Vodafone router - can we use a different brand?

[Eskimodisqo]

I've seen other posts eluding to using a different routers to the one supplied by Vodafone. I'm no techy so am asking some simple questions.

Are we tied to using Vodafone's router?

Can we use a different - and dare I say better - make?

If so, any recommendations!

Is this likely to solve our DIRE speed problems? We splashed out on Pro Full Fibre 900 but our download speeds rarely exceed 350 Mbps. I'd ring Vodafone but I just can't face being on hold and listening to that God awful music again.

[Ripshod]

How are you testing your speed? If it's over WiFi then the answer is to use an ethernet cable.

Yes you can use your own router. Many of us insist on it. Asus, Netgear and Tp-link have some great router's right now. If you want high speed WiFi look for wifi6, or wifi6e if your pockets are deep enough. 

[Eskimodisqo]

We've just plugged a laptop in via ethernet - our only device with that capability so good WiFi is kind of important and the speed was approx 750mbps - twice what we get on WiFi. Simple question - why does the WiFi get strangled?

[Ripshod]

Purely down to bandwidth. 5Ghz wifi on my old wifi5 router was 433/433Mb. I'm now running wifi6 and I have 1733/1733Mbit at my command on my laptop. 

Wifi6 can be added to any pc and most laptops, but without a wifi6 router there's no real point. 

[Eskimodisqo]

Do we have to use the Vodafone router at all? A friend of ours is with Virgin and still has to use the hub in "pass through" mode into a TPLink WiFi 6 router. Frankly I'd like to just take a hammer to the Vodafone piece of junk. I can't understand why they advertise a sh*t hot fibre speed and supply archaic kit for WiFi. Let's face it. How many people want wired connections  these days?

[Jayach]

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@Eskimodisqo wrote:

Do we have to use the Vodafone router at all? 

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As you are on FTTP, the answer is no, you do not.

However if the landline phone is important to you, getting it working with a 3rd party router is a bit of a faff.