topic Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point? in My Router

Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

wakeman — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:04:21 GMT

Can a Plusnet Hub 2 or a possibly a Hub 1 be turned into an access point to extend the Wi-fi coverage. If so how/what settings need changing.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Baldrick1 — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:18:39 GMT

@wakeman

Yes.

This procedure should work for both: https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Router/Using-a-2nd-Plusnet-Hub1-as-a-Wireless-Access-point/m-p/1385192#M1845

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

spile — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:03:18 GMT

Repurposing a router as a wireless access point is a great way to extend your WiFi with the bonus of giving you split channels, different Sid’s and extra network ports.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Baldrick1 — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:14:40 GMT

@spile wrote:

Repurposing a router as a wireless access point is a great way to extend your WiFi

Only if you can run an Ethernet cable between the two.

If all that is required is Ethernet ports then the difference in electricty consumption between an Ethernet switch and a Hub will more than pay for the switch within a year.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

spile — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 07:35:54 GMT

Only if you can run an Ethernet cable between the two.

If all that is required is Ethernet ports then the difference in electricty consumption between an Ethernet switch and a Hub will more than pay for the switch within a year.

Given the OP’s question that was taken as read. I am not going to argue with you other but you do seem to looking to contradict me (router/switch power consumption!!) for no good reason in my opinion.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Baldrick1 — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:55 GMT

@spile

I am not contradicting you in any way. Yes they can be used as Access Points. However, the wider readership often confuse Access Point with WiFi extender, hence my comment.
Personally I find different SSIDs to be a dIsadvantage and if affordable, a Mesh set up is far superior.

Again for the wider readership, using a Hub in place of an Ethernet switch. If wireless is not required then as stated, this does not make financial sense over the long term. A Plusnet hub costs about £20 per year to run, about 3 times as much as a <£10 switch.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

wakeman — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:54:50 GMT

I was wanting it for Wi-Fi to improve reception in one general area. I can link via home plugs if necessary between primary and secondary routers.

My problem is now trying to follow the link given above to turn my old Hub One into a Access point. Is that it fails at the first hurdle. Reset old router to factory settings but I can't login to the router, It seems to be expecting the old router to be connected to a phone line and thus will not let me access the Hub One's admin page to be able to change the IP address etc..

So am stuck.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:51:37 GMT

@wakeman

It seems to be expecting the old router to be connected to a phone line

This should not be necessary, if you are not I would suggest using a laptop or desktop pc with a ethernet connection.

Make sure the Hub One is not connected to the current Hub Two

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

wakeman — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:07:25 GMT

Using a Laptop via ethernet with the Hub One. Wi-Fi on laptop is turned off temporarily the Hub One is not connected to any other device.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:39:29 GMT

The laptop needs to be set to get an IP Address automatically.

Exactly what is happening, do you get to change the IP Address from 192.168.1.254 to 192.168.1.10?

If so after the change you need to enter 192.168.1.10, follow the link -> http://192.168.1.10 to access the Hub one home.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

wakeman — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:12:26 GMT

It is already set to get an address via DHCP i.e. automatically.

I can not get to 192.168.1.254 at all it just says there is no internet, so can not get into the Hub One's portal to change anything.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:22:02 GMT

You do not need the internet to make the changes of the Hub One.

Try this link http://192.168.1.254 rather than typing the Hubs IP Address

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

wakeman — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:41:51 GMT

Dan, that is what I have doing all along. typing the 192.168.1.254 address, but I am *not* getting the Hub One portal page! as the browser when trying the IP address says it cannot connect to it.

The default Hubs IP address is 192.168.1.254 anyway.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:19:12 GMT

I would suggest a factory reset again and see if that helps.
In a reset state with no DSL cable connected the 'b' should be flashing with the power led orange.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Townman — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:49:24 GMT

Without the http:// prefix the browser might attempt to search the internet.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

wakeman — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 22:09:26 GMT

I have now been able to set it up at last.

Seems it needed at least 30 secs with the pin it to reset to factory settings.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Foss5 — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:52:01 GMT

Hi,

Hope someone can help.

So, we have a Hub 2 already. Bought a second one hoping to use it as an access point. Have factory reset the second one.

Where we are getting stuck though is that when we try to go into IP address for the 2nd one, it always comes up with the info for the existing hub 2, not the new one.

The new hub is connected to a laptop (wired)

We can't seem to get into the second hub manager page to change everything.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

RPMozley — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 21:42:19 GMT

You need to be completely disconnected from the old one first and only connected to the new router. Both routers will have the same IP address to start with.

Re: Can a Hub 2 or Hub 1 be turned into an access point?

Baldrick1 — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 22:11:41 GMT

@Foss5 wrote:
The new hub is connected to a laptop (wired)
We can't seem to get into the second hub manager page to change everything.

Switch off the laptop wireless. You may need to reboot the laptop.