Home Hub Pro & WPA

[Memnon]

Major WiFi issues - continuing

Background - Home Tech advised upgrading to to HH Pro and Wifi Extender Pro… so I did.

Could not get extenders to connect, they would pair, but not connect as soon as more than a few metres way from the Hub.  (deled in separate post).

Workaround by 'Josh' was to add another Wi-Fi extender connected in Bridge mode by Ethernet and this allowed Extender to connect.  Though I have been told today this is not an approved connection method - but I should leave it in as it works.

I was having major issues, all my devices were dropping connection, buffering, or simply not connecting. I changed them all to connect to the Compatibility network, and they connect and work .... but losing benefit of 5 or 6 GHz access.

The external (SMART sockets) were still not connecting; the workaround was to switch security on the Compatibility network to be WPA2, all now seem to connect.

The Home Tech advised there is expected to be a software update to allow ability to choose between WPA2 and WPA3 when on teh main network (2.4/5/6 GHz).

Anybody know how to put in a bug fix report to EE to get this fixed ?     Both the Extender to Hub connection issue and the WPA|2 issue.

[JimM11]

@Memnon Yes you call EE CS and report it all. And for a WiFi 6/7 onwards the WPA3 is a must, you just have the wrong EE Hub unless the WiFi 7 is the important one for you!

The Main WiFi can never change so forget that without WPA3 mode of operation it is not a 7 Hub Pro. If you are not using the DV landline would suggest you go get a third part mesh wifi 5 rated in operation.

[XRaySpeX]

There is no bug fix reporting system other then the normal phoning CS & reporting your issues.

It's unlikely your smart devices will be happy with WPA3.

PLEASE in future refer to current EE routers as Smart Hub or SH so that others who have not come across you are not flummoxed & think you are talking BT.

[Memnon]

The Home Tech guy said that turning off 5GHz on Compatibility mode along with WPA2 is why all my devices now work.

If I connect to teh 2.4/5/6 GHz they either connect but drops or very poor pefomaance .... or some simply see no network at all.

I don't need WiFi7 but I also don't really want to wind my network back 10 years and lock everything to 2.4GHz.I know there is 3rd party kit .... but having just taken out a contract which includes this new kit seems a waste to buy additional h/w

[Memnon]

I don't need WPA3 on the Smart devices; they can use the compatibility network..... but the main house items ... ipad, phone, TV's etc.,  currently can't use 2.4/5/6 GHz  main network, have had to move them to compatibility network.

Should not be necessary.

As an example my phone (current model Samsung) if I set to use main SSID ..... if I walk out of range, when I return it shows phone not registered on network.

I have to switch the WiFi connection to use the Compatibility SSID, and then phone connects.

Have to use WiFi as since switching to EE we have zero network signal, and need to use WiFi calling.

[JimM11]

@Memnon The Home network guy's advice to you is a 💩, if he was OR could see that but if an EE Specialist boy glad no longer with them! 

My network is wifi 6 and the oldest device on it is at least if not 16 Years old a Dell XPS 15" laptop, and my oldest Asus laptop is currently 13 Years and still working.

It's all about the devices, WiFi 5 is good to at least 600Mb/s on wireless, if you have nothing that is wifi 7 you are just wasting your time and suffering all the EE problems in your path... Turn your 5Ghz on for the Comp network, there is just no reason not to if your devices are capable off working in the band. 

Did the same with my and the wifes mobile moved them to EE, pronto moved them back to O2 as zero and i mean zero bars 50% off the time, wifi calling was the saviour without a doubt.

[Memnon]

I currently have 5GHz turned off, for the Compatibility network,  at least to get SMART devices connected.... they will not connect if 5GHz is enabled.

Even the SMART device installation specifies you must disable 5GHz until set up finished, then you can turn it back on.

Assume it's due to very small WiFi modules that cannot handle the auto-negotiation.

[Memnon]

My Wi-Fi performance is now truly awful.  

Only PC which is 2m from the Hub works well.   Everything else freezes or buffers.

As EE phones have ZERO signal here, WiFi calling is a must, and that breaks up badly on prime network, only works on Compliant network.

Wifi 'signal display' shows full strength but often no data getting through .... have raised a formal complaint into EE, to see if I can get some help on this - currently like stepping back over 10 years.

[JimM11]

@Memnon You need to step back, see what ALL your devices are capable off, if NO wifi 7 devices then future proofing is just a waste off time when your devices just seem to be issue, looking like an EE Guide visit may be required to take a look see what is going on with your wireless wifi connection, or do it yourself turning everything wireless off, and bringing them on one at a time, when / if it falls over you will be able to say what is causing it device wise.....

Just start with your PC as it seems to be holding it's own! Get your extender off also and only start with the Pro Hub!

[Memnon]

I don't, to my knowledge, have WiFi 7 device yet.

My PC (after checking) is WiFi 6, and that connects fine on the primary SSID

All  other devices are very unreliable on the primary SSID, but will work on 'compatible  SSID'     which currently has 5GHzturned off after EE Home Tech Visit.

 Maybe I am not putting the right words around this, but it seems I have to use 'compatibility' mode to get any stable connections, which seems like rolling WiFi back 10 years.

Most of my devices support 2.4/5 GHz, and I never had to use compatibility mode on previous Smart Hub/Home Hub.