Poor wifi, setting up a different rooter

[Anonymous User]

I've recently joined Now Broadband but have poor wifi.  I spoke with the Help team and they've suggested using my old BT router but I'm not sure how to connect this, any ideas?

[allanc]

@Anonymous User 

I don't know if they mean using the bt hub as a modem bridge in conjunction with a 3rd party  router of your choice

[allanc]

@Anonymous User 

The router side of the hub is not compatible with skys/now dhcp option 61 so more info is needed

What bt homehub do you have ?

What router are looking at?

Please supply as much info in order that proper advice can be given

[Anonymous User]

I have Now Hub two and BT smart Hub 2.

I'm not techy just trying what the Help team suggested, the range is so poor and connection drops a lot. I wasn't aware using another Hub was an option until they suggested it. Previously when I spoke with the helpt team they suggested resetting and using the BT Mesh disc I have but I couldn't get that to connect .

[Anonymous User]

It sounded like I should use it as the main router,

[allanc]

@Anonymous User 

If the intention is to use the bt homehub as a complete replacement bt uses pppoe to authenticate the connection sky uses pppoa on adsl up to 24Mbps and dhcp option 61 on vdsl up to 80Mbps

Either way the router will have the authentication hardwired onto the router and cannot be changed

Hence my assumption that the set up would be

Bt homehub in modem mode (bridge)-> 3rd party router

What bt homehub do you have?

[gavs82008]

@Anonymous User 

Assuming you have tried to split the Wi-Fi signals? 

https://help.nowtv.com/article/improve-broadband-speed

Your Hub Two is dual-band (2.4GHz and 5 GHz). Splitting these bands to create 2 different Wi-Fi networks can help to improve the speed to your devices. Here’s how to do it:

1. Connect your Hub Two to your laptop or computer using an Ethernet cable.
2. Open your web browser and enter "192.168.0.1” in the address bar.
3. Select Maintenance and enter “admin” and “nowtv” as the username and password.
4. Select Wireless and then 2.4 GHz Wireless Settings. 
5. Scroll down to “Wireless Access Point” and uncheck Synchronise 2.4GHz and 5GHz Settings.
6. In the ‘Name (SSID)’ box, Change the network name to distinguish it from the current network (e.g. add “_2.4G” to the current name). Select Apply.
7. Check the network name has been updated, and then select 5GHz Wireless Settings.
8. To be able to see easily which network is which on your devices, change the ‘Name (SSID)’ here too (e.g. add “_5G” to the current name). Select Apply.
9. That’s it. Select Logout at the top of the screen to exit.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the help, Now are sending a new router. Seems ridiculous that I can pick up numerous neighbours signals but not from the router in my own house. Hopefully the new one will be better. 

[Tonymccl]

Hi,

Just wondering if you have had any better wifi reception with the new router?

Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Setting it up later today. I'll let you know if there's any improvement.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry to say the new router hasn't improved things.  I tried splitting the signal too but just meant I had to be careful what devices were on each setting to get them to communicate. Having to reset all the passwords was frustrating too. If you're having similar issues best advice I think is to invest  in a mesh device or switch providers.

[Tonymccl]

Thanks for the feedback - it looks as if there is little point in me asking for a new router. I may have a look at trying to use one of my previous routers instead of the NowTV one, or invest in an extender for upstairs!!

[Anonymous User]

I was told there had been a batch of faulty routers earlier in the year, don't know if that was true or not but trying a different one seemed worth trying. Also the help desk checked my connection and could see it had been dropping out a lot.  From experience the Mesh system worked seamlessly where as with the extender I had to switch manually between the devices. Mesh costs more but there are some Black Friday deals at the moment that you may be able to take advantage of. Good luck with whatever you do.

[Anonymous User]

I've split the signal but which should I use? And does this mean I need to reset all my devices again? I assume if I want them to connect to each other, ie Alexa to the smart kettle they need to be on the same setting? 

[Anonymous User]

Oh I see, there is only one option where the signal is bad. It's still not great, maybe you need to give this the 10 days settling in period too!! 
I was very naive in thinking that all broadband was the same, my previous provider said their's was better but I thought this was a tactic to get me to stay with them, clearly not. Thanks for the help.