How to set up Deco/Router with BT (UK)

When You Set Up
Updated 12-02-2025 07:00:17 AM Number of views for this article21760
This Article Applies to:

BT Broadband connections include FTTP/FTTH and FTTC connections, configurations on the Deco/Router vary depending on the connections available at your home.

For Deco

FTTP/FTTH (Fiber to the Premises/Home, Full fiber)

If you are a FTTP/FTTH or full fiber customer, it’s likely you’ll have an Openreach modem (or ONT) installed inside your house and an Wi-Fi hub(Wi-Fi router) provided by BT. You can either use Deco to replace your Wi-Fi hub or use both.

Option 1: use both BT Wi-Fi hub and Deco

Network topology with both BT Wi-Fi hub and Deco.

Please connect Deco to the Ethernet port of the BT Hub with an Ethernet cable and follow the in-app instructions.

At the step where to enter your internet connection type and VLAN ID, Please select “Dynamic IP” and turn “IPTV/VLAN Settings” off.

Select dynamic ip.

You will have double NAT in the network this way. If you’d like to avoid double NAT, you can then set up the Deco into AP mode, while you may note that you will lose some advanced features of Deco if Deco works in AP mode. To know the difference between Router mode and AP mode of Deco, please click here.

Once completed, it’s suggested to disable the Wi-Fi of the BT Hub to reduce interference to the Deco’s wireless network, you may refer to:

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/how-do-i-turn-wi-fi-on-and-off-on-the-bt-hub-

Note: The steps above refer to most BT Hubs, but if you find yourself stuck while turning off the wireless signal, our advice is to reach out to the BT support team.

Option 2: Replace BT Wi-Fi hub with Deco

Network toplogy with Deco.

You need to connect the Deco to Ethernet Port of the Openreach modem and follow the in-app instruction.

At the step where to enter your internet connection type and VLAN ID, Please select “PPPoE”, then you need to reach out to the BT to get your PPPoE username, password and VLAN ID(if needed) to enter to the Deco.

Select PPPoE. Input VLAN ID.

FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet, or VDSL)

If you are a FTTC or VDSL customer, it’s likely you’ll be provided a BT Smart Hub (DSL modem router). It is recommended to use Deco with BT Smart hub in preference, or you can use Deco X20-DSL, Deco X50-DSL or Deco X73-DSL to replace your BT Smart Hub.

Option 1: use Deco with BT Smart hub

Network topology using Deco with BT Smart hub.

Please connect Deco to the Ethernet port of the BT Hub with an Ethernet cable and follow the in-app instructions.

At the step where to enter your internet connection type and VLAN ID, Please select “Dynamic IP” and turn “IPTV/VLAN Settings” off.

Select Dynamic IP and turn of IPTV.

You will have double NAT in the network this way. If you’d like to avoid double NAT, you can then set up the Deco in AP mode, while you may note that you will lose some advanced features of Deco if Deco works in AP mode. To know the difference between Router mode and AP mode of Deco, please click here.

Once completed, it’s suggested to disable the Wi-Fi of the BT Hub to reduce interference to the Deco’s wireless network, you may refer to:

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/how-do-i-turn-wi-fi-on-and-off-on-the-bt-hub

Note: The steps above refer to most BT Hubs, but if you find yourself stuck while turning off the wireless signal, our advice is to reach out to the BT support team.

Option 2: replace BT Smart hub with Deco (only when you have Deco X20-DSL, Deco X50-DSL or Deco X73-DSL)

Network topology without BT Smart hub.

You firstly need to reach out BT to get your PPPoE username, password and VLAN ID.

And then please connect the landline to Deco’s DSL port, and then follow the in-app instruction.

At the step where asks “how do you want to use your Product?” Please select “Use as a DSL Modem Router”.

At the step where to “Choose your current region and ISP”, select “BT_VDSL”.

At the step where to enter your internet connection type and VLAN ID. Please select connection type as “PPPoE” and put in Username, Password, and VLAN ID.

Connect Deco. Select ISP. Select Internet Connection Type.

For Router

FTTP/FTTH (Fiber to the Premises/Home, Full fiber)

If you are an FTTP/FTTH or full fiber customer, it’s likely you’ll have an Openreach modem (or ONT) installed inside your house and a Wi-Fi hub (TP-Link Wi-Fi router) provided by BT. You can either use a TP-Link router to replace your Wi-Fi hub or use both.

Option 1: use both BT Wi-Fi hub and TP-Link router

Network diagram showing ISP connected to ONT, then to a Wi-Fi router, followed by a TP-Link router and client devices.

Please connect the TP-Link router to the BT Hub's Ethernet port with an Ethernet cable, then follow the instructions.

At the step where you select the connection type, please select Dynamic IP.

Select Connection Type page interface.

You will have double NAT in the network this way. If you’d like to avoid double NAT, you can then set up the TP-Link router into AP mode, though you’ll lose some advanced features if it’s working in AP mode. To learn the difference between router mode and AP mode on a TP-Link router, please click HERE.

Once completed, it’s suggested to disable the Wi-Fi of the BT Hub to reduce interference to the TP-Link router’s wireless network. You may refer to:

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/how-do-i-turn-wi-fi-on-and-off-on-the-bt-hub--

Note: The steps above apply to most BT Hubs, but if you get stuck turning off the wireless signal, our advice is to reach out to the BT support team.

Option 2: Replace BT Wi-Fi hub with TP-Link router

FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet, or VDSL)

If you are an FTTC or VDSL customer, it’s likely you’ll be provided a BT Smart Hub (DSL modem router). It is recommended to use a router with a BT Smart Hub in preference, or you can use Archer VX1800v, Archer VR400, Archer VR2100, or another TP-Link DSL modem router to replace your BT Smart Hub.

Option 1: use TP-Link router with BT Smart hub

Network diagram showing an ISP connected to a Wi-Fi router or hub via landline/DSL line with RJ11 pins, then to a TP-Link router through Ethernet cable, and finally client devices connected via Wi-Fi.

Please connect the TP-Link router to the BT Hub's Ethernet port with an Ethernet cable, then follow this instruction.

At the step where to enter the Internet connection type, please select Dynamic IP.

Select Connection Type page interface.

You will have double NAT in the network this way. If you’d like to avoid double NAT, you can then set up TP-Link router into AP mode, though you’ll lose some advanced features of TP-Link router if router works in AP mode. To learn the difference between router mode and AP mode on a TP-Link router, please click Here.

Once completed, it’s suggested to disable the Wi-Fi of the BT Hub to reduce interference to the TP-Link router’s wireless network. You may refer to:

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/how-do-i-turn-wi-fi-on-and-off-on-the-bt-hub-.

Note: The steps above apply to most BT Hubs, but if you get stuck turning off the wireless signal, our advice is to reach out to the BT support team.

Network diagram showing an ISP connected to a TP-Link router via a DSL line with RJ11 pins, and client devices connected to the TP-Link router via Wi-Fi.

You first need to reach out to BT to get your PPPoE username, password, and VLAN ID.

And then please connect the landline to the router’s DSL port, and then follow the this guide.

At the step where to select the operation mode. Please select DSL Modem router.

At the step where to choose your current region and ISP, select BT_VDSL or Other.

At the step where to enter your internet connection type and VLAN ID. Please select the connection type as PPPoE and enter the Username, Password, and VLAN ID.

Page to select Region and Time Zone.

Page to select ISP.

Page to select connection type.

Page to select operation mode.

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