New BT HomeHub 4

Hay Guys,

Just thought I would share my experiences with the new BT Home Hub 4.

First experience with it was a total failure. Connected it all up. Blue light appeared indicating all OK, but absolutely nothing. Tried to PING the unit, and only successfully pinged once every 20 tries!

Ripped it all out and put back the limping HomeHun2. At least that worked for the internet. Wireless on it has had it!

Tried again the next day. Blue light again, and pinged before doing anything and YAY successfully every ping

Right now the internet. OMG, wants me to set up the connection sort of thing. Three pages. First page is welcome, next page is setting up filter, and last page takes me to BT log in page. I just want to get on the internet. Close page and try again. it is forcing me to go through these pages before it allows me to to the internet!

YAY eventually got there.

Then connect laptop up, and WHAT, I get the same page. OK just do it. Connect table up. again have to set up this page, but this time they know Im using a tablet and are trying to force me to install software onto the tablet!

What the most annoying thing is every 24 hours on the tablet Im presented with this download page trying to force me to install their software

What is up with this HomeHub4. Why are BT trying to force this.

If this continues I think I will chuck the HomeHub4 into the bin where it belongs and buy my own one.

And one last thing. For us IT Techies out there, there are no flashing lights on the front, which shows us something is happening. All there is is that blue light. Under there there is a Broadband light and a wireless light, but they disappear when all is OK. Wish there was an option to have these flash when data was flowing around

Oh and one thing to be away of if you use BT Broadband Voice (The VOIP Phone). They will disconnect your service as they think you wont want to use it any more. I have an external adapter that I was going to use. Sadly not any longer, they cant reconnect my number which infuriated me. So be aware on that front.

BT advertise that this HomeHub will fit thought most letter boxes. Well sadly mine was not. The fatness of the long box is 1.5 inches. So measure your letter box just to make sure.

Simon,

Yes, the Smart Setup wizard that runs whenever you first connect (by cable or by wireless) a new piece of equipment to the HomeHub 4 is a bit of a pain for people who know what they're doing and what they want.

But it can be turned off easily enough by going to Advanced Settings, Home Network, Smart Setup.

p

Does not knowing how to disable it show someone does not know what they are doing?

In reply to a post by gomezz:

Does not knowing how to disable it show someone does not know what they are doing?

You may have something there, gomezz!

I dont know about the hh4 box but the NDA box I got whilst it is smaller than my letter box, it couldnt be posted as the letter box only opens when the bottom of it is pressed against.

Further to Home Hub 4. Always wondered why BT has 5M free hotspots. On installation found BTwifi and BTwififon appeared in connection list. So they are not free just paid for by every BT BB user in monthly fee.
Must admit it was easy to install HH4 on PCs and then disable auto with instructions supplied

Yep but you can use anybody else's.

So say you go on holiday to a cottage and a neighbour has BT - you can use their BTWiFi
It works quite well actually and your standard broadband takes priority so you shouldn't see much of a slowdown when someone's using the hotspot.

Having a small amount of your monthly home broadband sub going towards paying for having wi-fi access all over the country sounds a pretty good deal to me. Unless you are completely housebound.

In reply to a post by flippery:

... it was easy to install HH4 on PCs ....

Uh? A CD?

Yep and it can be great. It doesn't cost anything so you just lose a tiny bit of bandwidth.
Like now I'm away from home but I've been using my laptop on BT WiFi today. They clearly have infinity and probably weren't using it during the day as I was getting 3 Mb/s!!

Although it can be hit and miss if I park up during a slack period in the work van whether I am within range of one. But that is when the mobile app is useful to show me where the nearest access is which may mean moving round the corner into the next street.

Lots of us really don't know what we are doing which is why we really need instructions which can be as clear as mud especially when they use all those "Abreviations" I.e. SSID by now I suppose you will have guessed I' m an older non techie female! Trying to find out how to blooming well connect my smart TV to my new home hub 4. . Yes Gomezz we really don't know

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by flippery:

... it was easy to install HH4 on PCs ....

Uh? A CD?

You are obviously clueless about the HH4.
While on auto the Hub and wireless PC automatically connect and updates connection security to match wps or wep if former not supported. Saves time with manually typing of code and getting it wrong.
There is security to stop unauthorised access on auto.

Once all machines updated just log into hub and set to manual.

As the password of ISP is your TN number. Plug in HH4 and go.
No CD

In reply to a post by flippery:

You are obviously clueless about the HH4.

No need to be rude.

In reply to a post by flippery:

Saves time with manually typing of code and getting it wrong

Sounds dodgy or am I missing something? What is to stop random wi-jack man getting the password update automatically? Or is it only for devices pre-authorised by the user in the router config?

In reply to a post by Nanonano:

Trying to find out how to blooming well connect my smart TV to my new home hub 4. . Yes Gomezz we really don't know

How about an Ethernet cable from RJ45 socket on TV to an RJ45 socket of the Router (HH4).

Indeed, I am clueless about the HH4.

However, I would never describe using bog standard WPS for wireless connection setup as "installing HH4 a router on PCs". Hence my question .

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

However, I would never describe using bog standard WPS

WPS has far too many vulnerabilities. It shouldn't be used.

http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/723755

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/realworld/374104/why-you-shou...

Has BT solved these issues ?

But as the WPS signalling times out quite quickly, does this matter on a typical housing estate? Surely those hackings depend on the WPS being in setup mode?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

But as the WPS signalling times out quite quickly, does this matter on a typical housing estate? Surely those hackings depend on the WPS being in setup mode?

I think so, but I've seen kit that stayed in setup mode. (wireless hotspots and similar). Its just a dogs breakfast. Only thing close to secure is a manually set up WPA2-AES PSK passphrase of the maximum length 63 characters that can't be guessed.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Has BT solved these issues ?

BT haven't included the vulnerable WPS PIN on the HH4, only the WPS push button variant.

Post deleted by MrSaffron

You are free to express dissatisfaction with the Home Hub 3, but not free to use profanity . Hence deletion of the post.

In reply to a post by MHC:

In reply to a post by Nanonano:

Trying to find out how to blooming well connect my smart TV to my new home hub 4. . Yes Gomezz we really don't know

How about an Ethernet cable from RJ45 socket on TV to an RJ45 socket of the Router (HH4).

The problem with my smart TV and many others is that, until you confirm Ethernet or Wifi connection on TV setup, TV will not connect to router. One wonders why automatic connection is not made when Ethernet is plugged in to TV . The manuals supplied with TV are abysmal and do not explain procedure in many cases. Downloading manual from website is often the solution.

really ? since when s word is profanity ???

any way what I posted was BT is more interested in supplying BT wifi using your electricity and connection than actually giving u a better router,

If it is the "s" word I assume then it has been a profanity as far back as I can remember - I would have had a serious telling off if I said that anywhere my parents could hear. Even now I don't believe it would be allowed on children's TV.

All there is is that red mild. Under there there is a High speed internet mild and a wi-fi mild, but they vanish when all is OK. Wish there was an choice to have these display when information was streaming around.