BT - HH 6 feedbacks

Hello, I've received yesterday the new HH6 from BT and I thought to give a few comments for future users.
Situation:
- coming from hh5
- BT user for a bit more than one year (previously with Sky)
- Samknows white box user
- in the house : 3 mobiles, 2 tablets, 3 PCs (win 7), 1 NAS (Asustor), 1 smart tv, no topbox.

Pros:
Installation: straightforward. I believe the power supply is the same as HH5. Connect, wait, green, orange, blue. Online.
Nas was online and working
Upnp working with no issues (better than HH5)
Wifi slightly better than HH5, by a few more metres through brick walls.
2 Mbps upload gain
VPN working

Cons:
Lost 7 Mbps download
No DDNS except the ones allowed (so cannot use the NAS DDNS)
No loopback
NAS cannot acquire WAN anymore after several reboots of both

I still have to check if the ping has changed (yes I'm a gamer)

So for my requirements is a no go and I'll get back to HH5 tonight.
Let me know if you have questions.

Well I have received my free SmartHub today ready for when they do our FTTP.

So I am currently using it on our ADSL2+ connection, it seems that we are getting a little bit more speed, the latency has gone way up and is about 26mS to 45mS and that's in FastPath (i.e. Low Latency) where it use to be about 8mS to 12mS.

Here is the stats:

This is a list of your BT Smart Hub settings and current statistics.

Product name: BT Hub 6A
Serial number: +xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Firmware version: SG4B100021EC
Firmware updated: 12/05/16
Board version: 1.0
Gui version: 1.28.3
DSL uptime: 0 Days, 0 Hours 32 Minutes 36 Seconds
Data rate: 1.06 kbps / 5.97 kbps
Maximum data rate: 1064 / 6908
Noise margin: 5.9 / 6
Line attenuation: 41.5
Signal attenuation: 201 / 415
VPI / VCI: 0/38
Modulation: G_992_5_ANNEX_A
Latency type: Fast Path
Data sent / received: 13 MB Uploaded / 128 MB Downloaded
Broadband username: [email protected]
BT Wi-fi: Not active
2.4 GHz wireless network name: xxxxxx
2.4 GHz wireless channel: Smart (Channel 11)
5 GHz wireless network name: xxxxxx
5 GHz wireless channel: Smart (Channel 36)
Wireless security: WPA2 (Recommended)
Band steering: Off
Wireless mode: Mode 1
Firewall: On
MAC address: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Software variant: -
Boot loader: 7.33.1

It seems that we can get a maximum of 6.9Mbps Sync Speed which becomes about 6Mbps download speed, however we are syncing at 5.97Mbps which is about 5.19Mbps download speed.

This is the TBB Speed Test for our HH4.
This is the TBB Speed Test for the SmartHub.

Its not much of a speed boot, but when you have a slow connection any boost is better than nothing LOL.

There is some issues when you disable the DHCP Server in the SmartHub where the IP range that it would use needs to still be valid and match the hubs IP, where with the HH4 this wasn't an issue.

The network devices section looks better.

So overall I like it, but I will see how it runs over the next few days and then a few more when we get our FTTP installed and if there is issues when used on our FTTP I will probably by a new Router/modem to connect to the ONT.

Paul

Be careful with the power supply. Don't just assume it's the same (it may be though). I remember on the Hub 5, I think you could use the Hub 4 power supply but it caused sync problems. The thing would turn on but was not able to sync if I remember correctly anyway.

A couple of settings that have caused some issues are Authoritative DHCP & Smart setup. Not sure what you mean by NAS getting WAN but perhaps this may help if it's struggling with getting an IP?

Edited by ukhardy07 (Thu 25-Aug-16 17:52:36)

I have just moved to BT and have the HH6. I quite like it and it was easy to set up, but I didn't use smart set up. I like the ability to name my network connections and delete unused objects (something I couldn't do with my previous ISP's routers). Port forwarding for my webcam & DDNS setup was easy enough and sync speed is roughly on a par with my previous Technicolor router.

I am not a tech, but it seems to to the job for me at the moment (apart from the TBB monitor).

Mark

In reply to a post by Icaras:

Be careful with the power supply. Don't just assume it's the same (it may be though). I remember on the Hub 5, I think you could use the Hub 4 power supply but it caused sync problems. The thing would turn on but was not able to sync if I remember correctly anyway.

The HH5 Type A and Type B use a different power supply to each other so it is worth checking the specs if you aren't going to change it.

