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BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

alan_mc — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 08:19:01 GMT

Hi all,

Can't believe I've only came across this article now as I've been monitoring BTs position on a Wifi 6 enabled router since they released their Whole Home Wifi 6 discs and wondering when they would follow suit with the rest of their hardware.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/01/bt-uk-set-to-launch-smart-hub-3-broadband-router-in-july.html

Is there any truth in this and will existing customers be given the option to swap out the router/discs to get the most out of the Fibre 900 connection.

Cheers.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

VeteranISPUser — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:07:23 GMT

Not necessarily an indication, but I haven't seen any trial opportunities for a new system which normally precedes the launch of a major update.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

imjolly — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:12:20 GMT

like @VeteranISPUser I have not seen any new trial opportunities for new SH3. probably like most BT new things - delayed

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

mabuk — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 01:38:56 GMT

The article you link to has been updated:

UPDATE 28th June 2022

Some early testing has begun on the final Smart Hub 3, but component constraints are known to be causing issues and delays with actually supplying enough of the devices for consumers. We saw similar problems with BT’s most recent TV box, which also caused significant delays. The current expectation for a launch is now Q1 2023, and it’s too early to bank on that.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

FIL903 — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 08:18:53 GMT

Noooooooo, this is disastrous news, I've been holding out for the SH3 release ASAP due to.......
I've had full fiber installed and receiving a nice 925mbps into SH2. However none of my devices are near the router so having to use WIFI in my house through the BT provided black discs. I'm lucky to receive over 150mbps to these devices on a good day.
Had numerous calls to BT support and complaints, 2 engineers visit and said nothing can be done apart from a WIFI6 router or to hardwire around my house to the SH2 (which isn't going to happen) and having the digital voice im stuck using the SH2.
😞

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

MAGZEY — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 13:23:32 GMT

I had a twitter exchange with BT yesterday and the lady said BT had no plans at present to introduce wifi 6 technology. (Sounded like she had never heard of it)

Anyways, looks like BT is a lost cause so I have ordered an ASUS DSL AX82U AX5400 modem/router to replace the SH2.

Any thoughts/comments?

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

FIL903 — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:02:45 GMT

I looked at the Asus Tuff wifi6 router range and nearly bought, however only BT SH2 will use the Digital Voice, so I'm stuck using BT hub until they replace.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

MAGZEY — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:58:04 GMT

I understand you may be able to use the SH2 with the Asus router by disabling the wifi in the SH2. Not sure if any other settings need to be changed to do this.

Perhaps someone can help?

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

archiveking — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:48:53 GMT

same here - and so disappointing to hear that they are months or years away from addressing the SH2 problem. Have you had a price reduction to compensate? I am being told that the speed to the house is 900mb so no change to tariff....

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

FIL903 — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:50:52 GMT

I also had the same reply, excellent speed into hub 925 so nothing wrong.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

brushman — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 16:15:07 GMT

Since we were changed to FFTP with a SH2 and Digital Voice we've had nothing but trouble. Quite simply the SH2's are cheaply made (several BT and OR engineers opinions) and prone to lagging, drop outs etc. Our experience is that they last about 2 months before the problems surface. Mostly they run so hot you can hear the casing clicking as the components heat up!

We reinstalled our trusty TP Link TD -W9980 and have had zero issues. The catch is were reliant of the SH2 for Digital Voice unless we go to VoIP and have a Broadband only package from BT. Probably the way we'll go.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

archiveking — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 18:07:59 GMT

can't you connect the SH2 into one of the ports on the back of the TP Link and use it to give you Digital Voice whilst using TP link for the Wifi ?

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

licquorice — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 18:11:48 GMT

No, you can do it the other way round though.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

archiveking — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 21:16:30 GMT

but that would not give any advantage ? I have a SH2 with a 900mg connection to the house but the BT engineers cannot get more than 400 out of the Sh2 despite supplying 2 brand new ones - thats using a cable. Wifi is much less - 300. How to get Wifi over 600 and wired closer to 900 is the goal. BT don't want to know.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

marvo — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:26:05 GMT

Have to admit it's a bit of a crock from BT especially given that their competitors are offering Wi-Fi 6 routers and VoIP connections keeping your old landline number. (TalkTalk & Virgin)

Yes some of us still need a landline mainly because our elderly parents don't like using or calling mobiles

BT say to plug directly in to the SH2 to get full use of the speeds offered. I have 900Mbps, and whilst it has remained stable, has never achieved anything more than 460Mbps Wi-Fi or direct LAN cable.

The SH2, when the firewall is active, eats bandwidth processing the packets. All firewall manufacturers give throughputs depending on the roles they are having to do i.e. IPS, Firewall, NGFW, DDoS etc. Very few guarantee firewall throughput that matches the 1Gbps port speeds.

Example - I also have a Fortigate FWF60E - 3Gbps firewall throughput but only 300-450Mbps when NGFW/IPS are running.

However, I would certainly advise NOT to turn off the firewall on your SH2 (even though it does increase throughput). I put a Kali Linux pen test laptop on to the SH2 and turned off the firewall, wifi and DHCP and made it the only devices connected to the hub. Suffice to say the attacks started almost instantly

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

brushman — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:27:20 GMT

I read some of the messages and after 18 months of problems with BT and the SH2 ( whats smart about it ... anyone) we've jumped ship to Virgin Media. Now we have stable internet and can set the VM hub to modem mode and use our TP Archer for brilliant speeds and great wifi coverage. We use VoIP from Soho66 so no more line rental either.**Edited**

Thank you for all the help offered by the community in trying to solve the catalogue of mistakes and errors by BT.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

Mapantz — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 19:36:50 GMT

@marvo

BT say to plug directly in to the SH2 to get full use of the speeds offered. I have 900Mbps, and whilst it has remained stable, has never achieved anything more than 460Mbps Wi-Fi or direct LAN cable.

Strange. I have the Fibre 900, and I get 945Mbps down via LAN.

I get about 550Mbps via Wi-Fi, which I think is very good for not being Wi-Fi 6.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

archiveking — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 08:15:03 GMT

Brilliant to hear - you are the only person that i have heard who is getting that speed with the SH2

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

ItsMeDD — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:52:02 GMT

We are also on Fibre 900 and we also get over 900 Mbps and between 400 and 600 Mbps over WiFi with the SH2 on several devices,one thing that does bug me about the hub2 is Moderate Nat types in some games hence i often use the Asus RT AX88U as it gives Open Nat.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3 and Complete Wifi 2 Release and Availability

MiteBe — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:26:28 GMT

I also get well over 900Mbps (970Mbps on one occasion) and around 110Mbps up (record being 140Mbps) on a wired connection. And about 300-500Mbps Wi-fi.