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Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

FIXED
rachaeltrem
Newbie
Posts: 6
Fixes: 1
Registered: 4 weeks ago

Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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!

9 REPLIES 9
Gel
Aspiring Champion
Posts: 2,368
Thanks: 296
Fixes: 29
Registered: ‎02-08-2007

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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?
rachaeltrem
Newbie
Posts: 6
Fixes: 1
Registered: 4 weeks ago

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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

rachaeltrem
Newbie
Posts: 6
Fixes: 1
Registered: 4 weeks ago

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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!

paul_blitz
Pro
Posts: 249
Thanks: 69
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎20-07-2016

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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 😞

rachaeltrem
Newbie
Posts: 6
Fixes: 1
Registered: 4 weeks ago

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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!

Ian06
Aspiring Pro
Posts: 188
Thanks: 108
Fixes: 4
Registered: ‎06-04-2021

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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

See also this post...

paul_blitz
Pro
Posts: 249
Thanks: 69
Fixes: 3
Registered: ‎20-07-2016

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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?

rachaeltrem
Newbie
Posts: 6
Fixes: 1
Registered: 4 weeks ago

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

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.

rachaeltrem
Newbie
Posts: 6
Fixes: 1
Registered: 4 weeks ago

Re: Impossible to connect smart plugs to my WIFI

Fix

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!