WiFi Pro Booster not getting a signal

[Manc_Biker]

 I've just started having this issue with one of my extenders. Had full fibre installed about a month ago now and need 3 extenders. They were all working great but now one keeps showing "no signal" despite the fact it has a solid aqua light on it.

 I've tried a hard reset and that didn't help and at one point even questioned if I had my broadband connected while trying to re-pair it. But it clearly is connected to the router to communicate it isn't getting a signal? Even though it appears to be. 

 I've placed them exactly where I had my previous BT extenders and they worked great. One thing that's a pain is that it takes forever for the app to connect to the router and show all the information, which slows everything down when you are trying to set stuff up. 

 I tried the placement wi-fi signal strength thingy, and that just works for a second and then goes to a black screen. I only managed to ever see that work once. 

edit: I did try using the web page manager to check everything but I can't even see any extenders listed there? It shows extender number as zero? 

 

[Linzi_H]

Hi @Manc_Biker 

We've got some really knowledgeable users within the Community who may be along soon to offer some advice based on their own experiences. 

However, if you haven't spoken with our team yet, I'd suggest doing this when you have some free time. They'll be able to help run some further checks and work out the best next steps. 

Linzi 

[JimM11]

@Linzi_H The OP also has another post if you wish to look, linked below.

Gigabit installed. iPad Pro only connecting on wi-fi with slow speeds. - The EE Community

[Manc_Biker]

Apologies for the slow reply. 

 I managed to speak to tech support and, after various attempts, got the extender getting a signal again by pairing it via Ethernet to the router. Something I embarrassingly hadn't thought of despite doing that several times in the past with various equipment! 

 Though now the extender is telling me it is too close to the router, which it really isn't and with two double-layer brick walls between it and the router. I'm short on plugs in this property, so I'm going to buy a power supply extension cable and move it further away. But that's a whole other issue 🙂 Cheers

 Edit: what was really throwing me with the extender is it had a solid aqua light, and also I could still change the LED brightness, so it must have been communicating with the router. 

[JimM11]

@Manc_Biker The system does not have the tools to look at what is going on when the mesh is just not playing ball so to speak.

[Manc_Biker]

 This one extender is proving to be a nightmare. It has lost signal several times now and absolutely will not reconnect to the main hub unless you connect it via an ethernet cable to pair it up (which is a pain because I have to keep using a ridiculously long ethernet cable). Because if I unplug it, put it next to the router, connect via ethernet, then move it back, unplugging it and plugging it back in where I want it placed,  causes it to lose signal again until it is re-paired. 

 The trouble now is, if you speak to customer services, they all insist on running through the whole, reset it, reboot it, uninstall and reinstall the EE app...sigh. 

 There must be an easier way to get it swapped out? Cheers

[bobpullen]

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@Manc_Biker wrote:

 I've placed them exactly where I had my previous BT extenders...

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This isn't always the best advice. Whilst the BT and Plus devices are both 'dual-band', the Plus has WiFi 7 and support for additional 5GHz channel operation, meaning there may be more optimal placement/or you may not need as many extenders. It's sometimes a good idea to go 'back to basics' i.e. start with just the hub,- see how you get on, introduce a single extender about half way between bad coverage and the hub - see how you get on, introduce a second extender etc. etc.

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 I did try using the web page manager to check everything but I can't even see any extenders listed there? It shows extender number as zero? 

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If you're talking about the visual network map in the Hub Manager, you're misinterpreting it. That number is not reflective of the amount of Extenders you have, it represents how many devices you have 'wired' to an Extender (which in your case will be zero as the extender only has one Ethernet port) - I've been similarly confused by this in the past.

To get a view of your Extenders, navigate to Advanced Settings > Wireless > Extenders tab. Here you will see what Extenders are connected to the hub, what devices are connected to each Extender — and if you highlight each Extender — it will also show you the signal strength/RSSI. This is a much quicker method of determining the signal quality/what's connected where.

... after various attempts, got the extender getting a signal again by pairing it via Ethernet to the router. Though now the extender is telling me it is too close to the router, which it really isn't...

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If you're talking about the EE App telling you this, then it's another nuance/annoyance. The App will always tell you the extender is 'Too close' when you have it wired, even if it isn't. I choose to wire my extender too (it's the best way if you're in a position to run the cables); It's 100% in the most optimal place and I too see this message in the App 🤷

[Manc_Biker]

Firstly, thank you @bobpullen for that detailed reply. 

 Now, here is where I currently am. None of the extenders will pair with the main router unless I connect them via ethernet cable. I can have them sat literally inches from the router and they go through the pairing process but eventually show a solid aqua light, but show as "no signal" in the app. You then can't test the position of them in the app, because it simply goes to a black screen. 

 You then have to go back, load up manage again, wait for it to sync with the router and extenders, which takes a ridiculously long time. So I connect via ethernet and get a signal. But then of course, I have to move the extenders to where I actually want them, which means unplugging them, and then when plugged in where I want, which means they show "no signal" again when fully rebooted. So I have had to get a ridiculously long ethernet cable so that once placed, I can connect them via ethernet cable to the router, and even then they don't always show having a signal initially. 

 The equipment isn't anywhere near as good as the BT gear in this regard. 

 So what is happening? Why won't they pair and show as having a signal unless I pair them via ethernet first? It is getting to be incredibly frustrating. The one I have in the kitchen is now showing no signal after I had to temporarily unplug it. So now I need to buy an even longer ethernet cable to get it to pair up properly. 

 What I don't understand is. It is next to a window and around 10 feet or so from the extender in the bedroom, which is placed next to a window which has a line of sight to the kitchen. Why isn't the kitchen one, easily speaking to the bedroom one?