topic Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub in Broadband & Landline

HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:12:34 GMT

This seems to be a common failing of the EE broadband hub...

After many years with various BT hubs that worked fine, I was switched to the EE hub that has been a pain and nowhere as easy to access as the last BT hub. The app for 'controlling' the hub is primitive.

Amongst the outstanding issues, it will not connect to my HP Photosmart printer via wifi. The diagnostic on the printer suggests that maybe MAC filtering is enabled... Both the HP printer diagnostic and the EE hub show the same MAC address for the printer. The printer is about 30cms from the hub. (Though generally wifi signal strength around the house is not as good as the BT hub and I get regular drops of the WiFi signal - have to reconnect)

Any suggestions?

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

Mustrum — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:30:59 GMT

@RobinS49 which printer model do you have? Does it have WPS and have you tried using that to connect to the router?

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

Profile closed — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:01:11 GMT

@RobinS49

Which router do you have? Which plan are you on? Do you have WiFi extenders?

We’ve had numerous issues with EE since the transfer, but router performance with our SH+ hasn’t been one. It’s been noticeably better than our BT SH2.

These days we only have phones and a tablet, so everything “computing” is wifi. On the same product, speedtest results are improved and wifi coverage is better. For space reasons our Epson 442 is located upstairs in the opposite corner to the router. It’d always connect but often to print we’d need to stand by it. Now we can print from our handheld devices, sat downstairs.

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:07:19 GMT

Its the latest EE router (not the 5g version) which replaced the last generation BT one - which I'm missing now...

We have multiple Apple laptops, phones, pads, stereo, TV, Apple TV connected - mostly wifi with some mains ethernet extenders. It's a small house. Previous changes of BT router versions were totally painless. Not so this time...

I see quite a few others have had the printer problems

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

Ewan15 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:52:56 GMT

@RobinS49 The key is to use the HP Smart app to get your printer connected.

Hope this helps

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:38:41 GMT

thanks

Is the Smart App on the printer or does it run on the Mac? Dont think Ive had to ever use it before. After many years...

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:20:37 GMT

Smart App only works if you are connected to wifi. Thats the problem - the EE router won't allow the printer to connect even though the printer can see the router

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

Ewan15 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 08:43:20 GMT

@RobinS49 That's how I got my HP smart tank connected, which only has WIFI. The HP Smart App has a way of connecting to the printer provided the instructions are carefully followed, to set up the WIFI

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:24:46 GMT

Smart App talks to the printer but it's the EE router that won't connect to the printer. Even though the printer can see the network. Neither WPS nor manual inputting the password works.

(PS I used to work in IT..!)

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

Profile closed — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:41:07 GMT

What frequency does the printer wifi work on? (when it does). Does temporarily disabling the other at the router end and trying again make any difference?

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:43:42 GMT

I gather most printers only operate on 2.4 rather than 5. Have tried disabling 5 ... no difference.

As above, it all worked fine on successive models of BT hub.

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

JimM11 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:43:43 GMT

@RobinS49 You may have to drop your printer into the compatible wi-fi mode for it to operate, and match the required details if needed.

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:48:48 GMT

It's the hub that has the two wifi modes - I gather that the printer, like most printers, only operates on the one 2.4 gz. Only very few exotic printers operate on 5.

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:01:09 GMT

After 45 mins on the phone with a helpful EE tech support, still not working.

Have not even started on the tendency for the laptop to randomly drop off the network - multiple times and then stays connected again. Same laptop, same house, same locations as when I had the BT hub. Time to check how long the contract is

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

bobpullen — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 11:22:00 GMT

@RobinS49 - has the printer been fully factory reset? If not, then I'd give that a go.

Failing that, if you log into the Hub Manager at http://192.168.1.254 and navigate to Advanced > Wireless, then you should see one of two things: -

1. A Wi-Fi 'mode' selection that allows you to drop down to 'Wi-Fi 6 Compatibility' or 'Wi-Fi 5' mode. Worth trying each of these to see if it helps?

2. A separate section for 'Compatible WiFI'. If you have this, then try enabling the Compatible WiFi network and give it a different Wi-Fi name/password. Then try connecting the printer to this rather than the main network.

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 12:59:12 GMT

Thanks Bob - have done the full printer reset... Am in WiFi mode and down to 2.4 only

I assume Main and Comp networks operate simultaneously? Before I set up comp...

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

RobinS49 — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:26:55 GMT

Bingo. Set up Compatible WiFi and that seems to have worked. lets hope everything else is still working!

Many thanks Bob

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

bobpullen — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:36:49 GMT

@RobinS49 wrote:
I assume Main and Comp networks operate simultaneously? Before I set up comp...

You already know this by now but yes, they do.

Glad to hear it's sorted! 🙂

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

Jezza79 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:19:32 GMT

If I may make a suggestion. My phone was constantly being kicked out by EE. It stated 'WPA3 connection required'. No technician told me what this meant. But I was always moaning about it being a setting on the sidelines of talking about low speeds.

I created a 'Compatible' channel on my hub - so quick and easy just google it. This creates an older version WPA2 channel for your older devices to connect to OH SO HAPPILY, thanks very much. My phone now shows FULL BARS which I don't think I've seen for years - ha.

Anyway - I also have an old HP printer. Connected it to my EE wifi Compat. channel/wifi and it worked immediately!

NO IDEA WHY THIS ISN'T BEING SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS. WE ARE ALL BROKE AND HAVE OLD DEVICES! EE'S NEW HUBS AUTO DEFAULT TO WPA3. TELL YOUR CUSTOMERS TO CREATE THE COMPATIBLE WPA2 CHANNEL. 🙂

Hope this helps.

Re: HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

Tonyri — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:48:43 GMT

There is an issue connecting”older” technical equipment to the EE Hub particularly if it talks using 2.4 GHz. Latest Hubs have introduced a Compatibility mode recognised using the EE App on a tablet or iPhone. If all else fails use an old extender to connect to the Hub and connect your printer to this.