How to set up your Plusnet router
Choose your router
Check our general guide to find out where is the best place to put a router at home
What you need to know before you set up
Before you can do anything, you'll need to make sure your broadband connection is up and running. We'll send you a text or email when it's good to go.
Here's a few tips to think about when you are getting everything working:
- Your broadband will work best if your router's connected to the master telephone socket. Avoid putting your Hub somewhere where air can't get to it because it can become hot.
- Things like thick walls and concrete floors can actually weaken your wireless signal. So put your router as close to where you're going to use it as possible.
- It's best to leave your Hub on all the time if you can. Have a read of our broadband speed tips for more on why.
- There's more advice in our article on getting the best Wi-Fi signal.
- If you've got any other questions, have a look at our support video or read the user guide.
How to set up your Plusnet Hub One router
Check you've got everything you need
As well as your Plusnet Hub One setup guide, you should have:


- your Plusnet Hub One
- a power supply (this'll come in two parts)
- an Internet cable with grey ends
- a microfilter
- an Ethernet cable (with yellow ends)
- a handy reference card (stored on the back of your Hub)
Where to put your wireless router to get the best broadband connection
When you get your Plusnet Hub, it's understandable that you want to get things up and running as soon as possible.
But patience is key. The placement of your wireless router can seriously impact the quality and reliability of your broadband. Electrical interference, walls and even fish can all affect your browsing experience.
Put it somewhere sensible and you'll have many solid, stable, connected years together.
1. Avoid the kitchen
Kitchens are a place for cooking, creativity and attempting to recreate something you've seen on TV.
They're not a great place for your wireless router. Electronic appliances and metal surfaces can disrupt your signal, while microwaves use the same channel and will get in its way.
Too many chefs spoil the broth. Too many kitchen appliances will spoil your broadband.
2. Place it centrally
Think of your router like a sprinkler, spitting out broadband signals in all directions to cover your home. The more centrally you place it, the more of your home will be covered.
If you put it near a window, it will broadcast signals outside. Put it somewhere centrally and enjoy a good signal all the way around.
3. Avoid walls
If you've ever tried to talk to someone in a different room, you'll know how hard it is to get your message across. It's the same with broadband. Thick walls will absorb your signal and reduce the quality of your connection.
Try to place your router somewhere that people walk through often, meaning the doors will be open and your broadband signal will have free passage to the rest of your home.
4. Keep it out in the open
Not only are walls bad news, but so are shelves, bookcases and desks. Blocking your router can have a bad effect on your broadband signal. Keep it visible, proud and fabulous for the best results.
5. Avoid electrical items
Your home is full of radio signals. Mobile phones, baby monitors and radios (obviously) will all try and compete with your broadband connection. Keep your router away from them to give your signal the room to breathe.
6. Don't put it on the floor
If your router is on the floor, your broadband performance will go the same way as its signal - down. Place it on a shelf or on top of a cabinet to achieve a better coverage, while also reducing the risk of any unfortunate 'foot vs router' accidents.
7. Adjust the antennae
On some of our older routers, you'll need to adjust the antennae to get the best signal throughout your home. As a rule of thumb, if your router is upstairs, position your antennae sideways. If you've got it downstairs, point them upwards.
8. Fear the fish
Fish tanks are full of water. That's great news for any fish you might have, but bad news for your Wi-Fi signal, as it'll struggle to get through.
Mirrors are also trouble, as they reflect the signal causing it to get distorted. Shiny surfaces in general should be avoided, unless you want to check out how great you look.
9. Experiment
Your broadband router might take a bit of time to find somewhere it's comfortable. Try different locations to see where you get the best signal strength and stability.
10. Use the master socket
Your master socket is where your phone lines comes into your house, and it provides the most powerful connection. You'll usually find it in your living room. Plug your router in there. It will make it happy.
Connect your microfilters
Microfilters stop your phone and broadband signals interfering with each other. Without them, you'll probably get problems with your broadband connection and speed, or noise on your phone line.
You won't need microfilters if you've got a double master socket, so the first thing to do is check what type of socket you've got.

Standard master socket or no master socket – you’ll need to use microfilters if your socket looks like this

Double master socket – you won’t need a microfilter if you’ve got a socket like either of these
- If you've got a double master socket, skip to the next section.
- If not, read on to find out how to connect your microfilters.
The first thing to do is connect the microfilter directly to the phone socket you're using. If you had to remove something to do this, connect it to the phone socket on the microfilter.
If you've had broadband with another provider, please remove all the equipment (you might have an Openreach modem if you've had fibre before, or just a router).
Next, connect one end of the grey Internet cable to the DSL socket on the back of your Hub, and the other end to the DSL socket on your microfilter.
You can use any active socket in your property but we recommend using the master telephone socket, as it's where you'll get the best broadband speed for your line. If you're not sure where the master socket is, it should be the one closest to where your phone line enters your property.
You'll need to connect a microfilter to each phone socket in use at your property. As well as your phone, sockets can be used by alarm systems, fax machines and digital TV boxes, so make sure you don't miss any.
A few tips about microfilters
- If you need more than one microfilter, you can get them from most electrical stores and supermarkets. You can always leave something unplugged until you can get more.
- If you're using a phone line extension cable, only connect a microfilter on one end, not both.
- You can connect two or more telephone devices to one microfilter if you use a splitter.
- If you're not using one of your phone sockets, there's no need to connect a microfilter.
Connect your Hub and plug it in
Use the grey Internet cable to connect your Hub to your phone line

