BT Home Hub

The BT Home Hub is a wireless Internet router distributed by BT. It is based on the IEEE 802.11g (WiFi) standard and also supports IEEE 802.11b devices. It is significant as it marks BT’s departure away from traditional telecommunications services and towards Internet and media products. It supports VoIP Internet calls and is compatible with existing DECT handsets. It works with the existing BT Fusion service and works with the BT Vision video on demand service. [http://www.shop.bt.com/invt/car121 BT Home Hub Page] - Use with BT Fusion and Vision services. Retrieved 14 February 2007.] The device connects to the Internet using a standard ADSL connection. Since the release of the BT Home Hub, there have been several improvements to the firmware of the device. Consequently, BT has released a new Home Hub, version 2.0, which is much smaller in size than its predecessor.

There have been four different versions of the hub so far:
* Version 0.5 — grey (no Hub Phone was available)
* Version 1.0 — white (matching white Hub Phone was available)
* Version 1.5 — white (matching white Hub Phone is available, but in limited supply)
* Version 2.0 — black (matching black Hub Phone is available)

Versions 1.0 and 1.5 were also available black for a limited time and a matching black Hub Phone was available.

BT is currently rolling out the new 2.0 black, curved Home Hub to all new BT total Broadband customers; existing customers can purchase the new Home Hub.

Features

The BT Home Hub supports:
* Wireless Internet access through WiFi
* BT Fusion
* BT Vision
* VoIP (BT Broadband Talk)
* BT Videophone
* BT Softphone
* BT FON
* BT Broadband Anywhere

pecifications

The BT Home Hub package includes: [http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/homehub.html BT Home Hub Package] - Items included with the BT Home Hub. Retrieved 14 February 2007.]
* Broadband cable
* Ethernet cable (RJ45)
* Power adapter
* 2 ADSL microfilters
* Phone to RJ11 converter
* USB lead (Not Included In Latest Homehub 2.0)

BT Homehub Version 1.0 And 1.5 Specifications:The BT Home Hub’s technical specifications are as follows: [http://www.shop.bt.com/invt/car121?htxt=zF7oUiNwnTSrO3lc%2B8E1EjJ8S8pT4iPKwtOjnx5SGwSniUgjXM%2Bs4f%2BtRZeeHT9XfgzUZAtMOnpb%0AdADRL5gjJw%3D%3D BT Home Hub Package] - BT Home Hub Specifications. Retrieved 14 February 2007.]
* ADSL2+ Modem - 24 Mbit/s downstream, 3 Mbit/s upstream
* WiFi - Supports the IEEE 802.11b/g standards (802.11n-draft for Home Hub 2.0)
* Ports - 2 Ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s, 1 USB 1.1, 2 RJ11 (broadband in and phone)
* Security protocols - Supports WEP and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK. The BT Home Hub comes with a default WEP security code that is different for each box, the code is printed on the back of the unit
* Software - version 6.2.6.H (latest for all BT FON users with automatic updating. Users not on BT FON will have their units upgraded later on. [http://beta.bt.com/bta/forums/ann.jspa?annID=75] - 6.2.6.H Home Hub Firmware Update. Retrieved 26 May 2008.] )

BT Home Hub 2.0 (Black) Specifications:

* "'Modem: ADSL (Broadband)
* "'Wifi: 802.11b / 802.11g / 802.11n (Supports WEP, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK) 130Mbit/s 2 antennae (internal Broadcom BCM94321MP)
* "'Dimensions: Width: 175mm , Depth: 88mm , Height: 182mm
* "'Main features: Pre-configured to work on BT Total Broadband lines
* "'Connectors: 4 x 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet sockets (RJ45), 1 x USB, Broadband In (RJ11), telephone socket.

The BT Home Hub can only be used with the BT Total Broadband package without modification; the version 1 hub can be unlocked (see below). The BT Home Hub configuration software is compatible with both Mac and PC systems, and requires no install if an Ethernet connection to the computer is used.

Background

The hardware contained within the HomeHub v1.0 and v1.5 was manufactured by Inventel, and is equivalent to other Inventel produced and third-party branded routers such as the Orange LiveBox and Thomson Speedtouch 7G. Consequently the v1.0 can be flashed with compatible firmware such as that for the 7G, although the v1.5 firmware is hardware locked.

Telnet is available in earlier firmware versions (up to 6.2.2.6) on the v1.0 with appropriate user permissions, and is identical to the custom shell used in the Speedtouch range of routers allowing an almost identical software feature set to them, albeit with a few notable exceptions (eg. PPP authentication is locked on BT firmware).

BT Hub Phone

The BT Hub Phone is an optional handset that can be bought to work in conjunction with the Home Hub. It uses Hi-Def sound technology when calls between Hub Phones are made. It calls using the BT Broadband Talk service, and may sit in a dock in the front of the Home Hub or be used on its own stand. A normal telephone which supports DECT can be used in place of the Hub Phone.

