This topic

BT Disc

Iacon — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 11:50:09 GMT

Hi,

So I have a couple of BT Discs. I know the Ethernet port is used to set them up, but can I also use it to keep them network connected, or does the Disc need to pick up wifi from the router to then extend it (i.e. is the ethernet port redundant for connecting to the main router?)

I have an ethernet network throughout my house so I dont have an issue with extending a wired network, but I am trying to use the discs to get the best possible wifi network, and I would like to place the Disc outside of the range of the normal wifi (hence use the wired network for it to communicate with the router). Any tips? Having tried to use the ethernet connection with the Disc it doesnt seem to work well - I keep losing connection?

thanks, iain

Re: BT Disc

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 11:52:05 GMT

@Iacon

What colour discs are they?

Re: BT Disc

Les-Gibson — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 12:16:45 GMT

You refer to using the ethernet port to set the discs up, from that I presume that they are the black discs, in which case yes, you can use the ethernet port to provide a wired backhaul

Re: BT Disc

Iacon — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 12:18:53 GMT

Ok great thanks for the quick response.
Both Discs are indeed black.

They each have different branding on the front (different generations I guess), as they werent supplied together.
That shouldnt make a difference if I factory reset both, should it?

Re: BT Disc

Iacon — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 13:42:49 GMT

They are both black discs. They weren't recieved together so have different BT brand on them.

Re: BT Disc

Les-Gibson — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 13:54:32 GMT

Probably just a cosmetic difference

The black discs are known as Complete Wi-Fi discs, the white ones are known as Wholehome Wi-fi discs.

The two are not compatible with one another but as long as they are both Complete Wi-Fi discs then they should work.

EDIT:

Looking at BT shop, it appears that the Wholehome discs are now available in grey (just to add a little confusion), if you have one black disc and one grey disc then they will not function together

Re: BT Disc

Adb007 — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 16:12:58 GMT

An old post but question of mixing Complete WiFi (black disks) with Whole Home WiFi (White discs) still comes up.
My experience might help.
1. Start with old Plusnet supplied router on Plusnet. FTTC service.
2. Connect three white discs to router to form mesh, connecting one disc to router via Ethernet range extenders. WiFi active both via router and white discs. All good.
3. Replace Plusnet router with purchased Smart Hub 2. WiFi turned on the SH2 as well as white discs. All good.
4. Add purchased black disc to SH2 to create second mesh alongside white disc mesh.
5. Install full fibre via EE to replace FTTC service with FTTP EE smart WiFi router supplied. WiFi turned on the EE router and SH2 converted to access point mesh with its black disc hanging off the EE router.
6. WiFi floods property (which is not conventional in layout!!) with choice of three WiFi networks (EE SH2 and White disc mesh) operating on 3 different ssid which can overlap, all off the EE service.

Very fast downloads on any WiFi signal throughout property and found no need to turn off WiFi on either router. The above is simply to illustrate what works and does not imply that there is not a better solution if one were to start again.

Re: BT Disc

Kodikid — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 21:10:32 GMT

If this question still comes up why the three year gap in posts

Re: BT Disc

Adb007 — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 06:56:30 GMT

In different threads if not this one.