Connecting with a microfilter

Connecting with a double master socket
If you've got a standard master socket or no master socket: use a microfilter.
If you've got a double master socket: connect directly to the smaller of the two sockets without using a microfilter.
Now plug your Hub in and switch it on
Slide the three-pin plug onto the power unit until it clicks into place.
Connect the power cable to the Power socket on the back of your Hub and the other end to a wall socket.
Press the white power button on the back of your Hub to switch it on. It'll click and remain slightly depressed. Wait for the light to turn blue before you carry on.
Connect your laptop, phone or other device to your Hub
Wireless connection
To connect wirelessly, follow the instructions included with your computer, phone or other device to connect to your Hub via Wi-Fi. If you need help with this, please see our Wireless connection guides.
- The Wi-Fi network (or SSID) you need to connect to starts with PLUSNET and has letters or numbers at the end, e.g. PLUSNET-A1BC.
- Your Wi-Fi password (or key) is 10 characters long and it's case sensitive, so enter it exactly as shown.
You'll find the connection details printed on the handy reference card stored on the back of your Hub.
Wired connection
If you're using the Ethernet cable (yellow ends) connect it to any of the four yellow Ethernet sockets on the back of your Hub.
Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet socket on your computer or laptop.
Connect to the Internet
This is the easy part. Your Hub needs a few minutes to configure settings and connect to the Internet. While it's doing this, go make yourself a drink.
Wait for at least 5 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Once you've finished your drink, just open your web browser of choice (e.g Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, Firefox) and you should see your home page.
If you've got any questions about your Plusnet Hub One, please see our Router user guide.
If you can't connect, check the lights on your Hub
If you think there's an issue with your Hub One, follow these steps and then check the lights to see what's wrong.
First, check everything's plugged in, then switch your computer and other devices off and on again.
While they're restarting, press and hold your Hub's Restart button until your Hub light goes orange. When it's rebooting, the light will go green, blue, orange and then stay blue when it's ready to go.
If the light doesn't stay blue, have a look at the table below for what to do next.
Hub light status | What's happening | What to do |
---|---|---|
Power light is green or flashing green | Your Hub is starting up | Wait a couple of minutes for your Hub to start. The light will stay blue for more than 20 seconds when it's ready |
Power light is blue | Your Hub is working fine | If you can't get online, please check your device or computer settings with the manufacturer |
Power light is off | Power is off or there is a problem with your power supply | Check that the power switch on the back of your Hub is on, the power cable's plugged in correctly at the mains and that power is on. If there's still no light, get in touch with our Support Team |
Power light is orange | There's a problem somewhere | Log into your Hub Manager at 192.168.1.254 and check if the Internet's status is 'Disconnected' – if it is, click 'Connect'. If the light's still orange and no other lights are on, get in touch with our Support Team |
Power light is red | There's a problem somewhere | Press the Restart button and release it when the Power light turns orange. Your Hub will restart and the Power light will glow steady blue. If it's still red, reset your Hub using a paper clip to press the recessed Reset button on the back of your Hub for a few seconds. If this doesn't fix it, get in touch with our Support Team |
Broadband light is orange | You're connected to broadband but your account might not be switched on yet | Wait until after midnight on the day we switch on your broadband. If you've still got an orange light the next day, contact our Support Team |
Broadband light is red | You've tried to log in with the wrong username and password | Reset your Hub's password to its factory setting (shown on the card that came with your Hub) by using a paper clip to press the recessed Reset button on the back of your Hub for a few seconds |
Broadband light is flashing red | There's a problem with your broadband line | Check that all the cables are plugged in correctly and that it's after midnight on the day we switch on your broadband. If cables are okay and you've still got a red light the next day, contact us |
Wireless light is orange | You've switched off wireless security for one or both wireless channels | Turn on your security – in the wireless tab in your Hub Manager at 192.168.1.254 |
Wireless light is flashing orange | Your Hub is in WPS automatic connection mode | Click the button to connect (on your computer or adapter) without entering a pass key. The Hub will return to normal mode after a few minutes |
What to do if you're having problems getting connected
If you're having problems after setting up, watch our Hub One troubleshooting video or read our troubleshooting guide.
What you need to know before you set up
Before you can do anything, you'll need to make sure your broadband connection is up and running. We'll send you a text or email when it's good to go.
Here's a few tips to think about when you are getting everything working:
- Your broadband will work best if your router's connected to the master telephone socket. Avoid putting your router somewhere where air can't get to it because it can become hot.
- Things like thick walls and concrete floors can actually weaken your wireless signal. So put your router as close to where you're going to use it as possible.
- It's best to leave your router on all the time if you can. Have a read of our broadband speed tips for more on why.
- There's more advice in our article on getting the best Wi-Fi signal.
- If you've got any other questions, have a look at our support video or read the user guide.
How to set up your Plusnet 2704n router
Check you've got everything you need
As well as your set-up guide, you should have:


