Cannot connect Smart WiFi Pro Extender to WiFi 7 Router

[Herbhead]

Ok, What am I doing wrong.

Firstly received my new WiFi 7 router at the weekend and set it up. Used the transfer devices option (I guess this 'just' renames my new router to my old router settings). Setup the Hybrid Connect as well.

This evening (1 day on) I have tried to connect my Smart WiFi Pro Extender (SW40J) to my Smart Hub Pro. Distance between the two is 5 metres with 1 wall between them, 1950s standard build house.

Firstly tried using WPS. No luck, I get to the flashing Amber light press WPS on both units, both flash Blue then the Router stops whilst the Extender continues flashing.

Moved it closer to the router to use an Ethernet Cable. Turn on, green light, green flashing, Amber flashing solid Aqua - device shows up in the Home Network (both in App and Internet Explorer). App says it is too close so I unplug it and move it to its intended location but when I plug in the Amber light comes on and it will not connect again.

I tried the old turn it off and on - on the router. Still no connection to Extender (now on WiFi and in same room) but also I had to re-pair my Hybrid Connect to the router, that had been connected fine until I turner the router off.

Have tried a reset on the extender and repeated, but get the same.

Just pulling my hair out now.

[JimM11]

@Herbhead If you are going to re pair the Wireless Mesh Extender, you should stick to the Ethernet method. Will copy the help link for smart setup, may not mention the Pro yet, but same as the plus.

https://ee.co.uk/help/broadband/getting-started/setting-up-smart-wifi
https://ee.co.uk/help/broadband/fix-problem/fix-problems-with-smart-wifi

[Herbhead]

Left the extender off for a day, turned it on and it connected via WiFi within a couple of minutes without me doing anything.  That was in the same room as the router, direct line of sight / 10 foot between.

Unplugged it and moved it to its final location, 5 metre upstairs with 2 walls and the floor between.  Plugged in now for 30 minutes and it is not reconnecting still.

i cannot stay on Ethernet after pairing as then it is pointless having a WiFi extender.

[JimM11]

@Herbhead With the extender off, and upstairs do you have any wireless signal at all from the Pro Router? Have you also tried just leaving it connected to the Pro router by Ethernet just in case there is a FW update to it that has not happened yet.

How far is the pro router sending it's wireless signal about before you loose the signal?

[Herbhead]

So I went back to basics.  Did a Factory Reset on the Router, this included putting it back to its original name and password.  It took time to transfer the devices manually to the new network but when I had done that I connected the Extender, via Wifi, and left it On in the same room as the Router for 24 hours.  App said it was too close but I just left it.

24 hours later I have unplugged and moved the extender to the intended location upstairs, turned it on and with a couple of minutes it reconnected fine.

Don't know, maybe the 'Transfer Devices' option I used originally mucked things up, but as of now (2 hours on) all seems good.  Extender shows in the App as 'Strong Signal' and certain devices have transferred over as expected.

[JimM11]

@Herbhead Keep us informed as too how it is all working out, just wish you had not done the factory reset first before leaving to see if there was anything needed to be updated, just one of those things, but good to know at least app wise you seem to have it working and as you suspect everything performing as you need.

[MadViking]

Hi, Like you I have exactly the same issue. I started with the usual methods and like you nothing worked. I settled for a Lan connection though a powerline adaptor, that at least gave me about 50mbps. Time seems to be a big issue, I left it for a day or so and restarted my router. I left it to settle and removed the Lan cable from the wifi extender, Miraculously, even though the wifi extender light varies between amber and aqua I started getting 320mbps . It is so much better, but I dared not change anything at first but now I  have switched it off and restarted and it works really well. I do hope you can get it resolved. 

[JimM11]

@MadViking Has the amber/aqua light changing also not an issue now, and you do have the ability to switch it off if it is annoying, and should pop up for only a fault condition, that is if the FW is working as it is supposed to be, it's one of those oops (maybe yes/maybe no)...

[MadViking]

Hi Jim , thank you for asking. The amber light is on most of the time 60:40 maybe with the aqua light. EE have sent me a replacement which I have now put on a link with the hub for the next 24 hours. Speed test on the hub is around 700+ much above anything I had with the BT smart hub so I am hopeful that the investment in my time is well worth the wait. In answer to your question , yes I can dim the light in the Hub Manager. Regards

[JimM11]

@MadViking Just got to hang in there while all the problems are sorted out, mesh is a minefield best of times, and even worse if trying to do it all wireless, but it is one of the points of a wireless mesh system. Looks like you are well in control of the situation so hope it all works out good....👍