EE Smart Hub Pro and TP-link range extender

[foxlj]

I've just moved from Sky broadband to EE with the Smart Hub Pro.  However I can't get my TP-link range extenders (RE450 and TL-WA850RE) to work with it.  I use the range extenders as wired access points for a couple of wired devices around the house rather than to extend the range of the network - I'm have a couple of the Smart Wifi Pro boosters to accomplish that, and the boosters need to be in different places to the wired points so I can't just use the Smart Wifi devices for both.

The TP-links will both connect to the wifi and all lights turn blue, and I can connect to their extended networks, but there is no internet.  The tether app says "No Internet" in the status.    Any tips on how to connect the boosters to not just the EE wifi network but to actually to the internet please?  Or any other ways to get wired access points that don't involve powerline adapters (they don't work well up into the loft).

[bobpullen]

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@foxlj wrote:

They are set up as Extenders but the extended wireless networks that they produce (not sure what the correct terminology is?) automatically have a suffix of _EXT on the name of my home network, so I meant that I can connect to that network and all works fine.

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This is what I don't quite understand. Reading this suggests that the presence of an additional SSID/wireless network name only comes into play in access point mode and infers that the units can be configured as client devices instead. As a client device, I wouldn't expect the units to broadcast any 'connectable' Wi-Fi signal.

Perhaps the manual is just badly worded 🤔

[JimM11]

@bobpullen It's the way that Tp-Link do the quick connect on wps mode for router and the extender's, by default the normally get the SSID name correct and then put _EXT on the back of the SSID, transmit the signal and give it name, only method to correct is use the tp-link app. or i find the IP and http to it, then correct the SSID getting rid of _EXT, works out fine. Never once had an issue, sometimes just quicker to put laptop and ethernet cable to the unit and set it up before hand, but to complicated to explain to someone who has no NIC knowledge.

[foxlj]

Thanks for the info but I’ve followed all of these and still no internet connection.  

It looks like I’ll have more luck on the TP community (it’s not just me with this problem) so, unless anyone has been through this specifically with the same EE setup and can offer a solution, I’ll post there instead.  

[JimM11]

@foxlj Have you even looked at the settings on the EE Router for wireless operation, AS YOU are using the Pro router, it looks like you will have to go set the router, and sort out the compatible wireless operation.

If you find that it just does not work then it's down to the Pro router unless you have some other router from EE you can test with.

[bobpullen]

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@JimM11 wrote:

@bobpullen It's the way that Tp-Link do the quick connect on wps mode for router and the extender's, by default the normally get the SSID name correct and then put _EXT on the back of the SSID, transmit the signal and give it name, only method to correct is use the tp-link app. or i find the IP and http to it, then correct the SSID getting rid of _EXT, works out fine. 

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You miss my point. If the extender is broadcasting any fronthaul SSID at all, irrespective of how it is named, then it is operating in access point mode in my eyes.

If it really was possible to run these in wired adapter mode as the manual suggests, then they would behave no different to e.g. a smartphone i.e. they would find the hub's SSID and connect to it without forward broadcasting any Wi-Fi signal.

[JimM11]

@bobpullen The extenders have 2 modes of operation, one is in RE mode, set by default on wps connection, the AP has to be set via app or web interface.

[foxlj]

Yes I think you’re right, it’s down to the Pro router, but not sure what settings need changing.  I’ve tried the compatible network (which uses WPA2 rather than WPA3) but still no luck.

[JimM11]

@foxlj Have you also went and done the ADMIN on the Tp-Link devices!?

[foxlj]

Yes, tried all the setup and management steps in both the app and web management system that I can find listed in manuals and troubleshooting guides .  It still says no internet connection for both devices.

[JimM11]

@foxlj So may be worth having a look on the Tp-Link Download site, you need to look at the label on each device to get the HW (hardware version,) then have a look see if there is an updated FW for the device, and also it there is no going backwards once applied, that is a tp-link thing, also you may wish when on the ADMIN of the tp-link have a look see that it does not have DHCP set to on for those units, can cause all kinds of problems, allow your router to sort out the ip's.