NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Wiz Smartbulb installation failing due to Broadcast (UDP) settings
Hi all, Hopefully here my question can be answered. As a not to experienced user iḿ trying to setup a pair (actually 12) Wiz Smart bulbs in my living. I have been looking around and found ...
BCPN2310 wrote:
I'm aware this is due to the UDP settings being incorrect but I don't know how to change the settings other than this..
In researching complaints about installing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, I have installed at least a dozen brands of smart switches, smart bulbs, etc. As schumaku pointed out absolutely none of these devices require that ports be forwarded through the router. Messing around with port forwarding will never help connect IoT devices.
He is also correct that some smart phone apps are poorly written and cause problems for no reason. The insistence in the WIZ documentation about the phone being connected at 2.4G is a strong indication that their programmers made a poor decision that other brands avoided.
What would help is to know the specific model of WiFi router that is installed. Some models provide features which help address this situation and other models do not have those features.
Again, many thanks for your replies with enlightening insights. Fully agree, this should be fixed by the producer iso a dozen of forum users so all help is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! (maybe there is a link between WIZ, disgned by Signify and the previous owner of Signify; Philips who also have proven no to design everything with the most succes.....)\
Than to the modem: I am using a ZYXEL T50 modem (switch off both 2.4 & 5GHZ) which is connected to my Orbi RBS350 (of which i use 3 combined with the RBR350)
Lets hope this will help..
Too bad that NG didn't include the separate IoT network for the 350 series system.
Try the power adjustment process and see.
Ok, with WiFi off - you don't operate this CPE or IAD (Dual-Band Wireless AC/N VDSL2 Combo WAN Gigabit IAD aka. VMG8825-T50K) in router mode one might guess - just as a plain modem? No, I won't push you into this direction.
BCPN2310 wrote:
I am using a ZYXEL T50 modem (switch off both 2.4 & 5GHZ) which is connected to my Orbi RBS350 (of which i use 3 combined with the RBR350)
With the Zyxel T50 being a combination ADSL modem/WiFi router, the firewall in the Zyxel will block any attempt to forward ports through the Orbi router unless the Zyxel is placed in bridge mode or the Orbi is placed in the Zyxel DMZ (If it has that capability.)
The original Orbi WiFi5 product line has the ability to control broadcast of the WiFi SSID on both WiFi bands (2.4G and 5G). This feature allows the user to force smart phones to connect to the 2.4G band (temporarily) while setting up IoT products and then restore the 5G service once products are working. That feature was not included in any of the AX series products.
Amazon promises to deliver a WIZ WiFi bulb tomorrow and I'll try setting it up.
Meanwhile, there are several strategies which people have employed to deal with IoT devices with poorly written apps:
- Return it and buy something that works. I have a box full of smart bulbs that all connected with zero issues.
- If returning/discarding the product is not viable, find a way to temporarily connect the smart phone and the IoT device to a 2.4G WiFi network with exactly the same WiFi credentials as the Orbi system. The entire problem is getting the IoT device to know these credentials. After it has connected, it will reconnect every time it finds a WiFi system with the same credentials.
- Some users keep an old WiFi router that has separate 2.4G and 5G WiFi networks. They swap this router in place of their normal router, set it to exactly the same WiFi credentials, perform the setup, and then return to the original setup. The IoT device connects immediately.
- Another tactic is to create a WiFi Hot Spot using a different smart phone. Turn off the Orbi. Connect to the Hot Spot. Do the setup. Then shut down the Hot Spot and turn the Orbi back on.
- As Furry noted, sometimes the smart phone can be placed where it connects to the 2.4G band becase the 5G signal is too poor. Reduce the Transmit Power (temporarily) to 25% on the 5G band and then go as far away from the router as possible so that the phone connects at 2.4G. Do the setup, then return everything to normal.
- I wonder... Does the Zyxel have the ability to assign different SSIDs to 2.4G and 5G? If so, power off the Orbi, temporarily enable WiFi on the Zyxel with exactly the same WiFi credentials as the Orbi, perform the setup, and then go back to the normal operation.
