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Forum Discussion
Connection to 2.4ghz to set up kasa (tp-link) smart plug mini
I have been trying to find a way to force my phone to use the 2.4ghz network so that I can set up my kasa smart plug which only works with 2.4ghz. I have found these and similar instructions but I do...
I posted those instructions. Here is where that option appears on my RBR50:
However... I have eight KASA smart plugs, at least four different models, and they all connected to my RBR50 Orbi system without any fooling around at all. KASA is my "go to" smart plug.
What sort of smartphone or tablet is the KASA app running on?
CrimpOnThanks for the response. I too loved my Orbi (or will again once I can get the smart plugs working). I found the setting that you demonstrated in your screenshot. I turned it off and followed the rest of the steps but it still didn't connect. I just keep getting the message that Kasa was unable to connnect to my Wi-Fi Network after entering my Orbi password.
I'm wondering something. My modem is also a router. I don't have my phone connected to it but could that possibly be interfering somehow?
I welcome any further suggestions!
If the modem/router/WiFi is broadcasting a different 2.4G WiFi SSID on a different 2.4G channel, there should not be any interference with the Orbi WiFi. (Although, most customers choose to turn off the modem/router/WiFi's WiFi radios if the device allows them to do so.)
Can you take a screen shot of the error message and post it? I cannot remember if the KASA app has an option to display the WiFi password as "plain text" rather than those stupid "dots". My fat fingers really struggle with entering the WiFi password and it is reassuring to see the password as actual characters.
Hi CrimpOn
I use a password manager to login so no fat fingers are involved. đI have verified that the password in my password manager is correct. I went ahead and disabled my other wifi's to be sure.
I just read through the steps for about the 100th time and notice something I hadn't paid attention to. I've attached 4 screenshots starting at Connecting to Smart Plug. I make sure the plug is flashing orange and blue before I start. Please note that I don't always get the 2nd screenshot after the connection screen. Usually, it just goes to the list of wifi's (3rd screenshot) so I assumed it wanted me to log into my network. But the prompt in the 2nd screenshot leads me to believe that the Kasa app wants to connect to the temporary TP-Link_SmartPlug_CDF1 wifi. After clicking Connect I got the Choose a Network screen (3rd screenshot) where I do not see the temporary network so instead I tried choosing my orbi wifi at which point it asks me for the password. I auto-fill that from my password manager to connect, and then it then goes to the 4th screenshot. If I try clicking I'm Already Connected, it tries connecting but I eventually get the 5th screenshot. At this point the plug is still flashing orange and blue but at a slower pace.
Any additional thoughts? Also, which is it trying to connect to after the 3rd screenshot...the temporary TP-Link wifi or my orbi wifi?
lgreer161 wrote:
But the prompt in the 2nd screenshot leads me to believe that the Kasa app wants to connect to the temporary TP-Link_SmartPlug_CDF1 wifi.
Yes, I agree.
Unlike cameras (which can take a picture of a QR code) and devices with keyboards, smart plugs have no physical means of inputting the WiFi SSID/password. What appears to happen is that when it is placed into setup mode, the plug creates its own WiFi access point that will accept a connection from any device running the smartphone app. (hmmm. I have not tried to connect without the app. something for another day.) Once the app has a connection to the smart plug, they have some sort of dialog which communicates the WiFi SSID/password to the plug.
After that, the plug turns off the tiny access point and tries to connect to the WiFi system it was told about. Once it gets connected, it can talk to the KASA cloud and say, "This specific KASA plug is associated with a specific KASA user account."
The smartphone app also needs to drop the connection to the mini access point and connect back to the house WiFi.
KASA plugs are interesting in that they do not require the internet connection to function as long as the plug and the smartphone are on the same network.
Would it be convenient to try to add the plug without using the password manager?