BT WiFi Discs

[Mitch3]

Hi. We have BT FTTC broadband and a BT Smart Hub 2. We use a TP Link Access Point to connect 2.4GHz devices to WiFi - battery security cameras. The access point  is connected to the Smart Hub by Ethernet cable. We have had no problems with this arrangement,  however we want to install an outside camera but the WiFi signal disappears at the side of our house where we want to install the device. 

If we installed a BT WiFi disc, is it likely to also boost the TP Link access point connected to the BT Smart Hub 2?

Thanks Mitch.

[ptrduffy]

No, the disc will not improve the TP-Link AP signal.  It may provide enough additional coverage to the SH2's own 2.4GHz signal to enable your camera to connect to that, however.

[Mitch3]

Thanks very much for replying. It was worth a try. We cannot connect 2.4Ghz devices to our SH2 because it is combined 2.4 and 5Ghz and they don't seem to like that. The TP Link allows us to specify 2.4. Thanks again. 

[naylor2006]

@Mitch3 said:

Thanks very much for replying. It was worth a try. We cannot connect 2.4Ghz devices to our SH2 because it is combined 2.4 and 5Ghz and they don't seem to like that. The TP Link allows us to specify 2.4. Thanks again. 

Normally this shouldnt be an issue, 2.4Ghz only client devices can connect to a dual band router that doesnt have its bands separated, the BT SH2 is no exception and handles this fine.

If problems arise the best thing to do with the SH2 is to switch off the 5Ghz band whilst you onboard 2.4Ghz items, once all connected switch it back on again.

With the wider issue in the original post, expanding coverage is best achieved by running an ethernet cable to an additional Access Point hooked back to the main router, this allows that access point to get full wack and serve its connected devices the best it can. You can also extend by setting up multiple BT Complete WIFI discs but if these are all connecting to each other over WIFI then you can expect around a 50% drop in bandwidth between each disc as they hop from the source. 

[Mitch3]

Hi naylor2006. Thanks for the info. I know that SH2 broadcasts a combined 2.4Ghz/5Ghz signal. Our previous non BT Router allowed for separate signals to be broadcast but this is not possible with SH2. Would Tech Support be able to separate out the 2 bands as this is not a user option AFAIK?

We already use an Ethernet cable to connect the TP Link Access Point to the SH2, but due to the house layout the TP is in the same room as the SH2. There are a couple of walls between the TP/SH2 and where we want to locate the camera and they are obviously killing the signal. 

Thanks for your help.

[naylor2006]

Yeah I know you cant split it and it broadcast combined signals...

My point was when using the SH2, you can switch of the individual bands in the Router, so in other words if there are devices which dont like onboarding themselves to the WIFI because of the dual band nature...then switch off the 5Ghz band whilst you are onboarding 2.4Ghz devices, once done turn it back on.

@Mitch3 said:

We cannot connect 2.4Ghz devices to our SH2 because it is combined 2.4 and 5Ghz and they don't seem to like that

No techsupport cannot split them but my statement above remains the recommended thing to try if 2.4Ghz items will not join.

Alternatively, switch off the WIFI all together on the SH2 and get another TP Link Access Point, did you get DECO or something?...then run an ethernet to this AP and put it closer to where the coverage is required, its the only way sometimes. If ethernet is no go at all then MESH could do it for you so long as the secondary AP can reach the master well enough, that is of course if that is a MESH capable AP you already have.

In my house I have the typical outside cameras and doorbells and they are murder to connect to the WIFI because they are literally sitting on external concrete walls with brick and render....the only way is to get WIFI closer to them via additional access points etc, in fact I got so annoyed evening I just drilled a hole and mounted one outside which solved everything.....

[Mitch3]

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to reply.  I tried your suggestion of turning off 5Ghz on SH2 and connected the camera to the remaining 2.4 band - and it worked.  The SH2 signal again disappears at the outside location,  but I could install a BT WiFi disc directly through the wall from where the camera would go, if that would strengthen the signal in that area. I'm not sure what BT's policy is with this. I'm grateful for your help.  

[naylor2006]

Hi @Mitch3 

Sounds like you are facing an entirely ordinary issue that alot of people do with WIFI and it passing through concrete walls. Newer houses with stud partition walls dont have as many issues inside but I think we all face the 'outside' issue as most houses in the UK will have brick and some form of concrete walls.....making it hard for WIFI to penetrate, even the 2.4Ghz band. I really sympathize, goodness only knows whats in my walls but I have had to install a lot of AP's around my house to actually give everyone solid WIFI and outside I have literally put AP's outside. I think the latter is particularly bad because we have old double brick work walls and two layers of render, the old and then the new we put on. The external wall is around 400mm thick.

If you have BT Black Complete discs then yes you do not own them, although I think you can still pick them up on ebay but they only work with specific BT hubs so not really that useful to own them....point is yeah you'll need to give them back at the end of the contract etc. With that said if you are putting one outside its likely to get damaged.

I used to have Wholehome all over which is going to work the same for the purpose of this post, I wanted one outside for my garden for reasons already discussed, what I did was drill through the wall a large enough hole that I could pass an ethernet through and the power jack for the disc, then I got one of those IP boxes: example below...

Drilled through the back of it and passed the power and ethernet inside it, then put the disc inside the box, mounted it to the wall and ensured there was suitable sealant where the cables came through.

I ran a Wholehome disc like this outside for 3 years and it was great, just an idea for you. You can buy AP's rated for outside, I use a couple Unifi Swiss Army Knifes for that now so dont need boxes but the Complete disc is definitely not rated for outside 🙂

[Mitch3]

Hi naylor2006. Thanks again. I'm not sure if a BT disc is the answer. I could put either a disc or extender/booster next to the outside wall (on the inside) and site the camera on the exterior wall close by. The walls are breeze block with roughcast so not like castle walls! Instead of signing up for the BT disc, I thought about plugging in a TP-Link AC1200 RE300 Extender/booster in the hope that the signal would pass through the wall to the camera on the outside. The SH2 is in a room directly above. I suppose the only way to find out is to try it and see.

I appreciate your help and advice.

[naylor2006]

I tried this for a while to get my Ring Doorbell to work, in fact I used a TP-Link plug extender just like that, it didnt work and was nowhere near powerful enough to penetrate the wall to the other side. In fact it wasnt more powerful to the Ring Doorbell than the existing WIFI it was trying to boost.

You may end up having to do something more dramatic.

Good luck though.