With each Hub released since 1.0, a new phone was made to replace it:

*Home Hub Version 1.0 - Came with the BT Hub Phone 1010
*Home Hub Version 1.5 - Came with the BT Hub Phone 1020 - the only difference between the 1010 and the 1020 was the lack of the colour screen on the 1020, and lack of colour screen based features.
*Home Hub Version 2.0 - Came with the BT Hub Phone 2.1

The phones are only partially compatible with newer or older versions of the hub - able to make and receive calls, but with loss of many features.

Criticism

ecurity concerns

The security of the BT Home Hub has been questioned [cite web |url=http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=bt+home+hub+site%3Agnucitizen.org&btnG=Google+Search&meta |title= Google Result for bt home hub site:gnucitizen.org |accessdate=2008-07-03] several times by the GNUCITIZEN Ethical Hacker Outfit. In October 2007, Adrian Pastor warned [cite web |url=http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/bt-home-flub-pwnin-the-bt-home-hub/ |title=BT Home Flub: Pwnin the BT Home Hub |accessdate=2008-07-03] the security and BT Broadband community regarding critical vulnerabilities he discovered in the Home Hub. The details of such research were released later in November 2007 and demonstrated how to fully compromise (get root privileges) on the BT Home Hub by simply tricking a BT Home Hub user to visit a webpage crafted by the attacker. [cite web |url=http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/bt-home-flub-pwnin-the-bt-home-hub-4/ |title=BT Home Flub: Pwnin the BT Home Hub |accessdate=2008-07-03]

Such research garnered a significant amount of media attention [cite web |url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/09/bt_home_hub_vuln/ |title=The Register — BT home router wide open to hijackers|accessdate=2008-07-03] and even led to Adrian Pastor being invited to BBC Radio 4 where he counter-argued Dave Hughes, director of BT Wireless Broadband. Mr Hughes argued that GNUCITIZEN's vulnerability research only covered a theoretical attack. Mr Pastor, on the other hand, stated that although GNUCITIZEN wasn't aware of such vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild, the attack is fully "practical" as demonstrated by the exploit code released at www.gnucitizen.org. Furthermore, Mr Pastor argued that the security of the BT Home Hub wasn't sufficient enough to support the newly-introduced Wi-Fi sharing FON service.

Unlocking

In its standard state, the BT Home Hub is locked to BT in both the ISP it can connect to AND the VoIP service it can use. The configuration binds port 5060 to BT's own Broadband Talk. However, by changing firmware and user permissions, users can easily unlock the Version 1 home hub to be used on other networks and VOIP systems.

GPL Violation

The device runs software which uses the Linux kernel, released under the GNU GPL. As a token gesture and, in an attempt to claim adherence to the GPL, BT have released some source code for the device which can be downloaded [http://www.btyahoo.com/broadband/adhoc_pages/gplcode.html here] . However in violation of the GPL, BT have not published the scripts necessary to compile and install custom firmware to the device.Fact|date=September 2008

Undocumented features

The Home Hub includes a USB-A port which has no documented function. It has been found that some devices (such as printers and USB mass storage devices) connected to this port can be shared on that Hub's network. Storage devices (hard disks and thumb drives) must be formatted to FAT32, and hard disk drives must have an external power supply.For hard disks, simply map a drive letter to either \192.168.1.253t_7g on v1 and v1.5 hubs, or \192.168.1.253Disk_a1 on V2.0 hubs. All versions of the Home Hub V1, V1.5 and V2.0 have the USB-A port which can be used for hard drives, but the V2.0 no longer has a USB-B port for connecting to the PC. Ethernet must now be used.

ee also

*BT Fusion
*BT Vision

References

External links

* [http://www.josephn.net/unlocking_bt_home_hub Josephn.net - Unlocking BT Home Hub] - Use your home hub with other ISPs
* [http://www.josephn.net/bt_home_hub_and_voip Josephn.net - BT Home Hub and VoIP] - Use your home hub with other VoIP providers such as Sipgate
* [http://www.homehub.bt.com/ BT Home Hub Official Homepage]
* [http://www.shop.bt.com/invt/car121 BT Home Hub on the BT Shop]
* [http://www.shop.bt.com/invt/cay343 BT Hub Phone on the BT Shop]
* [http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/homehub.html A review of the BT Home Hub]
* [http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/homehubfaq.html Unofficial Home Hub FAQ]
* [http://www.filesaveas.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?board=homehub Home Hub Forum]
* [http://www.paulbanks.org/projects/homehub A look inside the HUB]
* [http://www.stevelarkins.freeuk.com/bthomehub_softwareupgrade.htm Home Hub firmware update procedure]
* [http://www.jarviser.co.uk/jarviser/homehubindex.html Jarvisers Home Hub How-to Index]
* [http://www.jarviser.co.uk/jarviser/hubv2review.html Hub Version 2 Review]
* [http://pbteu.bt.motive.com/ElectiveFWUpgradePortal/ Firmware Upgrade Portal]
* [http://homehubhacks.co.uk/index.php?n=HowTo.Index Comprehensive guides to various HH hacks, including Bridging.]