Aaron Howdle | June 20th, 2023
Vodafone is now almost as well known for its broadband service as it is for its mobile service. It sits at the more affordable end of the broadband market, and offers a wide range of fibre and full fibre broadband packages.
However, fast fibre broadband is no good if you don’t have a router to match. A poor router can slow your broadband down or drastically limit the reach of your wifi if it isn’t powerful enough. Given this, how does Vodafone’s router fare? We’ve taken a look at what’s on offer.
To get a Vodafone router you will need to sign up to a Vodafone broadband package. Vodafone offers two different routers; the Intelligent WiFi Hub and the Ultra Hub. The Intelligent WiFi Hub is offered to regular fibre customers, but they can choose to upgrade and pay more for the Ultra Hub if they wish. In contrast, the Ultra Hub is provided to full fibre customers as standard, since, as a WiFi 6E router, it is better equipped to support the extremely high speeds on offer.
In most cases, you can expect your Vodafone router to arrive within approximately ten days of signing up to a new package, and, depending on the router you receive, you may be able to set it up yourself. If you require a new phone line, or you have chosen a full fibre package, you will need a visit from an engineer, who will set your router up for you.
Vodafone offers two superfast fibre speeds of 35Mbps or 48Mbps, and six full fibre speeds of 36Mbps, 73Mbps, 100Mbps, 200Mbps, 500Mbps and 910Mbps. Customers taking superfast fibre will be provided with the Intelligent WiFi Hub, and full fibre customers will be provided with the superior Ultra Hub.
The Ultra Hub is supplied in conjunction with the Super Wifi 6E Booster and a 4G back-up mini hub, under the collective name Pro II Broadband, providing the ultimate home broadband set-up.
If there are any unfamiliar terms you'd like a more in-depth explanation of, check out our jargon-busting guide.
This app lets you change the wifi settings on your router in ways which would normally require desktop access to the router’s control panel screen. You can set things like screen time for kids and see who is connected to your wifi, directly from your mobile phone. Another cool feature is the ability to prioritise a particular device for fast speeds. This can be useful when you want to download a large game or movie.
For added security, you can choose to set up a guest network with either of the Vodafone routers, so that you never have to give out your main wifi password to visitors to your home.
Setting up your new Vodafone router is an easy process and should only take a few minutes.
First of all, if you have an existing router, unplug it and remove any microfilters from your phone socket and from extension sockets if you have them. Then take the microfilter which came with your new router and plug it into the phone socket. Next, take the grey cable and plug it into the microfilter, then plug the other end into the Vodafone router.
Now you can connect the power. Switch off the mains plug socket, then plug the power supply into your new router. Now insert the power plug into the mains power socket. You can now switch on the power socket followed by pressing the power button on the router to start it up.
You are ready to connect your devices to your new wifi network. Your log-in details are on the back of the router.
Once your router is up and running, we'd suggest you start making it as secure as possible. Our guide to securing your wifi router can help.
If you decide to leave Vodafone, your router must be returned. Alternatively you can pay a fee if you wish to keep it.
Vodafone’s superfast fibre broadband require a home phone line to work, but the full fibre services do not, so come without a phone line as standard.
Vodafone’s latest router is the Ultra Hub. Vodafone is the only UK broadband provider to offer a WiFi 6E router free with its packages.
If you are still on ADSL broadband, you will be sent a new router when you sign up to any Vodafone fibre package. Customers signing up to superfast fibre can choose which router they would like. Full fibre customers will be sent the Ultra Hub as standard.
Beamforming allows users to specify a stronger internet connection for a particular device. The router forms a wifi ‘beam’ which follows the device around your home. It is designed to maintain a good connection specifically for that device.