Top Tips for pairing your WiFi Extenders to the Smart Hub 7 Pro

[Chrissy_G]

We’ve seen a few customers asking for help pairing their extenders wirelessly with their Smart Hub 7 Pro. We haven’t been able to confirm a fault, but if you need some more help, there’s a reliable workaround that usually gets things connected first time.

Pair using an Ethernet cable first

If your extender isn’t pairing wirelessly, starting with a wired connection helps it settle and complete any updates.

• Plug an Ethernet cable between your Smart Hub 7 Pro and the Smart WiFi 7 Pro.
• Wait until the extender shows a steady aqua light.
• Once it’s steady aqua, leave it connected for 10 minutes. This gives the extender time to finish any firmware updates.

Switch back to wireless pairing

• After 10 minutes, unplug the Ethernet cable from both devices.
• Keep the extender powered on.
• Wait up to 5 minutes for it to pair wirelessly.
• You should see a solid aqua light again once pairing completes. Try not to unplug the power during this step.

Move it to the best spot

Once the extender has been solid aqua for around 5 minutes:

• Power it off.
• Move it to your preferred location.
• Power it back on and let it reconnect.

Placement makes a big difference

For the strongest WiFi, place your extender halfway between your hub and the area with weaker signal, rather than right at the edge of your home. Remember, to get the best results your WiFi Extender needs a strong signal to your Smart Hub 7 Pro. 

This guide shows how to get the best setup.

[JimM11]

@ShadowCreek The too close warning has been on the Forum and the advise is ignore it!

Where a wifi 6 smart hub was may not suit the position for the wifi 7 version, the backhaul is different and your home may just not work where the old one was.

The @Chrissy_G advise method, or the @Lard way off doing it?

[ShadowCreek]

The @Chrissy_G solution.  

[BunkerBob]

having been messing around with these for a few days I have found a solution.

The important thing is, not only following tips from the top of the chain, but when you have connected your extender with a cable, left for 5 mins, MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF THE ROUTER BY THE BUTTON,  then reposition. Turn off the hub and turn back on again, then turn back on the extender.  they will then join each other again.
Without rebooting the hub, the extender would ALWAYS go back to flashing orange, even if you tried through the app to join them again.

Hope this helps

🙂

[JimM11]

@BunkerBob Anything at all posted is helpful regarding getting the Mesh Extenders to play ball.....

A step by step guide would be possibly better grabbing and amending the @Chrissy_G one, and do believe that EE are working towards new FW on the EE Range off Hubs, that may just make it all work out easier for joining them together....

[ZombieMkI]

It'd be better if they just made more features available but put it behind an "advanced mode" disclaimer so Uncle Gerry who knows nothing more than WiFi = internet doesn't accidentally knock himself offline

As is the app and webui both suck fleshy spheres

[JimM11]

@ZombieMkI 🤣 and the app 💩 steal the mobile and get rid off it. 

[Profile closed]

I've experimented with a few ways of pairing (WPS on gateway & extender & using the wire) , both well mixed results sometimes works sometimes doesn't , a lot of the time even with cable once unplugged & moved they refuse to resynch , same with WPS.

but ive  found one way that 100% works for me every time ( Both Plus & Pro Hubs & Extenders)

                                                                                                   (Beta Interface)

(1) load up the Gateways web interface on a P \laptop (192.168.1.254) & enter the admin password.                                                      (2) Navigate to "Devices On Your Network"                                                                                                                                                                            (3)  In  left hand side you will see "Add WIFI Extender" , Click it.                                                                                                                                  (4) Then turn on WIFI extender & wait for it to flash orange , when it does Press the WPS button on extender                                  (5) Go back to web interface & press "start" on dialogue box                                                                                                                                        (6) You will see a countdown of 7.00mins , sometime in that 7 mins you will see a dialogue telling you pairing was successful & asking you to name your extender,  thats it done works every time.

                                                                                                      (Classic View)

(1) load up the Gateways web interface on a P \laptop (192.168.1.254)                                                                                                                    (2)  Go to the "Advanced" section & enter admin password                                                                                                                                          (3) Go to "Wireless" section & "WIFI Extenders" tab                                                                                                                                                      (4) You will see "Add a new WIFI Extender" in right hand side at top of devices table , Click it.                                                                  (5)  Then turn on WIFI extender & wait for it to flash orange , when it does Press the WPS button on extender                                (6)  Go back to web interface & press "start" on dialogue box                                                                                                                                    (7)  You will see a countdown of 7.00mins , sometime in that 7 mins you will see a dialogue telling you pairing was successful & asking you to name your extender,  thats it done works every time.

[ShadowCreek]

Thank you for sharing this.  I have had further issues with my third extender where the app would insist it had no connection (even though the portal said devices were connected and the light was green).  A factory reset and following your steps do seem to have cleared this so fingers crossed the beta portal is beginning to address some of these issues.  

[Profile closed]

Glad it helped , its been a 100% way of getting them connected for me , as for the App i wouldn't rely on it to much like say now my app says BOTH my extenders are offline with no devices on them , they are on as in the web browser they are both online & have devices running from them (2 TVs & 1 Phone) , i think the App is ok for basic stuff but not to be relied on for anything other than basic stuff.

[JimM11]

@Profile closed Little confused by your response regarding the app, is it that it works sometimes and shows you connected or it's just do not rely on it at the start to even try and connect the smart wireless units up from the get go.

Without a doubt use the web manager and then add the smart wireless device so well done with that, EE no doubt want the app to be the way after all that is why they did it and now so intertwined to the EE Hub you need to use the app or things just not get done or work. 

Do grab all off your input and put it in it's own post ie How to get EE Smart Wireless Mesh to connect/work together or something that stands out so user's go there....

Good few not app lovers, but some new user's may be all that they have now are mobiles, like my son now all i say is for god's sake you have a 3K gaming PC use that instead of a po-xy mobile, get back but dad it's a sooper dooper one the mobile that is.....