Does Google Nest WiFi work with BT Smart Hub?

[zims]

Hi folks,

Has anyone set up a Google Nest WiFi router and point with BT Smart Hub? If so, does it work straight out of the box or require some kind of configuration?

I've read numerous posts about mesh set ups with Smart Hub and I'm aware that it doesn't offer a bridge mode so cannot be used as a modem. Google support tell me is will work but there 'may be some double natting issues' and I'm not sure I like the sound of that.

It sounds like Google Nest should work fine if I replace the Smart Hub with a stand alone modem but I've also read about a few issues with setting this up and potential problems with BT TV when not using the Smart Hub?

Another option would be to get the BT Whole Home system but it's unclear if that will have exactly the same issues as it seems to work in the same way as Google Nest WiFi?

I'm totally confused so any advice or accounts of personal experiences would be really appreciated!

[lifeonmars]

I use a Nest Learning Thermostat and have a Google Home speaker that works fine with a BT Smart Hub2 don't know if this helps you.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@zims 

As the home hubs cannot operate in modem mode, you need to use a mesh system which will operate in bridge mode, otherwise you will end up with two separate subnets, which will cause all sorts of issues.

I use the Tenda Nova MW3 system with my router, which has its wifi switched off. This can operate in bridge mode, and works very well. Its very easy to setup.

It costs about £66 for three nodes, one of which you would connect to the home hub. Three nodes are really the minimum, to allow multiple routes. I have a four node system as I wanted to have one node in the garage for some monitoring equipment.

Its controlled from an app, this is my configuration.

[Archie2]

Hi Keith,

I'm about to install a Tenda mesh system and would appreciate a bit of guidance. I have quite a few wireless devices that are connected to my bt router at the moment and all work well, My reason to get a mesh system is to get a wireless signal in my garden, it is non existent at the moment. I also run a BT device connected from the router to give me wifi calling to my mobile phone at the moment as the moble signal is very poor in my area.

I plan to connect the main Tenda unit to my BT router with a network cable, what would the correct method to ensure that all my wireless connected devices re connect when I switch the system on?

1. Should I change the Tenda SSID  and password to my BT router SSID and password ?

2. Should I  switch off my router wifi signal first?

Can anyone please advise as I'm very nervous about installing the Tenda mesh system and I really wouldn't bother but I'm desparate to get a good wifi signal in my garden.

An idiots guide to doing it would be great!

Thanks in Advance,

Archie

[Keith_Beddoe]

A mesh would not automatically extend your wireless to a location which is out of range  of one of the nodes. You may be able to position one of them in a room which overlooks the garden, provided it can connect to another node.

You would turn off the wifi on the home hub, and only use the wifi from the Tenda, otherwise you will get problems.

Connect one of the nodes (WAN/LAN) port to one port of the home hub, and use the Tenda app to add the other nodes. It will soon tell you if a node is too far away from an adjacent node.

I am not using a home hub and use the Tenda in the access (bridge) mode, as I have other devices connected to my network which need to be "seen" by other devices connected to the Tenda.

If you use it in the router mode, then you would have difficulty connecting to other devices which are connected to the home hubs LAN ports, as they would be on a different IP subnet.

[Archie2]

Hi again Keith, Thanks for the reply.

At the moment I have a signal assist connected to my router by cable (Lan ??) that allows me to recieve a signal for my mobile phone, I live in an area which is a blackspot. All my other devices are at the moment connecting to my home hub wirelessly.

My main concern is keeping all the devices working without having to go through reinstalling them again, so my thinking was, to change the Tenda SID and password to the one I'm using at the moment.

What do you think will that work?

If I switch off wirelesson my hub 6, would this stop signal assist working when I setup a tenda wifi mesh?

I intend to connect one of the Tenda devices to the home hub with a cable and setup two other tenda hubs one of which will be overlooking my garden to hopefully, give me a wireless signal in the garden area.

Thanks in advance,

Archie