- your router
- a power supply (this'll come in two parts)
- a grey Internet cable
- a microfilter
- an Ethernet cable (the one with the yellow ends)
- your reference card
Where to put your wireless router to get the best broadband connection
When you get your Plusnet Hub, it's understandable that you want to get things up and running as soon as possible.
But patience is key. The placement of your wireless router can seriously impact the quality and reliability of your broadband. Electrical interference, walls and even fish can all affect your browsing experience.
Put it somewhere sensible and you'll have many solid, stable, connected years together.
1. Avoid the kitchen
Kitchens are a place for cooking, creativity and attempting to recreate something you've seen on TV.
They're not a great place for your wireless router. Electronic appliances and metal surfaces can disrupt your signal, while microwaves use the same channel and will get in its way.
Too many chefs spoil the broth. Too many kitchen appliances will spoil your broadband.
2. Place it centrally
Think of your router like a sprinkler, spitting out broadband signals in all directions to cover your home. The more centrally you place it, the more of your home will be covered.
If you put it near a window, it will broadcast signals outside. Put it somewhere centrally and enjoy a good signal all the way around.
3. Avoid walls
If you've ever tried to talk to someone in a different room, you'll know how hard it is to get your message across. It's the same with broadband. Thick walls will absorb your signal and reduce the quality of your connection.
Try to place your router somewhere that people walk through often, meaning the doors will be open and your broadband signal will have free passage to the rest of your home.
4. Keep it out in the open
Not only are walls bad news, but so are shelves, bookcases and desks. Blocking your router can have a bad effect on your broadband signal. Keep it visible, proud and fabulous for the best results.
5. Avoid electrical items
Your home is full of radio signals. Mobile phones, baby monitors and radios (obviously) will all try and compete with your broadband connection. Keep your router away from them to give your signal the room to breathe.
6. Don't put it on the floor
If your router is on the floor, your broadband performance will go the same way as its signal - down. Place it on a shelf or on top of a cabinet to achieve a better coverage, while also reducing the risk of any unfortunate 'foot vs router' accidents.
7. Adjust the antennae
On some of our older routers, you'll need to adjust the antennae to get the best signal throughout your home. As a rule of thumb, if your router is upstairs, position your antennae sideways. If you've got it downstairs, point them upwards.
8. Fear the fish
Fish tanks are full of water. That's great news for any fish you might have, but bad news for your Wi-Fi signal, as it'll struggle to get through.
Mirrors are also trouble, as they reflect the signal causing it to get distorted. Shiny surfaces in general should be avoided, unless you want to check out how great you look.
9. Experiment
Your broadband router might take a bit of time to find somewhere it's comfortable. Try different locations to see where you get the best signal strength and stability.
10. Use the master socket
Your master socket is where your phone lines comes into your house, and it provides the most powerful connection. You'll usually find it in your living room. Plug your router in there. It will make it happy.
Connect your microfilters
Microfilters stop your phone and broadband signals interfering with each other. Without them, you'll probably get problems with your broadband connection and speed, or noise on your phone line.
You won't need microfilters if you've got a double master socket, so the first thing to do is check what type of socket you've got.

Standard master socket or no master socket – you’ll need to use microfilters if your socket looks like this

Double master socket – you won’t need a microfilter if you’ve got a socket like either of these
- If you've got a double master socket, skip to the next section.
- If not, read on to find out how to connect your microfilters.
The first thing to do is connect the microfilter directly to the phone socket you're using. If you had to remove something to do this, connect it to the phone socket on the microfilter.
If you've had broadband with another provider, please remove all the equipment.
Next, connect one end of the grey Internet cable to the DSL socket on the back of your router, and the other end to the DSL socket on your microfilter.
You can use any active socket in your property but we recommend using the master telephone socket, as it's where you'll get the best broadband speed for your line. If you're not sure where the master socket is, it should be the one closest to where your phone line enters your property.
You'll need to connect a microfilter to each phone socket in use at your property. As well as your phone, sockets can be used by alarm systems, fax machines and digital TV boxes, so make sure you don't miss any.
A few tips about microfilters
- If you need more than one microfilter, you can get them from most electrical stores and supermarkets. You can always leave something unplugged until you can get more.
- If you're using a phone line extension cable, only connect a microfilter on one end, not both.
- You can connect two or more telephone devices to one microfilter if you use a splitter.
- If you're not using one of your phone sockets, there's no need to connect a microfilter.
Connect your router and plug it in
At the bottom of your router, you'll see two little 'feet' to help it stand. Extend them out so it's sitting steady.
Use the grey Internet cable to connect your router to your phone line

Connecting with a microfilter

Connecting with a double master socket
- If you've got a standard master socket or no master socket: use a microfilter.
- If you've got a double master socket: connect directly to the smaller of the two sockets without using a microfilter.
Now plug your router in and switch it on
Put the power adapter together by sliding the plug into the main unit (the black box) until you hear it click into place. Then plug this part into a wall socket, and the other side into the back of your router.
Press the black power button on the back of your router to switch it on.
The router's broadband light will then start to flash. Wait for it to turn green. This can take up to five minutes, so don't worry if it seems to be taking a while. If it won't turn green, take a look at our help guide.
Connect your laptop, phone or other device to your router
Wireless connection
To connect wirelessly, follow the instructions included with your computer, phone or other device to connect to your router via Wi-Fi. If you need help with this, please see our Wireless connection guides.
- The Wi-Fi Network (or SSID) you need to connect to starts with PLUSNET and has letters or numbers at the end, e.g. PLUSNET-A1BC.
- Your Wi-Fi password (or key) is 10 characters long and it's case sensitive, so enter it exactly as shown.
You'll find the connection details printed on the back of your router and on the handy reference card included with your router.
Wired connection
If you're using the Ethernet cable (yellow ends) connect it to any of the four yellow Ethernet sockets on the back of your router.
Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet socket on your computer or laptop.
Connect to the Internet
This is the easy part. Your router needs a few minutes to configure settings and connect to the Internet. While it's doing this, go make yourself a drink.
Wait for at least 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Once you've finished your drink, just open your web browser of choice (e.g Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, Firefox) and you should see your home page.
If you've got any questions about your 2704n router, please see our Router user guide.
If you can't connect, check the lights on your router
First of all, take a look at the front of your router. Then follow whichever steps make sense from those below.
My broadband light is flashing.
This means the problem's with your broadband signal. If you're setting up for the first time, make sure we've let you know your broadband service is ready. If we have, check your microfilters and the connection between the router and your phone socket. If the Broadband light is always flashing, have a look at the steps in our Connection troubleshooting guide.
My Broadband and Internet lights are green but I'm only seeing the 'Broadband Setup' page
Good news. Everything's working fine, you just haven't quite finished the set-up process yet. Follow the steps below to get yourself connected.
- If you're setting up for the first time or have just done a factory reset, close your web browser down and try again in 15 minutes.
- If you're getting the same screen again, type in the username and password you use to login to the Member Centre.
- Use the dropdown to pick the right provider.
- Click go - in a few minutes, you'll see a green tick. This means you're good to go online.
What the lights on your router mean
Light / Colour | What it means |
---|---|
Power / off | It's off. Check the cables and make sure you've switched it on at the back and at the wall socket |
Power / red | It couldn't start up and went into recovery mode |
Power / green | It's ready to use |
Broadband / off | It's in Fibre mode. Check the lights on the BT Openreach modem instead |
Broadband / flashing | There's a problem with the broadband signal. Make sure all the cables and microfilters are plugged in properly |
Broadband / green | Broadband's detected and working |
Internet / off | There's no Internet connection |
Internet / red | The Internet connection isn't working. Try opening your web browser and following the steps on your screen. It might be because you've used the wrong username and password, so double check them and try again |
Internet / green | It's connected to the Internet |
Internet / flashing | It's transferring data |
Wi-Fi / off | Wi-Fi's off |
Wi-Fi / green | Wi-Fi's on |
Wi-Fi / flashing | It's transferring data |
Eth 1-4 / off | There aren't any devices connected with the Ethernet cable |
Eth 1-4 / green | You've got a device connected using an Ethernet cable |
Eth 1-4 / flashing | It's transferring data |
WPS / off | WPS's off |
WPS / flashing | WPS's on and ready to connect |
What to do if you're having problems getting connected
If you're having problems after setting up, read our troubleshooting guide.
What you need to know before you set up
Before you can do anything, you'll need to make sure your broadband connection is up and running. We'll send you a text or email when it's good to go.
Here's a few tips to think about when you are getting everything working:
- Your broadband will work best if your router's connected to the master telephone socket. Avoid putting your router somewhere where air can't get to it because it can become hot.
- Things like thick walls and concrete floors can actually weaken your wireless signal. So put your router as close to where you're going to use it as possible.
- It's best to leave your router on all the time if you can. Have a read of our broadband speed tips for more on why.
- There's more advice in our article on getting the best Wi-Fi signal.
- If you've got any other questions, read the user guide.
Check you've got everything you need
As well as your set-up guide, you should have:

