BT to Plusnet Transfer - Advice needed please

[#1]

Hi MisterW

Fantastic. I think that one link has solved the problem.

It looks like my existing BT SmartHub 2 will work on the Plusnet network. The BT black discs connect in to the BT SmartHub 2 router so they should still be able to mesh as the currently do. The only difference will be that our link to the internet will be via Plusnet rather than BT.

Now all I have to do is to figure out how to reconfigure the BT SmartHub 2 router to access the new Plusnet connection. On one of the earlier posts that I looked at, I seem to recall that the DSL lead needs to be disconnected before the username and password are changed. That suggests to me that it is by disconnecting the DSL lead that edit is actually enabled when accessing the router via the http://192.168.1.254/ direct connection from a PC / Laptop.

The starting point for me will be to disconnect the DSL lead now and then access the router using the http://192.168.1.254/ link and then see if the username and password suddenly become accessible. If they do, then, hopefully, I will be able to move to Plusnet and, hopefully, halve my monthly broadband charge. If they don't, then I'm back to square one and will look at all other fibre offerings as I won't be any worse off and will sell my spare router and black discs on eBay and recoup some of my previous investment.

I suppose one further option would be to go back to BT and renegotiate a new 12 / 18 / 24 month deal but the real issue here is that most of the deals are great for the first six months of a 24 month contract and then the get steadily ramped up.

I'll re-post the solution here once I have worked out and tested a way forward.

All the best (and thanks again for all of your help)

Ed

[#2]

I moved from BT to PN last year after deciding to do without the landline. We still have voip from Voipfone. The two smart hubs are identical apart from colour so as BT wanted theirs back I just use the Plusnet one.

[#3]

@Ed_B 

You should find the broadband username and password in >Advanced Settings >Broadband Connection Information

My understanding is for BT the broadband username will be bthomehub@btbroadband.com with a blank password

You maybe required to connect a Plusnet supplied Hub in the event of a fault on your connection.

[#4]

The two smart hubs are identical apart from colour

They might look identical but they're not!. The hardware is the same but the firmware is different. The Plusnet Hub has no voip or mesh support.

[#5]

@Ed_B 

With the DSL lead plugged in the hub default username and password automatically logs in to the BT management system. If you try to set your Plusnet credentials these will be recognised as not being associated with BT so will kick you out. 
Consequently, you must enter the Plusnet settings prior to connecting the DSL lead.

Fundamentally there’s little difference to connecting the old Smarthub 6. Full instructions for that will be found here:

https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Router/Using-A-BT-Smarthub-An-Update/m-p/1795292#M24601

[#6]

Hi Baldrick1

Many thanks for your help and for your detailed 'how to' guide. That's great. It does look like I can reuse my BT SmartHub 2 and it's linked black discs on the Plusnet account. I am now planning to switch from BT to Plusnet in January when my existing BT contract expires.

I'll follow your guide and post back to let you know how I got on.

Also, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to put your guide together. You've done a great job and your guide will help many others who decide to make the switch from BT to Plusnet.

All the best and many thanks

Ed

[#7]

I would suspect that returning a substitute router is not going to avoid non-return fees. Also (as we’ve seen elsewhere around here recently) there might be issues with the router’s call home processes as it becomes de-registered from the management platform.

@Baldrick1 might know more about that space.

[#8]

I can't comment on whether BT check (or care) whether the returned hub is the original or a substitute. Neither have I experience of connecting the discs to a hub.

However, I would imagine that the same procedure as is used to configure a Smarthub 2 to work with Plusnet can be used to connect the spare to the current BT connection, and in turn with the discs to this hub. It should then be no different to use this set up when the service is switched as if the original hub was retained. All that would be required is to drop the DSL connection, change the username and password to Plusnet’s and reconnect the DSL

Regarding the recent report of a Smarthub failing the TR069 connection, my only comment is that this is a one off report. From memory the OP stated the it was a very old firmware. I suspect, based on the number of hits (>200.000) on my two pinned posts relating to this, is that there is probably quite a few Plusnet customers still using a Smarthub1 or 2 with Plusnet. To my knowledge there has been no further such reports.

Again, as with all of this post, this is pure supposition on my part. I am aware that early versions of Plusnet Hub 1’s can no longer be updated and have to be replaced. Whether this is a similar situation?

[#9]

Hi Baldrick

Thanks for your help on this one. It's fast becoming a bit of a minefield !!

Yes, having thought it through, I suspect that you are right. I will return our house router to BT in January. This is the one that is linked to our account. I will also be sending them back the 2 black discs that they loaned me at the start of the contract.

I have ordered a new BT SmartHub2 from eBay and will see if I can use this as our new house router when we move to Plusnet in January. If it does, then that's great. I should be able to link my existing 3 purchased BT black discs to the new BT router purchased on ebay and create a new mesh system for our home wifi.

If it doesn't work, I'll have to bite the bullet and sell off my existing own purchased 3 BT Black discs and the new BT SmartHub 2 router. Then I will have to use the Plusnet router.

From what I have been reading here, that means that I will have to look at a different solution to give us some form of replacement wireless mesh provision for the house and garage.

I will have a look at the forum and see which extenders work best with the Plusnet router.

If you can recommend one, please do let me know.

All the best

Ed

[#10]

Hi Baldrick

Again, many thanks for your helpful advice.

Yes, that all makes good sense.

I'll try the replacement BT SmartHub 2 router in January, when our BT contract expires and we move to Plusnet. If I can get the BT SmartHub 2 router working with Plusnet then that 's brilliant. I should then be able to connect our 3 black discs and that would be great. And that would halve our broadband bill !

