Want to use the Home Hub with a second router? Or looking to use the Hub as a secondary hub to extend your wi-fi range? Here's some hints.
Using the BT Home Hub as the main router
We've been asked to help with the following: "I'm considering moving to BT Broadband but want to keep my existing D-Link Wireless-N wireless router and gigabit Ethernet switch. Is it possible to disable the wireless access on the BT Home Hub, using it only as an initial entry modem/router+ IP Phone device?"
The answer is "yes", provided your other router can work as a switch. Here's what you need to do
- Connect from one of the Home Hub's Ethernet ports to the main port on your other router/switch
- Disable wi-fi on the Home Hub - details
- Log in to the Home Hub interface and turn off DHCP. On the Hub v1, go to 'Advanced > Configuration > IP Addresses'. On the Hub v2m go to 'Settings > Advanced > Home Network > IP addresses' and deselect the "Use DHCP Server" option.
Doing this should make your other router responsible for assigning IP addresses and wireless connectivity (so you'll need to enable DHCP and wireless on the other router).
Using the Home Hub as a secondary router
We wanted to find a way of getting our BT Home Hub to work with an existing ADSL router and BT Broadband. This was so that could get broadband in two different parts of our office (ready for BT Vision). Our second router is a Netgear DG834PN.
We found a solution in the end, as follows:
- First, we turned off the Netgear router's DHCP service, by accessing the Belkin Router's configuration software
- There didn't seem to be a way of using the Netgear router as a wi-fi receiver (to get a wireless signal from the BT Home Hub) - it was able to advertise itself as a wireless access point, but not able to make use of another router's wireless signal for Internet access. The way around this for us was to make use of a wi-fi Game Adapter (the Belkin G Wireless Network Adapter F5D7330). This has an Ethernet port and is meant to be used for connecting a games console that doesn't have wifi, to a wireless network. At the time of writing, this Network Adapter is available at Misco
and PC World. - We configured the Belkin Game Adapter for wireless Internet access by connecting directly to a PC and using the Belkin configuration software. We had to make sure the Adapter was using an IP address and subnet in the range expected by the Home Hub. We then connected the adapter into the first port of our Netgear router using an RJ45 Ethernet cable.
- The Netgear router recognised the connection, and other devices plugged into the other ports on the Netgear router were able to make use of the Belkin Game Adapter's Internet connection.
- This solution works a treat for us, but we were surprised there wasn't an easier way. See the thread at FileSaveAs forum to discuss this.
Using a second BT Home Hub
A question from Graham: "I currently have my BT Home Hub in a room upstairs connected to a PC and I am considering getting BT Vision. If I purchased a second hub for downstairs, would both hubs work?"
You can't have two BT Home Hubs directly connected to a broadband-enabled phone line at the same time - you can only have one Broadband Advice modem in use on any one line. The best option is to site your Home Hub close to your TV (for Vision), then use a USB wi-fi adapter for your PC upstairs.
Thanks to Darren for adding the following: "You can have two BT home hubs, (or a second router), one as a repeater. All you do is select the repeater option on both, and on your main one, configure the address of the second one to use as a repeater, just that the second one has no ADSL line going into it".
There's more on this process on the Jarviser Repeater Hubs page, although note that it seems that this process isn't possible with the BT Home Hub v2.0
Need more Home Hub help?
We have a number of other pages offering help and advice on the Home Hub:
- Home Hub Security Settings
- Home Hub Port Forwarding
- Home Hub Phones and Telephony
- Logging in to your Home Hub
- Home Hub USB sockets
- Wireless settings on a Home Hub
- Troubleshooting Home Hub Problems
- Using a BT Home Hub with a second router
If you've got any questions we've not covered, or need help and advice, please ask in our Home Hub forum - Sign up and post a new message.
When posting - please make sure you include details of your computer's operating system (XP, Vista, etc), which Service Packs have been applied, the software version your Hub's running, and how you're connecting (Ethernet, wi-fi or USB)
Go to Home Hub Forum
Other Home Hub resources:
- Hub Information: BT Home Hub Basics
- Common Questions: Home Hub FAQ , Home Hub Audio Guide
- BT Fon Help: BT Fon Information
- Internet on the move? Mobile Broadband help
- Home Hub Chat: Home Hub Forum
- Help with wireless? Wi-fi Networking Advice
PODCAST FEATURE: The "Unofficial Guide to the Home Hub" is a free downloadable audio file, helping with many setup and config issues.
Listen to the show online, or download it to your MP3 player.
Listen to Home Hub Guide | What is FrequencyCast? | Add us to iTunes
FAQs
BT Home Hub Help - Using a Second Router
- Connect from one of the Home Hub's Ethernet ports to the main port on your other router/switch.