- your router
- a power supply (this'll come in two parts)
- two Ethernet cables (one with yellow ends and another with red)
- your reference card
- a BT Openreach modem
- a master socket
Your engineer should've given you your modem and master socket when they came to install your broadband.
Where to put your wireless router to get the best broadband connection
When you get your Plusnet Hub, it's understandable that you want to get things up and running as soon as possible.
But patience is key. The placement of your wireless router can seriously impact the quality and reliability of your broadband. Electrical interference, walls and even fish can all affect your browsing experience.
Put it somewhere sensible and you'll have many solid, stable, connected years together.
1. Avoid the kitchen
Kitchens are a place for cooking, creativity and attempting to recreate something you've seen on TV.
They're not a great place for your wireless router. Electronic appliances and metal surfaces can disrupt your signal, while microwaves use the same channel and will get in its way.
Too many chefs spoil the broth. Too many kitchen appliances will spoil your broadband.
2. Place it centrally
Think of your router like a sprinkler, spitting out broadband signals in all directions to cover your home. The more centrally you place it, the more of your home will be covered.
If you put it near a window, it will broadcast signals outside. Put it somewhere centrally and enjoy a good signal all the way around.
3. Avoid walls
If you've ever tried to talk to someone in a different room, you'll know how hard it is to get your message across. It's the same with broadband. Thick walls will absorb your signal and reduce the quality of your connection.
Try to place your router somewhere that people walk through often, meaning the doors will be open and your broadband signal will have free passage to the rest of your home.
4. Keep it out in the open
Not only are walls bad news, but so are shelves, bookcases and desks. Blocking your router can have a bad effect on your broadband signal. Keep it visible, proud and fabulous for the best results.
5. Avoid electrical items
Your home is full of radio signals. Mobile phones, baby monitors and radios (obviously) will all try and compete with your broadband connection. Keep your router away from them to give your signal the room to breathe.
6. Don't put it on the floor
If your router is on the floor, your broadband performance will go the same way as its signal - down. Place it on a shelf or on top of a cabinet to achieve a better coverage, while also reducing the risk of any unfortunate 'foot vs router' accidents.
7. Adjust the antennae
On some of our older routers, you'll need to adjust the antennae to get the best signal throughout your home. As a rule of thumb, if your router is upstairs, position your antennae sideways. If you've got it downstairs, point them upwards.
8. Fear the fish
Fish tanks are full of water. That's great news for any fish you might have, but bad news for your Wi-Fi signal, as it'll struggle to get through.
Mirrors are also trouble, as they reflect the signal causing it to get distorted. Shiny surfaces in general should be avoided, unless you want to check out how great you look.
9. Experiment
Your broadband router might take a bit of time to find somewhere it's comfortable. Try different locations to see where you get the best signal strength and stability.
10. Use the master socket
Your master socket is where your phone lines comes into your house, and it provides the most powerful connection. You'll usually find it in your living room. Plug your router in there. It will make it happy.
Connect your router and plug it in
Your engineer should've done the complicated stuff for your Fibre Broadband and will need to have finished before you can do anything with your router. What to do next is pretty simple.
- At the bottom of your router, you'll see two little 'feet' to help it stand. Extend them out so it's sitting steady.
- Put the power adapter together by sliding the plug into the main unit (the black box) until you hear it click into place. Then plug this part into a wall socket, and the other side into the back of your router.
- Find the Ethernet cable with the red ends. It came with your router. Plug one end into the LAN 1 socket on your Openreach modem. Then plug the other end into the fourth Ethernet socket on the back of the router. It's the one that has a red sticker under it.
- All that's left now is to switch it on. Do this by pressing the black power button at the back of the router. When the Power light goes green, it's on. But this can take about a minute.
Connect your laptop, phone or other device to your router
Wireless connection
To connect wirelessly, follow the instructions included with your computer, phone or other device to connect to your router via Wi-Fi. If you need help with this, please see our Wireless connection guides.
- The Wi-Fi Network (or SSID) you need to connect to starts with PLUSNET and has letters or numbers at the end, e.g. PLUSNET-A1BC
- Your Wi-Fi password (or key) is 10 characters long and it's case sensitive, so enter it exactly as shown
You'll find the connection details printed on the back of your router and on the handy reference card included with your router.
Wired connection
If you're using the Ethernet cable (yellow ends) connect it to one of the three available yellow Ethernet sockets on the back of your router.
Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet socket on your computer or laptop.
Connect to the Internet
This is the easy part. Your router needs a few minutes to configure settings and connect to the Internet. While it's doing this, go make yourself a drink.
Wait for at least 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Once you've finished your drink, just open your web browser of choice (e.g Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, Firefox) and you should see your home page.
If you've got any questions about your 2704n router, please see our Router user guide.
If you can't connect, check the lights on your router and modem
First of all, take a look at the front of your router. Then follow whichever steps make sense from those below.
The DSL Light is flashing on my modem
This means there's a problem with your Broadband signal. Have a look at our connection troubleshooting guide for help on fixing it.
The DSL light on my modem and Eth 4 light on my router are both green
This means your router is online but your device isn't connected to it. Check and follow the connection instructions in Connect your router and plug it in or our Wi-Fi connection guides and try again.
The Eth 4 and Internet lights are green but I'm only seeing the 'Broadband Setup' page
Good news. Everything's working fine, you just haven't quite finished the set-up process yet. Follow the steps below to get yourself connected.
- If you're setting up for the first time or have just done a factory reset, close your web browser down and try again in 15 minutes.
- If you're getting the same screen again, type in the username and password you use to login to the Member Centre.
- Use the dropdown to pick the right provider.
- Click go- in a few minutes, you'll see a green tick. This means you're good to go online.
What the lights on your router mean
Light / Colour | What it means |
---|---|
Power / off | It's off. Check the cables and make sure you've switched it on at the back and at the wall socket |
Power / red | It couldn't start up and went into recovery mode |
Power / green | It's ready to use |
Broadband / off | It's in Fibre mode. Check the lights on the BT Openreach modem instead |
Broadband / flashing | There's a problem with the broadband signal. Make sure all the cables and microfilters are plugged in properly |
Broadband / green | Broadband's detected and working |
Internet / off | There's no Internet connection |
Internet / red | The Internet connection isn't working. Try opening your web browser and following the steps on your screen. It might be because you've used the wrong username and password, so double check them and try again |
Internet / green | It's connected to the Internet |
Internet / flashing | It's transferring data |
Wi-Fi / off | Wi-Fi's off |
Wi-Fi / green | Wi-Fi's on |
Wi-Fi / flashing | It's transferring data |
Eth 1-4 / off | There aren't any devices connected with the Ethernet cable |
Eth 1-4 / green | You've got a device connected using an Ethernet cable |
Eth 1-4 / flashing | It's transferring data |
WPS / off | WPS's off |
WPS / flashing | WPS's on and ready to connect |
What the lights on your BT Openreach modem mean
Light / Colour | What it means |
---|---|
Power / off | It's switched off |
Power / yellow | It's starting up. It should turn green shortly |
Power / green | It's powered up and ready to use |
DSL / off | It can't find a broadband signal |
DSL / flashing green | There's a problem with your broadband connection |
DSL / green | Your broadband's connected and working |
LAN 1 / off | It can't find a connection to your router or the Ethernet cable isn't connected |
LAN 1 / green | The Ethernet cable's connected |
LAN 1 / flashing | It's transferring data |
What to do if you're having problems getting connected
If you're having problems after setting up, read our troubleshooting guide.
What you need to know before you set up
Before you can do anything, you'll need to make sure your broadband connection is up and running. We'll send you a text or email when it's good to go.
Here's a few tips to think about when you are getting everything working:
- Your broadband will work best if your router's connected to the master telephone socket. Avoid putting your router somewhere where air can't get to it because it can become hot.
- Things like thick walls and concrete floors can actually weaken your wireless signal. So put your router as close to where you're going to use it as possible.
- It's best to leave your router on all the time if you can. Have a read of our broadband speed tips for more on why.
- There's more advice in our article on getting the best Wi-Fi signal.
- If you've got any other questions, read the user guide.
Check you've got everything you need
As well as your set-up guide, you should have:


