Wifi - BT hub - dropping out.
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Wifi - BT hub - dropping out.
I'm hoping for some more help advice from the team. Our current Wifi situation is:
1. BT Infinity package.
2. I have no reason to think it is nothing but 'solid' coming into our house. We are on a new estate and the copper cables coming into the house are laid in pipes right up to the house.
3. In our front room is the BT Hub 5 which is our Wifi provision. Its converts the BT high speed signal on the copper wires incoming to the house directly to Wifi - there is no modem like when there used to be when they first introduced BT Infinity.
And here is the problem. All this works absolutely fine with our iMac. Being an iMac it is a reasonable physical size and I would think the wifi signal would have to drop a fair bit for the iMac not to connect reliably to the BT hub.
But, our Windows Acer laptop does, quite often, drop the connection to our BT hub. In which case it appears to 'look around' and connects to the next best thing which is the BT-fon service (for overseas members this is the wide area wi-fi signal broadcast by BT from the local telephone masts and you can connect to it if you are a customer of theirs). So the Acer connects to that.
When the in house wifi signal is re-established the Acer does not reconnect to it, it stays connected to the BT-fon signal. And there is the problem.
My wife is a member of the local gym, but it is small and getting into classes is difficult, you have to send the gym an email at 7am with your request if you are to stand any chance. So, we have set up Outlook on the laptop to send a 'pre made' message at 7am each morning when we are fast asleep! But, if the laptop is connected to BT-fon it does not send it which leads to disappointment for Mrs yt and earache for Mr yt! I imagine this is linked to a message we see on the laptop when we come down in the morning warning us that we are connected to an un-secure network (Bt-fon) - a soon as I reconnect to our in-house wifi the email message is sent but it is usually too late for Mrs yt to get in a gym class.
What I would like is for the laptop to reconnect back to our in-house wifi when it comes back. Windows 7 by the way.
(I don't know why the wifi signal keeps disappearing in the first place as far as the laptop is concerned - as mentioned above, the iMac never seems to lose the wifi connection, or if it does perhaps because of a problem with the Bt Hub, it automatically reconnects back to it when the wifi signal re-appears).
Sorry for the long post, I like to try and give as much info as possible.
1. BT Infinity package.
2. I have no reason to think it is nothing but 'solid' coming into our house. We are on a new estate and the copper cables coming into the house are laid in pipes right up to the house.
3. In our front room is the BT Hub 5 which is our Wifi provision. Its converts the BT high speed signal on the copper wires incoming to the house directly to Wifi - there is no modem like when there used to be when they first introduced BT Infinity.
And here is the problem. All this works absolutely fine with our iMac. Being an iMac it is a reasonable physical size and I would think the wifi signal would have to drop a fair bit for the iMac not to connect reliably to the BT hub.
But, our Windows Acer laptop does, quite often, drop the connection to our BT hub. In which case it appears to 'look around' and connects to the next best thing which is the BT-fon service (for overseas members this is the wide area wi-fi signal broadcast by BT from the local telephone masts and you can connect to it if you are a customer of theirs). So the Acer connects to that.
When the in house wifi signal is re-established the Acer does not reconnect to it, it stays connected to the BT-fon signal. And there is the problem.
My wife is a member of the local gym, but it is small and getting into classes is difficult, you have to send the gym an email at 7am with your request if you are to stand any chance. So, we have set up Outlook on the laptop to send a 'pre made' message at 7am each morning when we are fast asleep! But, if the laptop is connected to BT-fon it does not send it which leads to disappointment for Mrs yt and earache for Mr yt! I imagine this is linked to a message we see on the laptop when we come down in the morning warning us that we are connected to an un-secure network (Bt-fon) - a soon as I reconnect to our in-house wifi the email message is sent but it is usually too late for Mrs yt to get in a gym class.
What I would like is for the laptop to reconnect back to our in-house wifi when it comes back. Windows 7 by the way.
(I don't know why the wifi signal keeps disappearing in the first place as far as the laptop is concerned - as mentioned above, the iMac never seems to lose the wifi connection, or if it does perhaps because of a problem with the Bt Hub, it automatically reconnects back to it when the wifi signal re-appears).
Sorry for the long post, I like to try and give as much info as possible.
Couple of things, one of which will be stating the obvious for which I apologise in advance.... but have you rebooted the Hub recently?
