topic Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus in Broadband & Landline

Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

worthywow1 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 07:51:55 GMT

Hi,

I have just switched from BT to EE. I have a Smart Hub 2 (SH31B) with three Smart Wifi Plus extenders which all have hard wired connections.

All seems to be working ok apart from occasionally losing connection for a minute - I'm still investigating this.

When looking at the app I'm getting the below warning saying the device is too close. It's not too close 🙂 It's about 30 metres away through floors and walls! It's further than the living room which is showing as ok.

Does anyone know what causes this message?

Thanks

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

Mustrum — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:45:41 GMT

@worthywow1 have you tried moving it further away? It may well be that the signal in that location from the base and other extender already gives a strong enough signal.

Maybe even just putting it behind an object or cupboard may help - but the key is to try moving it or even doing without it.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

worthywow1 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:11:32 GMT

Thanks - it is at least 10 metres from the nearest extender through a floor and a couple of brick walls - it's also behind a monitor and hardwired so presume defaults to not using the wifi to form the mesh? If I turn it off then I get no wifi signal in the room so the warning message is probably a bug, false alarm etc.

I have decided to revert back to my original BT hub and extender discs - with the new EE hub I am getting occasional drop outs and also my work laptop VPN doesn't like it!

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

Ewan15 — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:06:57 GMT

@worthywow1 I get the same message from the EE App about my Extender. I ignore it and everything is working fine.

The extender connects to the devices closest to it.

Not experiencing any speed issues or dropouts.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

bobpullen — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 11:56:08 GMT

@worthywow1 - I think the proximity warning is based on some arbitrary decisioning that says - 'if wired backhaul, then too close'. It's confusing/misleading but I don't think it's anything to worry about.

Source: I've always seen the same with my wired extender and it's positioned optimally.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

JayCee999 — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:22:11 GMT

I have the same warning but on a WiFi / mesh connected device. Its several metres and walls away, so not sure why its showing. It seems to work fine.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

Leanne_T — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:18:53 GMT

Hi there @JayCee999

Thanks for coming to the community.

Could you try restarting the router and logging in and out of the app, does the message still show?

Leanne 🙂

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

Su76 — Wed, 28 May 2025 21:18:27 GMT

Can this be done? My new hub and extenders have been nothing but trouble. Haven’t yet sent back my old bt hub and discs.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

Rach_H — Thu, 29 May 2025 11:21:06 GMT

Hi @Su76,

Welcome to the Community!

It's definitely worth reaching out to our team to see what we can do to improve the service you're getting.

Rach

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

worthywow1 — Thu, 29 May 2025 13:30:52 GMT

Hi Su76,

For me (on EE full fibre) using the old BT hub and extenders have been working rock solidly (if such a word!) without any issues so give it a go!

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

Kielty1 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 19:38:43 GMT

agreed, the app shows 'too close' when connected via ethernet no matter how far away. I have 2 extenders, 1 wifi all good, the other wired and in a different building! shows 'too close'

Someone really needs to update the app.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

kernowman — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 07:33:40 GMT

I wish I was not so eager to send back my BT hardware. Connection issues, especially with Sky Q box, are a daily occurance now, where with the BT equipment, I never had one drop-out. I think I need to get back to EE, because they are not providing a service. I also note that the EE hybrid connect only uses 4G, whereas the BT equipment it replaced was 5G.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

JimM11 — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 09:30:29 GMT

@kernowman If you had the Hybrid connect from either BT or EE version, then they have only ever been 4g.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

MS1961 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:52:59 GMT

I have always found the sky box and q box advice network to be rubbish/unstable. My personal view , based upon nothing but experience in my own home is that the sky box is not really very good on a WiFi network. Prior to having full fibre I had a router in the middle of the house hardwired to the tv and sky box by Ethernet cables. When I changed to full fibre I could no longer use the Ethernet network because the fibre connection was placed at the front of the house and the Ethernet wall ports were in the middle. Placing a Disc in the lounge near the tv and sky box did not produce very good results regarding the sky box. Eventually I used a short Ethernet cable from the EE disc to the skybox. The difference in performance was remarkable. Checking the sky box settings indicated an Ethernet connection rather than WiFi. I now have a EE pro hub and pro extenders. These have dual Ethernet ports on the back so I am now using the house Ethernet network again. When it comes to a sky box I would always recommend trying a Ethernet connection - even if it’s just to a Disc.

Re: Getting "Too Close" warning on Smart Wifi Plus

JimM11 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:49:16 GMT

@MS1961 Best way to do it, the sky Q mesh / mini's really requires a good wireless wifi back to the main sky Q box, Ethernet get's rid off that!