- your router
- a power supply (this'll come in two parts)
- a grey Internet cable
- a microfilter
- an Ethernet cable (the one with the yellow ends)
- your reference card
Where to put your wireless router to get the best broadband connection
When you get your Plusnet Hub, it's understandable that you want to get things up and running as soon as possible.
But patience is key. The placement of your wireless router can seriously impact the quality and reliability of your broadband. Electrical interference, walls and even fish can all affect your browsing experience.
Put it somewhere sensible and you'll have many solid, stable, connected years together.
1. Avoid the kitchen
Kitchens are a place for cooking, creativity and attempting to recreate something you've seen on TV.
They're not a great place for your wireless router. Electronic appliances and metal surfaces can disrupt your signal, while microwaves use the same channel and will get in its way.
Too many chefs spoil the broth. Too many kitchen appliances will spoil your broadband.
2. Place it centrally
Think of your router like a sprinkler, spitting out broadband signals in all directions to cover your home. The more centrally you place it, the more of your home will be covered.
If you put it near a window, it will broadcast signals outside. Put it somewhere centrally and enjoy a good signal all the way around.
3. Avoid walls
If you've ever tried to talk to someone in a different room, you'll know how hard it is to get your message across. It's the same with broadband. Thick walls will absorb your signal and reduce the quality of your connection.
Try to place your router somewhere that people walk through often, meaning the doors will be open and your broadband signal will have free passage to the rest of your home.
4. Keep it out in the open
Not only are walls bad news, but so are shelves, bookcases and desks. Blocking your router can have a bad effect on your broadband signal. Keep it visible, proud and fabulous for the best results.
5. Avoid electrical items
Your home is full of radio signals. Mobile phones, baby monitors and radios (obviously) will all try and compete with your broadband connection. Keep your router away from them to give your signal the room to breathe.
6. Don't put it on the floor
If your router is on the floor, your broadband performance will go the same way as its signal - down. Place it on a shelf or on top of a cabinet to achieve a better coverage, while also reducing the risk of any unfortunate 'foot vs router' accidents.
7. Adjust the antennae
On some of our older routers, you'll need to adjust the antennae to get the best signal throughout your home. As a rule of thumb, if your router is upstairs, position your antennae sideways. If you've got it downstairs, point them upwards.
8. Fear the fish
Fish tanks are full of water. That's great news for any fish you might have, but bad news for your Wi-Fi signal, as it'll struggle to get through.
Mirrors are also trouble, as they reflect the signal causing it to get distorted. Shiny surfaces in general should be avoided, unless you want to check out how great you look.
9. Experiment
Your broadband router might take a bit of time to find somewhere it's comfortable. Try different locations to see where you get the best signal strength and stability.
10. Use the master socket
Your master socket is where your phone lines comes into your house, and it provides the most powerful connection. You'll usually find it in your living room. Plug your router in there. It will make it happy.
Connect your microfilters
Microfilters stop your phone and broadband signals interfering with each other. Without them, you'll probably get problems with your broadband connection and speed, or noise on your phone line.
You won't need microfilters if you've got a double master socket, so the first thing to do is check what type of socket you've got.

