Hyperoptic Speed Test

Hyperoptic is a bit different from the big UK broadband names. While BT, Sky, and TalkTalk mostly rely on Openreach's national network, and Virgin Media uses its own cable infrastructure, Hyperoptic runs its own independent full-fibre network. They install a dedicated fibre-optic socket directly into your flat or building — usually above the front door — which means your connection does not share any copper or coaxial cables with neighbours.

The biggest advantage? Symmetrical speeds. Unlike Virgin Media where you might get 1 Gbps download but only 50 Mbps upload, Hyperoptic gives you the same speed in both directions. If you are working from home, backing up to the cloud, or streaming on Twitch, that upload speed is a genuine game-changer.

Hyperoptic Plans and What to Expect

Notice how the real-world wired speeds are almost exactly what is advertised — that is the benefit of a pure fibre connection without the variability of copper or cable. The WiFi numbers drop because that is just what wireless does, especially through walls in UK flats.

Reading Your Speed Test Results

Download speed should be very close to your plan speed when tested with an Ethernet cable. If you are on the 1 Gb plan and seeing 900+ Mbps wired, everything is working perfectly. If you are seeing something like 400 Mbps, you are probably testing over WiFi — which is expected behaviour, not a fault.

Upload speed is where Hyperoptic genuinely stands out. Your upload should be almost identical to your download. If you are getting 500 Mbps down but only 30 Mbps up, something is wrong — most likely a cable issue or the router's WAN port is not properly connected.

Ping (latency) on Hyperoptic is incredibly low — typically 1 to 4 ms to London-based servers. That is about as fast as it gets in the UK, making Hyperoptic excellent for competitive gaming, real-time video calls, and any latency-sensitive application.

Hyperhub Router Login

Hyperoptic supplies a router they call the "Hyperhub." The model you got depends on when you signed up. Here is how to access each one:

A common mistake: people try to use their WiFi password as the admin login password. They are not the same thing. The admin password is typically a separate string of characters on the sticker, often longer and more complex than the WiFi password. If you have changed it and forgotten, holding down the recessed reset button with a paperclip for 15 seconds will restore factory defaults.

Hyperhub Status Lights Explained

Power (Green): The hub is on and running normally.

Internet / WAN (Green): Successfully connected to Hyperoptic's network. This is the key light to focus on.

Internet / WAN (Red): Authentication failure. Either there is a service outage in your building, or there is an account issue. Check Hyperoptic's status page or call support.

Internet / WAN (Off): No physical connection detected. Check that the Ethernet cable running from the router's red WAN port to the Hyperoptic wall socket is firmly plugged in at both ends. People sometimes accidentally plug it into one of the yellow LAN ports instead.

WLAN 2.4G / 5G (Blinking Green): WiFi is active and data is being transmitted. Normal and healthy.

WLAN (Off): WiFi is disabled. You may have accidentally pressed the WLAN button on the side of the router, or it was turned off in settings.

CGNAT — The Gamer's Nemesis

This is something every Hyperoptic customer should know about, especially gamers. Hyperoptic uses Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT) for IPv4 addresses. In plain English, that means you share a public IP address with other Hyperoptic customers in your building.

For most people, this is invisible and does not matter at all. You can browse, stream, and download just fine. But for gamers, it creates problems:

• Strict NAT in Call of Duty, Fortnite, FIFA, and other multiplayer games
• Xbox Live Open NAT impossible to achieve through normal port forwarding
• VPN and remote access issues if you need to connect back to your home network
• Hosting game servers or running a Plex server will not work without a public IP

The fix is to request a static IP address from Hyperoptic for £5/month. Once enabled, you get your own dedicated public IPv4 address which makes port forwarding and Open NAT work properly. Call 0333 332 1111 or email [email protected] to add it.

Using Your Own Router

This is one of the easiest ISPs to bring your own router to. Because Hyperoptic uses a standard Ethernet connection from the wall socket — no DSL modem, no coax, no PPPoE authentication — you can literally just unplug the Hyperhub, plug your own router's WAN port into the Hyperoptic wall socket, set the WAN type to DHCP, and you are online.

