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Hotspot 500 bricked after firmware update

rwb196883 — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 22:18:30 GMT

I have a hotspot 500 https://www.bt.com/help/user-guides/broadband-and-wi-fi-devices/wi-fi-and-home-networking/wi-fi-home-hotspots/wi-fi-home-hotspot-500

that is generally very good except that

* it needs restarting every few weeks, and

* it chooses an already crowded wifi channel.

It was running firmware 2.4. I notice that verison 2.6 https://www.bt.com/help/user-guides/broadband-and-wi-fi-devices/wi-fi-and-home-networking/wi-fi-home-hotspots/wi-fi-home-hotspot-500-software allows channel selection, so I downloaded it and attempted to upload it.

The progress bar did its 180 second countdown and then no restart. After about 10 minutes I power cycled it and now it appears to be bricked.

Power light comes on.

Ethernet lights 1 and 2 both come on for a few seconds.

Wifi light comes on for about a second.

Wifi and 1 and 2 lights come on for about a second.

Repeat.

The data light is off.

It doesn't appear on the network in `ip neigh`.

Can't connect to it when plugging an ethernet cable between the laptop and one of the ethernet ports.

Holding the reset button doesn't make any difference.

Is it landfill?

Re: Hotspot 500 bricked after firmware update

Lesley_W — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 11:49:45 GMT

Hi @rwb196883

Welcome to our community.

Do you know how long you have had the device and if it's still within it's warranty period?

Lesley

Re: Hotspot 500 bricked after firmware update

rwb196883 — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:47:09 GMT

As if BT will do anything 🤣

Re: Hotspot 500 bricked after firmware update

Manatarms84 — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:18:29 GMT

If its in warranty they will - that's what they are for.
Sadly as the product looks to be discontinued then that's unlikely, but don't know when it was discontinued by BT.