Standard master socket or no master socket – you’ll need to use microfilters if your socket looks like this

Double master socket – you won’t need a microfilter if you’ve got a socket like either of these
- If you've got a double master socket, skip to the next section.
- If not, read on to find out how to connect your microfilters.
The first thing to do is connect the microfilter directly to the phone socket you're using. If you had to remove something to do this, connect it to the phone socket on the microfilter.
If you've had broadband with another provider, please remove all the equipment.
Next, connect one end of the grey Internet cable to the DSL socket on the back of your router, and the other end to the DSL socket on your microfilter.
You can use any active socket in your property but we recommend using the master telephone socket, as it's where you'll get the best broadband speed for your line. If you're not sure where the master socket is, it should be the one closest to where your phone line enters your property.
You'll need to connect a microfilter to each phone socket in use at your property. As well as your phone, sockets can be used by alarm systems, fax machines and digital TV boxes, so make sure you don't miss any.
A few tips about microfilters
- If you need more than one microfilter, you can get them from most electrical stores and supermarkets. You can always leave something unplugged until you can get more.
- If you're using a phone line extension cable, only connect a microfilter on one end, not both.
- You can connect two or more telephone devices to one microfilter if you use a splitter.
- If you're not using one of your phone sockets, there's no need to connect a microfilter.
Connect your router and plug it in
At the bottom of your router, you'll see two little 'feet' to help it stand. Extend them out so it's sitting steady.
Use the grey Internet cable to connect your router to your phone line

