Smart hub plus and wifi extender

[Trick971]

I was recently forced to change hub from the smart hub 2 to an EE Smart hub plus. 

with the previous hub I had one black wifi disc that was placed in my garage and gave me complete coverage across my property.

now with the new setup of the smart hub plus and smart wifi plus (sw30a), the coverage is much worse.

same location for both hub and extender and now it’s a poor signal to hub from wifi extender. 
I thought this was supposed to be an upgrade or at least like for like.

anyone else experience this?

[JimM11]

@Trick971 Have you tried moving the extender closer to the router?

[Trick971]

Not physically possible given it would then be outside. 

[JimM11]

@Trick971 Got it, your garage is detached from your home! Is the smart wifi showing you a weak signal by colour indication?

[Trick971]

Says poor signal on hub, and I think it’s an orange light on the smart wifi.

[JimM11]

@Trick971 If you dont mind, how far from the EE Router to the EE Smartwifi approx distance, and roughly through how many walls. Looking like your BT Equipment had a lot better penetration than the EE. 

[Trick971]

It’s going through two internal walls (new house so made of paper) and then two brick outer walls. 
it’s not that far, as garage is directly next to the house.
approx 16m.

I can try a few locations, just surprised it was showing as poor with same like for like setup.

[JimM11]

@Trick971 Unfortunately no two routers or extenders are alike, only quick suggestion is try extender inside, then see if you get signal in your garage, quick test, then call EE CS and get them to send you a second extender. If you still have the BT you can put it all back, works fine on the EE service.

[Trick971]

This is exactly the same problem with my network.

I have lights and cameras around my property that rely on wifi connections, now some of my lights refuse to auto switch on as the wifi signal is weak. I placed a wifi extender in between hub and outside but made no difference. I cant physically place it anywhere else to help. I have a modern house, so its made of paper and walls are thinner that an old house but BT managed perfectly with just 1 black disc.

I have since since sent all my equipment back. Wish i hadnt now as have too many issues.

So someone is saying that the white discs work? maybe I can try that? is that 100% they do work? But not sure if its a hub thing or the extender and if a white disc or two will solve it.

The smart wifi extender doesnt even connect when i place it in my detached garage, again worked fine with a disc in there.

[XRaySpeX]

@Trick971 : If you have the EE Smart Hub Plus ( SH31B) (SH+) router, the white "High St." Whole Home discs do work with the SH+. It's the black BT Complete WiFi discs that doesn't!