Options for replacing UltraHub?

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358 posts

Ultimate Geek

#265594 30-Jan-2020 11:54

I'm a Vodafone cable customer. I've recently had to switch to a Vodafone UltraHub after my landline was moved to voip.

Unfortunately the UltraHub doesn't do everything I'd like it to. I'd really like separate wireless guest or vlan network, which I can use for the iot devices (like door bell, smoke alarms etc), and maybe some sort of mesh wireless instead.

My understanding is that I pretty much have to keep using the UltraHub for voip. Is it possible for me to turn off it's wifi features, and use another router as my primary router, and maybe just connect UltraHub to my primary router as just another device?

Also, if I can go down that path, and recommended router? (I was pretty much ready to replace my previous router anyway, and had been looking at options like the Synology RT2600AC)

(Unfortunately can't get rid of landline at this stage, have tried but it makes life much easier for parents etc)

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115 posts

Master Geek

#2410119 30-Jan-2020 12:19

I Use the Ubiquiti Edge Router lite and have it down stream of the UltraHub, then you can still use VIOP. You could disable the UltraHub Wifi or use it a guest Wifi and get a better Access Point that will suit your needs.

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358 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2410131 30-Jan-2020 12:44

I guess that's an option - leaving the UltraHub wifi active as the guess wifi for iot devices, and add another router down stream for my trusted devices.

I'll have a read up on the Ubiquiti gear, to see how well it would fit in with what I'd like to do downstream of the Ultrahub.

antoniosk

2358 posts

Uber Geek

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#2410138 30-Jan-2020 12:50

michelangelonz:

I Use the Ubiquiti Edge Router lite and have it down stream of the UltraHub, then you can still use VIOP. You could disable the UltraHub Wifi or use it a guest Wifi and get a better Access Point that will suit your needs.

so, is your Ubiquiti in bridge mode?

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Antoniosk

SpartanVXL

1306 posts

Uber Geek

#2410142 30-Jan-2020 12:54

You can have Vodafone kit behind your own router and have the voip/tv work, ive got a hg659 doing exactly this.

All you have to do is turn off vlan on the WAN config (because your primary router is doing this already) and it should pick up voip straight away.

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358 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2410155 30-Jan-2020 13:05

SpartanVXL: You can have Vodafone kit behind your own router and have the voip/tv work, ive got a hg659 doing exactly this.

All you have to do is turn off vlan on the WAN config (because your primary router is doing this already) and it should pick up voip straight away.

I can't see a setting to disable vlan, but I can set the value. Maybe 0 is off?

Do you typically need to do more than this? ie, both devices are trying to set their IP address to 192.168.1.1, but maybe due to NAT stuff this doesn't end up being a problem?

SpartanVXL

1306 posts

Uber Geek

#2410170 30-Jan-2020 13:24

The hg659 does it automatically, you can’t have routers trying to advertise the same range. Set the ultrahun to 192.168.2.0/24 if your primary network is x.x.1.0

You’re essentially double nat’ing the ultrahub so anything connecting to it’s wifi you’ll have to take into consideration if they need anything special setup.

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358 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2410232 30-Jan-2020 14:35

Has anyone come across an admin login for the ultra hub?

I had a lot more control over the really old HG659, where I could disable either of the wifi frequencies, disable vlan etc, which I don't seem to be able to do with the ultra hub. Doing these would make it a lot easy for me to have the ultra hub hanging off a router of my choice.

Otherwise I might have to call Vodafone to see if they can switch my voip back to the HG659, which I just noticed the downer engineer forgot to take away this morning. (I've plugged it back in, and it's working fine, but voip calls not being routed to it)

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wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2410241 30-Jan-2020 14:39

Already been mentioned but by far and away the best option is to use something like an Edgerouter as your primary router and hang the ultrahub off this just for the VoIP.

See the here for config specific to the Edgerouter, but the same theory will apply to any suitable router.

If you set things up like that, you can disable the wireless and DHCP on the UltraHub, just don't plug anything into it and you're fine.

Ubiquiti UniFi APs are good value and perform well.

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358 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2410249 30-Jan-2020 14:46

wratterus:

If you set things up like that, you can disable the wireless and DHCP on the UltraHub, just don't plug anything into it and you're fine.

Have you tried that with the UltraHub? I can't actually see anyway to disable wireless on it, or disable vlan. The settings I have access to seem really dumbed down

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2410251 30-Jan-2020 14:49

Yes no trouble to disable WiFi and pretty sure DHCP is just a tick box. They are a lot more locked down than the HG659 but you can still do the basics.

Rather than try and disable VLAN on the WAN side of the UltraHub (which should be easy but I never had much luck with) setup a LAN interface on your router on VLAN 10 then connect the WAN of the UltraHub to that - it wil just think it's connected straight to the ONT/cable modem and should just work.

Only thing I found was after a router reboot, I had to call out once to get the phone working, but after that incoming calls were fine. I'm sure there is probably a firewall rule that would sort this but not sure where to start looking at that.

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358 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2410259 30-Jan-2020 15:02

wratterus:

Yes no trouble to disable WiFi and pretty sure DHCP is just a tick box. They are a lot more locked down than the HG659 but you can still do the basics.

You're right - just took another look and did find where to turn off wifi. I'll check DHCP.

Rather than try and disable VLAN on the WAN side of the UltraHub (which should be easy but I never had much luck with) setup a LAN interface on your router on VLAN 10 then connect the WAN of the UltraHub to that - it wil just think it's connected straight to the ONT/cable modem and should just work.

Ok, that might be above my pay grade 😬, but I'll try to work out how to set this up.

Only thing I found was after a router reboot, I had to call out once to get the phone working, but after that incoming calls were fine. I'm sure there is probably a firewall rule that would sort this but not sure where to start looking at that.

Ok - good to know.

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#2410266 30-Jan-2020 15:22

Using the regular log in, but there is the advanced mode (drop down menu at the top) for a bit more

under the Wi-Fi page there are switches to turn wifi on and off for 2.4 and 5ghz

Settings page has a WAN section that has the VLAN but I'm not sure if changing it to 0 will turn it off.

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2410268 30-Jan-2020 15:30

it's a bit of a faff, and you network cabinet becomes a bit of a mess with this massive black thing that is just acting as a glorified ATA.

Easiest options are to go with a ISP that uses the ONT for phone service like Spark (wish everyone did), or an ISP that lets you use your own ATA (2Degrees or Voyager for example), port your number to someone like 2Talk and use your own ATA, or just ditch the landline phone altogether.

michelangelonz

115 posts

Master Geek

#2410271 30-Jan-2020 15:35

antoniosk:

michelangelonz:

I Use the Ubiquiti Edge Router lite and have it down stream of the UltraHub, then you can still use VIOP. You could disable the UltraHub Wifi or use it a guest Wifi and get a better Access Point that will suit your needs.

so, is your Ubiquiti in bridge mode?

Na I use the Edge router as a Router/Fire wall. There is a LAN between the Edge and UtraHub, I use the Utrahub as guest Wirfi and Internet connected router. I have Ubiquiti AP on the trusted side of the Edge router for House Wifi.

epr

260 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2410292 30-Jan-2020 16:27

I have 2 pieces of ubiquiti amplifi kit I can sell you for $250 a router and a meshpoint for any tricky spots to get signal to I am not sure it fits all your stated needs but it probably does and I set up an amplifi router at a friend's house on his 2degrees network and his phone still works hanging off his fritzbox so I think the Ultra hub should work the same. If you only want the router make me a reasonable offer. I am in Christchurch so if you are I can drop it off to you.

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