WiFi 7 Pro Extender - I canot get this thing to work, at all!

[xdcx]

Hi, 

I just had my 1.6gbps service installed today and the pro hub is working very well. I'm very happy with the cabled and wifi connection to the pro hub. 

However, the included wifi pro extender is driving me up the wall. At this point, I have tried everything and I simply cannot get the thing to work, at all! 

Trying to pair it via the web interface of the router over wifi. Never once has it worked. Flashes orange, push WPS button and it will then go to flashing aqua and stay like that for hours. 
Multiple factory resets in between of the extender. 
This is in the same room. 1 meter apart. 

Connected directly via eth. The extender shows a solid aqua light. But if I go into the web interface, under "My Network" - there is no extender showing anywhere. Wifi extenders on eth and wifi show as 0. 
If I go to "wireless" and the "wifi extenders" tab, it shows up. 
firmware -  r3.8.25-R-1595997-PROD-1

MAC matches and it is auto assigned the device serial number as its "wifi extender name". 

As soon as I unplug the thing for ETH without power cycle. It shows solid aqua light but it is no longer showing in the hub on the web interface. 
Power cycle it. and it just goes back to flashing orange light. 
Again, 1 meter away from the hub. 


Furthermore, I have tried connecting it via the EE app on my Samsung S23 Android phone. Same process of orange flashing, WPS button and it sits then flashing aqua and the app sits doing nothing for ages. One time it said "your extender MIGHT have paired, check the broadband tab". I did, and it was not there. 

Tried connecting via eth again, use the EE app on the phone and it did show eventually under the broadband tab but said it was offline in the device list. It was showing solid aqua light at this time, but showing as last seen 4 mins ago and offline. 

At this point, I do not know what else to try. This has wasted too much of my day. 
I work in IT. If this is the sort of device that EE are sending out to customers a s simple setup solution, then I have major concerns. It's an absolute piece of junk. Genuinely hoping I have just been extremely unlucky and landed a dodgy device at this point. 

Thanks.

[JimM11]

@KeithFG You are using the Pro version off both devices and they are matching models also from there numbers?

https://ee.co.uk/help/broadband/getting-started/compare-our-range-of-broadband-hubs

Device Help | EE

[bronflakes]

Hi,

Have you got compatible or guest wifi switched on? If so, turn them off first and try the extender setup again. Once it’s successfully connected, you can switch them back on. 

[bobpullen]

Also, it's counter-intuitive, but I've sometimes known a reboot of the hub rather than the extenders themselves to help with pairing problems. Worth a shot if not tried already.

[Thatgilbert]

Hi, did you ever get this working? I'm new to EE after being with virgin for 12 years. Only had the broadband for 1 week, seems an improvement over Virgin, but I'm having the same issues you had with the extender

[JimM11]

@Thatgilbert have you looked at the pinned link?

(1) Top Tips for pairing your WiFi Extenders to the Smart Hub 7 Pro - The EE Community

[5HH]

I have 2 of them, both equally useless. The hub is great, the extenders both fail to connect even when inches away from the hub. Flashing aqua for days on end. The app says that they may have paired but they haven't. I've given up, put the useless things back in their boxes and put them in the loft to stop me smashing them. 

[JimM11]

@5HH If you Pro hub is covering all you need, then the extenders just may not be required. What is flashing Aqua, the Hub or the Extender?

[5HH]

The extenders both flash aqua if I reset them before pairing them via the
app. The hub does a pretty good job but I do get occasional camera drop
outs which is why the extender is needed.

[JimM11]

@5HH Have you followed the pinned post from the EE expert?

Top Tips for pairing your WiFi Extenders to the Smart Hub 7 Pro - The EE Community

I just setup a BT Smarthub2 Complete wifi disk 4  weeks ago and only used the web manager interface, the disk was up and running in two minutes, the advanced wireless / extenders also allows that function unless EE has changed it. All done wirelessly and the disk was about 15' direct below the hub, through the ceiling and floorboards, had NO access to the hub what so ever as two buildings in which the owner was sharing the wifi, his choice but worked zero issues. Once paired moved the wifi disk central to the property, slight speed drop but nothing to worry about connection wise, owner had FF150 and disk was pulling 100/30mbs so worked ok.

https://192.168.1.254 to get to that, admin password is required from the card. Linked below picture connected.

Re: Devices connect to WiFi but is assigned no IP address - The EE Community

[MrJ29]

Just to add my experience. Previously had Hub 6 and 3 extenders all worked great. "Upgraded" to Pro7 hub and pro 7 extenders couldn't get them to pair at all. Long call with EE support (who was very good) concluded I needed a home visit from an engineer. Again excellent guy, two hours later concluded replace the extenders. They arrived following day .... none would pair. Another long call with a good and patient telephone guide, who said they couldn't understand it and that the last resort was to replace the hub. Arrived the following day. Installed and tried all six extenders that I now had in the house. Actually got one to pair ( I daren't turn it off). The other five still wouldn't pair. The hub has a pretty good range so I'll probably live with it now and give up. I have to say that the responsiveness and helpfulness of the EE staff has been great, they quickly established that I didn't need to be taught to suck eggs and reassured me that I was doing everything right. Although none would say so but I got the distinct impression that they'd seen it all before.

Bottom line, my opinion is that this is a duff product and developers will eventually fix it but life is too short ,so if like me you can get by then give up.