How does BT WiFi work on HH

How does the public BT WiFi actually work on the Home Hub? After a few weeks with BT Broadband, BT WiFi became active this morning, and 2 new SSIDs have appeared: BTWiFi-X and BTWiFi-with-FON. (Or 4 if you count 2.4G and 5G as different.)

I understand that BTWiFi-X is for the mobile apps and BTWiFi-with-FON is for a regular login via a landing page, but all 3 (including my own SSID) are on the same channel which, if they were separate access points, would cause problems. So how does it all work?

In reply to a post by ebuygum:

So how does it all work?

Specifically what did you want to know about it?

Well, if I put 3 wireless access points side by side with 3 different SSIDs but all on the same channel there would be a problem with devices connecting to any of them (I assume), but the HH looks like 3 access points in the same box on the same channel, so why is there no problem? Or am I wrong with my initial assumption?

I don't believe that having multiple SSIDs on a single AP cause the separate SSIDs to interfere (radio-wise) with each other. Happy to be corrected though.

Correct - it is just one radio channel with three names. The HH manages use of and logon to each SSID. The total capacity of that channel is the same as if it was under a single SSID.

In reply to a post by ebuygum:

Well, if I put 3 wireless access points side by side with 3 different SSIDs but all on the same channel there would be a problem with devices connecting to any of them (I assume), but the HH looks like 3 access points in the same box on the same channel, so why is there no problem? Or am I wrong with my initial assumption?

Devices have no problems connecting to multiple side by side access points all on the same channel - WiFi has protocols in place to ensure that the devices don't interfere with each other.

The reason it's not recommended is that each channel only has a certain amount of capacity. Each SSID on a channel takes up some capacity with per-SSID overheads (beacons etc). Too many SSIDs on one channel, and the capacity available for useful data becomes near-zero.

And is there a way to disable it?

OK, if there is no problem then that explains it for me.

hypertony - if you mean disable BT WiFi on your HH then, yes. You can do it from your BT account online. But it you disable it then you also loose the ability to use BT Wifi (and FON) elsewhere.

In reply to a post by ebuygum:

hypertony - if you mean disable BT WiFi on your HH then, yes. You can do it from your BT account online. But it you disable it then you also loose the ability to use BT Wifi (and FON) elsewhere.

Well, that's a bit crafty. Reason why I ask was because ever since this got enabled via firmware update, I've noticed that my connection has slowed down.

I don't know if it's related tho... but just a thought.

If you look at your router event logs (under troubleshooting on HH4) and check the Open WiFi category you can see if anyone outside is or has been connected.

Good suggestion, I will check tonight.

Cheers.

If the HH was replaced with another router... Should the public Wi-Fi access (in city centers) work still or is it based on using BT's HH and Having the networks actively broadcasting.

If you use another router but don't opt out then you can still use BT Wifi, just not on your own connection

Thought so.

Thanks

Not quite playing the game though.

If you have a suitable PC etc, try wandering about outside your house, to find the likely maximum range that your WiFi can be accessed from.


Also try switching that FON etc off, to find out if it is making a difference to your speed.

It will not slow your connection down at all.

The capacity available to you will be reduced WHEN someone is logged on to the BT WiFi connection and even that is restricted to a small percentage - the amount is dependent, I believe, on your connection speed.

I have left mine on permanently and very rarely see anyone connected to it and normally those are visitors here. I find it useful when out to be able to "borrow" a connection for emails or quick browsing and at airports when sitting there for an hours or two.





I will run a test and see how fast the BT WiFi connection actually is when taking bandwidth from my 72Mbps connection.

Going on trailing a new home hub last year. You lose 0.5Mb/s from your download speed automatically so far no firmware fix.

In reply to a post by MHC:

It will not slow your connection down at all.

The capacity available to you will be reduced WHEN someone is logged on to the BT WiFi connection and even that is restricted to a small percentage - the amount is dependent, I believe, on your connection speed.

I have left mine on permanently and very rarely see anyone connected to it and normally those are visitors here. I find it useful when out to be able to "borrow" a connection for emails or quick browsing and at airports when sitting there for an hours or two.





I will run a test and see how fast the BT WiFi connection actually is when taking bandwidth from my 72Mbps connection.

Why would anyone want to use BT wifi on their own connection?

Out of interest.

Visitors

Testing remote access

Downloading adult content

Using more than your limit, if you're not on Unlimited.

Ahhhh ok

Why would one not download adult content from their own connection?

In reply to a post by NaNook:

Ahhhh ok

Why would one not download adult content from their own connection?

Maybe if you did not want it directly traceable or your access monitored by someone else in the household.

Ahhhh, wifey

In reply to a post by NaNook:

Ahhhh, wifey

So, you have found out what she does in her spare time!