Replace YouFibre Router

[2Btoo]

I've just seen moustachebandit's thread on here and It seems to be the day to ask about new routers!

I am with YouFibre. I have an ONT box on my wall and a (YouFibre supplied) EERO6 router. Into this I have plugged a Deco M5 mesh system and a few ethernet switches for hard-wired devices.

I am rapidly concluding that the EERO6 box is pony-and-trap (cr*p) and a pig to use. I've just spent over an hour troubleshooting it with the YouFibre support line after it stopped doing what it should be doing. They reset it remotely (after I had reset it manually three times) and it's now working as it should but they couldn't explain what had happened and I don't trust it.

So, I am thinking about a new router. Given that I have a separate mesh WiFi then it doesn't need WiFi capability.

I currently run the DHCP server on the EERO6 device, which is part of the problem; it has no web interface and all interactions need to be done on the app on my 'phone, and there is no way of backing up the settings so when it has a fritz then the DHCP tables need to be rebuilt. This is a faff I can do without.

I also use a PiHole on another machine. I used to be able to run the DHCP server on the PiHole, which worked very nicely but last time the EERO fell over I couldn't make it play nicely with another DHCP server so I gave up and ran the DHCP on the router.

So, this new router needs to be:

- Able to connect to an ONT box
- Able to use a local DNS server (PiHole)
- Able to use a different DHCP sever (in a PiHole)
- Reliable, and not given to going on the fritz at half a second's notice

What are my options? Not stupidly expensive but we rely on t'interweb a fair bit so something less cr*p than the EERO device I currently have. Thanks.

[Alorotom]

What are the actual issues with the Eero device(s) you have - I have been using Eero devices in a couple of houses for a few years now without any issues at all connected to ONTs (and similarly have friends and family with the same also with no issues?)

[eein]

I have YouFibre and have struggled to get a clear position from them on whether I need to MAC clone to get my own router to work. I've tried both with and without MAC cloning, and neither worked, but then of course they refuse to discuss anything in that situation.

So currently I'm running with the eero and then mine inside, double NAT-ing which isn't ideal but doesn't actually stop anything. I have a forwarding rule on the eero for inbound VPN-ing to my own router.

My own router is an Asus, with various mesh nodes. I've used Asus for a long time as they are infinitely hackable and configurable. And you can mix and match any Asus devices to make a mesh - I have some >10 year old Asus routers I have turned in to mesh nodes (you can pick up old routers on ebay for cheap and then use as mesh nodes).

The one experiment I've yet to try is inbound VPNs on IPv6. I currently pay for the YouFibre fixed IPv4, but would like to drop that at some point.

[John87]

I had youfibre fitted last week and had a new WiFi 7 router supplied rather than the eero. I used it for about an hour then I disconnected it and plugged my Deco straight into the ONT. It worked perfectly right away with zero set up.

One thing I was careful of was the DHCP lease which renews every hour as that won't work if you change device while already leased. I unplugged after 55 minutes uptime, left for 10 mins then connected the deco.

[2Btoo]

Guys,

Thanks for the answers.

Alorotom, good Q and one I can't answer, as I don't quite understand what happened this afternoon. The internet was working well and then stopped, and the router (EERO) wouldn't respond to the app; it simply claimed that the thing was rebooting (while simultaneously claiming that it was online). It came back after a while but didn't allocate IP addresses to some machines, then claimed to have forgotten all of the DHCP tables when I rebooted it manually. YouFibre were very helpful and reset it remotely and it came back with all the correct settings, but it was the sort of glitch I don't want to happen again (and it took an hour and a half to sort out).

It doesn't help that the router can only be accessed by the app, settings can't be backed up and (most annoyingly) if you change a single setting then the thing needs to reboot which takes a little over 2 minutes.

eein, thanks. Double NAT is getting towards the far end of my understanding but your experience is helpful. Good to know that Asus kit is good, although I'm into the TP Link Deco system.

John87, thanks. Plugging the Deco units into the ONT is an option but that then means that you run a DHCP in the Deco units. There's nothing wrong with this but I'd really like to run the DHCP in the PiHole as it's much more configurable. However this is probably my fall-back option, and it's really helpful to know that it worked so readily for you.

[frisbee]

When I switched to YouFibre I couldn't be bothered to connect everything to a new router. I just plugged in the TPLink VSDL router I was already using straight into the ONT as a wireless router.

Seems to work fine.

[stemll]

No experience with YouFibre but I have a Techicolor DGA4134 supplied by AA. Seems to be discontinued but there is a DGA4135 that seems to have replaced it at something like £140.

With a CityFibre connection it has been a rock solid connection. WiFi on the router is off, I have a TP Link Deco WiFi mesh providing my WiFi and a PiHole providing DHCP and ad-blocking. You would, of course, need the credentials from your ISP for the router to connect.

[Magnum 475]

Personally, I d look at one like this:

https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/category/all-cloud-g...

It can be the start of a slippery slope - their kit is incredibly good. Management is either via phone app or a web portal built in to the device.