BT smart hub 2

[#1]

Hi, I've just upgraded from BT smart hub 1. While this seems more stable I've noticed that the WiFi is weaker, I'm only getting good level on my tablet where I used to get excellent for same usage / position. Also the little upload/download indicators on my tablet seem to be on much more often.

Is this a known issue and is there anything I can do?

Regards 

Pete

[#2]

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@chivvy wrote:

Hi, I've just upgraded from BT smart hub 1 

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Presumably to a BT Smarthub2?.Why? Apart from not being able to split the bands on the Smarthub 2 the Wifi performance should be about the same.

Are you using different wireless channels or do you have both switched on using the same channels?

[#3]

The sh1 wasn't very stable, kept rebooting.

Sh2 is set up using default reccomended settings, same as the sh1 was.

Regards 

Pete

[#4]

You haven't mentioned how far away the tablet is from the hub?

fwiw, try logging into the smart hub 1 and 2.  Determine which wifi band the tablet is using for each hub.

It's possible tablet was connecting to say 2.4 GHz wifi on SH1 and 5 GHz on SH2 ?

[#5]

Tablet is 4ft away, through a wall.

Connects at 5b GHz with both hubs.

Pete

[#6]

Have you observed any similar signal strength degradation when using other 5 GHz wifi devices?

If yes, may be the BT smart hub 2 is faulty?

If no, then it could be a 'compatibility' issue.

fwiw, the extra activity from the up/down indicator might just mean the data is taking longer to download because of the slower wifi speed?

The BT smart hub 1 and 2 both use the same Broadcom 4x4 BCM4366 802.ac 5 GHz wireless chip, so there shouldn't 'in theory' be much difference in performance and range.

https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/BT_Smart_Hub_Type_A  (There is also a rarer Type B model btw)

https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/BT_Smart_Hub_2 

fyi 

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2018/11/bt-publish-wifi-speedtests-for-new-smart-hub-2-router-... 

If you renewed your contract recently, you may be entitled to a free Plusnet Hub Two btw.

[#7]

Something else I've just noticed...

My printer (in same room as hub) is connected at 2.4, with the sh1 it was at 5.

I also tried disabling 5ghz and forcing connections at 2.4 but coverage was still only measuring good.

Could it be an issue with the internal aerial?

Pete

[#8]

The internal aerials are actually etched copper tracks on the circuit board.  The amplifier chip(s) may have failed?

If you turn off the 2.4 GHz, does the printer connect to 5 GHz?

Is the BT smart hub 2 new or used?

Only way to verify the hub is faulty is to compare performance with another one, unless there is another Plusnet user with experience of both BT supplied smart hub 1 and 2, who can share their experience.   Perhaps ask same question on the BT community forum ?

Regarding your smart hub 1 issues, have you considered replacing the power adapter to see if it makes any difference?

[#9]

Hi,

Hub2 is from ebay but supposedly unused previously.

I did have a look on the BT forum and saw a few comments from users who'd upgraded  to full fibre (and therefore hub2) reporting lousy WiFi, but no solutions.

Printer does connect at 5 if 2.4 is switched off, reverts to 2,4 after power off/on.

Regards

Pete