- Disable wi-fi on the Home Hub - details.
- Log in to the Home Hub interface and turn off DHCP. On the Hub v1, go to 'Advanced > Configuration > IP Addresses'.
As has been pointed out already in this thread, if you want to use the BT Digital Phone system, you must use the BT Smarthub 2. If you also want to use your own router, the Smarthub 2 must be used as the first device and your own router would be connected to that.
Does adding a second router help? ›
The benefits that you'll encounter when using multiple routers are based around an increase in connectivity and performance from your home broadband. More devices in a wider area will be able to connect wirelessly, with signal being projected further than with just one router.
Can I swap my BT Home Hub for another router? ›
Re: Replacing BT Smart Hub 2
If you have Digital Voice then you must keep the SH2 as the first device but can connect a router to it and use the router to do your hard work. If you have FTTC or GFast then as above. If you have Fibre 100/500/900 then you should be OK connecting the TP-Link router directly to the ONT.
How do I use 2 routers on the same network? ›
Plug one end of the Ethernet cable to one of your primary router's LAN (Ethernet) ports, and the other into to any available LAN port on secondary router. Restart both routers once connected. You can do this by unplugging each router's power cable and plugging it back in a few seconds later.
Can you have 2 Internet routers in the same house? ›
Yes, you can use two WiFi routers in the same house. A second router can extend your internet signal and capacity and solve many of your home WiFi issues. This includes dead zones and patchy connections. However, using two routers can lead to signal interference.
What is the best alternative router for BT? ›
Netgear Nighthawk RAX80 is good choice.
Is BT Home Hub a router or modem? ›
The BT Smart Hub (formerly BT Home Hub) is a family of wireless residential gateway router modems distributed by BT for use with their own products and services and those of wholesale resellers (i.e. LLUs) but not with other Internet services.
How can I boost my BT WiFi? ›
If you put your hub or router in a central location, you'll reduce the number of walls slowing down your signal. Move it away from any windows, this will stop the signal from going outside. Keep it out in the open – not in a cabinet, on the floor or stuck behind a TV. Keep it away from anything electrical or metal.
Will an extra router increase Internet speed? ›
A router doesn't increase the speed of your internet connection. A 100Mbps plan remains as a 100Mbps plan, and there's nothing you can do or add to increase your speed outside upgrading to a faster plan. But a router can make or break the connections on your side of the modem or ONT.
If you have a second router you can turn it into a WiFi repeater to boost your internet WiFi signal in the home or office. It is best to place it not too far from the main router.
How do I extend my WiFi with a second router? ›
Connect an Ethernet cable to an Ethernet port on your main internet router. Plug the other end of this Ethernet cable into the WAN port on the secondary router you want to use as a Wi-Fi repeater. Log into your secondary router's admin settings by using its IP address and login information.
Can I get a new BT Home Hub for free? ›
Does BT replace old routers for free? You'll get a new BT router for free if you sign up for a new deal or if you extend your existing contract and have an older model. However, if you want to get a new router without changing deals or feel your current router is faulty, you'll need to contact BT and ask for one.
Is it worth changing my BT router? ›
It would seem that router already has WiFi rated at 1733 Mbps on 5 GHz band and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band and is compatible with TP-Link's OneMesh. So unless you have devices that are compatible with WiFi6 then there's not much point in upgrading at present.
Can I use BT Smart Hub as modem only? ›
You'll need to enable the Bridging feature. When you enable Bridge mode, your Hub will act as a modem only. This will disable any router features, such as NAT, DHCP, and DNS.
How do you connect a router to a hub? ›
Connect the hub to the router using an Ethernet cable
Connect an Ethernet cable from the WAN port to the Ethernet port of the internet modem to an available LAN port on the router, switch, or hub of the current network.
How many devices can I connect to my BT Home hub? ›
You are limited by the number of IP addresses that the home hub can issue. Typically 192.168. 1.64 to 192.168. 1.252 i.e 188 devices.
Can I use a BT Smart Hub 2 as a wifi extender? ›
It's extremely straightforward, just give the second hub an IP address outside of the DHCP range of the main hub, turn off DHCP on the second hub and connect the 2 LAN port to LAN port.
How do I put my BT Smart Hub 2 in bridge mode? ›
Choose the Broadband tab, then click on the Routing tab. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to Bridging. Tick Yes next to Enabled. Click Yes on the next screen to finish the process.
g(447862)a(386649) "BT Home Hub Help - Using a Second Router (1)")
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PODCAST FEATURE: The "Unofficial Guide to the Home Hub" is a free downloadable audio file, helping with many setup and config issues. 