Gigabit WiFi for a Fiver: Making the best value high performance Access Point (THG3000 setup guide) 

"Invalid DHCP server address pool" - with DHCP server enabled, amend the start and end addresses such that they gateway address is in the same subnet. For example, if you want the Vodafone hub to be 192.168.0.9, then set start to be 192.168.0.10 and end to be 192.168.0.100 for example. You will then be able to turn off DHCP and proceed.

We recently converted our garage and wifi didn’t reach over there so I’ve run a cable across and tried to plug it into a wifi booster. This didn’t work and I came across this video and found our older model of our Vodafone router and it worked the same. Great video and so clear to understand every step. Thanks so much!

Hi Peter, thank you for this excellent walkthrough. I have completed these steps but when at the final step - connecting to my BT hub via Ethernet cable the internet light on the Vodafone hub remains flashing red. Would you know why?

Hi Peter. Have you come across any ways to activate the USB ports on this router at all? Either using the standard firmware or a different firmware??

Pete, is there a way to change the router to login to a third party ISP? In my local area the ISP service is actually provided Vodafone but I'm not seeing where the setting to input the new ISP login might be?

HI Peter, I'm setting up the Vodafone THG3000 as my main access hub and tryin to connect another router Tp-link. doing this via a pair of TP-link powerline boosters in a different part of the house. I am wanting to connect (Hardwired) to a TV for streaming and also enable the Wifi on the second router. I'm having trouble with IP and DNS settings. can you help?

Thanks. Is there no need to set a Default Gateway? I couldn't see a way to do that in the settings shown on the video.

Thanks for the great videos. Out of interest how does the Vodafone router compare to BTs for deadspot coverage?

Thankyou! For anyone else thinking of doing this, I tested it with a Powerline Mains extender and connecting a Tado WiFi extender via the cable connection and both worked perfectly well.

I have done the same and using a spare one I was sent as an access point. The one I am using for an accces point is showing as having version 17 firmware. My main Voda router (THG3000) is running v19 connected to the wan. Will the one running v17 get the updates as technically it should be able to get an internet connection?

How would I extend this if it’s two floors. I have the main Virgin router downstairs and want my old Vodafone router to be a dedicated AP for my office. The cable cannot run that long. Would you suggest using a TP link extender and then running a cable from the extender to the VF hub ? Or is it too many hops.. I just don’t want to throw this router away

Thanks a million for this. Very helpful.

Thanks for the video, is it possible to connect this Vodafone router (extender) to the main router wirelessly rather than via ethernet cable?

Why is it that you can't use the WAN port to connect upstream? If you were connecting to a cable modem that would work. It ought to act as a dhcp client on the wan port and connect to the network that it finds there. I am trying to use a vodafone connect router (the white one) as an acess point. I have tried setting it up the way you do in this video, but I can't because it has no option to turn off dhcp. So if I connect the lan port to my network it'll be conflicting with the real dchp server. Vodafone did eventually update the firmware to support turning off dhcp but as I am not getting my broadband from them I can't get the over the air update and I can't find any other way to update the firmware. Right now it's looking like I have 2 paperweights right here rather than 2 cheap access points.

can i buy one from ebay and replace the provided thg2500 as that keeps cutting out with ppp errors thanks

Once it’s set up do I need to connect the two routers via cable ? Once I move my router upstairs I cannot connect to the internet via the repeater!!!

I tried to use an old-ish THG3000 as a router hub to go upstairs. Got the IP address on the secondary router done and seemed like it worked, but when i try to open a browser it shows a vodafaone page sayinf to connect activation stick/usb to the router. Seems like it’s locked or something. Any ways around this?

Hi do you recommend changing dns on router as I’m getting very slow Wi-Fi because I’m in black spot in my area would really appreciate it if you can help can help

You’re a genius,you don’t need sleep! 🤓👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍

Hi can you help with adding a vodafone booster. i can't get it working despite numerous resets. if I have a cable where do I connet it into the main hub?

Very knowledgeable guy keep up the good work

Hi Pete i have connected 2 routers to my network using your great video but the 3rd will set up but i can't get the internet when i plug in the wan cable do you have any idea why i can't get the internet?

Hi, I have the same model modem as my primary vodafone . I need to open this ports TCP Ports 44158 in both directions. Can you guide me to how should i open this ports? Thanks

Thank you. I found this very helpful

Hi Peter - this has worked perfectly -thank you! Only thing is, I do need to use the guest network - are you about to tell me how to configure this with the correct IP address? Perhaps using your example in the video? The guest network I created still appears as an option to connect, but I can't seem to connect to it? Thanks

hi can you tell me how to port forward for cctv viewing please.

Good chap! Thanks very much. Super tutorial.

Can it be done wirelessly without hardwiring?

Have you and can you make one where the TH3000 can be used a AP as well as a extender without cables?

