HP printer not connecting to EE Hub - worked fine on BT hub

[RobinS49]

This seems to be a common failing of the EE broadband hub...

After many years with various BT hubs that worked fine, I was switched to the EE hub that has been a pain and nowhere as easy to access as the last BT hub. The app for 'controlling' the hub is primitive.

Amongst the outstanding issues, it will not connect to my HP Photosmart printer via wifi.  The diagnostic on the printer suggests that maybe MAC filtering is enabled...  Both the HP printer diagnostic and the EE hub show the same MAC address for the printer. The printer is about 30cms from the hub.  (Though generally wifi signal strength around the house is not as good as the BT hub and I get regular drops of the WiFi signal - have to reconnect)

Any suggestions?

[RobinS49]

I gather most printers only operate on 2.4 rather than 5.  Have tried disabling 5 ... no difference.

As above, it all worked fine on successive models of BT hub.

[JimM11]

@RobinS49 You may have to drop your printer into the compatible wi-fi mode for it to operate, and match the required details if needed. 

[RobinS49]

It's the hub that has the two wifi modes - I gather that the printer, like most printers, only operates on the one 2.4 gz.  Only very few exotic printers operate on 5.

[RobinS49]

After 45 mins on the phone with a helpful EE tech support, still not working.

Have not even started on the tendency for the laptop to randomly drop off the network - multiple times and then stays connected again.  Same laptop, same house, same locations as when I had the BT hub. Time to check how long the contract is

[bobpullen]

@RobinS49 - has the printer been fully factory reset? If not, then I'd give that a go.

Failing that, if you log into the Hub Manager at http://192.168.1.254 and navigate to Advanced > Wireless, then you should see one of two things: -

1. A Wi-Fi 'mode' selection that allows you to drop down to 'Wi-Fi 6 Compatibility' or 'Wi-Fi 5' mode. Worth trying each of these to see if it helps?

2. A separate section for 'Compatible WiFI'. If you have this, then try enabling the Compatible WiFi network and give it a different Wi-Fi name/password. Then try connecting the printer to this rather than the main network.

[RobinS49]

Thanks Bob - have done the full printer reset... Am in WiFi mode and down to 2.4 only

I assume Main and Comp networks operate simultaneously?  Before I set up comp...

[RobinS49]

Bingo. Set up Compatible WiFi and that seems to have worked. lets hope everything else is still working!

Many thanks Bob

[bobpullen]

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@RobinS49 wrote:

I assume Main and Comp networks operate simultaneously?  Before I set up comp...

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You already know this by now but yes, they do.

Glad to hear it's sorted! 🙂

[Jezza79]

If I may make a suggestion.  My phone was constantly being kicked out by EE. It stated 'WPA3 connection required'.  No technician told me what this meant. But I was always moaning about it being a setting on the sidelines of talking about low speeds.

I created a 'Compatible' channel on my hub - so quick and easy just google it. This creates an older version WPA2 channel for your older devices to connect to OH SO HAPPILY, thanks very much. My phone now shows FULL BARS which I don't think I've seen for years - ha.

Anyway - I also have an old HP printer.  Connected it to my EE wifi Compat. channel/wifi and it worked immediately!

NO IDEA WHY THIS ISN'T BEING SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS. WE ARE ALL BROKE AND HAVE OLD DEVICES!  EE'S NEW HUBS AUTO DEFAULT TO WPA3. TELL YOUR CUSTOMERS TO CREATE THE COMPATIBLE WPA2 CHANNEL. 🙂

Hope this helps.