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Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:03:21 GMT

Hello, I have just upgraded my wireless to the netgear orbi 960 and I want to use my Smart hub just as a modem is this possible if so please advice on how to setup, if not can someone suggest a BT compatible modem\router I can buy

Thank you

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

imjolly — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:06:10 GMT

You cannot set the SH2 in modem mode not possible

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:23:17 GMT

ok thanks, I thought the business Smart hub 2 did have a bridge mode, maybe I'm wrong

does anyone have a suggestion for a BT Compatible modem pls

thanks

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

licquorice — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:29:06 GMT

Huawei HG 612 from eBay

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:49:28 GMT

Thanks , just a thought would a old BT Hub 5 work?

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

licquorice — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 20:21:16 GMT

No residential BT hubs have a bridge mode.

However, if you are happy to use a BT hub as the router, you can simply connect the Orbi in wireless access point mode. Turn off the WiFi on the hub if you don't want 2 networks.

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

licquorice — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 20:25:54 GMT

The 960 seems complete overkill if you only have an FTTC connection. I assume you don't have FTTP.

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:11:33 GMT

I had 5 of these

BT Whole Home Wi-Fi 6 but got fed up with them losing connections and dropping out, the last straw was BT dont sell them anymore and havent for some time and last week the main disc decided to return to its default SSID and dropped out my IP Cameras and other stuff

So went for the Netgear Orbi 960E at least they are current and so far work very well

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

infinitywaiter — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:17:14 GMT

ok thanks, I thought the business Smart hub 2 did have a bridge mode, maybe I'm wrong

Yes, you can easily set the BT Business Hub up to enable bridge mode.

However, you make no mention in your opening post or thread title that you have a Business Account and thus have a Business Hub.

Therefore, other forum members will all be assuming that you are talking about the normal Smart Hub, and as mentioned already in this thread, you can't do that with the Smart Hub sent out to residential consumers.

This has been asked many times over in this forum, a quick search before posting would save posting same or similar question.

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:17:17 GMT

Maybe I'll buy a Business Smart Hub 2, I'm told that has a bridge mode, thanks

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:24:11 GMT

Thanks for your reply, I did do a quick search before I asked and there were several threads some mentioned the business hub and others didnt, it was also mentioned that the bridge mode was hidden which is why I asked the question, maybe if the first responder had said that bridge mode was only available in business Smart Hub further questions might not have been asked..although someone did offer an alternative modem

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

TimCurtis — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:57:37 GMT

@nevillebriggs

I have to use the SH2 for Digital Voice but I've set things up in such a way as it is effectively a modem + DV and use my Asus to handle all the real work.

It's a relatively straightforward process of giving the SH2 it's own subnet , disabling everything in it and forwarding all traffic to the Asus. Maybe there's a little bit more to it than that but that gives you the idea.

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:23:57 GMT

Thats great thank you, I just need to figure out how to do what you have done, I'll have more time at the weekend, thanks again

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

koalaelf — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:41:54 GMT

I have just received my BT Smart Hub 2 for FTTP today & think I need to do similar since I have a Ubiquiti Unifi setup currently (USG router, USW-24-POE PoE switch and UAP-AC-PRO Wifi Access Point) that I have setup how I want it with several VLANs to segregate certain traffic from IoT devices and apply firewall rules since I don't want 'phoning home' etc)

Please let me know how you get on with having the Smart Hub 2 in Bridge Mode.

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

licquorice — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:44:49 GMT

There is no need to use the Smart Hub at all unless you want Digital Voice capability.

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

WSH — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:12:36 GMT

@nevillebriggs

I did it this way:

Smart Hub 2 router settings:

DHCP off.

Router itself set to static IP of 192.168.1.254 (the default)

Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 or /24

DMZ host set to 192.168.1.2 (Stops double NAT problems but only really needed if you run a server etc.)

Turn off both WI-FI bands in favor of own router. (This may also be a good security move if you do enable the DMZ host. I would still expect Wi-Fi traffic to go through the SH2 firewall but I can’t be sure how they’ve set it up internally).

Connect DSL port to phone socket, (or WAN port to ONT if FTTP).

DV phones can then plug into Smart Hub 2.

Own router settings:

DHCP on, range 192.168.0.2-192.168.0.200

Router itself on static IP of 192.168.0.1

Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 or /24

EWAN port on and set to fixed IP of 192.168.1.2

Gateway set to 192.168.1.254

DNS set to 192.168.1.254 (or whatever you usually use).

EWAN socket on own router (probably 4) connected to LAN port on SH2 router. (NB. This will not work using DSL port on your own router).

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:30:54 GMT

@WSH brilliant reply very helpful, thank you

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:58:44 GMT

Hello, so I had this up and running following advice from @WSH (thank you) but I wasnt able to access my blueiris cameras and when I spoke to Netgear support they said I must have the BT router in bridge mode...

So I bought BT Business Smart Hub 2 and turned on bridge mode but my Orbi router doesnt seem to be able to get a dynamic IP from BT

Can someone point in the right direction on setting up a router (preferrably Orbi) as to how this should be set up

baby steps would be great

Thank you

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

licquorice — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:09:07 GMT

You need to set the connection type to PPPoE with the generic username bthomehub@btbroadband.com and password BT on the Orbi and VLAN is to 101 on the hub

Re: Smart Hub 2 and Bridge Mode

nevillebriggs — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:11:18 GMT

Thank you for the reply, so password is
BT ?
Thanks