This topic

BT Smart Hub 2

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:31:06 GMT

I have the Smart hub 2 with a dedicated WAN port Plus 3 ports. Fibre to the house so red WAN port used. I need more than 3 usable ports. Ethernet switch is not an option for 2 connectivities as they only work when connected to the Router. What are my options? Read somewhere here that you can change the red WAN port to make it a standard usable port to give you 4 Ethernet ports but you’d still need to connect the WAN Interface so maybe I misread the response.
I am assuming it’s the power output issue here in which case would a POE + switch do the trick ?

Grateful for advice.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2

WSH — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:42:37 GMT

The Smart Hub 2 does not do POE, so it will not be a power supply issue. If you are on Full Fibre the WAN port has to be a WAN port, nothing else. There is no way round that. If you are on Part Fibre/FTTC/VDSL/ADSL then yes, you can switch it to a 4th LAN port.

Shouldn't be a problem with a switch if it's set up properly. I run two lines out from my router. One to an 8 port in the living room, one to a 8 port upstairs. Never have any problems with anything.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2

licquorice — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:42:00 GMT

If you change the WAN port to a LAN how are you going to connect the ONT.

Don't understand why you can't use an Ethernet switch. If 4 ports on the hub would be a solution, a co-located switch is an identical solution

Re: BT Smart Hub 2

gg30340 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:43:06 GMT

If you have FTTP you need to keep port 4 as a WAN port.

What are the devices that must be connected directly to the router?

If it is something that needs power then a POE Switch would do the job or a POE Injector. The POE Switch would probably be the better option as regards price if you want additional Ethernet ports rather than just two.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2

licquorice — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 13:44:56 GMT

As the Hub2 doesn't support Poe, connecting directly to the router if Poe is required won't help.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:08:08 GMT

I already run a link from a non-POE switch to my shed where it supports 4 POE cameras via a POE switch.

BT Smart Hub 2 - Netgear GS108 Gigabit Switch - Cisco POE switch

that works 🤔

Re: BT Smart Hub 2

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:11:51 GMT

What switches are you using please. Are they managed or straight through ?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2

WSH — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:01:44 GMT

GS108Es but nothing special about the setup.

What devices are causing the problem and if you already have that setup what has changed?

BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:01:40 GMT

Anyone replaced their Smart Hub with an alternative router; one that supports POE or has more than 3 available Ethernet ports ?

Thank you.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

WSH — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:05:08 GMT

It would help if we knew more about what the problem is?

Have you just switched to using the Smart Hub 2 (SH2) and if so why?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:22:21 GMT

Moved house and had fibre to the door option so had a new BT Smart Hub 2 router supplied. As you know it only has 3 available. Current connectivity:
Router port
1 Gigabit switch
2 BT halo WiFi extender
3 Electric gates

Netgear Switch
Port
1 NAS
2 Shed
3 Ring Network

The Netgear connectivity to my shed connects to a Cisco POE switch that supports 4 x Network cameras.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:30:33 GMT

Forgot to say I need another router connection hence my problem.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

WSH — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:32:18 GMT

If it's as straight forward as you've described and your old router has a WAN port you should just be able to carry on using that. The only time you can't escape using the Smart Hub 2 (SH2) is if you need Digital Voice, as that has to go through the SH2.

Edit: ...but again, you haven't explained why you feel you need another router?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

licquorice — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:36:17 GMT

Exactly, why do you need more ports on the router when you can have as many as you like on a switch(es)?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

WSH — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:38:10 GMT

The trouble is people say things on here without really understanding what they are saying. So, if you do need two routers the implication is that you have two internet connections? Is that for load balancing or failover?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

gg30340 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:42:03 GMT

If cost is not an issue TP link do a 28 Port POE switch on Amazon for £180 which should more than cover your needs.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

licquorice — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:48:17 GMT

It would help if the exact problem was described.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

WSH — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:22:39 GMT

Having pondered what you’ve said so far, I think you really just need another switch, not a “router”. (The “router” provided in the domestic market is a cheapo multipurpose box that does a number of jobs that would be separate boxes in industry. As routing is the most significant, it gets the name router but the routing function is not what you want here, I think).

What you need (I think) is room to connect a second switch to the SH2. It is possible to connect one switch after another in what is known as a cascade. (Price is that it pushes latency up a little bit). If so, I would do it this way.

Current setup:

Router port
1 to shed switch?
2 BT halo WiFi extender
3 Electric gates

New setup:

Router port
1 to new switch…………………….one port on that to the shed, the other ports to what you want.
2 BT halo WiFi extender
3 Electric gates

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:29:54 GMT

Thank you and apologies as I didn’t explain the switch ‘reference’ properly. The Netgear switch connectivity is configured as per your ‘New Setup’. The shed Cisco switch hangs off the Netgear switch. The cameras cope well with the latency.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 Alternative

druid43 — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:33:43 GMT

Given the restrictions associated with only having 3 usable Ethernet ports I was wondering whether someone had encountered the same problem and ‘somehow’ managed to find a suitable alternative router with more usable ports.