topic Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender? in Broadband & Landline

How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

HavesomeQs_123 — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:52 GMT

I understand that my old BT smart hub 2 can be used as a WiFi extender (I am now using EE hub) by using the admin settings to change my old hub to repeating mode?

however I am struggling as to how I can access the admin for the old hub as I can only seem to access the new one?

Any advice much appreciated!

(I have looked into some cheaper WiFi extenders on Amazon etc, but there is so much choice and mixed reviews, plus if I am able to use the old hub this would be great as no additional cost).

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:09:54 GMT

You may connect to both routers at once from the same device if 1 is connected by Ethernet & the other over WiFi. I do it all the time. How do you connect to your EE router?

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

Mustrum — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:18:13 GMT

@HavesomeQs_123 what EE router do you have, and what broadband service and speed?

As you have discovered the admin page is accessed by the same ip address, so you need to do something about that. Turn DHCP off on the BT one, and connect both via LAN ports. However you can run into other issues.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:36 GMT

You can temporarily disable the adapter to which the EE is connected while you mess around with the settings of the BT SH2 to avoid any IP clash.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

HavesomeQs_123 — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:34:31 GMT

To do this would I just disconnect the EE hub and plug in the old Bt on - change the settings and then reconnect my EE hub?

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

JimM11 — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

@HavesomeQs_123 You may find the BT Forum link more helpful.

Solved: Setting up a Smart Hub 2 as an Access Point - BT Community

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:04:22 GMT

That's 1 way. What device are you wanting to do it from & does it have both Ethernet ports & WiFi?

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

HavesomeQs_123 — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:30:59 GMT

So looking to have the Bt hub (as extender) upstairs to help with some WiFi black spots. So trying to use WiFi rather than Ethernet

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

Mustrum — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:45:07 GMT

@HavesomeQs_123 then you need a new plan. You can't use the BT as an extender via WiFi.

Depending on the EE Router, you could get the extenders designed for that router.

Or a more generic one from the vendor of your choice.

Option 3 a dedicated mesh system.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:12:34 GMT

I'm not asking about how you intend to use the BTSH2 as an extender eventually in anger but how you can use it for that short period beforehand to set its settings up in order to do so. What devices have available to do that & do they have both Ethernet ports & WiFi?

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

Mustrum — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:05:43 GMT

@XRaySpeX wrote:

I'm not asking about how you intend to use the EE SH2 as an extender eventually in anger but how you can use it for that short period beforehand to set its settings up in order to do so. What devices have available to do that & do they have both Ethernet ports & WiFi?

But you are not the OP, and seemed to have misunderstood the OP's question, and gone off on a tangent.

What is an EE SH2

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:23:35 GMT

I don't think so, @Mustrum . The OP is asking how he can get into router initially to change some of its settings to prepare it for later as an extender.. None of my post claims or implies that I'm the OP. What are you playing at? You are just confusing everything! We are obviously at cross-purposes.

"EE SH2" was obviously a typo in the context & title of this thread.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

Mustrum — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:43:52 GMT

@XRaySpeX yes that is one way of looking at it. But is that the real issue?

I took the primary objective to be as per the title and the subsequent post from the OP.

How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

and

So looking to have the Bt hub (as extender) upstairs to help with some WiFi black spots. So trying to use WiFi rather than Ethernet

Hence my question about going off at a tangent, and yes agree cross purposes.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:01:01 GMT

@Mustrum : Yes, I was considering as the immediate issue, before any extending can be attempted, the Q of:

"how I can access the admin for the old hub as I can only seem to access the new one?"

I haven't even attempted to address the Q of whether the OP's objective of using it as an extender is even possible. It could well not be. I'm not qualified to say so. It is probably more a Q for the BT Community as @JimM11 suggested.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

Mustrum — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:09:15 GMT

@XRaySpeX you are getting too modest in your old age!!

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Broadband-Landline/To-make-a-second-Brightbox-as-a-WAP-on-your-LAN-to-the-main/td-p/666165

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:12:05 GMT

LOL! That thread disappeared for a few days to Archive until I got it back yesterday.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

HavesomeQs_123 — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 08:10:38 GMT

ahh okay, was just planning on using my phone to access the admin portal of the BTSH2 through WiFi - if that’s possible?

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 09:28:15 GMT

Yes, it is. It'll be off the EE router while you do so.

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

HavesomeQs_123 — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:18:07 GMT

Okay, so if I understand.. I disconnect the EE router and plug in BTSH2 to change the settings on hub manager (looking for AP or repeater?)

then reconnect EE hub and plug in BTSH2 which should then work as extender?

Re: How to use BT smart hub 2 as wireless WiFi extender?

XRaySpeX — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:22:30 GMT

Well, you are not exactly "plugging in". You are connecting by WiFi.

As to the rest I couldn't guarantee "should then work as extender". It was you in your OP that said you understood how this is done. I never did!