This topic

Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

DanMen — Fri, 01 May 2026 09:44:17 GMT

I would be very grateful for any advice;

I am a new BT broadband / tv customer. I have 900 FTTP.

I use a Netgear Orbi mesh system, so do not use the BT home hub router. However, that causes some issues with the tv. I can access some things, like Now TV, Netflix etc but not regular live tv. EG If I hit "Guide" on the remote and try to select to watch live tv I get a message I'm not connected to the internet.

From my research, one solution is to connect the Orbi router to the BT hub in AP mode. However, I would lose functionality of the Orbi app and importantly, Orbi Armour. So that's a non starter.

The other option, I believe, is to use a BT router but in AP mode. However, the Home hub can't be configured in AP mode. I believe the Business hub 2 can be though (and I've read it's more reliable than Business hub 3). Although BT say they can't send me a business hub 2 as I'm a residential customer, they are available on ebay for little over £20 so no big deal.

Can anyone confirm if this is the best solution? I don't use any landline at all. It's just internet and tv. Will a Business hub 2 work on a residential FTTP line and should this "cure" the tv issues AND allow me to run my Orbi mesh system? Or is there another / better solution?

Many thanks in advance.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

licquorice — Fri, 01 May 2026 09:54:56 GMT

That's a problem with your TV not your internet connection.

I suspect the TV is expecting to get terrestrial television from an aerial rather than the internet.

Your TV has no knowledge of what device is connecting to the internet, a different router will make no difference.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

TimCurtis — Fri, 01 May 2026 11:02:02 GMT

@DanMen

When you refer to "TV" do you actually mean the TV set itself or rather the BT Pro set top box which you're paying for?

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

licquorice — Fri, 01 May 2026 11:15:48 GMT

I assumed the OP meant a television set and is was expecting an aerial input for terrestrial TV rather than via Freely.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

DanMen — Fri, 01 May 2026 11:17:18 GMT

Correct, the tv box rather than the tv. I have no roof areal installed. Everything is through FTTP.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

DanMen — Fri, 01 May 2026 11:18:03 GMT

Correct, the tv box rather than the tv. I have no roof areal installed. Everything is through FTTP.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

DanMen — Fri, 01 May 2026 11:20:31 GMT

No aerial is fitted. I meant accessing live tv through the BT tv box.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

WSH — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:38:34 GMT

Do you have IGMP enabled on your router?

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

licquorice — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:44:33 GMT

That was my first thought, but can't see how that would allow some channels and not others. Surely all channels are multicast. Can't see this is a router problem.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

WSH — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:50:07 GMT

Yes, you may well be right. I'm just going by a vague memory of it being an issue with the Draytek years ago.

It's worth a try if he hasn't got it enabled on the Orbi.

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

DanMen — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:56:29 GMT

I’m sorry but I have absolutely no idea what that even means!

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

WSH — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:11 GMT

Somewhere in the setup for the Orbi there will be a setting for Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP). If it is disabled by default that may be your problem. I'd try turning it on (and also turn on the "Snooping" setting associated with it).

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

DanMen — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:06:48 GMT

Can’t see anything on my Orbi app for this. I could call netgear support to ask about this. Thanks

Re: Help with broadband / tv please/ Orbi Mesh

WSH — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:12:21 GMT

It may be built-in and enabled by default then.

Just a thought. As Licquorice said, it wouldn't explain some channels working and not others anyway.