This topic

Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:08:02 GMT

Hello

On Amazon but especially eBay there a lots of used /refurbished examples of the above but the rear socketry does not always appear to have the extra RJ45 Ethernet socket into which a feed from the Fibre Modem (ONT) requires. Some have, some don't. I assume that all the new ones that BT send out as and when necessary or those one can buy from the BT/EE shop at £200 do have this WAN socket?

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

gg30340 — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:11:52 GMT

See Link

WAN port on Smart Hub 2 and using it for Ethernet | BT Business

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:31:33 GMT

Thanks but some Smart Hub 2s shown where images areavailable don't show that WAN socket anyway and claim that they're not for Fibre BB Hubs.

Again, I guess the official new ones sold by BT have the socket which is what I was really asking.

Thanks for the link however that shows how to get an extra Ethernet socket by tweaking in the Home Hub manager.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:41:09 GMT

It's purely cosmetics on the case, none have an "extra socket".

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

WSH — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:44:39 GMT

When I moved to DV BT sent me one that was FTTP capable even though I was on FTTC. I also bought a backup from Amazon that specifically stated it was FTTP capable and when it turned up, sure enough, it was.

I think you just need to be careful about what you’re buying.

Edit: As the post above says, the FTTP socket is actually just LAN port 4 set to use FTTP. It has a red ring round it on the case just to emphasize which port you are supposed to use.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

licquorice — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:46:16 GMT

All Smart Hub2s have 3 LAN sockets and 1 LAN/WAN socket which is configurable in the hub manager once the latest firmware is installed.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

gg30340 — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 19:56:51 GMT

@HHGTTG wrote:

Thanks but some Smart Hub 2s shown where images areavailable don't show that WAN socket anyway and claim that they're not for Fibre BB Hubs.

Again, I guess the official new ones sold by BT have the socket which is what I was really asking.

Thanks for the link however that shows how to get an extra Ethernet socket by tweaking in the Home Hub manager.

The link I posted states how to change the LAN port to a WAN port and how to change it back to a LAN port!

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:26:08 GMT

Can I post a further query regarding Smart Hub 2s on eBay?

Many of them, appearing almost new or unused state that they are Smart Hub 2 locked to BT and are FTTP ones.

Detailed photos show the back to have ADSL socket, Green DV/phone socket and 3 yellow and 1 Red marked ethernet sockets. The photo showing packet contents, do not appear to show, perhaps understandably an ADSL cable.

Will these Hubs being sold for about £27 inc. p&p work with ADSL if I have my own cables/s?

Regards

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

imjolly — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:30:31 GMT

The SH2 will work on ADSL. There is no FTTP hub but as already posted you can toggle setting to change port 4 to either LAN or WAN. from other posts the hh6 is better on ADSL than SH2

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:36:15 GMT

Many thanks but when I am eventually given an SH2 by BT for DV switchover then my ADSL from SH2 will have to suffice.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

imjolly — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:39:50 GMT

When watch to DV happens then no choice but SH2

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:46:46 GMT

Many thanks. I like to give you a Reply using the Reply button rather than the Quick one and also a rating but both of these actions produce errors, one being "Sorry, unable to complete the action you requested".
Is this a website problem or a computer one, I wonder. Hmmmm.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

Crimliar — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:20:51 GMT

As our (FTTP) SH2 remains in its box as nature intended... I can at least confirm that it came with two ethernet cables - one with reg plugs (WAN) and one with yellow plugs (LAN), and no RJ11 "modem" cable.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:51:05 GMT

I guess you're not a fan of the SH2 then?

Nevertheless, I'll spend a little money on one and use my RJ11 existing cable. It will at least give me an idea into the workings and settings of the SH2.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

Crimliar — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:15:34 GMT

I'm not really a fan of most ISP supplied routers. The router I use, while legal is a little bit of a bully, once outside the house giving usable signal (for mobiles at least) for 70-100m. Having around 15 devices on 5GHz, another 25 devices on 2.4GHz along with another 30 or so on 433MHz and 866MHz via hubs/tbr, I tend to find ISP routers struggle to cope.

While I might fit into the category of home automation enthusiast, the emphasis here is transparent automation without it being creepy - though trick-and-treaters tonight will be setting off fake lightning, cackling, and reactive images projected onto mesh blinds!

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:39:08 GMT

Can you tell me certainly based on what you have said, whether BT can tell which BT Hub/router one is using at any particular time and I mean in my case where I'm on ADSL?

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

licquorice — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:48:54 GMT

BT can communicate with BT hubs via TR 069 and can thus determine which hub it is and firmware level.

Can you expand on the question?

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:55:03 GMT

Well in January I bought a HH6 to replace BT's original HH3 supplied by them and which after 10+ years had almost expired. I was thinking of buying a 2nd hand SH2 to try it out and familiarise myself with its workings but don't want to jeopardise them sending me a new SH2 when DV switchover happens and they think that I am still using an unsuitable HH3.

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

licquorice — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 08:59:50 GMT

If you already have a HH6, there is no point in buying a SH2, there is no advantage and you have the disadvantage of not being able to give the WiFi bands different SSIDs.

Not sure if BT rely on records of what has been sent or if they interrogate the hub to determine what you gave when switching to DV

Re: Used BT Smart Hub 2

HHGTTG — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:16:32 GMT

For £27 I just want to play around within the Hub Manager. Ultimately, I won't have the choice of being able to separate the two wavebands and give them separate SSIDs when I'm sent an SH2 by BT.