This topic

BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 23:49:06 GMT

Hi All

I have an external WiFi solution so have turned off WiFI on both the 2.4G & 5G radio on the Smart Hub2.

I have also opted out of BT WiFI and the status shows BT Wi-fi status: Not Active on the Hub.
Smart Set-up is also turned off

Yet despite this, I can see using WiFI scanner software that my hub is still transmitting a WiFi signal on both Radios without an SSID (network name).

I know it is the hub
1) Because if I turn the hub off the unnamed network is no longer there
2) The MAC ADD is pretty much the same as written on the hub
3) The Signal strength increases as I get closer to the hub, to pretty much the maximum (-25dB)
4) If I momentarily enable WiFi and change the channel then disable again, the unnamed network then appears on that channel

Firmware version: v0.30.01.08093-BT
Firmware updated: 12-Dec-2021

I have factory defaulted the hub, but this hasn't worked

I know it's a long shot but has anyone else seen this ?

It appears to be a bug to me

Thanks

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

imjolly — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 00:36:26 GMT

You cannot turn the WiFi off completely in hub so not a bug. This has been covered in previous posts. You need 3rd party router is you want to stop WiFi totally

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 00:53:28 GMT

Hi @imjolly

Thanks for responding

Can you point me to one of the covered topics where BT mods have confirmed this please. The ones I found were talking about turning off BT WiFi.

Also do you know what routers people are using for FFTP.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 02:53:26 GMT

@JohnC2 is this definitely the case as it seems a very strange design to turn off Wifi, opt out of BT WiFi but the Smart Hub to still be transmitting and causing interference unnecessarily.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:23:27 GMT

@Yoz

The hidden SSIDs are needed to link to the black complete Wi-Fi discs, and cannot be turned off.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

SRB — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 08:58:03 GMT

One of the reasons I switched back to my HH 5 - if you don't use the DV service, or the mesh network, just use another router.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 09:13:38 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe have you had that confirmed by BT support as definitely not a bug?

Because surely if you turn off Wifi on the Hub, you're not going to be using the black discs as they broadcast with the same SSID as the hub.

Do you know if the Business Smart Hub2 does the same, I would assume so, but know it do have slightly different features.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 09:28:08 GMT

@Yoz wrote:

@Keith_Beddoe have you had that confirmed by BT support as definitely not a bug?

@Yoz

See https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-setup-Wi-Fi-network/Smart-Hub-2-Firmware-glitch-and-sneaky-networks/m-p/2004804#M171129

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 09:48:29 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe
Many thanks for pointing me to this post, but it doesn't fully explain why it is necessary.

@Dan-O I see your response from 2020 in the post kindly linked by @Keith_Beddoe

But I still however don't get why WiFi would be active if you turn WiFi off on the SmartHub2, as the Black Hubs rely on the same SSID that the router uses, So if you disabled WiFi on the router, surely the Discs wouldn't be used as the WLAN network is then disabled. (I think this is the correct assumption)
Whereas the white discs have a separate SSID to that which is configured on the Hub.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

licquorice — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 12:40:22 GMT

The hidden channels are the backhaul channels to the discs which, if necessary, would allow the discs to be used with the hub WiFi turned off. I agree it's a strange decision to take by BT, but it is deliberate rather than a bug.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 00:22:36 GMT

Hi @licquorice

I am not necessarily disagreeing that it is the backhaul for the black discs, the issue I have is if someone wants to disable WiFI on purpose and opts out of or BT WiFi, then WiFi should be off Completely.

I have just set up a black disc as a test and as you have said the Disc can still join to the Hub as it uses the backhaul network.

However the Hub & Disc are completely useless because I have WiFI disabled, so the SSID on both radios is blank

I think that WiFi needs to be disabled when it is selected on the hub and BT WiFi is opted out of

1) To stop unnecessary WiFI interference at home and potentially in Business premises if they have another WiFI solution (unless someone can tell me the Business Smart Hub2 does disable it completely)
2) For Energy saving (Albeit small)

I'd appreciate any of the mods getting on board and adding any thoughts from a design point of view to say for example why this is, as it doesn't make any sense at present.

I am on FTTP with Digital Voice, so also have a BT DECT ATA connected for my own cordless handsets.
Moving to another router would break this.

Thanks All

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

alandamore — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 13:52:36 GMT

PlusNet's HUB2 is based on the same router and has the same issue. If anyone from PlusNet stumbles across this thread (as I did) because you have the same issue, it is acknowledged by PlusNet here and is on their backlog to fix it.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:24:31 GMT

Hi @alandamore

Thanks for link and it's great that PlusNet have acknowledged the issue.

I think I've put a reasonable case here as to why WiFi should be completely disabled when BT WiFi is opted out of but have had no such response from any of the mods.

I knew first line wouldn't be able to assist with such an issue and it's why I posted in this forum to hopefully get some similar respond to what you've had from PlusNet.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Yoz — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 23:36:42 GMT

It seems we have a resolution to this issue

It appears that my hub had a firmware update on 7th October 2022

With this update is the option to disable all WiFi

Selecting the option to disable, provides warnings of devices that could be affected

I can confirm using the same WiFi scanner software I used previously, I no longer see the unnamed SSID.

So it took a while but thanks to BT for listening to their customers and providing this option

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

SRB — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 07:28:04 GMT

Long shot, but does it now allow you to split the names on the two WiFi networks? That was another reason for me reverting back to my HH5.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

licquorice — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 08:01:04 GMT

No, it doesn't

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Starman — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 10:16:49 GMT

Annoying this one why following my new FTTP with Digital Voice install I've now ordered a PoE WiFi access point to allow me to disable the SH2 WiFi.

My other annoyance related to DNS/DHCP management I've got my pi-hole dealing with that now.

I know the arguments that this is a ISP supplied router and shouldn't expect much but given you are required to use it for DV unless you wish to double NAT its the bare minimum that should be offered IMO.

No matter I'll work around perhaps in the near future DV might be more widely adopted by the industry and offered on 3rd party devices similar how originally you were required to use Openreach’s modem for FTTC before more options opened up although in that case the OR modem was rock solid stable, and I always preferred a bridge style setup.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

licquorice — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 10:29:32 GMT

DV is proprietary to BT and won't be offered by third party devices. Nothing stopping you using a third party VoIP provider rather than using BT's DV though.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

SRB — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 10:35:21 GMT

DV is a BT service though, so in all fairness I can understand why it is tied to their hub. There are other VoIP providers out there, who do allow you to use "off the shelf " VoIP devices.

Re: BT Smart Hub2 WiFi broadcasting without an SSID despite being turned off

Starman — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:15:26 GMT

Granted I did not do enough research into DV offering before committing and I am tied into a contract period now but I will look into other VoIP options in the future. DV was only taken due to historic employer contractual requirements of alternative contact means by a landline (part funded). It is very quaint now and perhaps I should speak to our staff forum representativeto change terms to allow personal mobile use.