Hi great video but I am having issues the main route cuts out and has no internet connection but the second one does many thanks

Hi Pete, Awesome tutorial. I've bought this very router to connect my laptop to my oculus quest via virtual desktop (works flawlessly with HL Alyx). My question would be how can I bridge my WiFi connection to the router to also extend Internet access? The router is in another room so I was thinking of using a powerline adapter to bridge the connection. Do you think this will work? Or do you have any alternative methods ? Thanks!

Hi..Can I use my echo dot as a wifi extender ? Thx.

Hi Peter Do you know a way to get cabled access to the guest LAN. I have a project where’s I’d like a VLAN for both guest lan and normal lan. Any ideas? At the moment my only plan is to have a unit in bridge mode and have that feed guest network into the switch. Cheers

hay pete, i play on xbox and its saying im not using ipv6 on it, but my router seems to be saying the ipv6 is activated? any advice on how i can get this working so my xbox is using it? thanks. i have the same router and on a gigabit connection. thanks! :-)

hi need help using my netgear d6400 as my main router . use the vodafone router just for the telephone is this possible please

I have the exact same modem and tried exactly as recommended, still could pull this up, when I plug my router after all connections it just drop the entire existing network...

How to connect it to the other router wireless?

Thanks. Just joining Voda so I’ll be using this as a modem/router but might repurpose my old router as an AP.

will this work with bridge? over wifi like a repeater?

excellent video i managed to creat another accses point. i was wondering can i set the second router to a 5ghz signal if the master router is on 2.5ghz?

I got my main router connected to the access point router with a powerline, I have done these settings, it was working but after I came back from the holidays and reconnect all stuff , I cant get an IP and if I set a static IP to a device it connect to the access point but woth no internet and I cant even connect to the access point router settings' page

Is there anyways that you can help me , I need to put a Vodafone Ireland router into bridge mode to connect to Google WiFi

Hi very strange issue with vodafone, 2.4Ghz channel, the vodafone ssid does not show. All my wireless G and N adaptors and cards pick up neighbours networks but my own does not show. Mobiles connect ok and ethernet but with G and N vodafone ssid disappears. With talktalk we had no issue. But all vodafone routers have this issue. Before I used HHG2500 and now THG3000.with both same issue. And my router has no option of changing channels. Vodafone been absolute nightmare 3 months since with changed to them. I phoned them but they could not help. thanks

Great video. Thanks! ! ! 👏👍

Is it possible to do this in a wireless mode. Thanks.

Thanks Pete! Nice one. Quick question, can i use the same SSID and password so that the second router works the same as the first one? Meaning devices wont tell tge difference between the two and connect automatically? Forgive me if its a stupid question

Just found this on RU-vid, quiet interesting. I have bought one of these from ebay and waiting delivery. Could i use this as a router using the blue WAN port connected to my virginmedia router and set a second dhcp network!. Good video, well done

Auto mode for 5 ghz option on new software update not available

8Hi Peter thank you for this tutorial. I waiting for this Vodafone router which I already bought from Vodafonewith 500MB broadband. I have ASUS RT-AC86U and just wonder if my router is better compared to Vodafone? If yes just wonder how can I bypass Vodafone to connect directly with Asus? Unfortunately, I have to wait until 21 of December for installation but just started thing how to do this. Thanks again. Regards

I have tried at least 10 times, and it does not work for some reason. The ethernet and wifi just show up as “unidentified network”. Played around the ip range, nothing. Anyway I could contact you and get some assistant? Would greatly appreciate it!

Brill video.. Can you please help.. I got two of the same Vodafone routers.. The main one in house and I want to use the other up garden for the kids to have Internet/WiFi up there.. I got a cat 5 cable going from main router into what will be the access point on up garden... It's not set up correctly as its causing IP conflict in the house, so if I follow what you do here will this solve it?

Hiya. I'm shopping around for home fiber broadband right now. Signed up for Sky Broadband and awaiting an engineer visit next week. Dunno if that was a good idea. But I'd like to ask what makes Vodafone different from the likes of BT/EE/Sky/Plusnet? Would you say their broadband is stable and reliable? broadband?

I have the same model Vodafone WiFi hub. It's strange that you have the options to change channels for both bands. I've been though every single page, even with a service advisor & can't find channel settings at all. The only way for me to set a channel manually was through the Vodafone broadband app on my phone. I told Vodafone they need to address this as Auto can just mess things up.

Hi, I have set my router up and it works perfectly my only trouble is setting up the wi-fi2 network as I have this setup on my main router as a guest login can you help?

Can these Vodafone routers be accessed remotely I was reading they can't?

