Is it cheaper to just but a BT Smart Hub 2 and WiFi Disc separately?

billpayer1

My current deal with  BT is £30.87 for Fibre 2 with 60Mb guaranteed speed . Coverage is quite patchy in some parts of my house so I might be able to solve it with a SmarthuB 2 and Wifi Disc. BT is offering an 'upgrade' costing an extra £15.12 a month for this equipment but with the same 60mb speed. However the BT shop is also offering a Smart Hub 2 and WiFi disc to buy outright for  £210 (incl delivery) So it it would pay for itself within 14 months. Seems to make sense - what am I missing here? 

Neil_Jones

You don't need to use an ISP router for your internet, feel free to use something else, and you don't necessarily need to use their disks either.

Third party routers may provide better wireless range, though the SmartHub2 is regarded as being pretty good in that department as it is.

Other solutions to wifi problems are available, but if you buy your own disks then any ISP offers of "complete Wi-Fi" won't apply.

Neil49

There are plenty of half decent mesh networks available for around £50 which would solve your coverage issues instantly.

I just bought a Tenda mesh network and had it up and running in less than 15 minutes. 

billpayer1

Neil49 said:

There are plenty of half decent mesh networks available for around £50 which would solve your coverage issues instantly.

I just bought a Tenda mesh network and had it up and running in less than 15 minutes. 

Thanks Neil 49 - yes I'm considering that but I'm paranoid i will mess up some setting or other and make it worse. Would I need to replace the BT router with a third party router or can I add a mesh network to the BT router?  Also I've noticed that the latest BT Smart Hub 2 routers  are available for sale  for peanuts on ebay and Amazon. Presumably these come from people who get them free with a BT account but use their own router. Is there any reason I couldn't use one of these unused routers on my BT account rather than paying the £15 a month upgrade?

iniltous

If your broadband is with BT and you don’t currently have a SH2 router, then you will get one when converted to Digital Voice , I’ve assumed you have a telephone service as well as broadband from BT .

billpayer1

Thanks iniltous. I ditched my landline a long time and don't need digital voice. The more Ilook into it the best option seems to be buy my own kit so I don't have to pay £15 a month extra just to get the same service with an upgraded router. you can but BT kit cheap on EBAY

If your broadband is with BT and you don’t currently have a SH2 router, then you will get one when converted to Digital Voice , I’ve assumed you have a telephone service as well as broadband from BT .

flaneurs_lobster

I'm on the same BT package and it came with a SH2 from day one.

Are you sure that BT won't just supply this upgrade if you ask nicely? 

What if your current router were to suffer a [AHEM!] malfunction?