Hey everyone! I'm currently on a fibre broadband plan with Vodafone in Ireland, and I've heard that it's possible to swap out the default router they provide for a third-party one that supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). I spoke with ChatGPT, and it confirmed I could go ahead with this, but I'd need to configure the SSID and password myself. My main curiosity is whether anyone here has successfully made this switch, and if so, what setup challenges did you face?
4 Answers
If your fiber box provides DHCP, you should be good to go! Just check if they use VLAN settings. It might be worth it to ask Vodafone directly for setup instructions, just to be safe.
I'm not sure if Vodafone allows third-party hardware on their network. My provider, Virgin Media, doesn't. I have to use their hardware and run it in 'Modem Only' mode while connecting my own router through Ethernet. Maybe Vodafone offers a similar option?
When I had Vodafone in the UK, they would provision routers based on MAC addresses, which made things tricky. If you want to replace it, you’ll probably need to get Vodafone’s help to activate the new router. I had some really frustrating experiences with their customer support, too, especially during the COVID lockdown. Just a heads up!
I'm with Vodafone Ireland, and I've replaced my router without any issues. It works just fine! Here's a link to their setup guide [Vodafone Guide](https://n.vodafone.ie/support/broadband-and-landline-hub/broadband-landline/set-up-installation-guides.html#:~:text=If%20you%20already,DNS%3A%2089.19.64.36). Give it a shot!
Yeah, just keep in mind that having a router after a router can cause issues for gaming if you're double-NATing!