If you are like some of us and have a BT Home Hub installed (see our BT Vision long term review) then the telephone company has released a new version of its Home Hub with some improvements.

Among the list of new stuff is support for long-range draft version of 802.11n Wi-Fi, four Ethernet ports, a USB port for shared printers and improved wireless security with WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). As well as this it has had a cosmetic makeover and been re-designed to appeal more.

According to John Petter, MD of BT Retail Consumer the new, improved Wi-Fi will increase the range and mean you can surf the internet from the bottom of your garden at last.

"The new Hub will give you up to twice the wireless range of our competitors - giving our customers much more coverage in the home, even in those ‘difficult-to-reach' areas, and more freedom to use their broadband wirelessly from wherever they want - whether in the living room, bedroom or even in a garden," he said.

The device has some green credentials as well. The power saving mode turns off the wireless when not in use. and a new DECT phone allows calls in high-definition sound.

Something that might appeal to parents is the access controls. They turn off access to the internet at a set time so the young'uns can't go on MySpace when they should be in bed.

The Home Hub 2.0 will be free to all customers who sign up to a BT Total Broadband Option 3 contract or an Option 2 online order. Existing BT customers can also purchase the new device for £45 from this Friday.