EE Smart Hub Plus

[andEE2]

I was switched by BT to EE in December 2024. Already had an ageing BT router so expected to be sent an EE Smart Hub Plus router as part of the new deal. How do I obtain that new router?

[JimM11]

@andEE2 The terms and conditions with moving from BT to EE as the Broadband provider, then if either BT or EE deem that the BT Smarthub2 router and any existing Smart Wireless devices are good enough then you do not get anything replaced.

You won't be able to obtain, but you could always call EE CS and see if they would be prepared to swap it out for you, they may do so or ask you to sign up again for 24 months. There is always the chance if you wished to addon the Smart wireless devices, but those will cost you either £7 or £10 per month plus / pro for the 24 months of the contract. 

[dpreeyore]

You should be so lucky! Don’t go anywhere near the new EE kit. It’s absolute rubbish compared to the old BT system with either white or black WholeHome disks. Do a Google search on the issues and read the AI-generated summary. It reports exactly my experience of trying to achieve a stable coverage in my house after a forced move to EE after relocating.

[andEE2]

Many thanks; perhaps it was wishdful thinking on my part to assume a new contract from a "new" supplier would mean new kit!

[andEE2]

Very helpful, thank you. I had understood that the EE router supports Wi-Fi 6, compared to BTs Wi-Fi 5, but if it's not as good then I'm happy to stick.

[JimM11]

@andEE2 The EE Smarthub+ was rock solid although very restricted for operation as user was well clamped down for any changes, the latest FW that EE pushed to the router turned it from good to a dog in operation. The BT router had a FW update recently but it still seems to be operating good as far as the Forum see's anyway.

BT Smarthub2 is a pretty good specked router although wi-fi 5 in operation, if you have less than and to FF500 then no concern's both Ethernet and wireless will manage up to those speeds to the Internet.

[andEE2]

Thanks again for this added info.

[dpreeyore]

I want to try just that. Unfortunately BT are asking for my old ‘kit’ to be returned, otherwise I will be fined! They have never threatened fines before, and they are welcome to have back two or three iterations of their routers that never got returned.. but I want to keep the SH2 for now at least. My main issue with going ‘backwards’ at this stage is that I have so many internet devices to change the router details on. It would at least return my three white, and paid for (!)  BT disks to use!

[JimM11]

@dpreeyore 1st off, the BT returns is 60 day's from activation so there is plenty time to keep, test and make the decision what is best to keep and then argue the case with EE CS.

Each router going in and setting the same ssid and password for the Wi-Fi, also the admin if you wish to do so, then you will be able to plug in and more than likely find everything connect's to each / either router fine. You may get the odd item that does not, web interface nic connected is the best way to do it, http://192.168.1.254 to get to the unit...

[dpreeyore]

Where does this info come from? It’s the first I’ve heard of any of it, especially the ability to compare old and new kit. I’m reasonably computer literate, but I’m afraid some of this is beyond my knowledge, and I would also ask, how is the ‘ordinary’ user supposed to deal with these problems? Are you saying that effectively I can apply the old BT-HQxxxx router name to my new EE-xxxx router, or vice versa, and have them recognised as they were previously??