Some routers have issues over time with DHCP (the process of auto allocation of IP addresses to everything) but a reboot usually sorts it.
Also, worth checking the WiFi card to aerial connection on the laptop - no need to take it to pieces, should have at least a couple of removable panels underneath. WiFi card about an inch square and usually under the nearest panel to front and centre, the aerial connections are push on to fit and have seen them jolted off in the past, causing bad WiFi reception etc.
Have you tried the laptop in someone else's house to see if same happens?
Some routers have issues over time with DHCP (the process of auto allocation of IP addresses to everything) but a reboot usually sorts it.
Also, worth checking the WiFi card to aerial connection on the laptop - no need to take it to pieces, should have at least a couple of removable panels underneath. WiFi card about an inch square and usually under the nearest panel to front and centre, the aerial connections are push on to fit and have seen them jolted off in the past, causing bad WiFi reception etc.
Have you tried the laptop in someone else's house to see if same happens?
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I have Infinity 2 and the latest Hub 6
My Hub 5 dropped off both of my laptops (both Windies 10Pro, one Lenovo and one Fujitsu Siemens), I also have a Windows/Nokia 535 smartphone that also dropped off the Hub 5 and went to the BT-Fon
Since upgrading for free to the Hub 6, all three gimo's have stayed attached to the main Hub 6 and not wandered off...and when I travel with laptops and phone and return, all three latch on to the Hub 6 without issues
I got my Hub 6 from BT after complaining about the behaviour of the Hub 5 and they sent an engineer round to check everything and without identifying or confirming the issue they upgraded to the latest Hub
Which makes me think there could be an inherent fault with the Hub 5
I would suggest you complain loudly to BT and have them upgrade you FOC to the Hub 6....stamping foot and yelling if need be
My Hub 5 dropped off both of my laptops (both Windies 10Pro, one Lenovo and one Fujitsu Siemens), I also have a Windows/Nokia 535 smartphone that also dropped off the Hub 5 and went to the BT-Fon
Since upgrading for free to the Hub 6, all three gimo's have stayed attached to the main Hub 6 and not wandered off...and when I travel with laptops and phone and return, all three latch on to the Hub 6 without issues
I got my Hub 6 from BT after complaining about the behaviour of the Hub 5 and they sent an engineer round to check everything and without identifying or confirming the issue they upgraded to the latest Hub
Which makes me think there could be an inherent fault with the Hub 5
I would suggest you complain loudly to BT and have them upgrade you FOC to the Hub 6....stamping foot and yelling if need be
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Interesting comments,
I expect my Mac while on my travels to go to BT Fon as a default action. However, even when manually entering the wifi password in other people's houses, or even my own home, BT Fon totally dominates any cause for reconnection.
An unerring arrival at BT Fon before any other signals are detected and displayed as available.
Rob
I expect my Mac while on my travels to go to BT Fon as a default action. However, even when manually entering the wifi password in other people's houses, or even my own home, BT Fon totally dominates any cause for reconnection.
An unerring arrival at BT Fon before any other signals are detected and displayed as available.
Rob
BT FON is piggybacked on the Hubs as standard, so it is effectively still connecting to the same box, but under a different ID. Not sure why as not with BT myself, assume it's some attempt by BT to provide a public WiFi network to their customers or something?
The wifi analysis app on my phone shows them up as on the same channel and signal strength as hubs.
The wifi analysis app on my phone shows them up as on the same channel and signal strength as hubs.
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The thing I definitely like with the Hub 6 is that it has its own online diagnostics page where you can check for any issues on it and do the frilly bits like turn off or dim the LED lights on the front
Hub 4 was stable, no issues....but Hub 5 was a right royal pain in the wotsit
Fujitsu lappy was constantly bouncing from Hub 5 to Fon, thought it was the lappy cos its quite old, bought the Lenovo and that bounced like a demented bunny too
Upgraded both lappy's from Windies 7 & 8 to 10Pro thinking that would cure it...no joy there
My smartphone is Windies 8 and that bounced all the time on 5 but is as stable as a rock on 6
So I just got onto BT and explained the issues and they seemed to know the problem was a well known about one as they upgraded the hub without a quibble or argument
Hub 4 was stable, no issues....but Hub 5 was a right royal pain in the wotsit
Fujitsu lappy was constantly bouncing from Hub 5 to Fon, thought it was the lappy cos its quite old, bought the Lenovo and that bounced like a demented bunny too
Upgraded both lappy's from Windies 7 & 8 to 10Pro thinking that would cure it...no joy there
My smartphone is Windies 8 and that bounced all the time on 5 but is as stable as a rock on 6
So I just got onto BT and explained the issues and they seemed to know the problem was a well known about one as they upgraded the hub without a quibble or argument
Can you not tell your laptop to forget the FON network, or prioritise the ones it has set up, to keep your Home Hub as the priority network.
