A few hours ago we have seen the differences that exist between the routers of the operators and the neutral models that we can find in stores. And if I have always recommended using this combination to improve the Wi-Fi network at home, with the change of operator I have found bad news.
If until then, my operator’s router did nothing but give me bad times, something that made me consider the change, I ended up taking the leap and buying a new model to manage home networks. The problem is that by moving from O2 to Digi, it has arrived a new router at home and it works the same or better than the router I had purchased.
I fell in love with my operator’s router
At the time, before the end of 2022, I decided to get a new router with WiFi 6. The O2 HGU that I had been using was certainly terrible and although it offered a good dose of customization, having such a model at the gates of 2023 was something unsustainable when many companies already distribute models with WiFi 6. And while those from O2 were the “ugly duckling” who saw the new model arrive at Movistar.
My parents have Jazztel with WiFi 6 and Pepephone on another floor also WiFi 6 and the HGU was a joke in comparison
So looking for offers, I found the Xiaomi AX3600 at a good price and I got it. Playing with the firmware in different ways in a “DIY” project, I managed to further improve its performance.
Xiaomi mi AIOT router AX3600 wireless Dual band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) 3000 Mbps, 6-core chip, up to 248 devices, multicolour
It is true that the Xiaomi model does not offer the same degree of customization as other more expensive models, but after finding out how my HGU had faults and the operator did not change it in a timely manner, This one from Xiaomi significantly improved performance.
The Wi-Fi network reached with more intensity and offering more speed to every room in the house. With about 100 m, a single router serves me to cover the entire house without having to use amplifiers, repeaters or mesh networks.
The problem is that A few weeks later I changed company and O2 left the place to Digi. With indirect fiber, I still have to try to replace the Digi router with the Xiaomi one, because having the independent ONT, I can do it just by using the telephony parameters.
However, I find it increasingly difficult to carry out this step, since the new router performance is really good. The model that the operator has installed for me is the ZTE ZXHN H3600, a model with the ONT not integrated into the router with WiFi 6 up to 1.2 Gbps symmetrical, four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 2.0 port and two RJ11 ports for telephone permanent.
And making measurements, leaving benefits aside, This model has offered me better features than Xiaomi’seven though I have hormonalized the neutral.
Digi and Xiaomi router measurement at the same point
In network speed and coverage, the Digi model offers better features than Xiaomi’s and in fact I don’t have to use the “Chinese model” networks. Not even in the furthest points from home do I need to use the Xiaomi router, since the network created by ZTE gives me plenty.
Digi and Xiaomi router measurement now at the other end of the house
And as if this were not enough, the model of the operator includes a USB port that allows me to share content online and also offers a customizable interface. The same style of functions as those of the Xiaomi AX3600, so I have not seen any improvement in this regard.
The name of the network is Jazztel, but the router is from Digi. I use that network because I created it years ago with another operator and I maintain it for convenience
It remains to be seen and I’m on it, How do they both behave when it comes to managing everything I have in the connected home?. Between speakers, light bulbs, power strips, plugs and so on, there are almost 30 “jalopies” connected to the 2.4 GHz network and for now the Digi ZTE is responding like a champion.
The speed drop at the same point is noticeable at 5 GHz
Although in 2.4 GHz the speed is maintained, the latency skyrockets
Xiaomi’s management will have to improve a lot, which from what I’ve seen, I don’t think it can do, so I see more and more clearly that Xiaomi’s, except for a surprising improvement or change in the performance of the Digi model, no It will serve to meet my expectations.
