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BT Wifi Disc has weaker signal than main router

UlsterSurfer — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 20:49:31 GMT

I'm using the latest BT hub plus one wifi disc at home and I've noticed that the signal from the disc is far weaker than the main hub, which is in my study at one end of the house. The disc is between the study and living room and any device that detects it from this end of the house (some actually don't) show it as two bars, sometimes only one, while the main router / hub has four and is three rooms away. The disc is on the hall table just outside the living room door on the same floor. Is this normal? I thought the disc was a booster so should show a better signal strength?

Re: BT Wifi Disc has weaker signal than main router

licquorice — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:08:28 GMT

It's not a 'booster', it's just a second WiFi source. How do you know which device you are connecting to as both hub and disc have the same SSID (network name).

WiFi isn't an exact science, more a dark art really.

Re: BT Wifi Disc has weaker signal than main router

WSH — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:21:58 GMT

Yes, you’d need the BSSID to identify a specific access point rather than the SSID, and I’d be surprised if BT equipment is that specific.

Thought occurs…You say it’s on a table. I thought they were supposed to be wall mounted. Is that lying flat or upright? If it is flat, the aerial may be perpendicular to the receiver, hence the weak signal.

Re: BT Wifi Disc has weaker signal than main router

licquorice — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:28:37 GMT

The discs have feet.

Re: BT Wifi Disc has weaker signal than main router

WSH — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:34:02 GMT

Fair enough. Just a thought.

(As I've said before, I'm not a big wireless user).

Re: BT Wifi Disc has weaker signal than main router

UlsterSurfer — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:03:53 GMT

When I log on with the laptop, it shows BT**** then BT****-EXT. Not being a guru I assumed the EXT meant the extended wifi disc. That's the way it worked on my old router / hub with my own purchased Wifi extender. I thought I was doing the right thing by using the BT provided equipment, the hub standing on a shelf in the study by the phone line input and the disc on the hall table. On it's feet.