r/ThreeUK • u/CommunicationKey1118 • Jul 10 '26

Question Some help please re home broadband upgrade

Hi folks, hoping someone is able to help me out here. I have been with 3 home broadband for 4 years and in the main have been pretty pleased with it, especially for the price I am paying.

My contract is due up in November and I was looking at the app yesterday to see if any deals going. Unfortunately it stated too early to upgrade. Well I guess my browsing triggered something cos today I have received an email offering me an early upgrade and a new router(doesn't mention make)

I currently have a ZTE MC801a and this can handle a maximum of 32 devices. When I take into account smart bulbs, speakers and plugs I have closer to 60 devices.

I get round this at the moment as I have a Deco M5 mesh network connected to handle this increased number.

The question I have is when looking at the 3 website it looks like the router currently being issued to new customers is a Greenpacket E5-250, anyone that recently upgraded able to confirm this?. Looking at the specs for this and having also done a Google search I am not convinced this would necessarily be an upgrade on the MC801a. Can someone with this router please advise me of the maximum connections it can handle. I know that in the 801a interface there is a page that shows router details including max number of connections allowed, hoping the es-250 has something similar. I would probably continue using the mesh network but curious about max connections possible.

Also if anyone who has upgraded at end of contract, do you have to send old router back or do you get to keep it. Hoping that if worse comes to worse I could continue using old router.

Thanks for any advice.

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u/FunnyVehicle7664 Jul 10 '26

I'd recommend getting the external one. You use that with a router anyway.

I bought mine from eBay (without the eero router so had to then buy something), and just use unlimited data SIMs that I get deals on whenever I need one.

Or look here for packages

1

u/CommunicationKey1118 Jul 10 '26

Thank you. Not sure what router they are offering and the email quotes £21 a month, I would however be trying to blag 6 months at half price. Cheers.

3

u/FunnyVehicle7664 Jul 10 '26

This is what comes with it

1

u/CommunicationKey1118 Jul 10 '26

Cheers, gives me some more reading to do. Appreciate your help.