topic Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network in Broadband & Landline

Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 16:26:49 GMT

Dell Latitude E7240 cant connect to Smart Hub 2

W10 22H2 build 19045.4561 (all up to date)

Had Full Fibre installed ... and while other devices (2.4 & 5 Ghz) connected OK to new Router

The Dell does not show EE network in the network list - i.e .no SSID

It does show 4 networks of my neighbours

Connected by Ethernet to make wure W10 and Dell drivers up to date

Did a repair of Intel WiFi drivers to be sure - no change

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

XRaySpeX — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 16:47:26 GMT

I believe that's an old PC & probably has a lesser WiFi then the router.

I think you'll find the router is set to WiFi-6 and WPA3 by default. Your device mayn't cope with that. Change the router settings down to WiFi-5 and/or WPA2.

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

JimM11 — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 19:04:36 GMT

@Profile closed Think that model had a 5ghz/wireless N wi-fi4 module so good to about 300mb/s speeds, would expect that wpa2 mode will be more acceptable for the security mode, Switch of the 5Ghz temp if it struggles to connect, My dell 6250 been ok on wpa2 - personal and wifi6 performance so far. HTH

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:37:23 GMT

I tried setting to WiFi 6 compatibility mode - no difference

I tried setting to WiFi5 mode - no difference.

Also tried turning off 5G .... to force 2.4GHZ connection - no difference.

PC worked fine with the previous Router (BT Smart Hub2)

My Printer which is much older than the laptop connected fine.

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

XRaySpeX — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:52:02 GMT

Well, that's the WiFi mode out the way. What about the WPA2 security mode?

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:58:53 GMT

In Router settings it says Security type: WPA2-Personal

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

JimM11 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:01:12 GMT

@Profile closed ? is there a switch on the side of the laptop to switch off wireless.

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:03:38 GMT

Yes .. and its on .... as is WiFi LED display on keypad

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

JimM11 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:23:39 GMT

@Profile closed If you right click the network globe, open network & Internet settings, what is the type of nic in the laptop, something not liked between dell/EE possible to try a setting like use 2-4g only in nic properties. Likes the Ethernet ok but not the wireless correct?

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:48:15 GMT

I did right-click as asked selected 'Network & Internet'

If I then select Network connections it shows for WiFi :

Intel (R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260

Driver is 18.33.9.3 (which Intel advise is most recent)

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

XRaySpeX — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:25:12 GMT

That's WiFi-5.

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:02:42 GMT

"That's WiFi 5"

Not sure what you mean

EE Router is WiFi and that is backwards compatible to WiFi 5

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

XRaySpeX — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:10:43 GMT

Yes! Your lappy is WiFi-5 compatible & the EE SH+ is WiFi-6 compatible which is backwards compatible to WiFi-5. That's all!

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:29:46 GMT

OK .. in theory it should work - just doesn't

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

XRaySpeX — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:33:21 GMT

Just as an experiment does it with with Security Type: None?

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:08:49 GMT

Not going to try that too much of a risk to my data

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

JimM11 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:25:23 GMT

@Profile closed If you do not wish to do it, you are local lan so do not see why not, only an experiment, you may wish to go to the device manager, properties for your wifi adapter and try to change a setting to see if you can connect.

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

XRaySpeX — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:31:47 GMT

OK, your choice but just browsing to here should be safe enough. It's only an experiment! Otherwise try Security Type: WPA/WPA2.

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

Profile closed — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 08:54:41 GMT

OK another test - and some conclusion

I power cycled Router - and set to WiFi5 and it appears in Laptop SSID list and I can connect

I then tried WiFi 6 Compatibility mode - SSID does not appear

I also tried WiFi6 again - SSID does not appear

The 80211 standards states that WifI 6 is fully backwards compatible with WiFi 5 ..... but it appears this router is not.

Ideally, I don't want to leave set to WiFi5 as there are significant benefits to using WiFi 6

Is there an EE Tech Support email I can log this as a bug ?

Re: Laptop not seeing EE Network

JimM11 — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:03:51 GMT

@Profile closed There are potentially 1000's of wi-fi products out in the open market, that is why the router has a few modes of operation, if you do not want to drop down to wi-fi 5 which is what your dell has then what for FW updates to router to see if the dell starts to work. Other choice would be a cheap tp-link booster that probably works fine with the dell. 100% compatible who knows. There is NO EMAIL to EE, if a guide picks it up they may respond. Your laptop is circa 12 years old, wi-fi 6 is 2 years old.