This topic

Replacement of smarthub 2

TonyHolland — Thu, 06 May 2021 10:24:26 GMT

Noting the update on April 11 that BT made to my smart hub which has since caused connection problems for my devices idecided to replace the smarthub 2 with something else.

I ended up with a TP-Link VR2100 but for the life of me I can't get it to 'connect'. Using the smart setup - selected the BT_VDSL option, username with or without password but no joy.

Tried the 'Other' option which is more manual but that didn't help.

I pesume that the ip addresses when using my smarthub are dhcp and not static (as i've never monitored if that one changes), I can't imagine how it could not be dhcp.

I've got the cable plugged in to the WAN port on the TPLink, and it seems to be trying to do something as the port led flashes on the openreach box.

I'm got FTTP and full fibre 900.

Any ideas?

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

imjolly — Thu, 06 May 2021 10:33:43 GMT

you need to connect the ONT to the wan port on tplink and username is bthomehub@btbroadband.com and password if needed just use BT

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 06 May 2021 10:46:11 GMT

@TonyHolland

Why did you buy a VDSL modem/router, when you have an FTTP connection? All you needed was a wireless router.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

Pedro19 — Thu, 06 May 2021 10:51:06 GMT

You need to set up wireless router mode. Follow the instructions in the manaul. You will still need the password.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

TonyHolland — Thu, 06 May 2021 13:54:36 GMT

In fairness, I did buy a router (non modem) but after trying that and not getting it to work I googled it and there was at least one instance when it was suggested that a modem/router was required, which kind of made sense as there is this step relating to entering the bthomehub@btbroadband.com user id.

I thought it would be an easy change, just moving the WAN connection from smarthub to new router (still connected to the ONT) and follow the smart setup, but not quite as simple. I've now tried with it switched to router mode, not modem and getting different results but still no joy.

Also now having to wait for a network backup to finish before I can pull the smarthub again.

I note that the smarthub is listed as "coming preconfigured", be interested to find out what is configured.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

licquorice — Thu, 06 May 2021 14:12:56 GMT

@TonyHolland wrote:

In fairness, I did buy a router (non modem) but after trying that and not getting it to work I googled it and there was at least one instance when it was suggested that a modem/router was required, which kind of made sense as there is this step relating to entering the bthomehub@btbroadband.com user id.

I note that the smarthub is listed as "coming preconfigured", be interested to find out what is configured.

Absolutely no need for another modem with FTTP, the ONT is the modem, you only need a router.

The user ID is the PPPoE user ID which is handled by a router not a modem.

You need to ensure the TP Link is expecting an input on its WAN port rather than its DSL port. You probably need to configure things manually.

As already stated by @Pedro19 you need to set it up in Wireless Router Mode then in the Internet settings you need to configure connection type as PPPoE and username bthomehub@btbroadband and password BT

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

TonyHolland — Thu, 06 May 2021 15:07:28 GMT

All makes sense, especially after seeing many of the advanced options available.

"expecting an input on its WAN port rather than its DSL port", is my next thing to investigate and check.

Tthanks for all the help so far.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

TonyHolland — Sat, 08 May 2021 08:31:02 GMT

All working (posting this from my new TP-link connection).

Ironically it's actually relatively easy to get it working, all the points above helped to get it working. The ONT only has 1 WAN port but I could not find this information on the internet so testing on port 2 obviously fails. The modem/router I purchased did need switching to router mode, but then adding the bthomehub..... UID to the PPPoE setting and ensuring that dynamic IP was enabled. This had to be done under advanced options on the router. LIkewise I got my none-modem router working too, on its own.

Most of the difficulty was from lack of familiarisation of the router and where the specific options were, getting the right options switched, but also trying not to pull down my home network at the same time as recovery for the NAS, security, heating, etc, etc can take for ages to restore.

Thanks for all the help.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

Les-Gibson — Sat, 08 May 2021 10:09:23 GMT

Purely out of interest - and perhaps playing Devils advocate, can you still use a landline phone if BT convert you to DV and you're not using the SH2?

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

TonyHolland — Sat, 08 May 2021 16:16:49 GMT

Our telephone was switched over to fibre along with the fibre BB install. The telephone wiring plugs in to the ONT and is completely seperate from the router/Smart hub 2.

We're able to use all our original services with the new router.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

licquorice — Sat, 08 May 2021 16:24:30 GMT

Interesting, I thought FVA had been discontinued and replaced by Digital Voice.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

TonyHolland — Sat, 08 May 2021 16:30:37 GMT

Well you might actually be correct it your statement, but our FTTP was installed in Dec 2015 and has not been touched since, so the policy may be different now and FVA might not be an option anymore.

Re: Replacement of smarthub 2

licquorice — Sat, 08 May 2021 16:40:30 GMT

Its definitely not an option any more but I thought it was being discontinued from existing installations, obviously not.