Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: andyc on 24 January 2012, 16:43:28

Title: Home Hub info Required
Post by: andyc on 24 January 2012, 16:43:28
Hi Guys

Quick question, is anyone using the latest version of BT's home hub. If so i'd like to know if it has both USB & Ethernet connections.

Your orginal (white) hub has packed in but i had a new next gen (black) hub but this has no USB connection on the back and my tower until is missing the driver for the ethernet.

Bt have said that they would send us a new (white) hub but are out of stock so will send us the very latest gen 3 hub but i don't know if this has USB connection, if i doesn't then i need to get a USB>Ethernet adaptor which is going to mean another day or so off line

Cheers in advance

Andy

Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: Jimbob on 24 January 2012, 16:47:28
Just checked mine, and it does have a USB slot.

Never used it, so cant guarantee it works as you need it too.
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: RobG on 24 January 2012, 16:48:50
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/wireless-routers/1283386/bt-home-hub-3
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: andyc on 24 January 2012, 16:57:30
Cheers Rob

That has answered my question. It has a USB Port but not a connector. So either need to twenty quid adaptor or see if i can download a ethernet driver onto a laptop and then to a Memory stick and then load onto the tower

The other half is already spitting feathers with BT so this will please her

Cheer
Andy
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: MaxV6 on 25 January 2012, 00:52:49
or get a 10 quid usb wireless adaptor.....


Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: MaxV6 on 25 January 2012, 00:53:54
in fact i might have one floating around,  ,  nice big aerial and everything.....   happily post it to you   
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: hoofing it on 25 January 2012, 07:55:32
Ive got a few lying about.
Fancy a swap pmsl :y
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: twiglet on 25 January 2012, 09:31:53
in fact i might have one floating around,  ,  nice big aerial and everything.....   happily post it to you

That's exactly what I need Max.  The aerial on my PC's wireless card is pretty small, and It really struggles to pick up the BT home hub that's downstairs in the hallway.  :(
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: MaxV6 on 25 January 2012, 10:06:00
if andy doesn't need it , it's yours.....   


along with this bloody tow bar.



Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: twiglet on 25 January 2012, 10:09:46
if andy doesn't need it , it's yours.....   


along with this bloody tow bar.

Like this CDC3 and jack!  ::) :y
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: Martian on 25 January 2012, 10:09:53
That's exactly what I need Max.  The aerial on my PC's wireless card is pretty small, and It really struggles to pick up the BT home hub that's downstairs in the hallway.  :(
I've just sorted a friends wifi issue for him and can highly recommend these 9dB high gain antennas (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-203-9db-Wi-Fi-Booster-Hi-gain-Antenna-/120834707940?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c224f51e4)

Before we fitted them to his access point that was using the standard antenna, he would struggle to get a decent wifi signal in the upstairs rooms and the simple act of someone walking across the room was enough to kill the signal when he did get it.
After we fitted these antennas the signal in every room is now "5 by 5" (full strength) and the wireless performance is the same as what you would expect if you were sat right next to the access point.

If you want to absolutely guarantee a decent signal throughout your house and you've got £65 to spare, I'd recommend a 1W RF amp (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1W-30DBm-WiFi-802-11b-g-signal-Gain-Booster-Amplifier-/260861707069?pt=UK_Computing_Networking_SM&hash=item3cbc91c33d) married up with a 24dB Hi Gain Antenna (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TP-Link-2-4GHz-24dBi-Grid-Parabolic-Antenna-TL-ANT2424B-/120841777411?pt=UK_Computing_Networking_SM&hash=item1c22bb3103)

I have 2 of the above in our loft, and nothing (and I do mean nothing) gets in the way of us getting a signal no matter where we are in the house. I don't have the equipment to test the actual output power, but if my math is correct then I should be transmitting at just over 150W if I run it at full tilt (which I don't as there is no need).

The maximum permissable Tx power for 2.4 GHz devices in the UK is 100mW, so you will be breaking the law if you choose option 2 above.
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: MaxV6 on 25 January 2012, 10:17:37
the other trick to remember is that you can generally get better coverage by placing the router upstairs ,  or even in the loft.,...   



or , given devices that support it, you can set up a WDS network ,    (Wireless Distribution System)   where you have a master router, then remote access points that operate in DHCP bridge mode to extend the network.     


sadly,  the new BT hub does NOT support that, but the older white ones do.....




Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: andyc on 25 January 2012, 16:17:51
Thanks for the offers Guy's but the missis have an adaptor on order so should be back on line tonight or tomorrom, it will have to be soon as i'm only half way through last years Gold Coast V8 Super car race

Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: Home Hub info Required
Post by: TheBoy on 25 January 2012, 18:30:35
That's exactly what I need Max.  The aerial on my PC's wireless card is pretty small, and It really struggles to pick up the BT home hub that's downstairs in the hallway.  :(
I've just sorted a friends wifi issue for him and can highly recommend these 9dB high gain antennas (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-203-9db-Wi-Fi-Booster-Hi-gain-Antenna-/120834707940?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c224f51e4)

Before we fitted them to his access point that was using the standard antenna, he would struggle to get a decent wifi signal in the upstairs rooms and the simple act of someone walking across the room was enough to kill the signal when he did get it.
After we fitted these antennas the signal in every room is now "5 by 5" (full strength) and the wireless performance is the same as what you would expect if you were sat right next to the access point.

If you want to absolutely guarantee a decent signal throughout your house and you've got £65 to spare, I'd recommend a 1W RF amp (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1W-30DBm-WiFi-802-11b-g-signal-Gain-Booster-Amplifier-/260861707069?pt=UK_Computing_Networking_SM&hash=item3cbc91c33d) married up with a 24dB Hi Gain Antenna (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TP-Link-2-4GHz-24dBi-Grid-Parabolic-Antenna-TL-ANT2424B-/120841777411?pt=UK_Computing_Networking_SM&hash=item1c22bb3103)

I have 2 of the above in our loft, and nothing (and I do mean nothing) gets in the way of us getting a signal no matter where we are in the house. I don't have the equipment to test the actual output power, but if my math is correct then I should be transmitting at just over 150W if I run it at full tilt (which I don't as there is no need).

The maximum permissable Tx power for 2.4 GHz devices in the UK is 100mW, so you will be breaking the law if you choose option 2 above.
My bro has a wifi link between his 2 shops (in same town), pretty directional yagis used.  Manufacturer claims 16km range, so the 250m is no problem if you don't rely on the town's community free wifi that it keeps knocking out.

Its the only way we could get the required bandwidth without having to pay £500+ per month...