BT "Smart" Hub Not so smart

[ITGURU]

I've just renewed my contract with BT on the Infinity 2 package on an offer - they told me i also get the new Smart hub at a delivery cost of £9.99. I told them what if i don't want it as i've been happy with my separate infinity model and hub for the last 3 and a half years, and they said well you get it included so may as well have it. No benefit to be apart from saving 1 plug as now a single unit rather than 2.

 

However, the new Smart hub is giving me 10+ less mbps speed than the old set up.

 

With the separate white model and hub i was always getting 60+ mbps download speed (monitor it via speed test every 30 minutes) but with the new smart hub on its own i get 53.

 

BT Tell me i'm still getting their minimum guaranteed speed so it's all normal and no line issues.

 

However, apart from the increased upload speed (18mbps) i may as well be back on Infinity 1 as this is now upto 52 ?

 

Should i still battle with BT about the speed, demand a refund on the smart hub, go back to my old setup, or just throw the BT kit in the bin altogether and buy a proper branded vdsl router with a better chipset?

 

Thoughts?

[MatthewL]

I did read/watch something that as there is 2 types of FTTC cab, Hawaii and I think ECI, if you can match your equipment up with the same chipset that runs at the other end you stand a better change of a faster connection.

 

Don't know how true it is but was something I come across one night when reading up on some bits.

[ellsandell]

I would guess at it being G.INP, which is currently enabled on Huawei FTTC cabs (ECI cabs had some compatibility issues from memory)

 

G.INP Guide | Increase Broadband Speed

 

The Huawei HG612 (White Openreach Router) supports it while the HH5/6 do not.

Edited April 9, 2017 by ellsandell

[ZeroHour]

When BT installed separate fibre box they also generally matched to the cabinet I believe to ensure there were minimal issues.

The homehub may provide better wifi so you could always put the openreach modem in front of it and use the hh as the wifi/router.

[LeeCSE]

When BT installed separate fibre box they also generally matched to the cabinet I believe to ensure there were minimal issues.

The homehub may provide better wifi so you could always put the openreach modem in front of it and use the hh as the wifi/router.

 

And you can use your spare hub (I assume HH3) as an AP to extend the range even further.

[ITGURU]

And you can use your spare hub (I assume HH3) as an AP to extend the range even further.

 

I did wonder if that was possible, however the smart hub doesnt have a WAN port so would it still work connecting the fibre modem lan cable to port 1 of the smart hub?

[LeeCSE]

I did wonder if that was possible, however the smart hub doesnt have a WAN port so would it still work connecting the fibre modem lan cable to port 1 of the smart hub?

 

Ah yes I forgot they got rid of the WAN port on the new SmartHub... Truthfully I'm not sure but I don't think the OpenReach Modem will work with the SmartHub.

 

Maybe the best solution (with the hardware you have) is to keep the HH3 setup and use the Smart hub as a powerful AP? Here are instructions on how to do so: https://community.bt.com/t5/Connected-Devices-Other/BTHub6-Smart-Hub-As-WiFi-Extender-or-AP-Access-Point-amp-HH5/td-p/1675678

[rad]

I have a HH3 which is working fine. My brother ended up with two HH5 so I got one... put it in fine, however the connection was rubbish, kept dropping etc so I switched back to the HH3 and been happy ever since.

 

If it aint broke....