Gigafast - Third Party Router or Access Point and keep phone line

[Ferrari14]

Hi,

I've just had Gigafast Pro Xtra installed today and the router is awful is expected. Unfortunately I do need the phone line.

My questions are:

1) Is it possible to get rid of the Vodafone router entirely and still keep the phone line? After doing a few hours of research on here I think the answer to this is no but please correct me if I'm wrong

2) If the answer to the above is no, is it possible for me to set up another router in access point mode (connected to the Vodafone router via Ethernet)? Intention here would be to turn off WiFi on the Vodafone router and connect to the access point only. If so, does anyone have any recommendations for a good access point router and can I have multiple?

Thanks in advance

[Jayach]

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@Ferrari14 wrote:

1) Is it possible to get rid of the Vodafone router entirely and still keep the phone line? After doing a few hours of research on here I think the answer to this is no but please correct me if I'm wrong

Possibly but you will need to be a VoIP expert.

Landline phone with own router on FTTP - Community home (vodafone.co.uk)

2) If the answer to the above is no, is it possible for me to set up another router in access point mode (connected to the Vodafone router via Ethernet)? Intention here would be to turn off WiFi on the Vodafone router and connect to the access point only. If so, does anyone have any recommendations for a good access point router and can I have multiple?

Yes, that is definitely possible., but I'm not sure what you mean by multiple.

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[Ferrari14]

Thanks for the quick reply.

For option 2, I *think* what I mean by multiple is what the OP said in the forum you linked.

He said "VF router's WiFi is switched off. 3rd party Mesh has been switched to Bridge mode and plugged into the VF's ethernet port."

Is this the equivalent of buying 2 of these Huawei AX3 AX3000 routers

 (https://amzn.eu/d/dQHKMXZ) and having one set up right next to the Vodafone router connected via Ethernet to the Vodafone router and then another one upstairs which connects wirelessly to the first Huawei router? 

[Ripshod]

Been reading on the openwrt forums about Chinese firmware and a lack of updates for the Huawei AX3. I don't think that's a good option to be honest, if you want security that is. 

[Ferrari14]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm not too bothered about the specific router tbh, just picked the huawei as an example.

Could you please confirm if the general idea of what I was saying is possible please? And if so, do you have any recommendations on routers to use for this?

[Ripshod]

Tp-link Deco E4 are on offer on amazon, can't fault the price for 2. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Deco-E4-Seamless-Replacement/dp/B07NWBPYBX?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc... 

We use them in HMOs and they're proving invaluable. Look nicer than a box eh?

If you're looking for higher bandwidth you'll obviously pay a lot more. Worth buying these just to test the theory in your own premises,then resell via fleabay. 

[Ferrari14]

Okay thanks.

So just to confirm, you're not sure if what I'm suggesting is possible (i.e. One of these connected via ethernet to the VF router and a secondary deco connected wirelessly to the first to improve range upstairs?) 

[Ripshod]

Yes. 

[Ferrari14]

Okay thanks for confirming.

@Jayach are you able to shed any light? 

[CrimsonLiar]

Just a heads up on AP security.  When you have devices set up as Access Points then the router continues to act as a firewall.  So unless you've set up your AP (s) to do something very strange, then even without firmware updates they are unlikely to pose any additional security risks to your network!