BT Open Zone / HotSpot

[Snowgoat]

We have a BT Broadband setup feeding a home/office network - all the hardware is BT. We'd used Zen for 10 years (excellent) but changed to BT with the threat of paying a considerable amount to have our broadband socket upgraded (north of £200?) and attracted by the call/broadband package on offer at the time.

I was abroad recently, using numerous WiFi networks, and when I returned couldn't logon to our network, either cable or WiFi. The only available connection (looking at available wireless networks) was (apparently) our own BT OpenZone HotSpot (nothing else within range, small Sussex village). The only way of getting a connection was to login (foreign credit card, foreign address) for 6 quid, giving me x hours or days - can't remember. Odd, as I had originally disabled the OpenZone.

BT TechSupport said this was impossible, no-one could login and found a fault with the BT Hub (won't hold the login stuff when rebooted) and have sent us a new hub. The fact remains I did login, and it was the only way of gaining internet access.

I wound up the new hub today, and talking to BT Support they confirmed that all BT Hubs now 'shipped' with OpenZone enabled and live. As far as I can see we are then operating as a 'free' hub for anyone to login and pay the relevant subscription to BT. Apart from not being made aware of this, the BT guy claimed that it wouldn't make any difference to the performance of our network, and explained that with the analogy of listening to a radio station with several receivers - it wouldn't degrade the performance of reception for anyone, no matter how many listeners.

So, in simple terms are you aware that you could be providing BT's customers with a HotSpot, and surely that's going to downgrade your connection? No problem about disabling the OpenZone feature, of course ( shove 192.168.1.254 in your browser, go Services / BT OpenZone / Disable)

Apologies for incorrect jargon, but I'm sure you get the point. Maybe I missed something in the smallprint of our contract? If you reboot your hub, or change to default settings, check that OpenZone isn't enabled?

 

[Richie N]

Whoever uses your internet requires a password from you, so the openzone only works if you give this to people.

 

[Gillie]

Yes am aware of it, have it enabled too! It doesnt interfer with your connection/bill/speed and it means that if everyone did this, you could manage to get to most places in the UK and use the minutes that BT give you free of charge as part of your package thus meaning internet on the move for those with laptops.

And Richie, slightly wrong - each BT client has their own password etc and by letting others use some of your connection, they are merely logging on via your hub and dont get access to your network that you are running off it. So yes, the idea is to let those of us who use BT to wander around the country using completely sectioned off use of hubs that people give permission to.

Been doing it for years now and never had an issue with it!

 

[Leo-InstallingIT]

Whoever uses your internet requires a password from you, so the openzone only works if you give this to people.

This isn't the case, BT Openzone is a wifi service run by BT which uses peoples "hubs" (as they call them) to provide subsription based internet access.

Your internet connection shouldn't be massively affected as your router should prioritise your traffic over the openzone access.

Leo

 

[Richie N]

Yes am aware of it, have it enabled too! It doesnt interfer with your connection/bill/speed and it means that if everyone did this, you could manage to get to most places in the UK and use the minutes that BT give you free of charge as part of your package thus meaning internet on the move for those with laptops.

And Richie, slightly wrong - each BT client has their own password etc and by letting others use some of your connection, they are merely logging on via your hub and dont get access to your network that you are running off it. So yes, the idea is to let those of us who use BT to wander around the country using completely sectioned off use of hubs that people give permission to.

Been doing it for years now and never had an issue with it!

I did mean they can access your internet, not your network etc if given a password or they subscribe to BT for this service.

 

[Snowgoat]

Thanks for the comments.

I have to admit that I can't believe that a bunch of other users, logging in to 'our' hub aren't going to affect our performance; surely speed would be the most vulnerable?

Performance from our village exchange hub (?) varies according to number of users on broadband, is what I was told originally. What's the name for it - attenuation ratio? Something like that.

 

[GeorgeM]

Yes, your home / office has become like a Starbucks cafe. Anyone with an Openzone account can use your hub.

They may even ask for a cup of coffee too