Power Hub Split WiFi problems

[savereo_john]

Hello all

I’ve recently switched to Vodafone from EE (better deal) and am on the Full Fibre 500 plan. I’m having some issues with my power hub and was hoping the panel could help out. Im a semi-retired IT professional and, whilst definitely not a networking expert, I’m comfortable with technical detail.

Activation occurred yesterday and went well. I read the Power Hub manual in advance and successfully used the web interface to reset the UI password, set the WiFi SSID and reset the WiFi password. I also disabled Guest Wi-Fi and enabled Compatibility Mode, as one of my older devices wouldn’t connect without it. I use TP-Link Power Line switches for Ethernet round the house and they are working fine. I checked the Firmware version -   22.1.0404-6421030 – and it’s up to date.

The problem –

I did all this using Basic Mode. Now I need to Split the WiFi bands into 2.4 and 5 ghz bands, for which I need Expert Mode – and that’s where the problem is. When I go to WiFi Settings/General and select Expert Mode nothing happens, the display stays the same. I tried switching back and forth, refreshing the screen, switching back and forth between tabs and eventually after about 10 attempts I got the expert mode settings to appear, but they didn’t work. I could see the Split WiFi toggle, as per the manual, but it didn’t work, clicking on it does nothing and it stays greyed out. The fields below to name the two SSIDs were there, but they don’t work

Since then Ive been unable to get the additional options to display again, even though it says Expert Mode in the drop down.

Ive also tried the phone app, but there is no option to split wi-fi that I can see

Has anyone seen this before or know a fix ?

[belfasti]

Please share powrsehell method, splitting wifi can help lot of customers.

[bhaskarsamani]

when I go to the bottom of the page and select Apply nothing happens

i am having the same problem

the power hub IS RUBBISH 

[billhinge]

You have to enable Wi-FI compatibility mode, until you do they will be greyed out (click on the little i for info)

[billhinge]

Sorry, may have given you duff info. Enabling compatibility mode will physically spilt the wifi into 2 SSID's but re-reading your post you cant configure them to different bands like one SSID to 2.4Ghz and one to 5GHz. Sorry it it was a while since I used them 

I have an older Ultra hub that isn't connected to the voda network, and running older firmware, the later firmware is locked down so you only get WPA2 vs WPA3 and 2.4 AND 5Ghz vs 2.4/5 and 6GHz

[savereo_john]

Its okay mate, other posts Ive read say that this function was taken out by a previous firmware update and wont work no matter what you do, so no worries

Im just going to live with it. The broadband actually works quite well, faster than EE actually. Thanks for replying anyway

[savereo_john]

As mentioned in my post I have already done this. See screengrab attached

I just went back in and the Expert mode settings appeared straight away - for the first time - but they still don't work. The Split Wi-Fi slider appears, but it doesn't work - if you click on it nothing happens. Trying to set the SSID's and frequencies anyway doesn't work either as the "Apply Changes" button at the bottom of the page won't accept them

[Ripshod]

When these routers come fresh from vodafone the settings are available. You could try an old trick - disconnect from the Internet, factory reset, then make your settings changes before reconnecting the Internet. 

I'm not 100% whether it would work now (been a while) but surely worth a try. 

[belfasti]

Doesn't work, rubbish hub and worst customer services

[thompsi]

Whilst many people, including myself, have slagged off the PowerHub router it is of course the interface that Vodafone have supplied that is the problem. There are options which are permanently “Grayed out” and others which you can change but the “Apply” button does not apply! My desktop measures 150 Mb download at 5Ghz and 60 Mb at 2.4GHz. The wireless adapter in my desktop is a Realtek 8821CE. Normally I would use different SSIDs for the two frequencies and thus ensure I always attach to the 5GHz network. However, this is not possible with Vodafone’s interface tantalisingly showing an option to split SSIDs but leaving it permanently “grayed out”. My desktop’s integrated wireless adapter’s device driver does not allow you to do anything remotely useful in this situation. Whenever I powered on I would sometimes get a 2.4GHz connection and at other times 5 GHz. By disconnecting and reconnecting I would eventually get 5GHz. I spoke to technical support at Vodafone who told me that the router knew better than I did the best frequency to choose and did so and so there was no need to split SSIDs. They then claimed to have remotely made a code change within my router which “would help” after rebooting it! They then said that they would call me back a couple of days later to review the situation. That was two weeks ago and I’m still waiting – and nothing had changed. However, the breakthrough came when I discovered that the Realtek 8832BU adapter has some interesting driver settings readily accessible via the device manager within the control panel. I bought a USB attached wireless adapter from Amazon for circa £18. There is an option within the driver settings to disable the 2.4GHz network for the adapter. I chose this and I always get 5GHz now. I disabled the integrated wireless adapter within my desktop of course. I’ve been running with this adapter for a couple of weeks and so far so good! Having said all that the adapter I bought does sometimes have an issue with the cable to the adapter coming loose and it might be worth spending a bit more – but remember Realtek 8832BU!

[mwilku]

Hi Everyone,

Just spent over 30m with customer service to find out that those options have been disabled as customers have been confused with them so Vodafone decided to block them instead of make interface more user friendly.

Long story short, my Power Hub router, for unknown reason, selecting the same 2.4GHz channel as all my neighbours routers causing drop WiFi connection every 2-15 minutes. I'm unable to change my router's channel as this been blocked by Vodafone latest firmware.

In this case, Vodafone Power Hub is completely useless for me. 

Not great Vodafone...