Plusnet Speed Test

Plusnet is one of those UK broadband providers that quietly does a very good job. They are owned by BT, use the exact same Openreach infrastructure, and the Hub Two you get is essentially a rebranded BT Smart Hub 2. But Plusnet tends to be noticeably cheaper than BT, and their customer support — based in Sheffield — consistently ranks among the best in the UK.

If you are a Plusnet customer, this speed test will tell you whether your connection is delivering what it should. Your experience depends on whether you are on the older FTTC (fibre-to-the-cabinet) technology, which still uses copper for the last stretch, or the newer Full Fibre (FTTP), which is pure fibre all the way to your home.

Plusnet Plans and Expected Speeds

Like all Openreach-based providers, Plusnet plans are asymmetrical — upload is always much lower than download. Even the top Full Fibre 900 plan only gives about 110 Mbps upload. If you need symmetrical speeds, you would need to look at providers like Hyperoptic or Community Fibre that run their own networks.

Understanding Your Speed Test Results

Download speed on FTTC plans is heavily influenced by distance from the green Openreach cabinet on your street. Plusnet quotes "average" speeds, but if your house is far from the cabinet (600+ metres), expect speeds well below the average. Full Fibre plans are much more consistent because there is no copper distance factor.

Upload speed is modest across all plans. On FTTC, you are looking at 9-19 Mbps. On Full Fibre, 27-110 Mbps. This is fine for video calls (Zoom needs about 3 Mbps) but can feel slow for cloud backups and large file uploads.

Ping (latency) on Full Fibre is excellent — typically 8-15 ms. FTTC is a bit higher at 15-30 ms due to the copper section. ADSL can sit at 30-50 ms. All of these are fine for gaming and video conferencing.

Plusnet Hub Login

The admin password is on a removable credit-card-size card on the back of the Hub Two. It is not the same as your WiFi password. If you have changed it and forgotten it, hold the reset pinhole for 20 seconds to restore factory defaults — but this also resets your WiFi name and password.

Hub Two Status Lights

Solid Blue: Connected and working. This is what you want to see.

Flashing Blue: Booting up. Normal for the first 3-5 minutes after a restart.

Flashing Orange: Trying to connect to broadband. If it does not turn blue within 10 minutes, there may be a line fault.

Solid Orange: The Hub has synced with the exchange but cannot authenticate. This usually means a username/password issue — check that your Plusnet broadband credentials are correct in the Hub settings.

Red: System failure or no line detected. Try a factory reset. If it persists, the Hub may need replacing.

Dimmed/Off: The Hub is in "quiet mode" (lights dimmed). Tap the light to check the real status.

Common Plusnet Issues

FTTC speed much lower than expected

The most common reason is distance from the cabinet. Log into 192.168.1.254, go to Troubleshooting → Helpdesk, and check the "connection speed" and "noise margin" figures. A high noise margin (12+ dB) means Openreach has applied a stability profile to your line, which sacrifices speed for reliability. If your line is stable, you can ask Plusnet to request Openreach to lower the target noise margin.

Full Fibre speed capped at 90-100 Mbps

Almost always a cable issue. If you are using an old Cat5 Ethernet cable (check the text printed on the cable), it maxes out at 100 Mbps. Replace it with the Cat5e or Cat6 cable that came with the Hub. Also check your laptop — some older machines only have a 100 Mbps Ethernet port.

WiFi is slow but wired is fine

The Hub Two has decent WiFi 5 (AC) but it is no powerhouse. In larger UK homes, especially older ones with thick internal walls, the signal drops off significantly from the hallway where the Hub usually sits. Try disabling "Smart Wireless" in the admin panel (which auto-selects bands) and connect your fast devices specifically to the 5 GHz band.

BT Test Socket trick (FTTC only)

If your FTTC speeds are poor, try the test socket on your master BT socket. Unscrew the lower faceplate — behind it is a hidden test socket that bypasses all internal wiring. Plug the Hub in there with a microfilter. If speeds improve, your internal wiring has a fault and needs replacing.

Using Your Own Router

Plusnet supports third-party routers, but the setup depends on your connection type:

• FTTC (Fibre 36/66): You need a VDSL2 modem-router (like the Asus DSL-AX82U or TP-Link Archer VR2100). Configure it with PPPoE using your Plusnet broadband username and password. Some areas require VLAN 101 tagging.
• Full Fibre (FTTP): Much easier — plug any router into the Openreach ONT via Ethernet. The connection uses DHCP, so most routers work out of the box.

When to Contact Plusnet (0800 432 0200)

• Hub light stays orange (flashing or solid) for more than 15 minutes
• Hub light is red and does not recover after a factory reset
• Wired speed is consistently below your Minimum Guaranteed Download Speed
• You hear crackling on your landline phone — indicates a line fault
• You want to check if Full Fibre is available at your address

Plusnet Speed Test FAQs

What does the flashing orange light mean? The Hub is trying to establish a broadband connection. If it keeps flashing beyond 10 minutes, there is likely a line fault. Try the BT test socket to rule out internal wiring.

Is Plusnet the same as BT? Plusnet is owned by BT and uses the same Openreach network and EE backbone. The Hub Two is a rebranded BT Smart Hub 2. The differences are pricing (Plusnet is cheaper), customer support (Sheffield-based), and package options.

Why is my Full Fibre speed only 90 Mbps? You are almost certainly using an old Cat5 cable. Replace it with Cat5e or Cat6 — the cable text printed on the outer jacket will tell you which type you have.

Can I claim compensation if my speed is too slow? Yes. Under Ofcom's codes, Plusnet must give you a guaranteed minimum speed. If your wired speed falls below this for three or more days, they must fix it within 30 days or let you leave penalty-free.

Can I use my own router? Yes. For FTTC, you need a VDSL2 router with your Plusnet credentials. For Full Fibre, just plug into the ONT — it uses DHCP, so most routers work immediately.

How do I split WiFi bands on Hub Two? Log into 192.168.1.254, go to Advanced Settings → Wireless, and disable "Smart Wireless." Then manually set different names for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Compare with Other UK Providers

• BT Speed Test – Same network (Openreach/EE), different pricing and bundles.
• Sky Speed Test – Also uses Openreach, known for TV bundles.
• TalkTalk Speed Test – Budget-friendly Openreach alternative.
• Virgin Media Speed Test – Cable broadband with higher peak downloads.
• Hyperoptic Speed Test – Independent full fibre with symmetrical speeds.