topic Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul in Broadband & Landline

EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

wizzywig27 — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:30:11 GMT

Hello

Does anyone know how to set up ethernet backhaul with the smart WiFi pro?

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

XRaySpeX — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:32:01 GMT

Just connect it to the router by an Ethernet cable.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

wizzywig27 — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:50:47 GMT

Done that, but do you mean right next to it or upstairs where the ethernet connection is?

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

XRaySpeX — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:19:08 GMT

I just mean Router > Cable > Extender. I dunno where your router is or what's upstairs.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

MukeMan — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 17:46:17 GMT

SO I got WiFi Pro router and 2 extenders on Friday. Set up over the weekend and wired for Ethernet Backhaul (or at least I think). Question is, does this type of connection work when going through a switch between the extender and the router? There's no indication other than N/A on the Advance Wireless/Extenders page. Is there any other indicator for this function? Thanks.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

Mustrum — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 18:21:49 GMT

@MukeMan it should work via a switch, but is it 2.5Gb or better? It maybe that you will get faster speeds via WiFi if you only have a 1Gb switch.

Have a look on the Help page for more info on the lights and app. https://ee.co.uk/help/broadband/getting-started/setting-up-smart-wifi

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

JimM11 — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 19:26:00 GMT

@MukeMan Take a look at the link below, one off the pages shows what MAY be shown on the extender page, for various connection types, but the web manager is just not good at showing what is going on.

Useless pro products - The EE Community

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

XRaySpeX — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 19:40:36 GMT

@JimM11 wrote:

Take a look at the link below, one off the pages shows what MAY be shown

More helpful to give a link direct to the 1 page you want to draw attention to by use of a Permalink, e.g. Re: Useless pro products - The EE Community if that's the page you are thinking of.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

MukeMan — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 20:01:47 GMT

Thanks for the pointers. Pic attached, gives me nothing I'm afraid.

The switch is 2,5G as well, CAT 7 interconnect cables.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

JimM11 — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 20:46:09 GMT

@MukeMan As soon as your picture is checked and cleared for viewing will take a look. What is it that you need to do, are you checking that the wired backhaul is working as you expect, to maximise both wired and wireless speeds at the smart wireless extender. If you have the app working, think that it displays better the operation off the extenders, the web manager does seem to be a little vague at times, and with all the FW updates hopefully it's all getting better.

Edit:- Connection type would have been good if it did display Ethernet with the speed next to it, but as before the web manager not the best at displaying, so down to a few test's to prove it all out, ethernet connected at router, then smart wireless in theory you should display both results close to each other, wireless at the router and also at the smart wireless should also be close to the same result with a wired backhaul.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

Mustrum — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 20:16:52 GMT

@JimM11 there you go Jim, done that for you.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

MukeMan — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 21:19:41 GMT

I think you are right Jim. More testing! I’ll update this when Iv got some more evidence either way. Thanks all.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

bobpullen — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:56:43 GMT

@MukeMan wrote:
SO I got WiFi Pro router and 2 extenders on Friday. Set up over the weekend and wired for Ethernet Backhaul (or at least I think). Question is, does this type of connection work when going through a switch between the extender and the router? There's no indication other than N/A on the Advance Wireless/Extenders page. Is there any other indicator for this function? Thanks.

Yep, should work fine. I have a Pro extender using wired backhaul that's connected via two daisy-chained (unmanaged) 2.5GbE switches without issue.

The 'Connection status' is showing '2.5GbE' for me though whereas yours is showing 'N/A'. I'd be surprised if it's having much bearing on things but might be worth a reboot of your extender/hub to see if it springs into life and better reflects reality?

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

MukeMan — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:14:45 GMT

I would have thought it would be straightforward as well, but clearly not in my case!

I just reset the extender, leaving it connected through a new 2.5G switch. When the extender booted, it came up with the flashing orange light and did nothing more. The only way I could get it to talk to the hub pro was to go through the wireless setup process again (WPS). It's still plugged into the Ethernet (via the switch) and it shows as WiFi on the EE app. Going to try getting the other extender working over Ethernet with a direct connection to the hub pro next.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

bobpullen — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:17:57 GMT

Very odd. My extender pairs perfectly fine, even via the two switches. If you plug a device like a laptop into the switch, does it get a connection from the hub?

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

MukeMan — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:23:21 GMT

Yes, switch is all good, giving out DHCP fine. The only thing it could possible be I guess is that I don't ues the default IP details. I use 192.168.3.0/24 instead of the default 192.168.1.0/24. Surely there wouldn't be something hard coded around IP though?

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

MukeMan — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:59:16 GMT

Direct connect to the hub pro works. Hub pro => switch => extender doesn't. Must be something to do with my switches. Have tried Netgear MS108EUP and TP-Link SG3210XHP M2. I'll get myself an unmanaged 2.5g switch and go from there I reckon.

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

bobpullen — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:59:42 GMT

Ah, so you’re using managed switches. I wonder if there are any mDNS settings or similar that you can tinker with in the switch management interface? I think the backhaul negotiation might be dependent on mDNS; not a problem with most unmanaged switches, but maybe something configured in your managed switches that’s blocking it?

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

MukeMan — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:03:18 GMT

I'll have to get Wireshark on the go to see what's happening I think. What threw me as well, was an old CAT5 cable that didn't seem to work for the backhaul. I'm replacing with new CAT8's when they arrive tomorrow. Always hard to fault-find with multiple variables!

Re: EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

JimM11 — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:21:02 GMT

@MukeMan You will find that the 2.5Gb/s nic interface on both the Router and Smart wireless are very very picky regarding cabling and speed, has been reported on the Forum before, so your new cable will probably sort that out.