BT HomeHub equipment warm - safe to leave on when away?

Neil_Jones

There are various programs around that will show you what channel you are on (not all routers tell you this) and also what channels other people are on so you can either reduce interference on your part or avoid clashes with other networks.

Vistumbler (https://www.vistumbler.net/) is an example and here it is in action (click to blow up)


You may just be surprised at how many wireless networks there are your computer can see and why speeds can and do drop if they're all working on the same small part of the spectrum.

Roger1

Possibly a silly question. How do I select a channel with my BT router and HomeHub6? Thanks.

Neil_Jones

Roger1 wrote: »

Possibly a silly question. How do I select a channel with my BT router and HomeHub6? Thanks.

There are no silly questions.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14094/~/how-do-i-change-the-wireless-channel-on-my-bt-hub will tell you where to go, the Home Hub 6 is the Smart Hub.

Strider590

Lumstorm wrote: »

This is why your router shouldn't be set to auto. You should check what channels are being used around you and pick the best option from channels 1,6 or 11.

I think you misread.............
My WiFi channel is not set to auto, my neighbours is, so randomly every day their routers pick my channel and frack everything up.

debitcardmayhem

RumRat wrote: »

I haven't turned a router off, other than the occasional refresh, for at least 15 years.....Never had any problems and the house hasn't been consumed in flames.
I know some people like to turn them off when they go on annual holiday etc. and that's a personal choice and certainly not a requirement.

Indeed it is personal choice, my neighbours turn theirs off , but then again they also turn off their home security too , which monitors their fire and burglar alarms :eek::D

esuhl

Dreamnine wrote: »

I spent 2 months in hospital and didn't come home to a fire so I would say, yes, perfectly safe.

My grandmother smoked 60 cigarettes a day and lived to be 92, so I would say, yes, it's perfectly safe to smoke.

Roger1

Roger1 wrote: »

Thanks to all for very helpful advice!

I have learnt that it's safe even preferable to leave the units switched on. Units are well ventilated. I'll do this, except when away for a week or more.

Well, we've just returned after a week away. I switched off the TV before we left, and doing that switched off the HomeHub. I left the router switched on.

Switching on again on our return yesterday, it took a while while BT was 'waking up'. I guess this was normal and the Freeview channels are there. However, we get an error message on trying the internet channels, the 300's and the 400's. The message says there's a problem and we should check our connections. Done that but still get the error message.

I'm almost ready to do a full reset. Should I? Is there anything I should try first?

Many thanks in advance.

Roger1

Roger1 wrote: »

... we get an error message on trying the internet channels, the 300's and the 400's. The message says there's a problem and we should check our connections. Done that but still get the error message.

False alarm.

I unplugged mains connections (in another room) and tried again. Everything is now OK.

I had no idea the Windows principle - switch off and on again - would be so simple.

Sosumi

We were given a free Home Hub when we switched from Plusnet to BT itself, earlier this year. We don’t use it, though: I prefer my own, far better featured wireless-modem-router.

I run that off the same UPS (uninterruptible power supply) unit as our Sky+HD box and our Humax Freesat HD box and all three remain permanently on (so, no lost recordings), even during powercuts. The UPS also filters out the spikes in our electricity supply and protects against surges.

When we go away, I leave them on but switch off the wireless part of it; not so much to save energy but to ensure that nobody rides our wi-fi when I'm not around to prevent it!