Smart Hub 2

[FredBloggs60]

Hi, I've just received a SH2 as part of their forced DV Rollout and have multiple issues which I'll address one at a time.

My existing hub has 4 ethernet ports with all in use and required. The new SH2 only has 3. 

Can BT supply any other hubs with 4 ports, or can I just keep my original hub plugged in and will it work after the switch over. ( I don't need DV phone connection as I no longer use landline anyway )

PS I'm 72 yrs old so please keep it simple. 🙂

[licquorice]

If you are just moving to Digital Voice and not moving to full fibre, the Smart 2 still has 4 LAN ports. Port 4 is only toggled to become a WAN port if you have full fibre. If you are not moving to full fibre and you don't need voice capability, you can stick with your old hub if you wish.

PS no idea why you need to keep the answer simple because you are 72. I'm older than that.

[chrisjp · Accepted solution]

If you don't need or use your telephone then you don't need DV and your existing hub will continue to work for broadband.
But the SH2 does have 4 ethernet ports - it's just that one of these (No 4) can be switched to work as a WAN to accept input from a full fbre to the premises (FTTP) broadband connection. This is the one that on some SH2s (but not all) is coloured red instead of yellow.
If however you have fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) broadband, you can switch this ethernet port back to a standard LAN ethernet port.
If that isn't possible, you can use a simple ethernet switch to provide you with more ethernet ports. Although called a "switch" it provides a number of ethernet ports which are all on all the time just like the ports in the hub.
BTW, I'm 77 - I hope I've kept this simple enough!

[FredBloggs60]

Thanks and apologies to our elders who are smarter than me 😉 🙂