BT broadband routers 2024: What will I get?

Dan Howdle • September 16th, 2024

BT is the UK’s biggest broadband provider and, like other providers, will give you a free router if you sign up to one of its broadband deals. BT now only has one router – the Smart Hub 2 – and it's decent when all is said and done.

The supplied router is something that shouldn’t be overlooked when searching for a new broadband deal. Your router is the device that connects you to the wider world and the gatekeeper that stops outside threats from getting into your home network. But with no Wi-Fi 6, the Smart Hub 2 is starting to feel a little long in the tooth compared to some of the competition. Let's take a look.

How to get a BT broadband router

There are two ways to get hold of a BT router. You get a router free with any BT broadband deal, and you can also buy a router outright from BT – this is primarily an offer aimed at BT customers on legacy packages who may not qualify to get one of the new routers for free. The BT Hubs do work with some other providers (we’re thinking specifically of the BT-owned Plusnet or EE here and maybe some of the other smaller providers), but definitely won’t work with Virgin Media, Sky or TalkTalk. If you’re thinking of replacing your old free router, take a look at our guide to using your own router for broadband.

At the time of writing, all BT Broadband packages now come with the Smart Hub 2, from lowly ADSL (now only available where you can get noting else), all the way up to 900Mbps Full Fibre. That's both good and bad. If you're on an ADSL connection or on entry-level 35Mbps Fibre, you're getting a router that's far more capable than you need. By the same token, if you've plumped for 900Mbps Full Fibre, the router isn't quite where it needs to be to service speeds that fast. It'll work, but Wi-Fi 6 is really needed to make most of that speed usable wirelessly, and the Smart Hub 2 is a Wi-Fi 5 (ac) router.

To improve your home internet set-up, you can sign up for BT Halo. The latest version, Halo 3+, guarantees you a reliable internet service by providing you with Hybrid Connect, a backup 4G mini router that automatically connects to the EE network if your main broadband connection goes down. Additionally, Halo 3+ includes Complete Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi discs to ensure strong coverage throughout your home. It also offers double data allowances for those with EE mobile plans, and a price promise that ensures no mid-contract price rises.

Note that customers can choose to sign up for Complete Wi-Fi and Hybrid Connect individually however, which works out much cheaper.

In most cases, you can expect your new BT router to arrive in the post within a couple of weeks of signing up to a new BT package or of upgrading to Halo if you’re an existing BT customer. An engineer is usually dispatched to connect you after about 14 days, too, but this can sometimes take longer.

BT Smart Hub 2 features

Not all routers are the same. Many of us leave them untouched in the corner of the room once they’re up and running, but there are a number of features worth paying attention to, which we’ll go through now.

BT Smart Hub 2 specifications

• Next generation Wi-Fi – The Smart Hub uses the latest wireless standard (802.11ac) to deliver the fastest Wi-Fi speeds possible
• Smart channel selection – The Smart Hub automatically connects your devices to the fastest Wi-Fi channel and frequency available
• Smart scan – The router continually checks your network connection as well as its own performance and automatically reboots if there’s a problem
• Dual band – Like many modern routers, the Smart Hub uses both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands
• Four gigabit Ethernet ports – The Smart Hub has four gigabit Ethernet ports, so you can use a wired connection for up to four devices
• Seven antennae – The Hub has seven aerials, which is more than previous BT routers
• LEDs can be switched off – The little things matter, and not all of us want a display of blue lights constantly flashing in the corner of the room
• DECT phone compatible – The Smart Hub 2 supports Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), a new digital standard for landline phones
• Complete Wi-Fi – BT Complete Wi-Fi uses one or more discs to give you better Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home

If there are any unfamiliar terms you’d like a more in-depth explanation of, check out our jargon-busting guide.

Setting up a BT Smart Hub 2

If an engineer is required to get your BT broadband up and running, they will also set up your router for you. If not, then you’ll be doing it yourself. There’s no need to worry though, as it’s a pretty simple process.

The first thing to do, once you’ve taken everything out of the box, is to connect your Smart Hub 2 directly to the Openreach modem (ONT) with the supplied red ethernet cable. Connect it from the Port/LAN1 slot on the ONT to the yellow WAN port on the Smart Hub 2. You’ll then need to plug it into the mains, then hit the power button and wait for the light to turn blue before you can start connecting your devices.

Once your router is up and running, we’d suggest you start making it as secure as possible. Our guide to securing your Wi-Fi router can help.

Legacy BT routers

The Smart Hub 2 is the only router supplied with BT Broadband now, but there are still a number of other BT routers out there among existing customers who've been with BT quite a while. Here's a quick rundown:

• Home Hub 3 – This hub is no longer offered by BT but it’s likely there are still a fair number of customers using one. It features Smart Scan tech and has four Ethernet ports but only single band Wi-Fi (there’s no support for the 5GHz band) and just two aerials
• Home Hub 4 – Previously supplied with BT’s ADSL broadband package, this router is no longer provided to new customers. It has four antennae and dual-band Wi-Fi, although it’s not 'next generation' stuff. There are also four Ethernet ports (not gigabit ports, though), and the Smart Scan feature is present
• Home Hub 5 – The Hub 5 is no longer available with BT broadband deals, but you can still pick one up from retailers including Amazon. It has five antennae and more advanced Wi-Fi tech than the Hub 4, as well as four gigabit Ethernet ports
• Smart Hub – The Smart Hub is now being phased out to make way for its successor, the Smart Hub 2, which is now being supplied with all BT Fibre packages, and enables the use of Complete Wi-Fi and DECT phones which the Smart Hub did not