The heater doesn't have a major effect on the range - It's because the heater gets used when it cold outside, and it's the cold that makes the battery less efficient.
Edit: just realised other people have already posted something similar
Is your new hub broadcasting 2.4 and 5GHz as well? If, for example, your PC only works with 2.4GHz and this is turned off on the hub then it won't see any networks