Three router round-up 2024

Author: Jamie Kavanagh

Last updated: 02 January 2024

What router do you get with Three Mobile Home Broadband?

Three Home Broadband provides 4G and 5G broadband to customers across the UK using its own network. It’s a plug a play set up; that means no fixed lines, line rental or engineer visits.

All of Three’s SIM plans come with an unlimited data plan, too.

If you’re in a 5G network coverage area, it's by no means a compromise; the new Three 5G hub offers download speeds up to 1Gb!

Let’s dive in and have a look at the features of these hubs and how easy they are to set up.

Three uses two devices for home broadband depending on the package you sign up to - the 5G Home Hub and the 4G Home Hub. Both are well-designed and deliver decent broadband speeds.

The 5G router is free with all 5G Home Broadband deals. The 4G router is free with all 4G Home Broadband deals with no upfront cost, with an option to include Amazon Alexa as a feature.

Both use a modern white design and are compact enough that they could fit onto a windowsill. There are no external antennas to help keep things tidy, and both provide reliable mobile Wi-Fi throughout the home.

The hub includes simple lighting and, other than needing mains power, there are no wires involved.

The 4G and 5G hubs are standard on all Three broadband packages and replace the older Huawei HomeFi and HomeFi Plus routers.

Do I get to keep my Three Home Broadband hub after my contract is over?

No, you don’t get to keep your Three Home Broadband hub after your contract is over. The device remains the property of Three, and you’ll need to return it once your contract is up.

Three will notify you of the exact steps, which is currently a prepaid returns bag.

Be aware that there’s a fee for not returning the 5G Home Broadband hub. At the time of writing, that fee can be as high as £350 while you’re within the money-back guarantee period, or £105 once that period is up.

Is a Three hub easy to set up?

Yes, a Three Home Broadband hub is easy to set up. In fact, it mostly sets itself up, so there’s very little for you to do.

As Three Broadband uses mobile networks, you’ll need to place your hub close to a window to maximise signal strength.

Once in place, plug it in and give it a few minutes to establish a broadband connection.

Then, use the details on the base of the hub to log in. Search for the wireless network name (SSID) on your device and enter the default Wi-Fi password (ADMIN).

The hub has two Ethernet ports if you’d prefer to use a wired connection instead.

The Three Broadband App can be used to monitor your account and perform basic tasks.

Here’s a video showing you how to set up a Three Home Broadband hub:

How can I improve the Wi-Fi signal of my Three hub?

You can improve the Wi-Fi signal of your Three Hub in several ways:

• Place the hub close to the window to ensure the strongest mobile signal. If you have a window close to the centre of your home, all the better! Signals radiate in 360 degrees.
• Don’t place the hub close to any large objects, especially appliances. Anything that blocks the wireless signal will impact coverage, so keep the area clear.
• Use the Huawei app provided by Three to check mobile signal around the home. Use the Optimize Location option within the app to test signal, and place the hub where it’s strongest.
• Use a Wi-Fi repeater. Wi-Fi repeaters plug into a wall socket and boost the wireless signal around the home. They are cheap and easy to use and are definitely worth trying.
• Use a mesh kit. Mesh kits use an extra router and repeaters to boost the wireless signal around the home. They are more expensive than repeaters, but can generate a stronger signal.
• Use a powerline adapter. Powerline adapters plug into a wall socket and turn your home’s electrics into a network. Plug one end close to your router and use Ethernet to connect them. Plug the other where you want a connection and use Ethernet to connect that to your device.

For more practical tips, you can read our guides:

• Where’s the best place to put a Wi-Fi router?
• What is mesh Wi-Fi? How it work, and how to use it to boost your broadband

What’s the password for a Three Home hub?

The default password for a Three Home Hub is usually ADMIN. You should find the login details on a sticker on the bottom of the hub.

As everyone knows the password, we recommend changing it as soon as you have connected. We also recommend changing the default Wi-Fi password too.

You can change them within the settings menu of the router once you’re logged in.

Are Three hubs good value for money?

Three Hubs are good value for money. They perform well and are included with the price of your home broadband package.

You’ll receive a 5G hub with the 5G Home Broadband package and a 4G hub with the 4G Home Broadband package. There’s currently no extra charge for the 4G hub with Alexa.

They are yours to use while you remain a Three customer. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee too if you’re not completely happy.

What are the standout Three hub features?

Standout features of the Three hub include the simple design, plug and play setup and the option to include Alexa with the 4G hub. As a bonus, both devices support eero mesh technology, too.

The simple white design keeps the router low-key, while providing status lights that are easy to see. As the hub needs to be on a windowsill, we’re pleased to say its simple design doesn’t dominate a room.

One key advantage of mobile home broadband is no landline. Similar to using a mobile dongle, these devices are ‘plug and play’. Rather than needing an engineer visit or to set up cabling, you can plug the hub into the wall, give it time to find the network, and it’s ready to go.

All 4G Home Broadband packages have the option to use a hub with Alexa as part of the price.

Meanwhile, eero is a mesh technology that allows you to use repeaters throughout your home to boost wireless signal.

Three Home Hub pros and cons

For more on this, read our expert Three broadband review.

Can I keep my Three hub if I have to move and downgrade my broadband?

Yes, you can keep your Three hub if you have to move and downgrade your broadband. As long as you’re within a coverage area and keep your contract, you can keep using the hub.

Add your postcode to the coverage checker to make sure your new home will still be able to use Three Home Broadband.

If you’re out of coverage, you may have to cancel your Three contract. Unfortunately, this might result in an early termination fee. Get in touch with Three’s customer service team to discuss your options.

Can I use my own router with Three Mobile Home Broadband?

You can’t use your own router with Three Mobile Home Broadband. The nature of mobile broadband means only a router that’s fully compatible with the network will be able to connect.

You can use your own router in addition to the Three hub, though. Just not instead of it.

• How to check Three’s 4G and 5G coverage

  You can use Three’s coverage checker to investigate whether you can get 4G or 5G signal on your mobile phone or home broadband hub. Enter your postcode and you’ll see a clear result of the type of network you have access to, and whether it’s strong enough for indoor use.

Expert Summary

Three 4G and 5G hubs are smart looking devices that deliver the ease of use and wireless connectivity we look for.

As long as you have a strong enough 5G or 4G broadband signal and a windowsill to place the hub, you should get impressive download and upload speeds. You should be able to set up a reliable Wi-Fi network within your home should be equally impressive thanks to strong antennas within the device.

Setup is simple. Aside from changing passwords, there’s nothing technical you need to do.

Combine that with competitively priced broadband packages with unlimited data and there’s every reason to consider Three Home Broadband!

How do these routers offerings square up against other broadband providers? Find out with these other router round-ups:

• BT Broadband router round-up
• TalkTalk Broadband router round-up
• Sky Broadband router round-up
• Virgin Media router round-up
• Plusnet router round-up
• NOW Broadband router round-up
• Vodafone router round-up