New EE router not working with Smart Plugs

Dreamnought · ‎08-12-2023

I haven't been able to connect my smart plugs to my new EE router since I got it over a month ago. I previously had 7 smart plugs and switches with my old BT hub but the new router has been a nightmare to comnect.

I have tried switching off 5Ghz temporarily but can't connect to any plugs whatsoever. I could get the plugs to connect if I switched off 5Ghz AND set WPA security to 'none' but when I turned the router back to default settings everything stopped working again.

An older post mentioned switching off 5Ghz and turning the firewall off but there's no setting for the latter in the EE hub menu.

Any help would be really appreciated, this has been so much more difficult than with my old BT router.

Mustrum · ‎10-12-2023

@Dreamnought you could get a cheap wifi extender, 2.4Ghz only and use that for the smart plugs. I had to do the same for my son when he got some outside lights!

Dreamnought · ‎10-12-2023

I'll give that a try.

It's a shame I'm having to resort to this though, I expected better from EE and I thought that a new hub would work with no issues.

I'm just after trying my plugs in another household (Sky is their ISP) to check they were still okay and they connected to Smart Life within 20 seconds. Disappointing.

Dreamnought · ‎10-12-2023

This is almost definitely an issue with WPA2-Personal. As soon as I turn my Wi-Fi security off and wait for the router to reboot, everything comes back online and all plugs and switches are responsive with Smart Life, Google and Alexa. Obviously this isn't a solution though.

Mustrum · ‎10-12-2023

Is there another WiFi security option available on the router?

XRaySpeX · ‎10-12-2023

Yes:

If you think I helped please feel free to hit the "Thumbs Up" button below.

To phone EE CS: Dial Freephone +44 800 079 8586 - Option 1 for Mobile Phone & Mobile Broadband or Option 2 for Home Broadband & Home Phone

ISPs: 1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up > 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB > 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB > 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU > 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU > 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC > 2014: EE 20 Meg WBC > 2020: EE 40 Meg FTTC > 2022:EE 80 Meg FTTC SoGEA > 2025 EE 150 Meg FTTP

Mustrum · ‎10-12-2023

@Dreamnought so have you tried the WPA - RPA Personal ?

Don't bother with the ones higher up, your devices are too old.

Dreamnought · ‎11-12-2023

I've tried all the settings in that list individually and the only one that worked was "None".

Dreamnought · ‎28-12-2023

Can someone who works for EE please chime in on this issue - I've yet to resolve this and it's seriously making me consider moving provider.

chistery · ‎28-12-2023

Have you got a complicated wifi password? Try changing it to something simple and around 8 characters, and see if that works?

Dreamnought · ‎28-12-2023

My password is the same default one that features on the plastic pull-out card on the router. It auto-saves on Smart Life anyway so I don't need to keep entering it.

As mentioned, my smart plugs paired within 20 seconds on my in-law's Sky router that also features a similar length password (and is also the default) without an issue.

However, if you really think this will work I can certainly give it a go.