This topic

BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:44:30 GMT

I have FTTP (with internal modem) box with a Port 1 outlet.

I live out in the sticks (limited mobile signal coverage) and have only in the last 2 months (due to another mobile mast/tower going up) have had 1 bar (outside and inside) of 4g/5g mobile coverage and prior to this did need the BT Digital Voice headset with the Smart Hub 2.

I deregistered the Headsets from the SH2 on the headset itself and checked in the SH2 Hub Manager > phone section.

I have now setup the BT Smart Hub 3 (Wifi 6 standard) and when combined with WiFi Calling (on mobile) I can now make/receive mobile calls in the property without needing the BT Digital Voice.

I called BT and they cannot perform line tests/refreshes with the BT Smart Hub 3 and they see the SH3 as a 3rd party router. And BT said that the BT Headset (WPS) is DECT so can be used on Wifi 5/6/7 (does not matter)

After repeatedly trying/failing to pair the Headset to SH3 via WPS (I tried pressing for 2 seconds as instructed on the Headset then 7 seconds when that failed) I think the reason this fails is :

1) The SH3 is not setup for Digital Voice (the SH3 Hub Manager has no Phone section whereas the SH2 has a phone section)

2) BT's inability to recognize (in terms of device management) the SH3 '3rd party router'

3) both.

I could revert from the SH3 to the SH2 and use the black disc extenders but the SH3's wifi is much faster and I would rather stick with SH3. My computers recognize the SH3 wifi much faster than the SH2.

So as of now I would like to stick with the SH3 but sadly can't use Digital Voice and, although the SH3 has the legacy green 'phone' port (which I could connect a standard landline phone into) BT's inability to recognize the SH3 probably means that a landline phone used with SH3 won't work either.

If BT see any router other than the SH or SH2 (which are their latest routers) as a 3rd party router I may aswell go all the way and get a top of the range WiFi 7 standard business router with external antennas. Maybe a Wifi 7 gaming router like the ASUS TUF BE6500 Wi-Fi 7 Dual Band TUF Gaming Router?

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

licquorice — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:46:13 GMT

It's not a generic problem, I de-registered 2 handsets from my SH2 and registered them to a SH3.

Try a factory reset of the hub.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

WSH — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:55:00 GMT

"1) The SH3 is not setup for Digital Voice (the SH3 Hub Manager has no Phone section whereas the SH2 has a phone section)"

Where did you get the SH3 from? That sounds suspiciously like the Business SH3 which, unlike the home version, does not support DV, (even though I believe some of them have a redundant phone socket).

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:57:35 GMT

The BT hub is 'BT business smart hub 3 F5394-CP' and is described as the BT Business Smart Hub 3

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:11:08 GMT

I factory reset the SH3 (BT SH3 F5394-CP) right at the start and it made no difference. Does the SH3 being BT SH3 F5394-CP mean that it does not support Digital Voice? BT had no idea

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

WSH — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:18:53 GMT

As I said:

https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-setup-Wi-Fi-network/Business-smart-hub-3/m-p/2422112

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:21:20 GMT

Ok then BT SH3 has no Digital Voice.

Is there an equivalent EE Wifi 7 router that has a long range and that also supports DV?

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

licquorice — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:26:45 GMT

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

WSH — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:25:38 GMT

I believe so, but I'm not familiar with the EE equipment.

There is an EE forum & I'm sure JimM11 will be able to tell you, here:

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/bd-p/broadband

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:28:55 GMT

I was not told that ALL EE routers do not work with Digital Voice. As the previous statement conflicts with a lot of EE website information that claims that EE routers do support Digital Voice.

A variant of the question is: Would a EE Digital Voice phone (they exist) work with a EE router in this property (which has a BT line with Digital Voice)?

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

licquorice — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:35:34 GMT

Specific EE and BT routers work with DV, third party routers don't.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:36:55 GMT

Ok. BT SH2 does work with DV. BT SH3 does not work with DV (as found out)

Do you know what EE high end routers work with DV?

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

licquorice — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:42:43 GMT

The domestic SH3 does work with DV, I have one. The business SH3, which is an entirely different device, does not.

Ask on the EE forum about EE routers.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:48:26 GMT

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/Requirements-for-EE-router/m-p/1619848#M138119 (my post)

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

WSH — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:50:16 GMT

I've posted the question for you, here:

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/EE-hubs-and-BT-Digital-Voice/m-p/1619849#M138120

(I currently go by Denzel99 on that forum...SSSH...keep that to yourself).

Edit:...ah, ah...beat me to it.

Re: BT Smart Hub 3

Jake12 — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:51:10 GMT

Bril thanks yes you got my ask. I've also posted this

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/Requirements-for-EE-router/m-p/1619848#M138119

The BT Smart Hub 3 (residential, NOT BUSINESS) does with with DV but I may aswell go for a EE Wifi 7 router that does support Digital Voice as I can't find a BT Smart Hub that supports wifi 7.