If this is the correct User Manual for the ZYXEL T50
https://www.manua.ls/zyxel/vmg8825-t50k/manual?p=150
Then it appears that the ZYXEL is the perfect tool to enable WIZ smart bulbs to work.
Page 150 of this user guide shows a check mark, "Keep 2.4G and 5G network name the same" and a Drop Down menu for 2.4G (and one assumes 5G which appears when the Drop Down arrow is selected).
So, these steps would set up the WIZ bulbs:
- Locate the smart phone with the WIZ app, a light socket, and those 12 WIZ smart bulbs near the ZYX#L T50.
- Connect to and log into the ZYXEL T10 and navigate to the Wireless Settings screen as shown on page 150.
A wired computer/laptop would be the easiest if convenient. WiFi connection would be a problem since the WiFi feature has been disabled. Page 54 mentions a WiFi "button" that can be used to turn WiFi on and off, but it is not obvious (to me) exactly which models this applies to. - Uncheck the box, "Keep 2.4G and 5G network name the same"
- Power off the Orbi router and Orbi satellites.
- On the ZYXEL,
Set the 2.4G WiFi to "on"
Enter the exact WiFi name of the Orbi system
The "Hide SSID" box should not be checked
Select the WPA2 security mode
Uncheck the box about generating a random password
Enter the exact WiFi password for the Orbi system
Select "Apply"
Now select the 5G network on the Drop Down menu.
Set the WiFi control to "off"
Just to be double certain (triple certain?), name the 5G network something totally goofy, check the box to hide the 5G SSID, and give the 5G network some bogus password. - Now all is set.
Connect the smart phone with the WIZ app to the WiFi. As the ZYXEL T50 is the only WiFi broadcasting and it is only using 2.4G, the smart phone must connect to the ZYXEL.
Get out a WIZ bulb. Screw it in. Go through the "add" process
When successful, unscrew it and screw in another one, etc. etc until all 12 have been added to the app. - After all 12 bulbs have been added to the app and unplugged
Disconnect the smart phone from WiFi
Turn off the WiFi on the ZYXEL (if it is a button. If not, turn it off before disconnecting the smart phone)
Power up the Orbi system
Connect the smart phone to the Orbi WiFi (however it wants to. 2.4G 5G... whatever)
Go around to wherever those 12 bulbs are supposed to be placed and screw them in.
As each bulbs is powered up, it should seek out and join the Orbi WiFi, then appear in the WIZ app.
WHEW!!!!
Amazon delivered my WIZ A19 connected light. Before writing what promised to be a scathing review, I went through the steps:
- Installed the WIZ Connected app on my Android phone.
- Phone is connected to Orbi RBR50 at 5G.
- Opened the app. Agreed to ...whatever.
- First disappointment. The WIZ app works only with a Google or Facebook account.
Annoying as all get out.
I chose one of my GMail accounts.
(Note to self: create a new GMail account to be used only for experiments like this.) - Followed the setup instructions.
Created House. (MyHouse)
Selected Room (Office)
Selected Add Device. - Got to the part about WiFi.
Entered Orbi primary WiFi SSID
Entered Orbi primary WiFi password
Selected "Start" - The WIZ app found the A19 bulb and asked me to name it ("office light")
- Now room: Office has one device: office light. (renamed it "Wiz Light" more fun!)
- App turns light on/off, changes colors, schedules, etc. etc.
Conclusion: Setup works just fine when my phone is connected to WiFi at 5G. Entering an SSID/password that can access a 2.4G WiFi (the same as the Orbi 5G WiFi) works just fine. I do not have a 350 system to try this on, but I see no reason it would not work. My guess is that customers get Hung Up on that warning about "MUST HAVE 2.4G" and just give up. I do have a 750 system. If I run out of entertainment ideas tomorrow, I'll reset the bulb and connect it to the 750.
The WIZ bulb is going into my box of "Lights that work with Orbi."