Interesting comments,
I expect my Mac while on my travels to go to BT Fon as a default action. However, even when manually entering the wifi password in other people's houses, or even my own home, BT Fon totally dominates any cause for reconnection.
An unerring arrival at BT Fon before any other signals are detected and displayed as available.
Rob
I expect my Mac while on my travels to go to BT Fon as a default action. However, even when manually entering the wifi password in other people's houses, or even my own home, BT Fon totally dominates any cause for reconnection.
An unerring arrival at BT Fon before any other signals are detected and displayed as available.
Rob
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Thanks all - so far! I will try some of these suggestions later on and report back.
BN. I switched off my home-hub at the wall socket and rather obviously lost the wifi signal to my laptop and iMac. I was able to connect to the BT-fon signal by entering my BT username and password and thence surf the internet etc (bbc.co.uk for example).
Norton did warn me that I was connected to an insecure network.
Would tend to suggest the wifi signal is airborne outside my house if my hub is fully powered off, but more than willing to be educated further on this - maybe something powered by the incoming telephone line for example?
BN. I switched off my home-hub at the wall socket and rather obviously lost the wifi signal to my laptop and iMac. I was able to connect to the BT-fon signal by entering my BT username and password and thence surf the internet etc (bbc.co.uk for example).
Norton did warn me that I was connected to an insecure network.
Would tend to suggest the wifi signal is airborne outside my house if my hub is fully powered off, but more than willing to be educated further on this - maybe something powered by the incoming telephone line for example?
Sounds like one of your neighbours is also with BT so when you power your hub off the laptop connects to the BT FON part of theirs instead.
There are very few "public wifi" installs outside town centres or public buildings as the cost is very high and the range short , probably why BT went for the hub option.
There are very few "public wifi" installs outside town centres or public buildings as the cost is very high and the range short , probably why BT went for the hub option.
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Yellowtriumph....this might help you get to grips with your hub setup...
User guides and manuals for BT Hubs
At the bottom it has a diagnostics gizmo too which could help settle things
But if all else fails, call them and give them what for
(The new Hub 6 is alot stronger wifi signal than Hub 5 and its increased its range too, my phone picks up my Hub 6 from around 500m away whereas on Hub 5 the phone went to Fon almost as soon as I went out the front door)
User guides and manuals for BT Hubs
At the bottom it has a diagnostics gizmo too which could help settle things
But if all else fails, call them and give them what for
(The new Hub 6 is alot stronger wifi signal than Hub 5 and its increased its range too, my phone picks up my Hub 6 from around 500m away whereas on Hub 5 the phone went to Fon almost as soon as I went out the front door)
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Used that drag and drop 'prioritise this connection' list for years Background Noise.
In this case BT Fon dominates the signal so much the other desired potential log ons arrive anything up to 30 seconds later
Rob
In this case BT Fon dominates the signal so much the other desired potential log ons arrive anything up to 30 seconds later
Rob
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Sounds like one of your neighbours is also with BT so when you power your hub off the laptop connects to the BT FON part of theirs instead.
There are very few "public wifi" installs outside town centres or public buildings as the cost is very high and the range short , probably why BT went for the hub option.
There are very few "public wifi" installs outside town centres or public buildings as the cost is very high and the range short , probably why BT went for the hub option.
I will report back later after a bit of tinkering.
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Just a little bit more info I've just noticed. I have an Apple Airport Express. This is a small Apple device that connects to my BT home hub and it outputs an analogue audio signal that I can then directly plug into my analogue sound system (it's a way of getting iTunes etc onto an old analogue speaker).
I notice that the light on the front of it is flashing yellow on/off. It should be steady green. I think this is telling me that it has experienced a wifi connection problem at some stage. It does work however, and I can stream to it even though the light is flashing.
Is this this telling me I have a problem with the Home hub? Are the laptop and Airport signalling to me to investigate the Home hub?