Connecting with a microfilter

Connecting with a double master socket
If you've got a standard master socket or no master socket: use a microfilter.
If you've got a double master socket: connect directly to the smaller of the two sockets without using a microfilter.
Now plug your Hub in and switch it on
Put the power adapter together by sliding the plug into the main unit (the black box) until you hear it click into place. Then plug this part into a wall socket, and the other side into the back of your router.
Press the black power button on the back of your router to switch it on.
The router's broadband light will then start to flash. Wait for it to turn green. This can take up to five minutes, so don't worry if it seems to be taking a while. If it won't turn green, take a look at our help guide.
Connect your laptop, phone or other device to your router
Wireless connection
To connect wirelessly, follow the instructions included with your computer, phone or other device to connect to your router via Wi-Fi. If you need help with this, please see our Wireless connection guides.
- The Wi-Fi Network (or SSID) you need to connect to starts with PlusnetWireless and has letters or numbers at the end, e.g. PlusnetWirelessA1B2C3.
- Your Wi-Fi password (or key) is 10 characters long and it's case sensitive, so enter it exactly as shown.
You'll find the connection details printed on the back of your router and on the handy reference card included with your router.
Wired connection
If you're using the Ethernet cable (yellow ends) connect it to any of the four yellow Ethernet sockets on the back of your router.
Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet socket on your computer or laptop.
Connect to the Internet
This is the easy part. Your router needs a few minutes to configure settings and connect to the Internet. While it's doing this, go make yourself a drink.
Wait for at least 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Once you've finished your drink, just open your web browser of choice (e.g Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, Firefox) and you should see your home page.
If you've got any questions about your 582n router, please see our Router user guide.
If you can't connect, check the lights on your router
First of all, take a look at the front of your router. Then follow whichever steps make sense from those below.
My broadband light is flashing.
This means the problem's with your broadband signal. If you're setting up for the first time, make sure we've let you know your broadband service is ready. If we have, check your microfilters and the connection between the router and your phone socket. If the Broadband light is always flashing, have a look at the steps in our connection troubleshooting guide.
My Broadband and Internet lights are green but I'm only seeing the 'Broadband Setup' page
Good news. Everything's working fine, you just haven't quite finished the set-up process yet. Follow the steps below to get yourself connected.
- If you're setting up for the first time or have just done a factory reset, close your web browser down and try again in 15 minutes.
- If you're getting the same screen again, type in the username and password you use to login to the Member Centre.
- Use the dropdown to pick the right provider.
- Click go - in a few minutes, you'll see a green tick. This means you're good to go online.
My Broadband light is green but I'm only seeing the Technicolor TG582n page
- You'll need a username and password. The username is admin. The password is the serial number, which is on the sticker on the bottom of your router and on the reference card that came with it. It looks something like this: CPYYWWPPXXX. It's case sensitive.
- Click OK.
- On the next page, type in your broadband username (you'll find it in Connection Settings in Manage Account).
- Type in your password (the one you use to log in the Member Centre).
- Click Connect.
- After about a minute, the Internet light on your router will turn green and Configuration Successful will appear on your screen.
- Open a new browser window.
- You should now see your homepage and be able to get online.
What the lights on your router mean
Light / Colour | What it means |
---|---|
Power / off | The power's off. Check the power cables and make sure you've switched your router on using the black button on the back |
Power / red | It's starting up. If it stays red for more than a few minutes, switch your router off for a few minutes and then turn it on again |
Power / yellow | It's updating its software. Leave it on until the power light turns green |
Power / green | It's ready to use |
Ethernet / off | There aren't any devices connected with the Ethernet cable |
Ethernet / green | You've got a device connected using an Ethernet cable |
Ethernet / flashing green | It's transferring data |
Wi-Fi / off | Wi-Fi's off |
Wi-Fi / red | Wi-Fi's on but Wi-Fi security's off |
Wi-Fi / yellow | Wi-Fi's on and Wi-Fi security's on using WEP |
Wi-Fi / green | Wi-Fi's on and Wi-Fi security's on using WPA or WPA2 |
Wi-Fi / flashing green | It's transferring data |
Broadband / off or flashing green | There's a problem with the broadband signal. Make sure all the cables and microfilters are plugged in properly |
Broadband / green | Broadband's detected and working |
Internet / off | There's no Internet connection |
Internet / red | The Internet connection isn't working. Try opening your web browser and following the steps on your screen. It might be because you've used the wrong username and password, so double check them and try again |
Internet / green | It's connected to the Internet |
What to do if you're having problems getting connected
If you're having problems after setting up, read our troubleshooting guide.
What you need to know before you set up
Before you can do anything, you'll need to make sure your broadband connection is up and running. We'll send you a text or email when it's good to go.
Here's a few tips to think about when you are getting everything working:
- Your broadband will work best if your router's connected to the master telephone socket. Avoid putting your router somewhere where air can't get to it because it can become hot.
- Things like thick walls and concrete floors can actually weaken your wireless signal. So put your router as close to where you're going to use it as possible.
- It's best to leave your router on all the time if you can. Have a read of our broadband speed tips for more on why.
- There's more advice in our article on getting the best Wi-Fi signal.
- If you've got any other questions, read the user guide.
Check you've got everything you need
As well as your set-up guide, you should have:


