topic Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange? in Broadband & Landline

why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:08:11 GMT

The light on my extender is orange for long periods then aqua. I'd say about half the time it's orange. Why is this? It's only two rooms away from the main router.

Thanks

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:12:22 GMT

@StuartTT Link to the help below.

"Smart WiFi device lights"

Fix a Problem with Smart WiFi | Broadband Help | EE

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

Jezza79 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:15:17 GMT

Mine too. Check out the Broadband Manager though. It shows you how many devices/drivers/boosters are on your hub and how many devices are connected to each driver.

Apparently, orange is ok. It's just a weak signal. But red is 'not connecting'. Aqua is connected and 'Good service'.

It will check your drivers to make sure they're operating at 'Good Service'. If they're not in the prime location, apparently (technician at EE told me) it would say 'too far' or 'too near' to hub. Or something.

I've been on a very long journey to get to this point. Still getting some pretty low readings. Now have been given a new hub. Already been given two new drivers. Now awaiting Mr OpenReach to visit day after tomorrow. Then will be allowed to leave contract with no fees.

Loving the app so much though, I don't want to leave! And the new mast will be up eventually. Say 3 months or something so . . . then we'll all have the fullest of fibres! 🙂

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:18:43 GMT

@Jezza79 wrote:

Loving the app so much though, I don't want to leave!

You must be alone!

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:23:25 GMT

Thanks @Jezza79.

I was hoping the app might help me with positioning the extender unit (i.e. show the signal strength in various areas of the house), but it doesn't seem to do that.

I'm surprised that orange means it's working, because whenever it's orange none of my devices (laptop, iPhone) are connected to it. I guess they must be connected to the router instead.

I wish they made this easier!

If anyone knows an iOS app that can measure your signal strength around the house, please shout! It would be really helpful. I tried a couple of apps but neither did this)

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:40:31 GMT

@StuartTT If you care to use the web manager, then advanced wireless, extenders section it will show you what the Smart wireless section shows the signal strength of the device, it is variable so will need a few readings to get the guestimate, will link a posting if i can see one that is not blocked out too much. Just got to find then you will see the link below. Here you go will give you the idea view wise.

Re: Useless pro products - Page 3 - The EE Community

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:43:48 GMT

Thanks for replying Jim. What is the web manager? Is this something on the iphone EE app?

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:49:25 GMT

@StuartTT Are you only a mobile phone user, or do you also have PC/Laptop that connects to the EE Router?

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:54:21 GMT

Hi Jim

I have a laptop and an iphone using the wifi network

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:57:02 GMT

@StuartTT The only app that i know for IOS, is from Mat Haffner called Wi-Fi Analyzer, go to his site, have no idea what will be shown IOS wise, but he does for Windows and Apple, Windows works great, but not an IOS user myself. Android preferred device.

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:00:54 GMT

@StuartTT On the laptop web browser type http://192.168.1.254 that will get you to the web manager, you can see later how the phone works, you will need the card for any password from the back off the router unless you have changed.

When in the Extender section and also the wireless you can see the strength of most devices that the router thinks they are at.

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:09:20 GMT

Great! Many thanks Jim!

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:25:03 GMT

Ok, so I launched the web manager and can now see my extenders. Both show good connections (which is promising). But weirdly one claims to be connected by ethernet, not wifi. It is not! Any ideas why that is?

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:29:45 GMT

@StuartTT Will take a look when you picture is cleared, but the software is NOT the sharpest tool in the TOOLBOX, pinch off salt has to be applied, and which one is causing your orange glow to happen, anything useful is helpful... Signal strength is measured in DB and lower is better, anything above 60 is getting to the stability side off issues.....

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:23:07 GMT

@StuartTT Your picture has still not cleared yet, but i have NOT forgot about it! Your picture is not going to be approved, can you hide the mac address on (( it, them )) whichever it is showing on, or go with @Mustrum reply to your posting.

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:43:57 GMT

@JimM11 : Oh, sorry, I forgot this 1. It can't be approved while it reveals OP's MAC addy.

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

Mustrum — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:48:02 GMT

@StuartTT whilst it claims to be connected via ethernet, it is only showing 100Mbos. Do you have a better quality ethernet cable you could try, even if it is a shorter one and closer to the hub?

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:23:07 GMT

My point is, why is it showing it's connected via an ethernet cable when it isn't?

I have no interest in connecting the extender via an ethernet cable from the router - that would kind of defeat the object of having a wifi extender!

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

JimM11 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:28:15 GMT

@StuartTT not to dash any hopes, was replying as you where posting back, but having an extender or extenders connected by Ethernet cable is by FAR the best way to have them as it does maximise the speed down the cable to the router, it's called wired backhaul, but the theory off the wireless backhaul that you have does work and speed stability are the two issues to combat most. I edited above regarding your picture for hiding the mac. Jim

Re: why is my Smart Wifi Pro extender often orange?

StuartTT — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:31:03 GMT

Thanks Jim.

I don't really want to have a cable all the way from the front of the house to the back. I think I'll just stick with wireless.

Why would you need to hide the mac (sorry, not sure what that is)?