If it doesn't work, I will sell the BT components that I own (i.e. those that I have purchased from eBay) and use the Plusnet Router. I already have some switches in place which I use, over distance, to connect some of the BT Black discs back to the BT router. So, my plan is to keep using them and just find some form of black disc replacement that will enable me to extend the wireless signal around the house and garage.

I'll update you again in January and just keep my fingers crossed that the new BT SmartHub 2 router will work on Plusnet.

All the best and, again, thanks for all your help.

Ed

[#11]

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@Ed_B wrote:

I have ordered a new BT SmartHub2 from eBay and will see if I can use this as our new house router when we move to Plusnet in January. I

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I suspect that if you can configure the replacement hub 2 to work on your BT account just before you leave you will find it easier to factory reset the discs that you intend keeping and connect them to the hub whilst you still have use of the BT App.

If push comes to shove you can buy an off the shelf mesh set up, the only requirement is the it must accept a PPPoE connection (I'm not aware of any from mainstream suppliers that don't). If you are on a FTTC connection you configure the Plusnet Hub 2 as a bridge modem to interface with the mesh master unit. For FTTP (Full Fibre) the Hub 2 is not required

,

[#12]

In general one down side of using your Service Providers (BT, EE, Sky and others) badged equipment is the Add-On some features are only available to those who use the providers services, so the soon as you leave and assuming they do not want their equipment back some features may no longer work as before.

This is not true for plusnet as they just provide a basic Hub with no Add-On features.

If I was looking for a mesh system I would choose Third Party equipment for which I would be offered full control of all it's features, TP-Link for example offer a Tether app for a smart phone for router and mesh satellite management.

As already stated for FTTC connection you would use the Hub Two as a modem (bridge mode) or for Full Fibre connected directly ONT.

[#13]

Hi Baldrick

I hope you don't mind me messaging you directly but I need a trusted second opinion on our move to Plusnet.

I have been in touch with BT this morning to check a few details to enable me to plan the migration to Plusnet. My contract doesn't end in January 2025 as I had thought, for reasons known best to BT, our contract ends in March 2025. That's OK. At least I know and, I had thought, that gives me more time to think the transfer to Plusnet through and carefully plan what I will need and how to approach the project.

But, what happened next, confused me and threw a curved ball at us right out of left field.

The BT chap that I spoke to told me that BT have taken over EE and now own EE, Plusnet, OpenReach and BT. He mentioned that a new company is going to be formed called New EE and this will comprise EE and BT. Once in place, BT (as we know it now) will be discontinued.

The sales people are being asked to move customers from BT to EE. However, there are no cost savings and our monthly cost will remain hovering around the £83 mark.

What happened next is the interesting bit and this is where I really need a trusted second opinion. 

He mentioned that, if I move to a 24 month 'EE New' contract now, I wouldn't have to pay the early release fee to BT (5 months worth !!) and would have a 14 day cooling off period. During this 14 day cooling off period, I could give notice that I wasn't happy and wanted to change providers. Since my BT account will have been deleted, New EE would release me from my new contract and I would be free to contact Plusnet and ask them to transfer my EE New account to Plusnet. That would reduce our monthly fee to around £43. That's a massive saving. And that would still give us a 900 MBPS service.

Then, I'm thinking, once the Plusnet transfer has been made and is up-and-running, I could then disconnect the Plusnet Router (having first made sure that I have got the credentials written down) and then plug in my ebay purchased BT SmartHub 2 router, disconnect the DSL cable, connect my laptop to the router, change the routers account credentials to my new plusnet credentials, and hopefully, with a wing a a prayer, have my BT SmartHub 2 router working on my new Plusnet connection and, if all of this works well, attach our existing, paid for, BT Black disks to create a new mesh wifi solution but this time based on Plusnet and not BT.

I hope all of this makes sense. I don't have you contact details so couldn't PM you but, if you get a few minutes, I would greatly appreciate your views.

All the best

Ed

[#14]

@Ed_B 

Firstly, the comment “BT have taken over EE and now own EE, Plusnet, OpenReach and BT.”. Openreach and BT retail, as far as I am aware, was included as part of BT Group plc going back to about 2006. Plusnet was bought by BT in 2007 and EE in 2015, so if ‘now own’ is meant to suggest that it’s a recent takeover, it is a misleading statement.

The intention to move all BT retail to EE, leaving the BT brand exclusively for BT Business ‘Enterprise’ customers has been a declared policy for some time. I have read unconfirmed reports that there is a target to complete this in 2026.

If BT insist that you take a new contract with EE then as I understand contract law, they have to release you from your existing contract and allow you to move elsewhere. I am sceptical whether this applies if you voluntarily move. Personally, I would want to see it in writing that under these circumstances you can leave without penalty. Customer Service Agents comments need to be treated with caution in case you were to find yourself locked in for another 2 years at this outrageous price.

Regarding your contract end date, have you checked ETC’s? Remember that you pay 1 month in advance, so it might not be as expensive as you think.

Regarding configuring a replacement Smarthub 2 ready for a switch to Plusnet. As I stated previously my advice is to set up the replacement Smarthub with the discs that you intend to keep prior to leaving BT as I suspect that it will be a simpler process.

To send a private message you click on the avatar of the person that you wish to contact. On the page that opens scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will find a ‘Contact me’ field, which you select.

To address a community post to an individual, in the reply box you select @ when a drop down list of all members who have contributed to the thread will appear, from which you can make a selection. If the person that you wish to contact hasn’t contributed to the thread then type @ followed by their name. After 3 characters a search list will appear.

Hope this helps.