topic Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking in Broadband & Landline

Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

MBRE_01 — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 17:50:13 GMT

Hi,

I've been reading that the USB port at the back of the EE Smart Hub 2 router cannot be used to connect a USB Flash drive to the network. At least, there is no discovery of a USB stick on the Manager Hub/App.

So, I'm led to believe it is only there basically as a power socket.

If this is the case, what if anything could be plugged into the router (by adding on some kind of peripheral eg Male Ethernet/Female USB adaptor ; a different router, etc) to get the a USB network functionality ?

Thanks.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

XRaySpeX — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 18:33:39 GMT

@MBRE_01 : There is a BT Smart Hub 2 & there's a EE Smart Hub Plus. Which is it?

On the EE SH+ the USB port is not for an attached network drive or flash drive. I believe it's only intended for developers'/engineers' use or perhaps may be used as a power source. The BT SH2 is probably the same.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

MBRE_01 — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:27:08 GMT

Hi - Yes, I've said it's an EE Smart Hub 2.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

MBRE_01 — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:28:22 GMT

EE Smart Hub Plus...Sorry

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

SMcA — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:11:35 GMT

I have just renewed my broadband contract and they sent me the latest EE wifi 6 hub and one smart wifi extender. Originally I had the BT Smart hub 2 with 4 wifi extenders and had a 1TB drive connected to the usb to maintain my windows laptop back up files automatically in the background. This was working well and I assumed any router upgrade would allow me to use the USB facility likewise. So after going through all of the transferring of all of my smart devices to the new hub I then try to up the windows back up and after discussing with EE find that they have not fitted the communication facilities on the usb port. Now I'm faced with reinstalling my old hub and sending the new hub back. So anyone else offered the new EE hub should reconsider if they want to use the usb port to create a network drive. EE not at all sympathetic about this issue as they think I am alone in wanting this functionality.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

XRaySpeX — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:39:03 GMT

@SMcA : Then they are clueless! I understand the USB port is only for developers'/engs' use.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

MBRE_01 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:33:44 GMT

I agree with your concerns. I felt EE has sold us customers short. I regret returning my earlier BT router.

On other matter re VOIP calls :- Also try to hard wire your phone to the back of the router. The wireless adaptor they supplied me kept tripping out, and lost connection to the router, and thus lost the ability to make outgoing or receive incoming calls. There is no alarm/signal to show the signal is lost, which I think is a bad fault in the system.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

Gaz3854 — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 23:48:06 GMT

Yes, I upgraded my BT Smart hub 2 to the supposedly new EE router which I was told would be much better and was told that it would allow you to create different wi-fi IDs for the 2.4GHz and 5Ghz which was would have been very useful to me - but it doesn't. I think the person selling it to me over phone would have said it could cook popcorn and fly me to the moon to get me to agree but there you go. Also as, already discussed the USB port on the rear won't communicate with a USB drive/HDD my very homehub3 does and have it my my external garage to provide wifi in the garden and a remote USB drive to provide remote storage for family photos. So the new, wonderous, EE which was sold to me seems to be the old Smart Hub 2, in much larger case, with an extra layer of cr*p added when you access as you have to watch the stupid EE logo combine before you get to the settings page. Also when I changed over I was told it would be a seamless change to the wonderful new world of EE except they didn't change my direct debit over and after three months cancelled my contract for non-payment and tried to charge me a £360 penalty which I eventually got cancelled but it was hassle. Sorry for the rant

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

MBRE_01 — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:09:53 GMT

You have described a catalogue of errors (deliberate or not by BT/EE) .

You have every right to feel hard done by. I'm getting into the habit of making constructive criticism on Trust Pilot. Companies hate to be shamed with a low rating. Plus it's more public. Quite often, a company may try to rectify the problem, and others (like Hotter Shoes) try to fob you off. May be worth a try?

Back to EE, the router's half the problem. Other issues are the transfer of analogue calls over the net. There's no way to alert the customer when the line trips out resulting in no calls in or out. The only solution EE gave was to reset the router. off and on. Another fault is the caller ID. Some caller ID's are detected and some aren't.

Way to much for a customer service agent at EE to fix (and that includes transferring the problem to the right department)

Overall, a 1 to 2 / 10.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

ShorehamNICK — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 22:36:00 GMT

Thanks for the useful comments here I too was wondering why my attached usb drive was not being recognised on the network, being an IT professional I was frustrated I couldn’t fathom this, I had not accounted for the fact EE would have degraded the ‘upgraded’ hub , I’m forced to move to EE as I’m informed the BT is no longer an option, I do have alternatives so I’m not too fussed however the should make it clear the USB is effectively only for engineers,

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

XRaySpeX — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:24:53 GMT

It will also be another charging point for your mobile as it is a powered USB but w/out any other user functionality 😉 .

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

ChungaLunga — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:07:07 GMT

Nope, you're definitely not alone, my previous hub worked great in that respect, network drive easily configured to .....1.254/usb0 all was good as a media source and a backup, but now it's useless and I'm left trying to justify cause for a NAS. I'm certain this is simply a software restriction on the hub and that could be resolved with an update. I'll make some calls.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

RobT999 — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:58:42 GMT

Did you make some calls?

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

XRaySpeX — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:08:21 GMT

@RobT999 : There wouldn't be any point. The USB port does not support attached file drives.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

ChungaLunga — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:32:11 GMT

I did yes, it seems they dropped support for the usb as a storage Device
with the new hub. Which is stupid.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

RobT999 — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:08:21 GMT

It does I have it up n running, I have a 4 port in too 🙂

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

XRaySpeX — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:22:00 GMT

@RobT999 : What is "it"? Which EE router are you using? This thread is about the EE Smart Hub Plus.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

missionman05 — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:57:39 GMT

I am also very surprised and disappointed by the lack of functionality in the USB port. I have just upgraded from a very old router and service provider (I am talking maybe 10 years old) with another company that had a drive attached. I assumed - wrongly - that my new EE Smart Hub Plus router would have this capability... Has anyone managed to find a way to attach a drive of some description to the router, by ethernet (e.g. NAS drives, but relatively cheaply)?

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

bobpullen — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 07:30:35 GMT

@missionman05 - should be relatively trivial to use any Ethernet-based attached storage. There's no doubt other options, but something built using a Raspberry Pi is probably on the cheaper end.

Re: Smart Hub 2 - USB Networking

hevster_uk — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:34:14 GMT

Another here who sees my transfer to EE broadband from BT as a downgrade that has lost me functionality and is going to cost me money investing in a new NAS I previously didn’t need. EE seem to be masters of leaving out key details or sailing close to the wind on misrepresenting things.