EE WiFi 7 Pro Ethernet Backhaul

[wizzywig27]

Hello

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

[Mustrum]

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

[MukeMan]

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

[bobpullen]

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@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.

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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?

[MukeMan]

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.

[bobpullen]

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?

[MukeMan]

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?

[MukeMan]

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.

[bobpullen]

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?

[MukeMan]

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!

[JimM11]

@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.