Popular choices among Hyperoptic customers include:

• TP-Link Archer AX73 / AX80 — excellent WiFi 6 coverage for the price
• Asus RT-AX86U — great for gaming with built-in QoS and VPN support
• Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 — solid all-rounder
• Eero Pro 6 — if you want a proper mesh setup for larger flats

One thing to note: if you replace the Hyperhub with your own router and still need to deal with CGNAT, you will still need Hyperoptic's static IP add-on. The CGNAT is on their network side, not in the router.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Slow speeds in a large flat

UK flats, especially older brick-built ones, are harsh on WiFi signals. If your Hyperhub is near the front door (where the fibre socket usually is) and your home office is three rooms away, you will see a significant speed drop. Consider using Ethernet cables through the flat, a mesh WiFi system, or powerline adapters as a last resort.

Evening congestion in MDUs

While Hyperoptic has its own independent fibre network, congestion can occasionally happen in large apartment buildings (Multi-Dwelling Units) if the building's shared backhaul connection is saturated. This is much rarer than with Virgin Media or Openreach, but if you notice consistent speed drops between 7-10 PM, it is worth reporting to Hyperoptic so they can investigate the building's capacity.

WiFi dropping on specific devices

Some older devices — particularly phones and tablets from 2018 or earlier — struggle with the Hyperhub's band steering, which automatically assigns devices to either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. If a specific device keeps disconnecting, log into 192.168.1.1 and separate the bands into two different network names. Put older and smart home devices on 2.4 GHz, and laptops/phones on 5 GHz.

When to Contact Hyperoptic Support

Call 0333 332 1111 or email [email protected] if:

• Your Internet/WAN light has been red for more than 30 minutes
• You accidentally damaged the fibre socket (the Hyperoptic faceplate on the wall)
• You want to add a static IP for gaming or hosting
• Wired speeds are consistently below 80% of your plan speed
• You are experiencing frequent disconnections that affect work

Hyperoptic Speed Test FAQs

Can I use my own router with Hyperoptic? Absolutely. Just plug your router into the Hyperoptic wall socket with an Ethernet cable, set the WAN connection type to DHCP, and you are done. No modem or special configuration needed — it is one of the easiest ISPs to use your own kit with.

Why is my speed slow in the evenings? While uncommon with Hyperoptic, large apartment buildings can experience congestion if the building's backhaul is saturated. Report it to Hyperoptic — they take these complaints seriously because they control their own network end to end.

Is Hyperoptic faster than Virgin Media? Virgin Media offers slightly higher peak downloads (up to 1.1 Gbps) but with much slower uploads (50-100 Mbps). Hyperoptic's 1 Gb plan gives you 1 Gbps in both directions. If upload speed matters to you — for streaming, working from home, or cloud backups — Hyperoptic is the clear winner.

Does Hyperoptic use CGNAT? Yes. This means you share a public IP address with other customers, which causes Strict NAT in games and prevents port forwarding. You can fix this by adding a static IP for £5/month through Hyperoptic support.

How do I log into my Hyperhub? Go to 192.168.1.1 in your browser. Username is "admin" and the password is on the sticker on the back of your hub. This works for all Hyperhub models (Nokia, ZTE, and the newer WiFi 6 version).

Is Hyperoptic available outside London? Yes, though coverage is still growing. Hyperoptic now serves buildings in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and many other cities. However, it is primarily available in large apartment buildings (MDUs) rather than individual houses. Check availability at hyperoptic.com.

Other UK Broadband Providers to Compare

• BT Speed Test – UK's largest provider with Openreach FTTC and FTTP options.
• Virgin Media Speed Test – Cable broadband with high downloads but low uploads.
• Sky Speed Test – Popular bundle provider using Openreach network.
• TalkTalk Speed Test – Budget-friendly Openreach alternative.
• Plusnet Speed Test – BT-owned value provider with friendly support.