This topic

BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

KLB1 — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 15:22:35 GMT

I have a BT Smart Hub 2. I switched off 5GHz WiFi, but despite that my new smart thermostat refused to connect. The SSID was BT-JSAG9G, but out of the blue a new SSID appeared on my phone; BT-JSAG9G_2.4G_0C. and when trying that SSID, it all worked. Does anyone know how the hub started to initiate this second SSID?

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

KLB1 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 10:21:22 GMT

Additional info: The 'new' SSID appears to be temporary and disappears after several hours, so it is not a solution. I notice that despite the router's 5GHz signal being switched off, that the hub manager shows several devices still connected to it (and active). Does this mean that somehow the 5GHz signal is still active and that is why I can't connect my room thermostat (which does not support 5GHz). Such a pity the hub does not support different SSIDs for the two bands. Any help appreciated

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

licquorice — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 11:22:49 GMT

No, it just means the hub manager is rubbish.

The only reason for turning off the 5Ghz is to force your phone to use 2.4Ghz when attempting to connect to a smart device in ad-hoc mode. Once everything is connecting via the hub it doesn't matter about it being switched off, the thermostat can only 'see' the 2.4Ghz regardless of whether the the hub is transmitting on both frequencies or not.

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

KLB1 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 11:35:01 GMT

Thank you, but I can't get the thermostat to connect. On the hub manager, I see that the thermostat MAC address is listed, but under a 5GHz indication. This is odd because the thermostat does not support 5GHz. I cannot click 'Remove' as it is greyed out (device obviously not connected).

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

Les-Gibson — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 13:03:21 GMT

I'm a bit confused by the bit where you say "I cannot click 'Remove' as it is greyed out (device obviously not connected)".

The device has to be disconnected in order for you to remove it, try removing a device that is not greyed out and you will see what I mean.

What brand of thermostat is it?

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

licquorice — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:09:35 GMT

I think the OP means the 'Remove' button is greyed out rather than the device greyed out. I.e the device is actually connected.

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

KLB1 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:45:10 GMT

Thank you licquorice ... that is correct. So there are two facts ... (1) the device (as defined by its MAC address) is listed on the list of WiFi devices under the hub manager, but marked as a 5GHz device, and it is shown as not-active; and (2) the listing has a 'Remove' button, but that button is greyed out.

I have no idea how the hub reports the MAC address under'5GHz' as the thermostat does not support 5GHz, as well as the fact that 5GHz has been switched off on the router from before trying to connect the thermostat for the first time, but I wanted to remove the entry just in case that would allow the device to connect (obviously via 2.4GHz) if I tried the connection process again. Maybe such a removal would not help, in which case it doesn't matter if the listing remained!

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

KLB1 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:47:13 GMT

Thanks for taking the time to respond Les. Licquorice correctly surmised what I was getting at: See his & my further comments below

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

KLB1 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:48:40 GMT

Sorry: Forgot to mention, the device is a BEOK thermostat model BOT-313WIFI

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

licquorice — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:56:51 GMT

As stated previously, the hub manager information is not to be relied upon.

How are you trying to connect the thermostat, presumably using an app.

Try turning off the thermostat, a factory reset of the hub, turn off 5Ghz wifi and then turn on thermostat and attempt to connect again.

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

KLB1 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:05:07 GMT

Thanks for your time licquorice.
Yes, the device has an app to effect connection. It worked when the new SSID strangely appeared (see first note in this trail), but it cannot connect on the actual SSID. Because I will need to re-apply my port-forwarding rules etc. I will try the 'factory reset' tomorrow when others in the household are not using the net. I will update the trail with my findings. Thanks again

Re: BT Smarthub 2 WiFi connect

licquorice — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:33:33 GMT

I've no idea where that SSID came from, totally weird.

Edit: It was probably the thermostat rather than the hub but weird it was a similar SSID

When you first connect to the thermostat, it will be connecting directly to your phone in ad-hoc mode rather than to the router, hence it is essential your phone is operating in the 2.4Ghz band in order to 'see' the thermostat and configure it. The simplest way to achieve that is to turn off 5Ghz on the hub. Once the the thermostat has been configured with the hub's password it will then connect to the hub in the normal way and the phone will connect to it via the hub regardless of band the phone is connecting to. Hope that makes sense.