Hi All - Since changing my broadband to Vodaphone the GivEnergy portal for my system has stopped working.
I have tried changing the network settings using the Wi-Fi Dongle setup guide, without success.
The problem might be (likely to be?) the new Vodafone router which will not allow separation of 2.4GHz and 5GHz devices. (I have had this confirmed by Vodafone tech support). The dongle setup guide informs the dongle is a 2.4GHz device and wi-fi only connects to 2.4GHz (not dual band).
I have also tried turning off the router firewall to eliminate this as a possibilty - again, still not working.
Does anyone else have experience of this problem please? As it stands I can only see two options - 1) use a third party router which allows band separation, or 2) ditch Vodafone for a different broadband supplier.
Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately the Vodaphone router won’t allow this. The 2.4GHz and 5GHz are inseparable so turning off the 5 will also turn off the 2.4.
I believe this was something that was possible on earlier Vodafone routers, but not it seems on the latest.
Do you still have your old router? If so set it’s ssid and password to the same as your Vodafone one. Turn off Vodafone and connect your dongle to your old router ( with new ssid and password) and once connected turn off the old router and reboot the Vodafone router - may work.
Alternatively, does your inverter have a LAN option?
Run a cable if you can, or get a decent set of powerline adapters if not (i think TP Link are good ones, recalling from memory though).
Another option could be a separate wifi access point which is connected back to your main wifi via either ethernet or wifi.
If you do switch to ethernet, should your inverter support that, you’ll need to turn the inverter off, change a dip switch as per the install guide (should be able to find that via a google search) then wait five mins and turn it back on.
I gather the problem of 2.4GHz devices randomly trying to select the 5GHz network when both have the same SSID is not unknown - the simplest reliable way I know of to avoid it is to have a dedicated 2.4GHz network. I’d buy a cheap wifi extender - something like a TL-WA850 (£16) should work. Connect that to the Vodafone wifi, and configure it with a different SSID (network name), so you can connect any fussy/IOT devices to that (and they will never attempt to connect directly to the Vodafone one). I’ve done this with a TL-WR481 wired to the router over PowerLAN, which also allows to segregate my IOT device traffic and keep it off the main house wifi.
Thank you Andrew Bond. This sounds like a good solution and I will give it a try. It should have the added benefit of boosting the wi-fi in some corners of the house too I guess.
Exactly what Andrew Bond said.I had the exact same issue twice, you need to speak with Vodafone tech and ask them to set your ports to 2.4GHz, log into your inverter set up and select a port. Also make sure the signal is showing higher than 64% on the search box. They will send you an extender if you explain that you electricity system can’t connect. Hope this helps
Thank you Hummingbird. I thought it likely there would be someone here who had experienced the same issue. I have had a long chat with the Vodaphone technical people who did their best but were adamant the 2.4 and 5GHz couldn’t be split on the latest version of their router. (I think it’s a new model with built in VOIP). They weren’t forthcoming with the offer of a free extender, although to be fair I didn’t know to ask for one at the time.
I think I’ll just buy one for £15 and spare myself the hassle of having to go through the helpdesk again!
I had exactly the same problem when I switched to Vodafone. I spent a long time trying all sorts of things and exvhanged dozens of emails with Givenergy who tried very hard to help.
In the and as a last try I phoned the Vodafone help line, spoke to a very helpful guy who said straight away that he could fix it. He did and I have now been back on line with them for several weeks. It was strange that all devices in the house connected to zvodsgpne without problems except Givenergy. Dont know what they did but whatever it was it workrd.
Thank you Tim. Out of interest is your router the same as mine? - picture attached - I think on the earlier black models it was possible to split the 2.4 and 5GHz.
Not sure whether the Givinstaller is the best option for changing the dongles wi fi ’ hub communication. I found the direct route was connecting with the dongles address ie 10.10.100.254. to update your hubs name and passwords. All this info is on the site. My dongle to Sky hub wi fi communication problems were resolved by changing the hubs
Security settings to a lower WPA2 setting.
Thanks L171679. I tried the solution you proposed, ie changing to WPA2 only. without success.
The router has a wi-fi compatibility mode which when activated, creates another network with WPA2 security and no WPA3. As with the main and guest networks, the 2.4 and 5 GHz are inseparable.
Next time I change my broadband supplier I will definitely be changing the router name and password to be the same as the old. Much easier than going round changing every computer, phone, TV, Alexa etc!
I am pleased to be able to say I have now got the portal working using the method described by Andrew Bond. I have installed a TL-WA850 extender which creates a new “extended” 2.4GHz network with the same password as the main network. The dongle connects OK to the extended network.
