Can a non-BT Total Broadband customer use a Home Hub?

Hungerdunger

My ISP is Vodafone at Home, and I connect with an 802.11g Netgear router.

A friend gave me an unwanted BT Home Hub 2.0 as I'd mentioned I'd like to try 802.11n to see if it improved my connection when I'm sitting outside with my laptop.

I managed to get the Home Hub's setup page on the screen, and it mentioned that non-BT customers would need to enter my own login and password. I did this but it came up with an error message:

Invalid entry

The broadband username that you’ve entered is either incorrect or is not supported by your Hub. Please check your username and try again.

The username (which I assume is the "Login" referred to by Vodafone) is correct. Does this mean I won't be able to use the Home Hub, or does anyone have suggestions as to what I might be doing wrong? Have any other non-BT customers managed to install a Home Hub?

HappyChappy84

Hungerdunger wrote: »

My ISP is Vodafone at Home, and I connect with an 802.11g Netgear router.

A friend gave me an unwanted BT Home Hub 2.0 as I'd mentioned I'd like to try 802.11n to see if it improved my connection when I'm sitting outside with my laptop.

I managed to get the Home Hub's setup page on the screen, and it mentioned that non-BT customers would need to enter my own login and password. I did this but it came up with an error message:


The username (which I assume is the "Login" referred to by Vodafone) is correct. Does this mean I won't be able to use the Home Hub, or does anyone have suggestions as to what I might be doing wrong? Have any other non-BT customers managed to install a Home Hub?

If you're hoping that N will improve your internet speed then you are sadly mistaken. Even the most basic routers have a min data transfer speed of 100MBPS and you're internet connection isn't going to come anywhere near that. The weakest link where the internet is concerned is the speed of the internet itself.

N is only really of any advantage if you are transferring large files between all your computers.

System

i think you have to put some new firmware on it to use it like that, you can still use it as a wireless access point/switch, and keep the netgear router for the internet connection - i did this recently with an old home hub pretty easy, this guide tells all http://www.filesaveas.com/jarviser/repeaterhubswired.html

robmar0se

HappyChappy84 wrote: »

If you're hoping that N will improve your internet speed then you are sadly mistaken. Even the most basic routers have a min data transfer speed of 100MBPS and you're internet connection isn't going to come anywhere near that. The weakest link where the internet is concerned is the speed of the internet itself.

N is only really of any advantage if you are transferring large files between all your computers.

I hope the poster above won't be offended but 802.11n not only supposed to improve speed but wireless range as well.

BT HUBS are usually tied to BT subscribers - people do try to unlock these, but I do not know of anyone who has successfully unlocked version 2.0. Bearing this in mind I haven't tried using it as an access point - you would also need to access the interface to turn off certain features such as DHCP plus any DNS settings (and only use the LAN settings and make sure both routers ahve different IP addresses).

HappyChappy84

robmar0se wrote: »

I hope the poster above won't be offended but 802.11n not only supposed to improve speed but wireless range as well.

I could well be wrong but I can see how they can improve the speed of the internet coming down from the exchange to the house. :S

Hungerdunger

HappyChappy84 wrote: »

If you're hoping that N will improve your internet speed then you are sadly mistaken.

May be I didn't explain myself well enough. I'm not after a speed increase, but currently my laptop often drops the connection as soon as it goes outside - that's what I'd like to improve.

robmar0se

HappyChappy84 wrote: »

I could well be wrong but I can see how they can improve the speed of the internet coming down from the exchange to the house. :S

Hi, no on that count you are right........

Perhaps if I said that N is better in terms of speed and range when compared to G it would be better. The OP was indicating that he wanted to use his laptop in the garden and certainly N is better than G at longer ranges. Wireless signals do degrade due to many factors being a combination of distance and what they have to penetrate. So It is possible that the wireless signal is lower than the line or wired connections can provide, hence N may improve this - obviously it cannot be faster than the teline can provide.

I hope that this clarifies matters, apologies if I gave any offence.

HappyChappy84

robmar0se wrote: »

Hi, no on that count you are right........

Perhaps if I said that N is better in terms of speed and range when compared to G it would be better. The OP was indicating that he wanted to use his laptop in the garden and certainly N is better than G at longer ranges. Wireless signals do degrade due to many factors being a combination of distance and what they have to penetrate. So It is possible that the wireless signal is lower than the line or wired connections can provide, hence N may improve this - obviously it cannot be faster than the teline can provide.

I hope that this clarifies matters, apologies if I gave any offence.

No offence taken, and now that you've explained I understand better.

I don't know anything about the HomeHub but if you are going to be outside then may I suggest that you use the 2.4GHz as opposed to 5GHz (If you have those options). As for 5GHz you need to "in line of sight" for the best performance and the brick wall between you and modem will not help matters.

sonstream

well while this has turned into a speed arguement.....

i recently moved into a shared house where there is a free virgin media broadband connection... it's networked up through out the house with one wall socket in each room 8 in total there is just a crappy netgear router and another switch running it all now i have a sony bravia tv, laptop, xbox 360 and a network attached storage that connects via eithernet, obviously more than the one socket in my bedroom didnt fancy plugging un plugging ect. now tucked away in a bag i had two bt home hub 2.0 and thought i wonder...... no firmware hacking ect just had to change the ip address from 192.168.1.254 (default ip for the hub) to one that the netgear router recognises within the ip range set the wireless up again ssid wpa pass ect and it worked as a switch and also my htc desire android phone got wireless through it. total result except my netbook hp mini 110 sumthing or another on rubbish win7 starter found the wireless but would only connect to certain webpages the rest would go through bt home hub and wouldn't connect.. past few days i put win 7 ultim ate on the netbook and it works with the wireless with no problems at all so i have one hub in my room and another in the lounge working fine eithernet and wireless. so my answer is yes you can even not on adsl !! :rotfl:

Phil_L_2

PsiDOC.com

will tell you everything you need

Hungerdunger

Phil_L wrote: »

PsiDOC.com

will tell you everything you need

It did indeed! Many thanks for that. I've now got my connection working, and at midnight I was sitting outside with a good signal, even if it was rather chilly!