Router starts to disconnect wifi devices after a while, requiring a restart

[LongCat]

I have the EE Smart Hub Plus + Smart WiFi Plus + Smart Hybrid Connect. I have approx. 30 connected devices across the home (including IoTs) but this can spike when the kids have friends around. Rarely goes above 40 devices though.

Roughly every 3 weeks, the router will start to disconnect wifi devices (or will allow them to connect to the router, but won’t route their traffic across the network so they’re effectively disconnected). I say WiFi devices because the devices connected by Ethernet cable all work just fine. Restarting the router resolves the wifi problem immediately. Then after another 3 weeks or so, it will recur and devices will lose connectivity. There are schedules set for the kids’ devices (blocked after 11pm), but this happens to non-kids devices even in the middle of day. I have re-saved and double-checked rules to be sure, but otherwise I have not touched the router configuration since I got it. I used to have a similar problem with my previous BT Smart Hub (before EE upgrade) but the interval was much longer (like 6-8 weeks) before restarts were required.

Has anyone else had this issue? What is the root cause of this problem and is there a way to resolve it without restarts?

[LongCat]

I’ve found an Asus WiFi 7 router which also has a backup 4G modem. Can I take the SIM card out of the Smart Hybrid Connect and use it in that router? (Since I’m paying an additional monthly fee for the 4G backup I don’t want lose it by switching router!)

[JimM11]

@LongCat From the reply earlier the answer is NO you CANNOT, the sim only works in conjunction with the EE Hybrid unit and the Hybrid only works with the EE Router, chicken and egg...

[LongCat]

Ah apologies I missed that part. I will have to get a data SIM separately and will see if I can get the Hybrid Connect removed from my plan 

[JimM11]

@LongCat Heads up so you do not miss anything else. The EE Smarthub+ and the EE Smart wireless extenders go hand in hand, they will work only as a group of devices and with each other.

If you go down the Asus route, you need to look at how to extend your wireless signal on whichever method you do, if using Asus as a multiple device ie, 2-3 unit then they will work in Asus AI mesh wireless backhaul, wired is way better but is not always able to be done due to home layout and hiding network cables etc. 

Asus is expensive no matter what...

All the Asus unit's support 4g/5g dongle connection, it is just how it is done and how expensive it gets, you can even tether a mobile phone to the main Asus router, so do not dive in feet first until you know what/how it's done. The Asus web site will allow you to download the complete User Technical Manual for the units that you are looking at, would advise go get the manual and have a read at it...

[LongCat]

I ended up getting a 2-pack of the TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro (I figured we’d just use mobile hotspot if the FTTP went down). I put the main node where the EE Smart Hub Plus was, and the second unit in the exact same location where the previous EE Smart WiFi Plus (extender) was. So far so good, with download speeds up about 2x compared to what I was getting before from the side of the house connected to the extender. I’m calling EE to change my plan to one that doesn’t include the Smart Hybrid Connect (looks like I can get faster speeds for the same price by removing the extra equipment from the plan).

Now to see if I have the same issues after a month… 🤞🏽

[JimM11]

@LongCat Should be fine, the deco mesh is actually pretty good and at least you upped the spec with the x75, lets just hope EE play ball now and grant you what YOU require not what they need. You will need to hang on to the EE Router just incase they ever want to test, can only do so with there kit.👍👍