This topic

Router identification

caledonia — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:11:56 GMT

Router is dead (no lights or anything and was making a funny noise then died)

Anyway BT sent out another which looks used and different to the one i had

this is one i had (no fibre here)

and this is one they sent

have they sent a used older version

been with bt for over 20 years and i am out of contract but still paying (could that be reason)

can someone help me identify what model is newer

Re: Router identification

gg30340 — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:18:59 GMT

See link

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/learn-about-broadband/different-types-of-bt-hub

Re: Router identification

caledonia — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:21:13 GMT

So the one they sent does not appear on that list

Re: Router identification

gg30340 — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:22:03 GMT

Have you looked at the label on the rear?

Re: Router identification

garybs29 — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:55:49 GMT

Am i seeing this right, both look tne same just the different badge (newer in second image) so a like for like replacement which you appear to be quesioning?

Re: Router identification

imjolly — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:00:45 GMT

does the new hub work with correct connections. have you changed the hub wifi to show same SSID and wifi password as old hub so devices connect right away?

Re: Router identification

iniltous — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:27:51 GMT

The replacement they sent is newer , it has the later corporate ‘BT’ branding , but apart from that both the one you had and the one they sent are effectively the same , assuming it restores your service , it’s a perfectly acceptable replacement.

Re: Router identification

gg30340 — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:28:38 GMT

@caledonia

Just so that you are aware, you are not out of contract, you are out of a Fixed Term Contract but you are in a 30 day contract. If you had no contract you would not have BT Broadband.

As you may be aware the BT Hubs are BT's property which must be returned to BT should you leave BT Broadband. BT do use refurbished/recycled BT Hubs as well as older stock. That does not make it any less able to work in the same way as your faulty BT Hub did when it was working.

Re: Router identification

andydenyer — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 10:08:41 GMT

@caledonia

As already pointed out, you have been sent a newer version of the same model (a Smart Hub 2), as it has the current BT logo. Whereas your older one has the older BT logo. As simple as.

That's not to say you haven't been sent a refurbished, one though, if you think it has already been used before. What makes you think it has, BTW - was it not fully sealed or does it have any evidence of usage (such as a bit dusty or a few scratches etc.)?

Re: Router identification

caledonia — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:01:33 GMT

Missing cables and no bag round router and a few scuffs

going to change it tomorrow as got the old one going by squeezing the power port cable a little into the power port (it blew the first power adapter)

if you have everything connected to internet and 5 users at weekend its a nightmare knowing when to swap over lol

Re: Router identification

gg30340 — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:22:56 GMT

Switch on the new Hub before connecting to the Internet.

Plug a PC or Laptop into it using an Ethernet cable and enter the Hub's management pages. Change the new Hub's Wireless SSiD (Name) and the password to be the same as the old Hub's name and password and click save.

Now remove the old Hub from your Internet connection and add the new Hub. Once it has started up all your devices will connect automatically to the new Hub which saves you the need to change all your devices wireless connection.

Re: Router identification

caledonia — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:40:33 GMT

Do i have wifi disabled on the laptop or should it matter not as i will be connecting through ethernet

Ie will it default to ethernet

Re: Router identification

gg30340 — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:48:17 GMT

You will need to turn off the laptops wifi as it will be connecting to the old Hub and when you try to get the managment pages it will bring up the old hubs page.

Once you have turned it off you will be able to access the new Hub's pages via Ethernet and make the changes.

You can do it all using wifi but is in my opinion quicker and easier with Ethernet.

Re: Router identification

caledonia — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 17:44:41 GMT

Which ethernet the 1.2.3.or 4 or the one that says wan

Re: Router identification

andydenyer — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 18:05:04 GMT

Any of them apart from the WAN one as that is for connecting to the ONT if you have full fibre (FTTP).

Re: Router identification

caledonia — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:55:50 GMT

All done and well

wish fibre would hurry up here as i used to get download speeds of around 68 with a big for this area guaranteed download speed

Then after getting them out a few times and renewing contract it dropped to 45ish now its at 32 with 24 min

nothing changed but when ever you phone all you get is you are above minimum

easy to do if you keep dropping it

Openreach wholesell speed for cabinet9 in my area is 80 but that is for another day (fibre arriving next year)

thanks to all who helped me out

Re: Router identification

iniltous — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:08:41 GMT

All FTTC cabinets deliver 80Mb on lines short enough to get that , FTTC is rate adaptive, that means the speed at any particular location is a result of the distance from the cabinet and the quality of the copper pair .

If you once got 68Mb and now dont , that suggests a fault on the copper pair has impacted the speed , and if unresolved the minimum speed guarantee can be reduced to reflect the real world speed that cable pair is delivering, resolve the fault the speed improves and eventually the minimum speed guarantee follows, the problem is once the MSG is reduced, reporting a fault is judged against the new minimum and if the speed is above the reduced minimum it’s difficult to get a fault raised simply using ‘speed’ as the fault.

Post your router connection statistics, that will show the max attainable speed and your current sync speed , giving an indication if your line has issues .

Re: Router identification

caledonia — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:58:57 GMT

Re: Router identification

iniltous — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 16:25:02 GMT

Line attention suggests a relatively short line and therefore a speed closer to 70Mb , so I’d suspect a problem ( that’s assuming your router is connected to the master socket , preferably in the test socket to remove any chance the problem is within your address ) , log into your account ( My BT ) and perform a line test , if a defect is detected it may auto report the line for you because if you call BT , saying your speed is lower than expected/normal that hits the problem that this defect has existed long enough for the actual real time line data to override any mathematical estimate, so doesn’t look ‘slow’ , try putting a very near address into here and check the speed estimate for that address , does that show 70Mb+ ?
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome
If an automatic fault isn’t raised by testing your own connection via My BT , you need to be creative when manually reporting a problem , or hope to get an understanding representative that doesn’t just use the MSG to dismiss your concerns, but first , if not currently in the master socket test port , move your router to it and check your statistics again.

Re: Router identification

caledonia — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 21:24:35 GMT

nothing has changed at all and when they did previously come out they got it back up by doing something with the wires in the BT cabinet at end of street

now they wont come out as they have lowered the msg to nearly a third

just out of interest if it were to go up again (if i told someone who works for bt to have a look next time he is in cabinet) will it atomatically go up or have bt locked it at the lower gaurenteed speed at their end?