Hub 2 firmware update now needed?

[#1]

The current firmware for the PN Hub 2 router comes with an inbuilt link to the BT Wholesale Broadband Performance Test

http://192.168.1.254/basic_-_broadband_performance_test.htm

"Test your Plusnet Broadband speedUse the BT Wholesale Broadband Performance Test to test the speed of your Plusnet Broadband line.

Your broadband speed can be affected by a wide range of factors, including the technology used to provide your service, the type of device you are running the speed test from, and how you are connecting to your hub i.e. wired or wirelessly."

This was a useful test of the operation of your broadband, back in the day (of ADSL, FTTC). But, as we know, the BT Broadband Test is no more. Currently full fibre FTTP is the norm meaning that contracted 'Broadband'(sic) speeds to the router are now much higher than before and also now many routers previously connected to a PC with an Ethernet cable are  connected by Wi-Fi (this is so in my case). While testing broadband 'download' speeds via an Ethernet connection - or via a Wi-Fi connection with a connection link speed much higher than the broadband speed - was frequently adequate in many cases now it is no longer realistically possible. This seems to me to be shown by the increasing number of complaints "My broadband speed is not as contracted" appearing on the Full Fibre board.

Currently there seems to me no easy and generally useful way to test your true FTTP download speed at the Hub 2, so there is a need for this. What is needed is a replacement for the original "Test my speed" link in the Hub 2 firmware.

PS. Or would this even solve the issue, if the Hub link just points the PC browser at the test site? Um...

Could the Hub 2 itself be enabled to test and report the PON download speed?

[#2]

@pvmb 

Or would this even solve the issue, if the Hub link just points the PC browser at the test site?

Yes, it was a link to the BT Wholesale Broadband Performance Test, so you would be using the devices browser.

Not sure any further development work would be made to this old router, would be nice to see is the current BT/EE Hubs to be released for plusnet connections.

[#3]

So, no then! (Thinking about this further).

The "Test my speed" button in the Hub 2 is just a convenience, a URL pointing to the late BT Wholesale Broadband Performance Test for a Hub 2 connected device to run the tester. No testing is done at the router itself.

In the days of ADSL this was enough to test the PN supplied 'Download speed', even with FTTC it would mostly do the same thing (apart from if you were testing via a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi link to the router when on a very good 80 Mbps landline link).
But now, with the GPON native digital network and it's much higher download speeds even a 5 GHz Wi-Fi link may not be fast enough for the job in every case. An Ethernet cable connection mandated in many cases.

There seems to be no way of seeing the actual download speed at the Hub 2 (like you can see the Wi-Fi connection link speed in the router Technical log). Perhaps we should just accept it is what it is supposed to be? Unless there is convincing evidence that it isn't - that wouldn't include 'download speeds' tested by 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi... After all, the GPON is known to be more reliable than the PSTN copper wiring network and, if there were a real network fault (disconnection?) it should show up on the ONT Alarm LED.

[#4]

@pvmb 

if there were a real network fault (disconnection?) it should show up on the ONT Alarm LED.

That would depend on the fault, in some cases recently the PON light was green, the Hub two light was a solid orange.

Solid Orange on a Hub Two decodes to a Network fault with the PPPoE connection being unable to be established, there was an local Openreach network error.

For Full Fibre Flashing Orange would be disconnect between the Hub and ONT.

As you are aware, WiFi speedtest results are down to many factors, distance between the testing device and router, connected band (2.4 or 5 GHz), the testing device being used.

Important; specification of the WiFi adapter of the testing device, not all WiFi adapters are equal.

With many now WiFi only households the "Where is my internet speed" is becoming common place.