This topic

Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 13:20:29 GMT

I appreciate that others have reported identical issues on these forums - I found the answer posted here rather interesting.

However, in my own case, I have noticed an interesting correlation.

Whenever I mention the Home Hub clicking to the people at the BT Consumer Resolution office (even in passing) within a couple of hours the clicking ceases. The silence lasts for a few days and then gradually returns to the previous frequency (four or five times per hour).

Whilst correlation does not equal causation this has occured on at least four occasions. Hence we are moving away from mere coincidence and towards this occuring more probably as a result of some action undertaken by or on behalf of BT.

I know that they have, on previous occasions, attempted (sometimes unsuccessfully) to access my Home Hub. I know because they have advised me of the fact.

Presumably they use Port 8085 / TR-069 ?

I am just wondering what action they might be taking and at what point in the network (router / cabinet / frame etc), to result in such an outcome ?

It's bugging me.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

licquorice — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:18:42 GMT

The hub is accessed via TR-069 to update firmware and to obtain connection stats from the hub. It should not cause the hub to drop connection nor cause any clicking.

I'm dubious about the answer given in the thread you posted on, disconnecting and re-connecting my hub does not cause any clicking noises nor have I experienced any. I suspect if it was a common problem rather than the symptoms of a faulty hub, there would be many more posts on the forum.

I have removed your duplicate post and moved this post to a more appropriate board.

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:50:28 GMT

Thank you for removing my duplicate post. My apologies for that - I rarely post on forums - I fear that it shows.

I am also slightly dubious regarding the answer to which I linked. I believed that the original poster described the phenomenon better than I so included the link to assist anyone attempting to answer this post.

The only reason I can envisage that would cause solid state electronics to make any noise is expansion / contraction secondary to temperature. I suppose it is possible for this to occur to the degree necessary when electrical current is appplied.

Hence I have given the answer stated within the linked post the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

It is perhaps worth noting that, on the two occassions I have forwarded that answer to the Consumer Resolution office, they have never queried the accuracy of the information or offered any alternative explanation.

I am aware of the official purpose for TR-069.

I have viewed presentations by noted speakers regarding this purpose although speculation and debate continues regarding whether it is employed for any other purpose.

Nevertheless BT staff acknowledge that they have, on occasion, sought access to my Home Hub. Hence I am curious as to how this is accomplished in addition to the ceasation of the clicking whenever I raise the issue.

"Curiouser and curiouser" said Alice.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:59:43 GMT

I see that Home Hub clicking in general is a commonly reported issue on these fourms. A quick search provided seventy four results.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

licquorice — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 16:13:19 GMT

I wouldn't call74 reports over a period of 5/6 years from a customer base of several million, common.

I would call customer services and insist on a replacement hub.

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 16:30:56 GMT

When referring to the seventy four results I did include the quantifier - "on these forums". My point being our experience is far from unique.

The hub has been replaced three times. On each occassion I believe the replacement unit has been a newer model.

Do you work for BT ?

Off-topic: How do I turn off notification by email every time I receive a reply ?

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

imjolly — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 16:39:35 GMT

If you have had replacement hubs then unlikely all hubs had same fault. I have heard so e clicks on my SH2 but only happened when my hub had been restarted and was trying to establish my internet connection. Once connected then never had any further clicks.

The only BT employees on the forum are the forum mods everyone else are customers just like you.

Go to your preferences by selecting your avatar and change setting there

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:07:29 GMT

As 'Liquorice' was able to delete one post and move another I believe he or she has moderator privilages. Hence my question - "Do you work for BT ?".

Matt-S who provided the answer in the post to which I originally linked was a moderator (now retired). Another reason why, although slightly sceptical, I still gave his answer the benefit of the doubt.

"If you have had replacement hubs then unlikely all hubs had same fault." I don't believe that I ever actually stated the clicking to be a 'fault'.

The two previous Home Hubs did not emit any audiable sound. They were replaced by BT, in reasonably close succession, for other reasons.

"Go to your preferences by selecting your avatar and change setting there". That much I was able to deduce for myself. Where to find that setting was the mystery.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

imjolly — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:18:53 GMT

In preferences untick 'automatically subscribe'

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:22:36 GMT

I found it, have unchecked the box and saved the setting.

Many thanks - much appreciated.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

licquorice — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:25:07 GMT

@ArthurCJ wrote:

As 'Liquorice' was able to delete one post and move another I believe he or she has moderator privilages. Hence my question - "Do you work for BT ?".

No, I don't work for BT. CLs have slightly elevated privileges in that they can move posts (and effectively delete them by moving them to a quarantine board), not full moderator privileges.

CLs are just customers like yourself.

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:34:50 GMT

Thank you for explaining although I must admit ignorance regarding what 'CL' actually means.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

licquorice — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:47:43 GMT

Community Leader

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

gg30340 — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 18:05:41 GMT

If you have a read of the following links they give some usefully information about this forum.

https://community.bt.com/t5/Announcements-Guides-Community/Who-s-who-in-the-BT-community/td-p/2132844

Welcome to the BT Community Forum - BT Community

BT Community Terms of Use - BT Community

BT Community User Guidelines - BT Community

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

gg30340 — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 18:14:44 GMT

@ArthurCJ wrote:

I see that Home Hub clicking in general is a commonly reported issue on these fourms. A quick search provided seventy four results.

Arthur

In the interest of accuracy, if you actually check the searches that you have linked to you will see that not all of these results are about the hub making a clicking noise. Many of them, I can't be bothered to count how many there are, are about noise on the phone line or the noise margin, the BT TV box or other problems with no mention of the hub.

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 20:28:03 GMT

Agreed.

Nevertheless others have noticed the same phenomenon so it is obviously not either unique to our router or my imagination.

It is something I find intriguing in much the same way that Cliff Stoll found a 75 cent accounting anomaly on a timesharing mainframe intriguing - and look where that led him.

Obviously there are other forums on which I could ask these questions but it seemed (to me) inequitable to seek answers elsewhere before trying the BT Community forums. Unfortunately, thus far, no one has been able to provide an answer.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

TinaT — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 21:45:15 GMT

I came here to reply to another post I made several days ago, and spotted this thread..

I too, get clicking from my SH2, but didn't think anything of it..

I've started getting disconnects on my new FTTP installation, although the hub stays lit blue, all devices around the house get disconnected.

Now wondering if there's a link?

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

imjolly — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 22:03:28 GMT

@TinaT

If your hub remains blue are the devices which drop connection connected using WiFi and not ethernet? If so that suggests it is a WiFi problem and selecting different may help

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

ArthurCJ — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 22:05:24 GMT

That is interesting.

Our hub also remains blue although we are disconnected.

It was this that led me to download and read the Home Hub Technical Log. This revealed that we are being port scanned most nights. The timing is varies but is usually near the top of the hour - most often 4am.

This in turn led me to undertake my own port scan that revealed potential issues with port 8085. As previously stated speculation and theories abound as to the potential. The jury is still out IMHO.

BT told me that our broadband disconnection issues should be resolved with FTTP. Perhaps they will be, perhaps not. We can only wait and see. However new cables did not resolve the issues in this village so whilst hopeful I do not share the optimism.

Once again - very interesting to learn that you are experiencing similar issues.

Arthur

Re: Home Hub clicking noises

TinaT — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 22:10:10 GMT

@imjolly

Everything drops, including ethernet.

Oddly enough, until I made that last post, I hadn't had any issues since early afternoon. I've had about 8 drops since that last post..