Can you make a video for a mesh/bridge network

I wanted to use an old TalkTalk hub as a WiFi extender, picking up off air rather than connecting to the LAN by cable, so I could place it remotely where I couldn’t access my LAN. Sadly TalkTalk hubs don’t support a repeater mode, but I did try a wired configuration like you did just as an experiment, and it worked just fine. But unlike you I didn’t stay up until 4am to do it! 😁

hi can i make my vodafone as repeater wireless

can you make a video showing how to get a new public IP on this router

Hi, i lost 150 megabit in 3/4 metres, although i have a range extender. How i can solve

Good evening. I have a Vodafone Router SHG3000 And I want to adjust to him a property. WAN Please, I want you to explain how to get in the setup because the regular interface doesn't give me the unanimity to make the preparation.

Hey Pete , I have this router but on my expert moe and in WiFi settings there is not a drop box for channels? It only has WiFi mode and bandwidth. Where is my channel drop box ?

Nice video, your sleep pattern is similar to mine!

Why i dont have that channels option???

Great tutorial. I'll bear this in mind if I need to add any additional access points to a network in future. Quick question: can you still use Ethernet output from the new access points to connect to devices with no Wi-Fi (such as desktop PCs with no WLAN card)?

Thanks for the video, I'm a bit new to this, can I use 2 of these as a mesh network? Thanks.

I didn't understand. Who's providing the internet signal? Who's the ISP? Vodafone? Or another provider on the second hand market? But you still need a contract with an ISP or don't you?

Can anyone explain in lamens terms what he is doing? Im not majorly tech savvy but want to get better. I am currently switching to vodafones superfast broadband for £20 a month. Is this video about making your broadband even faster? Could i do this on my account? Thankyou to anyone who helps

This is great! I just ordered one. I am hoping to use the router to stream my pc content to my vr headset (oculus quest) via virtual desktop.

Hi, great tutorial. I have the same hub and followed you instruction to the letter and it’s worked a treat. Just one question, how do I change the SSID and password now as I can’t access the routers setup menu? Thanks Gary.

Have same router , expert mode, dont have channels option

Peter, great video got mine working first time HOWEVER. There is an annoying CLICK every minute or so ... presumably the router performing DSL port switching between ADSL, VDSL etc, as there is no internet connection. MMY QUESTION IS ... can I switch the DSL port off to stop the clicking 👍

I've got my previous Vodafone hub still. I would like to set it up as an extender for another part of the flat. Do U have any videos on how I could do that please?

Legend

I nabbed a smart hub to add to my other smart hub for abit of WiFi in the shed, managed to get one for £3 delivered. Similar speeds to this was a brilliant deal.

It doesnt show auto mode for me on 6:13

Always used to doubt Vodafone but been using there network and it’s very good for what it is especially on the 2600mhz band

What was you doin up so early?

What laptop is that?

For reasons that make no sense to me at least, Vodafone in their wisdom have removed the option to manually change the channels on these routers🤷

Just switched away from Vodafone today - their basic service has been good, but when Openreach got our house confused with another and downgraded our superfast broadband to ADSL, Vodafone were breathtakingly incompetent (I'm being polite!!!) at resolving the issue. This despite Openreach turning up on my door step the next day, with humble apologies and a set of clear instructions for how Vodafone could quickly remedy the situation - all they needed was a simple instruction from Vodafone via myself as the customer with a "technical" problem, and they'd switch everything back within 48 hours. Two days later we lost even the ADSL and then some weeks with no service whatsoever. Four weeks later and I lost track of how many hours talking to Vodafone's tech support (mostly on hold listening to mind numbing muzak) and they finally fixed a "two working day" problem. Bottom line - the router might be good, the service is atrocious when things go wrong - which is the only time tech support matters - so writing this to make sure people make the distinction between the hardware's quality (very good being Broadcom chips) and the company as an ISP! Anyway given that it is decent hardware, and much better than the rubbish my new ISP sent out, I was searching for how to go about reconfiguring it for the new ISP, fearing that the Vodafone branding and custom firmware might have locked it to Vodafone as an ISP. I get that I can use it as described in this video as a Wifi AP - and that's an interesting option in itself - but can it just replace the Technicolor single band 2.4GHz modem router when properly configured? Lastly bit puzzled as to why you didn't just ethernet into the router to configure it via the laptop? Is that just a personal choice thing or was there a reason I'm missing? Thanks for the video - will check out your others :) PS Do you happen to know who makes the Vodafone router in the OEM sense? Looking at DD-WRT compatibility.

With the latest firmware, this router became a very little value dumb AP which is incompatible with half of 5GHz devices and keeps dropping video streams and gaming connections. The problem? Channel selection is now stuck to hardwired 'Auto' / 'All channels' settings with no UI or any other way to set it. Just a little radio congestion in your neighbourhood and your 2.4GHz channel jumps like mad and your SmartTV (which cannot catch DFS channel) falls back to 2.4GHz band. Goodbye, Netflix now. Having to find a replacement router soon, jump through hoops to connect it to ISP, and ditch this rubbish box to collect dust under my sofa until ISP contract ends.

360P club :P

Jesus Christ how bloody thicc is you laptop loll

Thank you. I found this very helpful