topic Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

rachaeltrem — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:40:29 GMT

Can anyone help with this? I have some new smart plugs, I have two different brands, and I've tired two different apps. 5ghz is switched off on my router. They still don't work. The error message I get in the SmartLife app is that they can't connect to the router (attached screen shot). The password is correct, I've tried factory resets, restarting the router, switching channels, the standard set up advice, all the usual things. My router is a few years old. I tried them at someone else's house, they work fine, immediately. So nothing is wrong with the apps or the plugs, but my router is somehow stopping them from working. Can anyone help me out here? I'd really appreciate it. It's driving me insane. Any more info you need just ask and I'll send it. Thank you!

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

Gel — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:48:40 GMT

Tried activating 5ghz?
Secondly, try disabling security on your router temporarily; does it then connect?; if
so that's the issue.
Has plug got a WPS button?
Tried connecting via that method?

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

rachaeltrem — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 08:41:40 GMT

Thank you, much appreciated!! I'll try these options and let you know.

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

rachaeltrem — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 15:51:36 GMT

I've reactivated 5ghz, this didn't make any difference. Also disabling security and firewall, no difference. And I tried the WPS button to connect, also no joy. If you have any other ideas, happy to try!

Thank you!

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

paul_blitz — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 21:29:52 GMT

This echoes an issue that I've had with my laptop, and a few others here have had: there just seems to be compatibility issues between some wifi devices / access points. I ended up getting a USB wifi dongle for the laptop.

Also, a few months ago, I had problems trying to get a smart-heater to connect properly to someone's wifi.

They are all built to the same specs, but the specs allow you to set so many different options (go look in the windows setting for a laptop's wifi!), sometimes things just won't work 😞

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

rachaeltrem — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 09:22:22 GMT

OK, thanks Paul. My contract is nearly up with Plusnet anyway, if it hasn't been resolved by then I might just try a different Broadband provider and router, assuming that's what the problem is. The plugs worked fine elsewhere so it seems logical to try that. Will keep plugging until then!

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

Ian06 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 13:45:14 GMT

You could try changing the WiFi mode see here

There are other ideas in the post as well... it is from 2022 so hopefully still relevant

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

paul_blitz — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 18:04:06 GMT

It's nothing at all to do with your Broadband Provider, it's 100% to do with the Wifi in your router. The simple solution might be to buy a really cheap "Wireless extender", not for the distance, but to let those smart devices connect. Maybe a friend has something you can use, or an old router you can set up to just do the Wifi?

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

rachaeltrem — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:23:33 GMT

Hi Paul. That's really helpful, thank you! I have a new router coming so I'm going to see if that makes any difference, if they still don't work with a new router I'll definitely try that. I'll let you know.

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

rachaeltrem — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:43:45 GMT

The problem is resolved now that I have a new router. They worked first time (as they should). Not sure what was going on with the old router, it will will remain a mystery.

Thank you everyone for trying to help! So kind and much appreciated!

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

starkraving — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:16:18 GMT

I didn't need to do anything with a hotspot. Just go into the advanced settings on the Plusnet Hub/router. Click on the edit button. You will see that there is a switch beneath the 5ghz, turn it off, then save (there is no way of just giving the 5ghz a different SSID on the BT Hub). I didn't need to restart the router but I did have to close the app on my iphone down and then relaunch it.