This topic

BT smart Hub 2

draspden — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 19:41:49 GMT

I have a BT smart hub 2,

port 1 connected to a PC,

port 2 connected to a mini connector and the second mini connector to a YouView box in another room,

port 4 connected to a You View box and

port 3 connected to a recently added whole home Wi-fi 2 white .

This gives us two networks. The Wi-fi whole home network is working well on Wi-fi for iPhones, iPads etc.

There has been a noticeable drop in speed for the second mini connector for iPlayer/on demand . Is there anything we can do to increase the speed of the mini connector network on port 2?
Also can we connect a free view box via a third mini connector v2 or via the 2nd whole home Wi-fi disc with an Ethernet cable?

many thanks

Re: BT smart Hub 2

spile — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 06:00:21 GMT

What is a mini connector? Use a Cat5e cable to connect your devices to your router.

Re: BT smart Hub 2

draspden — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 07:24:46 GMT

Thanks for your suggestion.

check out BT mini connectors with google.

it is difficult to use cable throughout the house. The proposed free view box is at the opposite end of the house from the router.

Any further suggestions gratefully received

Re: BT smart Hub 2

supertedster — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 16:53:29 GMT

Get an inexpensive, 5 or 8 port gigabit switch. T-P Link make some good ones.
Plug port 1 cable from your SH2 into the switch along with all your other devices also into the switch.
The SH2 should only have one ethernet cable plugged in, going to the new switch. In my experience, using all the ports on the SH2 causes one, or more, to drop down to 10 mbit speeds!

Re: BT smart Hub 2

spile — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:16:14 GMT

If Cat5e connection is not possible ( it is definitely worth doing) then consider using a Powerline adapter.

Re: BT smart Hub 2

licquorice — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:58:56 GMT

@spile mini connectors are powerline adapters.

Re: BT smart Hub 2

draspden — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 22:51:07 GMT

Thank you Ted, will give the gigabit switch a try.
Your help is much appreciated
Best
David

Re: BT smart Hub 2

supertedster — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 06:11:40 GMT

Good luck!

Re: BT smart Hub 2

spile — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 07:29:35 GMT

Ok, I was using a non brand generic label.

Re: BT smart Hub 2

draspden — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:48:42 GMT

Thank you Ted,

That has worked a treat.

I hope that other people who have a similar problem can find your post because I looked high and low before your answer.

all the best

david

Re: BT smart Hub 2

DavidM — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 10:22:14 GMT

Great to see the community solving another problem.

Thanks for getting back to us @draspden and thanks @supertedster for the post.

Cheers

David

Re: BT smart Hub 2

supertedster — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:35:16 GMT

No problem David, glad to help!

I should clarify my advice for those with FTTP. You have to use more than one LAN port on the Smart Hub 2.

The Red Wan port should be connected to the ONT (where the fibre comes in) using the Red ended LAN cable.

Connect another LAN cable to your new Gigabit Switch, using one of the other ports on the Smart Hub 2.

Connect any other LAN devices to the switch and not the Smart Hub 2. It has enough work to do, poor thing!

I believe they overheat, if you tax them too much. I've attached a small fan to mine, powered from the USB port. It has greatly improved its performance.

Re: BT smart Hub 2

mispeltyuoth — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 12:15:22 GMT

@supertedster

I'm interested in your comment "using all the ports on the SH2 causes one, or more, to drop down to 10 mbit speeds!" and how a switch would help with this. Surely connecting multiple devices to a switch which is connected to a single port on the hub puts all data through a single port. You're suggesting that the remaining 3 ports are, to all intents, purposeless.

Re: BT smart Hub 2

Falcon2 — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 12:08:32 GMT

Probably a little late to the party on this one but, the short answer is - switches switch whereas hubs split. That is to say, a 1GB switch will switch 1GB to each port. A hub will share 1GB across it's ports. Hope that makes sense.