I just purchased two Connect home hubs and I wanted to use them as AP's/range extenders on my existing wi-fi network. I assumed from reading up on this that it would be possible but I can't seem to get it to work. I have setup each unti in bridge mode while connected to my existing router and they both show up in the Smart things app but as disabled. Both units have a solid green light on the front.
What am I doing wrong? Is it possible to use these as I want or do I have to replace my current AC router with one and then the other one would function as I desire?
I spoke to Samsung about this. They indicated this is possible by putting the hub into bridge mode. In my case, one of my hubs is connected to my main network using an ethernet connection (i.e. it's considered a "wired bridge"). The other hub is wirelessly connected as usual (via mesh connection). I'm not sure if you can bridge the Home Connect hubs to an existing network using a wireless bridge solution.
Here's what you need to do:
A. First set up your main hub as a wired bridge hub
1. Hook one of the hubs to your main router using a ethernet cable and turn it on
2. Reset the hub by pushing in the small reset button on the back for 30 seconds. LED should start blinking green. Wait a couple of minutes for the LED to start blinking red and blue
3. Open Smart Things App
4. It should pickup that you have a new hub available and ask you to connect it
5. Set up hub to use the identical network credientials as your main wireless network (use same network name and password)
6. Once the network is setup go back into the Smart Things app click on the 3 dots in the top right corner and select "Network Settings"
7. Under advanced change "Network Mode" to "Bridge"
You should be go to go. You may need to go into your main router settings and give the bridged hub a static IP address so it never changes.
From there unplug your hub and place it where you want and see if your wireless devices and that your have a strong signal.
The rep did indicate eventhough you are creating a new network in the Samsung hub, because you are using the same network name and password your wireless devices should use it automatically as you more from one location to another in your house.
B. Setup your second hub as a wireless mesh connection
1. Connect your second hub to your bridged hub using an ethernet cable and turn it on
2. Hold down the reset for 30 seconds as before and wait until you see the LED flashing red and blue
3. Go into the Smart Things app and it should recognize that another hub is visible and ask how to add it (you'll want to add it to the existing network).
4. Once added place the second hub within 30m of the first and turn it back on.
5. It should connect with your wired bridged hub and extend your network
From there use a wireless device to see if you can connect to the meshed hub you just added.
My only issue is that there's not a way to change the WiFi channel on the Samsung Home Connect. It would be preferred to have all your APs on a different channel so there's no cross talk as you connect from one AP to another. Updating access point channels is a very basic wireless function. Unfortunately the GUI on the SmartThings app doesn't have this as a selectable option.
I spoke to Samsung about this. They indicated this is possible by putting the hub into bridge mode. In my case, one of my hubs is connected to my main network using an ethernet connection (i.e. it's considered a "wired bridge"). The other hub is wirelessly connected as usual (via mesh connection). I'm not sure if you can bridge the Home Connect hubs to an existing network using a wireless bridge solution.
Here's what you need to do:
A. First set up your main hub as a wired bridge hub
1. Hook one of the hubs to your main router using a ethernet cable and turn it on
2. Reset the hub by pushing in the small reset button on the back for 30 seconds. LED should start blinking green. Wait a couple of minutes for the LED to start blinking red and blue
3. Open Smart Things App
4. It should pickup that you have a new hub available and ask you to connect it
5. Set up hub to use the identical network credientials as your main wireless network (use same network name and password)
6. Once the network is setup go back into the Smart Things app click on the 3 dots in the top right corner and select "Network Settings"
7. Under advanced change "Network Mode" to "Bridge"
You should be go to go. You may need to go into your main router settings and give the bridged hub a static IP address so it never changes.
From there unplug your hub and place it where you want and see if your wireless devices and that your have a strong signal.
The rep did indicate eventhough you are creating a new network in the Samsung hub, because you are using the same network name and password your wireless devices should use it automatically as you more from one location to another in your house.
B. Setup your second hub as a wireless mesh connection
1. Connect your second hub to your bridged hub using an ethernet cable and turn it on
2. Hold down the reset for 30 seconds as before and wait until you see the LED flashing red and blue
3. Go into the Smart Things app and it should recognize that another hub is visible and ask how to add it (you'll want to add it to the existing network).
4. Once added place the second hub within 30m of the first and turn it back on.
5. It should connect with your wired bridged hub and extend your network
From there use a wireless device to see if you can connect to the meshed hub you just added.
My only issue is that there's not a way to change the WiFi channel on the Samsung Home Connect. It would be preferred to have all your APs on a different channel so there's no cross talk as you connect from one AP to another. Updating access point channels is a very basic wireless function. Unfortunately the GUI on the SmartThings app doesn't have this as a selectable option.
I've tried contacting your team to resolve my issue and everything I was told was contradictory to what I've seen here. I have no confidence in this team as I am unable to get a firm answer. The rep did not know and I had to push to say I was told call here for an answer. Twice on hold and was given a wishy washy answer. Definitely NOT impressed.
hello does anyone know how to make the connect home a second router. I have a netgear as primary and when I setup the connect home as secondary my speed is drastically reduced when using its wifi network. however if I connect the Samsung to the isp modem I get 10x the speed on the down. any advice? I switch to bridge and it did nothing.