I notice that the light on the front of it is flashing yellow on/off. It should be steady green. I think this is telling me that it has experienced a wifi connection problem at some stage. It does work however, and I can stream to it even though the light is flashing.
Is this this telling me I have a problem with the Home hub? Are the laptop and Airport signalling to me to investigate the Home hub?
I live near a town centre and often get Wifi with \FOn or BT wifi popping upm ahea dof my own router. Howver main issue is that the Hub 5 is acknowledged by BTa s abit of lemon in some circumstances. One of these is its susceptibility to not recognsing external hubs /hotspots and trying to get you to log in to them. As has been pointed out tis other flaw is channel swapping/hopping and constantly changing th radio channel it uses for Wifi signals.
Solution is geta HH 6 . Much betetr and much less susceptible to these irritating problems. You have to push the customer service people a bit but if you say you have read about the hub 6 and it looks like it will clear my problems you should be lucky with getting it replaced foc
PB
Solution is geta HH 6 . Much betetr and much less susceptible to these irritating problems. You have to push the customer service people a bit but if you say you have read about the hub 6 and it looks like it will clear my problems you should be lucky with getting it replaced foc
PB
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I live near a town centre and often get Wifi with \FOn or BT wifi popping upm ahea dof my own router. Howver main issue is that the Hub 5 is acknowledged by BTa s abit of lemon in some circumstances. One of these is its susceptibility to not recognsing external hubs /hotspots and trying to get you to log in to them. As has been pointed out tis other flaw is channel swapping/hopping and constantly changing th radio channel it uses for Wifi signals.
Solution is geta HH 6 . Much betetr and much less susceptible to these irritating problems. You have to push the customer service people a bit but if you say you have read about the hub 6 and it looks like it will clear my problems you should be lucky with getting it replaced foc
PB
Solution is geta HH 6 . Much betetr and much less susceptible to these irritating problems. You have to push the customer service people a bit but if you say you have read about the hub 6 and it looks like it will clear my problems you should be lucky with getting it replaced foc
PB
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Yellowtriumph
Get in touch with BT and demand the new hub...Home Hub 6.....its vastly improved on the faulty Home Hub 5 and they know they are faulty so they should give you the latest variant free of charge
Give them a bit of grief cos they will argue with you but they KNOW the 5 is a bad router/modem...so they will give you the new model
Get in touch with BT and demand the new hub...Home Hub 6.....its vastly improved on the faulty Home Hub 5 and they know they are faulty so they should give you the latest variant free of charge
Give them a bit of grief cos they will argue with you but they KNOW the 5 is a bad router/modem...so they will give you the new model
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
to be on Channel 8 permanently as the wifi discovery software suggested that most of the hubs around my property are on all the same two channels (1 & 6)
SD
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Yellowtriumph
Get in touch with BT and demand the new hub...Home Hub 6.....its vastly improved on the faulty Home Hub 5 and they know they are faulty so they should give you the latest variant free of charge
Give them a bit of grief cos they will argue with you but they KNOW the 5 is a bad router/modem...so they will give you the new model
Get in touch with BT and demand the new hub...Home Hub 6.....its vastly improved on the faulty Home Hub 5 and they know they are faulty so they should give you the latest variant free of charge
Give them a bit of grief cos they will argue with you but they KNOW the 5 is a bad router/modem...so they will give you the new model
As per the previous post I will try and get BT to send me a HH6.
Thanks to all the contributors for your help so far.
I spoke to a number of BT people, but despite my efforts an updated Home Hub was not forthcoming. I really tried I can tell you, they are sending a replacement HH 5 which should be forthcoming next Tuedsday.
I notice that the light on the front of it is flashing yellow on/off. It should be steady green. I think this is telling me that it has experienced a wifi connection problem at some stage. It does work however, and I can stream to it even though the light is flashing.
Were they UK or India based the people you spoke to. I would try them again and then write to BT executive complaints -just send an ordinary letter addressed to the Chairman at BTs head office, address is on the internet under BT Plc . They know the HH5 is not all that good and say you have tried and tried and tried and that the regular customer service people wont help you.
I know writign to the Chairmant seems an over reaction but he has got teams of people working on executive level complaints and its BTs own fault fr havign such poor customer service anyway.
PB
I know writign to the Chairmant seems an over reaction but he has got teams of people working on executive level complaints and its BTs own fault fr havign such poor customer service anyway.
PB