TalkTalk broadband router round-up 2024

Author: Jamie Kavanagh

Last updated: 08 January 2024

What router do you get with TalkTalk broadband?

The TalkTalk router you get depends on the broadband package you sign up for as a new customer.

The legacy ADSL HG633 Wi-Fi router has been replaced by the TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub, but is still in use by existing customers.

The TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub is a good router with decent Wi-Fi signal strength, a built-in firewall and gigabit Ethernet ports. It’s available with superfast fibre broadband contracts.

The Amazon Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 routers provide strong signal strength with included Wi-Fi mesh repeaters. These are available on ultrafast full fibre broadband contracts.

The TalkTalk HG633 is a legacy router for ADSL2 customers. It can be bought online but has since been replaced with the TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub.

Here’s a selection of the best TalkTalk broadband deals currently available:

• What does ADSL mean?

  ADSL stands for ‘Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line’. It’s broadband technology that allows the transfer data across regular telephone lines. You can make calls at the same time as being connected to the internet.

  An ADSL line will, at minimum, allow for a broadband connection of up to 8Mb. These days, that’s pretty slow and won’t allow you to do much other than emailing or basic web searches.

  ADSL2+ is now available at nearly all exchanges across the UK with slightly faster data transfer rates of around 10-11Mb.

• What’s the difference between ‘fibre’ and ‘full-fibre’ broadband?

  Full Fibre broadband is also known as ‘Fibre To The Premises’, ‘Fibre To The Home’. This is often shortened to FTTP or FTTH. They’re all the same thing!

  Instead of copper telephone wire making up the final part of the journey from that green cabinet on the street, fibre optic cables are installed right up to your home.

  It’s amazing the difference in speed this small data journey can have. With full-fibre broadband you can expect to receive speeds of 1Gb+.

  The downside is full-fibre is only available to a small percentage of homes in the UK, and it’s taking a good while to get everyone up to speed.

Are you more tech-savvy and interested in the finer details? Here's a round-up of the most important specs of each of the routers currently bundled in with TalkTalk broadband deals:

TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub replaced the HG633. It offers increased Wi-Fi signal strength and range and upgrades the Ethernet ports to gigabit rather than 100Mb.

The Eero 6 wireless router is a new era of home networking. It’s small, easy to use and comes with a mesh repeater as part of the package. It also has smart home features.

The Eero Pro 6 adds tri-band Wi-Fi and has two mesh repeaters as part of the package.

Do I have to return my TalkTalk router after my contract is over?

TalkTalk will request that you send your old router back to once your contract has finished. If you’ve confirmed you don’t want to renew your contract, you can request a returns bag to return the router.

You have 42 days to return the device using the bag (postage paid) to TalkTalk. If they don’t get it back in good time, they may add a £50 equipment charge to your final bill.

For more information, visit our guide: 'how to recycle a Wi-Fi router'.

Is a TalkTalk broadband router easy to set up?

Yes, the TalkTalk broadband router is easy to set up. If you’re having an internet connection installed, the engineer will connect the router and test it’s working.

If you’re setting it up yourself, you just need to plug it into the power supply and connect the network cable to the network socket. Once all the lights are green, follow the instructions that come with the router to join your device to Wi-Fi and begin surfing.

If you’re using an Eero router, you may have to position your mesh extender and join it to your network. There are simple instructions that walk you through the entire process.

Once that’s done, your TalkTalk router is all ready to go!

Set-up video for TalkTalk HG366

Set-up video for TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub

Set-up video for TalkTalk Eero 6

How can I improve the Wi-Fi signal of my TalkTalk router?

If you have an older home with thicker walls or a larger property, you can improve the Wi-Fi signal of a TalkTalk broadband router in several ways:

• Place the router in the centre of the home to shorten the distance the signal must travel throughout the property. The stronger the signal, the faster the speed.
   
• Make sure your router isn’t close to any large appliances, any large metal objects or thick walls as these can block the signal.
   
• Check Wi-Fi channels using an analyser app on your phone and adjust your TalkTalk router to use quiet channels, so the signal doesn’t interfere with your neighbours. Ideally, have 1-2 channels between your Wi-Fi and the next strongest Wi-Fi detected by the analyser app.
   
• Use a Wi-Fi booster. Wi-Fi boosters plug into a socket and are a simple, cheap way to boost your Wi-Fi signal. Plug them into a wall socket, join them to your Wi-Fi network, and that’s it!
   