Yes I did check and all the specs are exactly the same, at least on mine.
Still I've used his own

I have yet to have a single issue with the router personally. Syncs just the same as HH5b, stats look very similar too, same SNR, attenuation etc.

Attainable rate did change a lot initially but now back to normal.

Has not rebooted once apart from the 14 day reboot, no drop outs of the connection (hh5b dropped at least once a day).

No WiFi slowdowns, hh5b speeds dropped to sub 10Mbps regularly on 5Ghz.

I have had 28 devices connected at once all over wireless and it still worked flawless.

For reference I do not have a single wired device so have done no diagnosis on the wired side.

I have
1) disabled smart setup
2) set a fixed wireless channel for 2.4 and 5ghz (made a huge difference in my home - no idea why as I selected the same channel smart setup already had?!)
3) disabled upnp extended security
4) split 2.4 and 5ghz bands & connect into the hub only at 5ghz on most devices (apart those which do not support it)

Edited by ukhardy07 (Fri 26-Aug-16 10:02:52)

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

I have yet to have a single issue with the router personally. Syncs just the same as HH5b, stats look very similar too, same SNR, attenuation etc.

Attainable rate did change a lot initially but now back to normal.

Has not rebooted once apart from the 14 day reboot, no drop outs of the connection (hh5b dropped at least once a day).

No WiFi slowdowns, hh5b speeds dropped to sub 10Mbps regularly on 5Ghz.

I have had 28 devices connected at once all over wireless and it still worked flawless.

For reference I do not have a single wired device so have done no diagnosis on the wired side.

I have
1) disabled smart setup
2) set a fixed wireless channel for 2.4 and 5ghz (made a huge difference in my home - no idea why as I selected the same channel smart setup already had?!)
3) disabled upnp extended security
4) split 2.4 and 5ghz bands & connect into the hub only at 5ghz on most devices (apart those which do not support it)

Same here, nothing but praise for the Smart Hub

Just to say, I switched back to my ols isp's router (Technicolor) as I couldn't get anything in the DMZ to respond to the TBB monitor pings.

I have nitced that even though the sync rates are virtually identical, the throughput on the speedtests are shoing a marked difference. Over 50meg on the Technicolor, 42- 46 on the home hub

That is odd behaviour. Is that wired or wireless?

Here is my speedtest using HH6 over wireless, a couple of walls away from hh6. Got 6 devices connected at current total, with people using phones as I test etc.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html...

EDIT: Are you testing over 5Ghz and have split the bands?

Edited by ukhardy07 (Fri 26-Aug-16 19:06:52)

I connected a chromebook to the lan port at the back and was averaging 44 on testmynet and a difference in x6, x1 on TBB.. Put the old SSE router on and the speeds have improved on both testers, but not long enough to come to any conclusions. Shame really as I do really like some of the HH6 functions (such as naming connected devices, booting off disconnected devices, etc)

I have tested with the following devices on the Think Broadband speedtester:

1) Lenovo T440s - windows 8
2) Lenvoo T420s - windows 7
3) Macbook Pro Retina 2014 13 inch - latest OSX
4) Macbook Air 2015 13 inch - latest OSX

All average over 50Mbps. All tests are over wireless, granted I have never connected with ethernet to the HH6. So I may do so as an experiment.

Have you got a speedtest when you are having issues to hand for us to look at?

This is a wireless one on HH6:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/button/14721...


This is on Technicolor:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/button/14722...

Not same time frame though as only switched on Wednesday and replaced in router today.

Are you using 5Ghz band?

I can personally get 400Mbps over wireless on internal network transfers. It is unlikely the HH6 is the sole cause of the slowdowns, but it could be faulty or the device may not be too great you are testing with.

Never used a chromebook myself.

It certainly looks a lot better on the other router mind.

In reply to a post by Discus:

This is a wireless one on HH6:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/button/14721...


This is on Technicolor:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/button/14722...

Not same time frame though as only switched on Wednesday and replaced in router today.

Try doing an IPv4 Speed Test using the HH6, it might be how BT are handling the IPv6 routing.

Paul

Well I am currently using our SmartHub (HH6) on our ADSL2+ connection until the Openreach engineers arrive over the next two weeks to install our FTTP 300/20 connection, so when they have done that I will do some speed tests.

I can see the actual web interface is very responsive compared to the HH4, we get a slight speed increase, sadly the latency is high even though its in Fast Path.

But overall I think its not too bad considering it was free

Paul

The only devices I have that are capable of the 5ghz are 2 Android phones and a iPhone. the Chromebook is just something I picked up to use on a plane, but is handy to be able to plug into the lan and sit under the router for testing if need be.

