If you’re a BT Broadband customer, you probably know you have free access to the company’s entire Wi-Fi hotspot network. You’ll find hotspots in places such as airports, cafes, shops and even in residential streets, because everyone’s BT Hub router is also turned into a Wi-Fi hotspot that anyone can use.
When you’re looking for a BT network to join in a residential area, you might notice networks called BTWifi-with-FON and/or BTWifi-x, among others. Which should you pick? Here’s our guide.
BTWifi-with-FON
BTWifi-with-FON is the network you should pick when trying to connect your laptop, tablet, phone or other device.
When you choose the FON network and open a web browser, you should be presented with a login screen like this:
On this screen, you can enter your BT Broadand username and password and you’ll be granted access to the Wi-Fi network. It probably won’t be as fast as your home broadband (FON users are only granted a slice of the available bandwidth), but it will be fine for day-to-day surfing, email or even watching Netflix.
Note, you don’t have to be a BT Broadband customer to take advantage of the FON network. If you click the BT Wi-Fi link on the login page, you can pay for access to the network. At the time of writing, an hour’s access costs £4. A day’s access costs £10 and a 5-day week costs £25. That’s pretty stiff, but if it’s the only option in your holiday home, it might be a price you’re willing to pay.
BTWifi-x
So what of the mysterious BTWifi-x? If you attempt to join this network you likely won’t get very far, as you’ll be asked for a username and password – your BT Broadband credentials won’t cut much ice here.
That’s because this is the network reserved for users of the BT Wi-Fi app. This app creates a profile on your device that allows you to automatically connect to BT Wi-Fi whenever you’re within range of a hotspot – and it uses that BTWifi-x network to do so. You can’t sign into it manually, it’s done automatically via the app.
While this sounds more convenient, I’m not a big fan of the BT Wi-Fi app – precisely because of that automatic sign-in. If you’re walking down the street listening to Spotify on 4G, for example, you’ll find your connection is constantly interrupted as you walk past houses with BT Broadband that the BT Wi-Fi app attempts to latch on to. Because you’re only walking past, the Wi-Fi doesn’t have time to connect, resulting in constant connection interruptions.
My advice: stick to the FON network when you’re out and about and forget about the BT Wi-Fi app.
NOW READ THIS: What is my BT FON log in?
Hello,
That’s because this is the network reserved for users of the BT Wi-Fi app. This app creates a profile on your device that allows you to automatically connect to BT Wi-Fi whenever you’re within range of a hotspot
– This is incorrect. Installing the app allows you to connect to the BTWi-fi hotspots without requiring a username/password. This does not create a profile. You ‘can’ create a profile, which is ‘only’ for BTWifi-X. –
…and it uses that BTWifi-x network to do so.
– Incorrect. BTWifi-X is a network all on its own, it is not something used by something else. –
You can’t sign into it manually.
– Yes you can (explained below) –
it’s done automatically via the app.
– No it isn’t (explained below) –
While this sounds more convenient, I’m not a big fan of the BT Wi-Fi app – precisely because of that automatic sign-in. If you’re walking down the street listening to Spotify on 4G, for example, you’ll find your connection is constantly interrupted as you walk past houses with BT Broadband that the BT Wi-Fi app attempts to latch on to. Because you’re only walking past, the Wi-Fi doesn’t have time to connect, resulting in constant connection interruptions.
– Turn off the ‘Auto-Join’ and ‘Auto-Login’ tick boxes (iPhone) for that network/SSID if you do not want to automatically connect –
In essence, my corrections above amount to this:
Installing the BT Wi-Fi app allows you to connect to the BTWi-fi and BTWifi-with-FON hotspots without needing to put in your BT Broadband username and password each time on the Capture Portal – it bypasses that and allows you access quickly.
Within the BT Wi-Fi app you can install a Connection Profile. This installs a profile/certificate that allows you to securely (with an encrypted connection like your home Wi-Fi will have) connect to the BTWifi-X network. This is just like the BTWifi-with-FON network, but encrypted and secure.
With any network, not only BT, if you do not want it to automatically connect, then change the setting in your phone Wi-Fi settings. Nothing to do with the BT-Wifi app. Just phone settings.
For example, I have mine set to not auto join BTWifi-with-FON or BTWifi-X, so the above example does not happen to me. But when I do wish to connect to them purposefully, the FON lets me on without the Capture Portal splash screen and login, and the BTWifi-X connection connects securely without username or password entry needed, with a safe, encrypted connection.
And with a bit of hocus pocus that you can search for online, you can also get the profile yourself and use it on MacBook or iPad as well as iPhone. As far as I am aware, this does not work for Android, though I could be wrong.