• Use a mesh kit. A mesh kit creates a larger, stronger Wi-Fi network throughout your home but cost a little more. They are also a little more complex to set up but can provide seamless coverage throughout your home.
  
  The Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 routers come with mesh repeaters as part of the package, so no purchase is necessary. Use a Wi-Fi analyser app to assess where the Wi-Fi signal starts to fade and place the repeater just within that limit. You should now have a much stronger Wi-Fi signal!
   
• Create a mini Ethernet network with a powerline adapter. Powerline adapters turn your home’s electrics into a mini private network. Plug one end into a wall socket by your TalkTalk router and connect them with an Ethernet cable. Plug the other end into a socket and connect your device.
  
  Wi-Fi boosters, mesh kits and powerline adapters can all be bought from reliable retailers. They are all relatively simple to set up and can significantly improve internet connectivity throughout your home.

See also:

• ‘What is a Wi-Fi booster? Wi-Fi range extenders and boosters explained’.
• 'Where's the best place to put a Wi-Fi router?'

What’s the password for a TalkTalk router?

The password for a TalkTalk router is unique to each device. You should find the default username and password on a sticker on the side of the router.

If it isn’t on a sticker, there should be a card with your username and password in the router box.

We strongly recommend changing the admin password and the Wi-Fi access password during setup to improve your security.

More guides to read:

• ‘How to log into and change your Wi-Fi router settings’ 
• 'What is mesh Wi-Fi?' 
• 'Intermittent or slow broadband? Troubleshooting connection problems'.

Are the TalkTalk routers good value for money?

Yes, TalkTalk routers are good value for money as the costs are included within your deal.

If you’re an existing customer upgrading to a faster package, you shouldn’t have to pay for the upgraded router. However, if you’re using a TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub and want to upgrade to an Eero router, there may be charges involved. TalkTalk tends to provide individual upgrade pricing depending on how long you have been a customer and what type of broadband you have.

You can buy your own router if you prefer. TalkTalk can be configured to work with other routers, although you’ll need a compatible model to work with the network or use your old/existing router in ‘passthrough mode’ with your new router.

What are the standout features of TalkTalk routers?

The TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub is a significant upgrade to the HG633. It has stronger Wi-Fi antennas for a stronger signal, support for MU-MIMO and gigabit Ethernet.

The Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 routers are part of a new generation of routers. They come with a Zigbee smart home hub built-in, so will work with Alexa and smart home devices.

The routers also use mesh technology to provide a seamless wireless network throughout your home. The Eero 6 comes with one mesh repeater, while the Eero Pro 6 has two.

You can place these throughout your home to boost your Wi-Fi signal and provide a single network throughout the property.

Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 routers also use Wi-Fi 6, the newest. It is capable of up to 500Mbps speeds and can connect 75 devices at once.

Can I keep my TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub if I have to move and downgrade my broadband?

Yes, you can keep your TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub if you move home and/or downgrade your broadband. If you remain a TalkTalk customer, you can keep your router. If not, you'll need to send your device back for recycling.

Can I use my own router with TalkTalk?

TalkTalk recommends using their routers to connect to broadband, but does provide the necessary settings to use if you want to use your own. The instructions cover both fibre and non-fibre broadband and should take just a few minutes to change.

TalkTalk Router Review: Expert summary

The TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub, Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 routers are all easy to use and provide reliable connectivity throughout most homes.

Set-up is simple, Wi-Fi range is decent, and the TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub would be ideal for almost any type of household.

The Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 routers are a superb addition to full fibre broadband contracts. Mesh routers ensure great wireless signal and faster Wi-Fi speeds throughout the house and come with a smart hub built in. Ideal for homeworkers or busy families that want fast, reliable internet.

It’s good to see a broadband provider that offers quality routers with decent Wi-Fi and a modern router with mesh capability, MU-MIMO and smart home support.

TalkTalk fibre routers are probably one of the few ISP-provided units you won’t need to upgrade to provide reliability and good signal strength, and that says a lot!

Interested in finding out more about TalkTalk? Check out our full TalkTalk review.

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

• BT Broadband router round-up
• Virgin Media router round-up
• Sky Broadband router round-up
• Plusnet router round-up
• Vodafone router round-up
• NOW Broadband router round-up
• Three mobile home broadband router round-up