Vodafone broadband routers: What will I get?

Dan Howdle • November 22nd, 2024

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.

How to get a Vodafone router

To get a Vodafone router, you need to sign up for a Vodafone broadband package. Vodafone currently provides two main router options: the Power Hub and the Ultra Hub. The Power Hub is included with Standard Fibre broadband packages and offers strong Wi-Fi 6 performance, making it suitable for most households. Meanwhile, the Ultra Hub, a cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E router, comes as standard with Vodafone Pro II broadband packages, designed to handle the ultrafast speeds of Full Fibre. The Ultra Hub offers tri-band Wi-Fi, including access to the 6GHz band which offers even faster Wi-Fi speeds, albeit at somewhat more limited range.

Once you sign up for a Vodafone broadband package, your router should arrive within approximately five to ten days. Installation requirements vary depending on the package/router. If you have chosen a Standard Fibre package, you can typically set up the router yourself following the included instructions. However, Full Fibre packages where you've never had Full Fibre before or packages requiring a new phone line will necessitate a visit from an engineer, who will handle the installation and set up your router for you.

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Vodafone router features

Vodafone offers two Standard Fibre speeds of 38Mbps and 67Mbps, as well as Full Fibre speeds of 74Mbps, 150Mbps, 500Mbps, 910Mbps, and 1.6Gbps. Customers taking Standard Fibre packages will be provided with the Intelligent WiFi Hub, while Full Fibre customers receive the superior Ultra Hub as standard.

The Ultra Hub is included with Vodafone Pro II Broadband, and comes with the Super WiFi 6E Booster and a 4G back-up mini hub, providing seamless connectivity even during outages. This setup is designed for households requiring exceptional reliability. Here are the specs for the two routers.

Vodafone Intelligent WiFi Hub

• Next-generation WiFi – Supports older WiFi standards and the newer 802.11ac WiFi standard for faster, more reliable connections
• Smart channel selection – Automatically connects devices to the fastest and least congested WiFi channel and frequency
• Dual band – Operates on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, optimising WiFi performance across a range of devices
• Four gigabit ethernet ports – Provides fast, wired connections for up to four devices, such as gaming consoles or desktops
• Two USB ports – Enables easy sharing of a connected printer or external storage device across your network
• Seven antennae with beamforming – Offers excellent coverage with beamforming technology, directing a stronger signal to specific devices for enhanced connectivity

Vodafone Ultra Hub

• Latest WiFi 6E standard – Supports WiFi 6E technology, ensuring ultrafast speeds, lower latency, and optimal performance with Full Fibre packages
• Tri-band – Features one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz frequency bands to handle multiple high-demand devices simultaneously
• Three gigabit ethernet ports – Includes one 2.5Gbps ethernet port and two 1Gbps ports for ultrafast wired connections
• Super WiFi 6E Booster – Extends coverage with dedicated boosters for large homes or challenging layouts
• 12 high-power antennae – Ensures outstanding WiFi coverage with enhanced multi-directional broadcasting capabilities
• 4G Back-up – Automatically switches to 4G if your broadband connection goes down, keeping you online without interruption

If there are any unfamiliar terms you'd like a more in-depth explanation of, check out our jargon-busting guide.

Vodafone broadband app

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 Wi-Fi, 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 Wi-Fi password to visitors to your home.

Setting up a Vodafone router

Setting up your new Vodafone router is simple and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

First, unplug your existing router and remove any microfilters from your phone socket and extension sockets. If you’re using Vodafone’s Full Fibre services, you won’t need to deal with microfilters, as these connections bypass the traditional phone line entirely. For Standard Fibre connections, take the microfilter included with your new router and plug it into the phone socket. Then, connect the grey cable to the microfilter and plug the other end into the Vodafone router.

Now, connect the power. Switch off the mains plug socket and plug the power supply into your router. Insert the power plug into the socket, switch on the power socket, and then press the power button on the router to start it up.

Once your router powers on, you’re ready to connect your devices to your WiFi network. You’ll find the network name and password printed on the back of the router. For extra tips on optimising your connection, check the Vodafone Broadband app, which can guide you through the process.

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.