Using Whole Home WiFi with Smart Hub 2

[dr-mahttan]

Hi,

I've ordered Fibre Essential from BT, and my Smart Hub 2 router arrives in the post on Saturday.  I already use BT Whole Home WiFi (white discs) with my current router.

I know that Whole Home WiFi isn't compatible with the mesh system built in to the Smart Hub 2, but I just want to confirm - can I continue to use my current Whole Home WiFi with the Smart Hub 2, if I turn off the hub's WiFi?

Thanks

[DavidM]

Hi @dr-mahttan and welcome.

Thanks for posting. As far as I now this shouldn't be a problem. Just follow the usual set up steps. Can you post back and let me know how you get on?

Cheers

David

[Moonboots]

I currently have the Whole Home setup with a Smart Hub 2 without any issues.

[dr-mahttan · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the reply @Moonboots - that provided me with some reassurance!

@DavidM- turns out that it was completely straightforward.  Switchover was today, so plugged in the new router, connected the Whole Home disc and it just worked! 👍

[DavidM]

That's great to hear @dr-mahttan. Thanks for letting me know.

Cheers

David

[rickspark]

Hi @DavidM, when you say this 'just worked' can I clarify what you mean?

1. You connected your SmartHub 2, got that working and then plugged your first WholeHome Wifi disc into an ethernet port on the back of the SmartHub 2 or...

2.   You connected your SmartHub 2, got that working and then configured your WholeHome Wifi disc to connect to the SmartHub 2 over Wifi?

[dr-mahttan]

Hi @rickspark 

The first one.  Once I got the HomeHub2 plugged in and working, I just plugged the first WholeHome disc into an ethernet port on the back of the router and that was all I needed to do.

Hope that helps.

[MoE1]

Do you didn’t turn off the wifi on the sh2? and it worked? Thanks

[rickspark]

Hi @MoE1, as you may know, there are two systems and they are different.  This conversation was about Whole Home WiFi  (white discs) and this system works entirely independently of your existing SH Wifi.  This is good because you can switch Internet provider and still use these discs.  Consequently, it does not matter what state your SH2 WiFi is in, or or off, because this system does not use it.

The other system, Complete WiFi (Black discs), extends the WiFi from your BT Smarthub and as you can see, with this system, you're locked into BT.  If you leave BT, you'll need to start over again with a new method of extending your WiFi from your new router.

[MoE1]

Thanks for that @rickspark . I currently have whole home wifi white disks and I get almost the same speed from either disks as I can get from the home hub 6 if I connected to it. Now I’m being offered another package with sh2 and a couple of black disks. Before making final decision My concern is whether I will be getting the same speed on these black disks as I would get from the sh2 itself? or is the hub speed halved? Since the black disks are only repeaters and as such I assume the speed of the hub is almost halved through the black disk. I might be wrong but If the sh2 speed is halved through the black disks then i might stick to my whole home wifi. Appreciate your insight. Many thanks.