Can I turn off Wi-Fi broadcasting?

[MindfulGal]

Is there a way to turn my wi-fi off on the modem besides just unplugging everything. Thank you.

[ZaneP]

Bell's modems can't be connected in bridge mode, so they can't be entirely bypassed. You would run PPPoE (Ontario; Quebec) or DHCP (Atlantic Canada) to connect a router.

So even if you turn off wifi on the modem and enable it on your router, there's no guarantee of completely disabling all the radios. Just something as simple as a firmware update on the modem will launch a reboot.

[Baroque]

This works,  but I’ve confirmed that the primary 2.4 GHz WiFi turns back on again whenever the modem resets (e.g. after a power outage). The 5.0 GHz stays off, so this seems like a bug. I’m running version 3.4.13 of the HomeHub 3000 firmware.

Is there any way to turn off the WiFi permanently?

[ZaneP]

Hi @Baroque 

There is some contention about this.

There are claims that Bell fixed this issue with a firmware update; others state that WiFi cannot be permanently turned off. The consensus is that it cannot be done.

There is an active discussion thread on the HH3K on DSL Reports, Bell forum. You may want to search or post there. https://www.dslreports.com/forum/sympat

There is a Python script * floating around which some customers have used to accomplish this. It goes beyond the scope of this forum and I'm not advocating for it.

*To add another layer: the conversations about the issue, and the script, have focused mainly on the HH4K and GigaHub.

Cheers,

ZaneP

I am not now, nor have I ever been a Bell employee

[Rohit]

Dear Bell Technical Support Team,

I am currently utilizing a Bell-provided router for my internet connectivity. I have also set up a Google Mesh Network in my home to optimize WiFi coverage and performance. I understand that both networks may interfere with each other, thus affecting the overall efficiency of my home network.

Could you please guide me through the process of disabling the WiFi feature on my Bell router so that my Google Mesh Network can operate at its full potential? I am aware that only Bell's technical team has the access to disable the WiFi on the router. Your prompt attention to this matter would be highly appreciated.

By the way I don't have access to disabling WIFI on home hub etc.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Rohit

[dks]

Unfortunately Bell will not disable WiFi permanently on any of their modems. You can disable it temporarily by turning Whole Home WiFi off under Manage My WiFi,  but it is restored on a modem reboot. Even temporary disabling keeps several WiFi frequencies active and hidden for Bell's Fibe TV. You might be better to experiment with your mesh network to see if there is, in fact, any signal degradation. 

[Sage21]

Hello,

Is it possible to disable all Wi-Fi signals from my Bell Fibe router? It's in the basement and we have a very weak signal in our office on the main floor and everywhere on the upper floor. I am planning on installing a wired access point central to the home and am concerned about signal interference.

I also need to verify that our Bell TV service will work via the access point's wireless network and does not rely on the router's wireless signal; I imagine as long as it's connected and I'm logged into my account on the TV receiver, it should work fine.

Thanks 

Sage

[dks]

---

@Sage21 wrote:

Hello,

Is it possible to disable all Wi-Fi signals from my Bell Fibe router? It's in the basement and we have a very weak signal in our office on the main floor and everywhere on the upper floor. I am planning on installing a wired access point central to the home and am concerned about signal interference.

I also need to verify that our Bell TV service will work via the access point's wireless network and does not rely on the router's wireless signal; I imagine as long as it's connected and I'm logged into my account on the TV receiver, it should work fine.

Thanks 

Sage

---

The answer to your first question is no. You can't turn off all Wi-Fi signals from your Giga Hub modem/router. One solution would be the Bell pods, which work well with the Giga Hub. There are other mesh systems which might also work, as opposed to a WAP. The pods, and mesh systems in general, link to the strongest signal they can find. Expect to experiment, no matter what solution you go with! 

[rhgold]

My Home Hub 3000 has updated to use the Bell Wifi App.  Using the local LAN address does not allow turning off Wifi anymore and neither does the Wifi App.  Can someone help?  I have a mesh network and the Home Hub is causing interference.  My home wifi was great until forced update.

[Cre8vSAM]

Hi, It appears this window is no longer available in the Advanced Wi-Fi Setting menu. Is there any other work around to be able to turn off wifi and continue just using hard wired ethernet access to internet through the modem? I have checked 192.168.2.1 MyHub Menus and settings and have not seen Advanced area to make these changes. Thank you for any suggestions to have a completely wifi free connection.

[dks]

There are currently no other ways to turn off Wi-Fi in the Bell Gigahub modem. The Python script referred to in the posts is an advanced solution.  

[JPoutine]

I have the Gigahub on a fiber optic line to a home office, since summer of '23 and am bitterly disappointed, both as a client and shareholder of Bell. Internet is marginally faster but the loss of key phone service features makes the new service package retrograde and undesirable. Moreover, the installation crew, call-centre technical support staff, online Bell support material all indicated that you can "turn off" wifi broadcasting in your home or office, either intermittently or in favor of ethernet, (especially with infants and pregnancies). But this is not true, in practical terms, as confirmed by on-site technicians.

What you're not told, is that with "all wifi turned off" from the administrator dashboard, the modem/router will then have to be re-initialized with a network-independent wireless device to restore Wifi services, essentially  repeating the installation process every time you turn off Wifi/EMF radiation emissions.

The Bell Canada Gigahub eliminates independent wire-line phone service, which was an essential, often Life-saving feature during the far-too-many power outages that occur in the serviced area. The Bell Gigahub integrates VOIP so when the power goes out, I lose phone service, and if I want to stop EMF emissions during the day, or at night, I must power-off Gigahub and once again, lose phone service. How "dumb" is that, and why would Bell adopt such a "dumb" service feature strategy for such an important roll-out?!

More to come on this...I'm sure.

[dks]

I am confused. Are you saying your turn wi-fi on and off? Are you using a third-party router with the Giga Hub?

Bell has made it clear that once you accept fibre, your copper wireline is finished and can't be restored. You alternative is cell service. You might want to inquire at a computer store about using a UPS or Uninteruptable Power Supply, which should power the modem for a short while. 

[gmd]

What he's saying is that you cannot turn off the Wi-Fi used for the tv.

I have my box wired in with cat5e and it still uses a hidden 5 GHz Wi-Fi.

Letting go copper forever was never mentioned.

[dks]

Interesting. I was told copper would be disconnected. The invisible wi-fi issue has been around for a while. 

[JPoutine]

There is no confusion as to what I've written. Bell Canada, has intentionally made it very impractical to turn off wifi broadcasting.