- your router
- a power supply (this'll come in two parts)
- two Ethernet cables (one with yellow ends and another with red)
- your reference card
- a BT Openreach modem
- a master socket
Your engineer should've given you your modem and master socket when they came to install your broadband.
Where to put your wireless router to get the best broadband connection
When you get your Plusnet Hub, it's understandable that you want to get things up and running as soon as possible.
But patience is key. The placement of your wireless router can seriously impact the quality and reliability of your broadband. Electrical interference, walls and even fish can all affect your browsing experience.
Put it somewhere sensible and you'll have many solid, stable, connected years together.
1. Avoid the kitchen
Kitchens are a place for cooking, creativity and attempting to recreate something you've seen on TV.
They're not a great place for your wireless router. Electronic appliances and metal surfaces can disrupt your signal, while microwaves use the same channel and will get in its way.
Too many chefs spoil the broth. Too many kitchen appliances will spoil your broadband.
2. Place it centrally
Think of your router like a sprinkler, spitting out broadband signals in all directions to cover your home. The more centrally you place it, the more of your home will be covered.
If you put it near a window, it will broadcast signals outside. Put it somewhere centrally and enjoy a good signal all the way around.
3. Avoid walls
If you've ever tried to talk to someone in a different room, you'll know how hard it is to get your message across. It's the same with broadband. Thick walls will absorb your signal and reduce the quality of your connection.
Try to place your router somewhere that people walk through often, meaning the doors will be open and your broadband signal will have free passage to the rest of your home.
4. Keep it out in the open
Not only are walls bad news, but so are shelves, bookcases and desks. Blocking your router can have a bad effect on your broadband signal. Keep it visible, proud and fabulous for the best results.
5. Avoid electrical items
Your home is full of radio signals. Mobile phones, baby monitors and radios (obviously) will all try and compete with your broadband connection. Keep your router away from them to give your signal the room to breathe.
6. Don't put it on the floor
If your router is on the floor, your broadband performance will go the same way as its signal - down. Place it on a shelf or on top of a cabinet to achieve a better coverage, while also reducing the risk of any unfortunate 'foot vs router' accidents.
7. Adjust the antennae
On some of our older routers, you'll need to adjust the antennae to get the best signal throughout your home. As a rule of thumb, if your router is upstairs, position your antennae sideways. If you've got it downstairs, point them upwards.
8. Fear the fish
Fish tanks are full of water. That's great news for any fish you might have, but bad news for your Wi-Fi signal, as it'll struggle to get through.
Mirrors are also trouble, as they reflect the signal causing it to get distorted. Shiny surfaces in general should be avoided, unless you want to check out how great you look.
9. Experiment
Your broadband router might take a bit of time to find somewhere it's comfortable. Try different locations to see where you get the best signal strength and stability.
10. Use the master socket
Your master socket is where your phone lines comes into your house, and it provides the most powerful connection. You'll usually find it in your living room. Plug your router in there. It will make it happy.
Connect your router and plug it in
Your engineer should've done the complicated stuff for your Fibre Broadband and will need to have finished before you can do anything with your router. What to do next is pretty simple.
- At the bottom of your router, you'll see two little 'feet' to help it stand. Extend them out so it's sitting steady.
- Put the power adapter together by sliding the plug into the main unit (the black box) until you hear it click into place. Then plug this part into a wall socket, and the other side into the back of your router.
- Find the Ethernet cable with the red ends. It came with your router. Plug one end into the LAN 1 socket on your Openreach modem. Then plug the other end into the fourth Ethernet socket on the back of the router. It's the one that has a red sticker under it.
- All that's left now is to switch it on. Do this by pressing the black power button at the back of the router. When the Power light goes green, it's on. But this can take about a minute.
Connect your laptop, phone or other device to your router
Wireless connection
To connect wirelessly, follow the instructions included with your computer, phone or other device to connect to your router via Wi-Fi. If you need help with this, please see our Wireless connection guides.
- The Wi-Fi Network (or SSID) you need to connect to starts with PlusnetWireless and has letters or numbers at the end, e.g. PlusnetWirelessA1B2C3.
- Your Wi-Fi password (or key) is 10 characters long and it's case sensitive, so enter it exactly as shown.
You'll find the connection details printed on the back of your router and on the handy reference card included with your router.
Wired connection
If you're using the Ethernet cable (yellow ends) connect it to one of the three available yellow Ethernet sockets on the back of your router.
Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet socket on your computer or laptop.
Connect to the Internet
This is the easy part. Your router needs a few minutes to configure settings and connect to the Internet. While it's doing this, go make yourself a drink.
Wait for at least 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Once you've finished your drink, just open your web browser of choice (e.g Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome, Firefox) and you should see your home page.
If you've got any questions about your 582n router, please see our Router user guide.
If you can't connect, check the lights on your router and modem
First of all, take a look at the front of your router. Then follow whichever steps make sense from those below.
The DSL Light is flashing on my modem
This means there's a problem with your Broadband signal. Have a look at our connection troubleshooting guide for help on fixing it.
The DSL light on my modem and Ethernet light on my router are both green
This means your router is online but your device isn't connected to it. Check and follow the connection instructions in Connect your router and plug it in or our Wi-Fi connection guides and try again.
The Eth 4 and Internet lights are green but I'm only seeing the 'Broadband Setup' page
Good news. Everything's working fine, you just haven't quite finished the set-up process yet. Follow the steps below to get yourself connected.
- If you're setting up for the first time or have just done a factory reset, close your web browser down and try again in 15 minutes.
- If you're getting the same screen again, type in the username and password you use to login to the Member Centre.
- Use the dropdown to pick the right provider.
- Click go- in a few minutes, you'll see a green tick. This means you're good to go online.
My Broadband light is green but I'm only seeing the Technicolor TG582n page
- You'll need a username and password. The username is admin. The password is the serial number, which is on the sticker on the bottom of your router and on the reference card that came with it. It looks something like this: CPYYWWPPXXX. It's case sensitive.
- Click OK.
- On the next page, type in your broadband username (you'll find it in Connection Settings in Manage Account).
- Type in your password (the one you use to log in the Member Centre).
- Click Connect.
- After about a minute, the Internet light on your router will turn green and Configuration Successful will appear on your screen.
- Open a new browser window.
- You should now see your homepage and be able to get online.
What the lights on your router mean
Light / Colour | What it means |
---|---|
Power / off | The power's off. Check the power cables and make sure you've switched your router on using the black button on the back |
Power / red | It's starting up. If it stays red for more than a few minutes, switch your router off for a few minutes and then turn it on again |
Power / yellow | It's updating its software. Leave it on until the power light turns green |
Power / green | It's ready to use |
Ethernet / off | There aren't any devices connected with the Ethernet cable |
Ethernet / green | You've got a device connected using an Ethernet cable |
Ethernet / flashing green | It's transferring data |
Wi-Fi / off | Wi-Fi's off |
Wi-Fi / red | Wi-Fi's on but Wi-Fi security's off |
Wi-Fi / yellow | Wi-Fi's on and Wi-Fi security's on using WEP |
Wi-Fi / green | Wi-Fi's on and Wi-Fi security's on using WPA or WPA2 |
Wi-Fi / flashing green | It's transferring data |
Broadband / off | It's not connected to the BT Openreach modem. Check all the cables are plugged in properly |
Broadband / green | It's connected to the BT Openreach modem |
Broadband / flashing green | It's transferring data |
Internet / off | There's no Internet connection. Check the DSL light on the BT Openreach modem. If that isn't on, it means the modem can't find a broadband signal |
Internet / red | The Internet connection isn't working. Open your web browser and follow the steps on your screen. It might be because you've used the wrong username and password, so double check them and try again |
Internet / green | It's connected to the Internet |
What the lights on your BT Openreach modem mean
Light / Colour | What it means |
---|---|
Power / off | It's switched off |
Power / yellow | It's starting up. It should turn green shortly |
Power / green | It's powered up and ready to use |
DSL / off | It can't find a broadband signal |
DSL / flashing green | There's a problem with your broadband connection |
DSL / green | Your broadband's connected and working |
LAN 1 / off | It can't find a connection to your router or the Ethernet cable isn't connected |
LAN 1 / green | The Ethernet cable's connected |
LAN 1 / flashing | It's transferring data |
What to do if you're having problems getting connected
If you're having problems after setting up, read our troubleshooting guide.
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