Interestingly, the testmynet speed results are very different to the TBB speed tests and these are wired: http://testmy.net/quickstats/Marksfish

Interestingly, my Samknows box has also picked up the difference:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd122/marksfish/c...

Is the HH6 syncing slower maybe?

The 6 was syncing at 52, the current at 54, so not that much difference.

Like I say, I haven't given up on it as I like the router (interface a bit slow maybe), one I have got myself something to put in the DMZ that will respond to pings, I will try it again Would like the speeds to be a bit closer to the sync though, rather than 6- 10 meg down (but still over 40, so shouldn't complain really).

I have just reconnected my HH6 and have a 3mb loss of sync straight away Not a huge amount, but a loss nonetheless.

If you are on ECI cab that is to be expected though surely? (although i dont know what cab you're on to be fair lol)

Nor me

In reply to a post by Discus:

Nor me

Try

[Check by Full Address]
http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.Addres...

[Check by Phone Number]
Same link as above but you will need to click on the Telephone Number Checker Link at the bottom of the page.

That will say what Exchange and Cabinet your connected to.

Paul

Sandy, cabinet 3, but nothing about cabinet type.

Eci

So that is enough to make the difference? I assume my Technicolor and Billion routers work better with this cabinet then?

In reply to a post by Discus:

Sandy, cabinet 3, but nothing about cabinet type.

Like BatBoy has said.

[Cabinet Information]
    Fibre Cabinet: Cabinet P3
      FTTC Status: FTTC Available from 20th June 2012
            Phase: Phase 07b 2011-2012
      FTTP Status: 
Properties Passed: 555
           Vendor: ECI

Hope that helps.

Paul

Well, its either our connection is that fubard up, BT has loads of issues or the Smart Hub is [censored].

It was fine for 3 days with no issues what so ever, then tonight we have lost connection over 7 times within the last 4 or so hours.

And now we have lost over 1Mbps of our 5.3Mbps ADSL2+ connection.

BT will defiantly be getting a phone call from me tomorrow.

Not very happy at all.

Paul

Well after 6 or 7 weeks of being stable last night the wireless stopped working

couldn't log into gui via ethernet

had to hard reset now it seems fine again.

Edited by epyon (Mon 29-Aug-16 03:46:20)

In reply to a post by epyon:

Well after 6 or 7 weeks of being stable last night the wireless stopped working

couldn't log into gui via ethernet

had to hard reset now it seems fine again.

Well our connection hasn't been good since we moved over to BT, was no issues when we was with Zen, sadly younger brother took his Zen connection with him when he moved out.

It might just be a coincidence its playing up, but, it becomes annoying when because the BT Hub cannot connect to a server on BT's network it drops the connection even though it might be their server at fault and the connection was fine, and this dropping of our connection then results in a slower and slower speed each time it drops and reconnects.
And having this happen every several seconds is worse LOL and also annoying at the same time.

I am hoping our FTTP install over the next 10 days goes without a hitch and the Smart Hub and the ONT work great together, else I can see myself buying a new router/modem to connect to the ONT.

Paul

Worth noting the smarthub is not provided to ADSL customers and there are plenty of people complaining it has issues on ADSL.

ADSL customers still get the hub 4.

So before you pass judgement see how it works on fibre which is what it is designed for.

And again today a full lock up q_q

looks like i may be phoning for a replacement or maybe even just buy myself a new router but there doesn't seem to be anything that great for an all in one box.

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

Worth noting the smarthub is not provided to ADSL customers and there are plenty of people complaining it has issues on ADSL.

ADSL customers still get the hub 4.

So before you pass judgement see how it works on fibre which is what it is designed for.

Wasn't that what I said I was going to do.

Hopefully Openreach have really resolved the issue they have had and on the 31st the first (external work) visit goes well and on the 7th the second (internal work) visit also goes well.

Don't get me wrong, I really did like the Smart Hub, it's GUI was more responsive than the HH4, granted there was loads of bugs that really need to be ironed out, so

Also some of the issues that I was having might not happen with our FTTP due to the ONT doing that part of the work.

I will report those issues that I did have and see to BT to pass on when I speak to them next.

Paul

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

Worth noting the smarthub is not provided to ADSL customers and there are plenty of people complaining it has issues on ADSL.

ADSL customers still get the hub 4.

So before you pass judgement see how it works on fibre which is what it is designed for.

My mate got a Smart Hub last week and he is only signed up for ADSL.