[LivingWise]

I am moving home in July to a property that has only Full Fibre (FTTP). TalkTalk can provide me with a broadband package, so I can remain a customer, but no voice option. I understand that the copper at my new home is now classed as 'z code' meaning no new service can be run over it. I have been advised by the Retentions Team that I can take a new 150 broadband service for £26 as a long standing customer when I move, which I am delighted about, but I need to source my own voice service. I have signed up for VOIP with bOnline that will start once I move. I will rarely be using WiFi (it will be disabled and turned on periodically only to do SW updates on tablets which will not download over ethernet).  I will eventually install an ethernet network throughout my house as I currently have in my present home. I will have one Yealink T31P IP ethernet desk phone that will be used for most calls. I will also have 6 Gigaset C530 ECO DECT phones that will be used for short calls and as intercommons around the home. These will run from an N300 IP base that will connect directly to the router. As I will not have an Ethernet network immediately, I will be using Devlolo DLan powerline adapters for home networking my PCs, printers, TVs and the desk phone for a period of time. My question is: I have a brand new TalkTalk Huawei DG8041W Router that I was sent in 2021 and never used (I'm still on my Huawei HG633 with my current FTTC service). Is it possible to use this DG8041W on the 150 fibre package as opposed to the Eero 6 that comes as standard? I need the 4 ethernet ports on the back of the DG8041W Router. If yes, will there be any degradation of speed from using the DG8041W vs the Eero 6 and can you confirm if the WiFi can be 100% disabled via the Control Panel on the DG8041W? I would be grateful for any advice.

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

HI LivingWise

Thanks for your feedback.

We have previously raised this issue to the team and have been advised that the only router we can send for that package is the eero, the hub2 being connected will mean customers wont be able to use My Connection and run tests etc.

Apologies for this and I will feed this back again to the team.

[LivingWise]

Thought I’d give a conclusion to this post for anyone that wants Full Fibre 150 but not an Eero Router.

The good news is that, as advised above, the Hub 2 does indeed work perfectly on 150. It was a bit of hassle getting a Hub 2 rather than an Eero, and then there were all manner of issues with getting VOIP to work as detailed in this post (https://community.talktalk.co.uk/t5/Full-Fibre/FF-150-Problems-Slow-Speed-Instability-Account-Dashbo...)

Eventually, the VOIP worked OK but I had ongoing issues with Homesafe being turned on and unable to turn if off via my online account settings. For me this was an issue as I was unable to access remote desktop services.

Since July, I have had an open complaint with TalkTalk about this, and because I was not the only one experiencing it, the case was escalated. As of today that complaint is now finally closed. The resolution was that the ‘back office team’ have set up my account so that it believes I’m on an Eero router. This has lifted the Homesafe restrictions, but means I have no account level security control as that requires downloading the Eero App which is of no use to me as I have a Hub 2. So, whilst this fixes the issue of access to restricted sites, it also removes a level of safety control. 

I have been advised there is nothing that can be done about this as the Eero is the only router officially offered with Fibre 150. I have suggested that ‘choice’ would be a nice thing to have as not everyone wants, needs or can use WiFi, and I’ve been reassured that feedback will be passed on. However, for anyone, like me, who does not use WiFi and wants to use the Hub 2 on Fibre 150, I hope this feedback is helpful if you too experience issues with Homesafe.

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Morning,

Please let us know how you get on and if you need any assistance.

Thanks

[LivingWise]

Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease. I have read about the Sagemcom version and did wonder if what was on offer now was the same or slightly different, so thank you for confirming that. It would be best for me to ask for a new router with my order then, rather than use the DG8041W I was sent previously in 2021 as that VOIP port would be useful. I just cannot understand how such wrong information can be given out. It was an awful conversation as I could barely understand what he was saying and the delay on the call meant we kept talking over each other but I came off that call utterly bewildered by what I'd been told. Again, many thanks for your help 🙏 🙂

[ferguson · Accepted solution]

The Hub 2 is made by Sagemcom, a different make and model, but essentially similar with the addition of a built-in VoIP phone port. Sadly you have been told utter nonsense, when acting as a router connected to the ONT the performance of the Huawei will be as fast as it can handle, certainly capable of 150Mbps and more. 

[LivingWise]

Thanks for that reply Ferguson. Do you know if the Huawei Hub 2 (which I'm guessing is the name for the DG8041W!) allows the full 150 speed or does it in any way reduce it? Reason for asking is that I spent 52 minutes on the phone with TalkTalk today to ask this simple question. I was eventually transferred through to the 'Fibre Technical Team' and was told I absolutely cannot use anything but the Eero router for the 150 service as the Huawei is limited to 65 mbps!! I asked for an explanation as to why that is, as my research indicated that the DG8041W was capable of up to 600 mbps, so could not understand this logic. He just kept repeating I could not have anything but an Eero. If I needed more LAN ports I could pay to have two Eeros. Just didn't make any sense to me, so I thought I'd better come here and ask!

[ferguson]

Yes, you can use the Huawei by connecting the WAN port to the ONT, I have done so with no issues. If you don't want an eero you could ask for a Hub 2 instead.