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BT Whole Home Wi-Fi Network Separation

TS21 — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:09:40 GMT

Hi,

I have a BT Smart Hub 2 using the default IP address, subnet mask, and a combined wireless SSID.

I’d like to separate my ‘home’ network devices from other devices I use. From what I understand, it isn’t possible to create multiple networks (e.g. VLANs or guest networks) directly on the BT Smart Hub 2.

However, I have one of BT’s Whole Home Wi-Fi (white) discs. My aim is to connect this disc to the Smart Hub 2 via Ethernet, disable its Wi-Fi (as I don't need wireless), and create a separate wired network with a different IP range. The goal is to ensure that devices on my BT Smart Hub 2 network can’t access or see devices connected through this separate setup.

Please could the BT Community confirm:

a) Is this setup possible with the BT Whole Home Wi-Fi disc?
b) Will it work alongside my existing BT Complete Wi-Fi (black) discs?
c) Is there another, more effective way to achieve this kind of network separation?

I appreciate any advice. Thank you!

Re: BT Whole Home Wi-Fi Network Separation

licquorice — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:56:35 GMT

The white discs aren't routers, they will be in the same subnet as the hub.

Just use a cheap third party router connected LAN to WAN

Re: BT Whole Home Wi-Fi Network Separation

TS21 — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:14:10 GMT

When reviewing the web interface for the BT Whole Home Wi-Fi online, I noticed that there is a section for 'IP Addressing' which mentions the following: 'Your Whole Home Wi-Fi network will automatically obtain an IP address from your broadband router. If you wish to set addresses manually please adjust the fields below.'

If I connect a disc to my BT Smart Hub 2, and change the IP of the disc within the web interface, would devices on my Smart Hub 2 see a device connected to my disc?

Re: BT Whole Home Wi-Fi Network Separation

Christopher_G — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:39:27 GMT

Hi @TS21

As far as I understand it, changing the IP address of the disc doesn't affect how the traffic is routed, so I don't think it will give you the kind of network separation you're aiming for.

Unless any of our more experienced community members have any suggestions, I recommend speaking with our customer support team, so they can look into how everything is set up and help you find a solution.

Chris

Re: BT Whole Home Wi-Fi Network Separation

licquorice — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:52:46 GMT

I don't have the white discs, but as they are designed to work with third party routers as well as BT hubs, I suspect the IP configuration is purely to assign an address within the subnet of the router being used which isn't necessarily in the 192.168.1.xxx default subnet of a BT hub.

I can't see how it could operate if given an IP address in a different subnet to the router. It's just an access point not a router as previously stated.