Set up Smart Hybrid Connect

Smart Hybrid Connect works with your Smart Hub Pro, Smart Hub Plus, Smart Hub and BT Smart Hub 2 It's a 4G router that automatically provides a connection if your home broadband goes down.

Set up Smart Hybrid Connect using the EE app

The best way to set up your Smart Hybrid Connect is using the EE app. 

Download the EE app for Android and Apple devices.
Smart Hybrid Connect device

Set up Smart Hybrid Connect without using the EE app

Set up using ethernet

  1. Check your Smart Hub is powered on (the light in the middle will be solid aqua or blue)
  2. Find the ethernet cable with yellow ends. You'll find one in the box from your Smart Hybrid Connect.
  3. Attach one end of the cable to the back of your Smart Hybrid Connect device.
  4. Attach the other to the back of your Smart Hub, using one of the yellow ethernet ports.
  5. Put your Smart Hybrid Connect close to your Smart Hub and plug it in.
  6. Turn on your Smart Hybrid Connect by pushing the power button.
  7. After a few seconds, the light in the middle of the Smart Hybrid Connect will flash green.
  8. Wait for the light to turn solid aqua or blue; that means it's paired with your Smart Hub. This can take up to 5 minutes.
  9. Check if your Smart Hybrid Connect is picking up a decent signal. When the 4G signal bars turn aqua or blue, your Smart Hybrid Connect has a strong signal (two or three bars is good).
  10. If your 4G signal isn't strong enough, try moving your device to another spot.
  11. Once your Smart Hybrid Connect is paired with your Smart Hub (showing a solid blue or aqua light), you can remove the ethernet cable.
  12. Move your Smart Hybrid Connect to a good location for 4G signal. This is so it can use the WiFi to work properly after using the ethernet cable.

Set up wirelessly

  1. Plug your Smart Hybrid Connect’s power cable into a power socket, in a spot that’s close to your Smart Hub.
  2. Turn on your Smart Hybrid Connect by pushing the power button.
  3. After a few seconds, the light in the middle of the Smart Hybrid Connect will flash green.
  4. Press the WPS button on the back of the Smart Hybrid Connect and then the WPS button on your hub. Press both buttons within 2 minutes of each other.
  5. Wait for the light to turn solid aqua or blue; this means it's paired with your Smart Hub. This can take up to 5 minutes.
  6. Check if your Smart Hybrid Connect is picking up a decent signal. When the 4G signal bars turn aqua or blue, your Smart Hybrid Connect has a strong signal (2 or 3 bars are good).
  7. Once your Smart Hybrid Connect is paired with your Smart Hub (showing a solid blue or aqua light), you can move your Smart Hybrid Connect to a good location for 4G signal.

If you have BT Hybrid Connect, get help with setting it up.

Move your Hybrid Connect to a new Smart Hub

Pair Hybrid Connect with a new Smart Hub using WiFi

Factory reset your Hybrid Connect, in preparation for connecting to your new Smart Hub.

To factory reset and then pair:

  1. Insert a pin or similar object into the factory reset hole on the back of your Hybrid Connect, hold for 4-5 seconds and release.
  2. the Hybrid Connect will reboot
  3. wait until your Hybrid Connect flashes green
  4. turn off your old Smart Hub
  5. use the EE app to set up your new Smart Hub before pairing your Hybrid Connect
  6. your new Smart Hub will update as part of the setup process, this must be complete before pairing your Hybrid Connect
  7. make sure your Hybrid Connect is more than 1 meter from your new Smart Hub
  8. press the WPS button on your new Smart Hub
  9. check the Smart Hub flashes blue
  10. press the WPS button on your Hybrid Connect - this must be done within 2 minutes of pressing the WPS button on your Smart Hub
  11. the Smart Hub will stop flashing and turn solid aqua
  12. the Hybrid Connect will start to flash aqua or blue - pairing is underway
  13. when pairing is complete, the Hybrid Connect will turn solid blue or aqua. This can take a few minutes
  14. when the Hybrid Connect has turned solid aqua or blue, wait for at least 5 minutes before you turn off the Hybrid Connect and move it to a good location for a 4G signal i.e. near a window
  15. when the Hybrid Connect is in its new location, turn it on and it will connect wirelessly to your new Smart Hub.

If pairing is not successful, the Hybrid Connect will continue to flash for more than 5 minutes after the WPS button was pressed. So,

  • Turn off your Hybrid Connect
  • turn your Smart Hub and any Smart WiFi devices off and on
  • turn on your Hybrid Connect
  • the Hybrid Connect will try to pair with the Smart Hub automatically
  • if the automatic pairing is unsuccessful, the pairing journey will need to be restarted

To start the pairing journey again, you must factory reset the Hybrid Connect:

  1. Insert a pin or similar object into the factory reset hole on the back of your Hybrid Connect, hold for 4-5 seconds and release
  2. the Hybrid Connect will then reboot
  3. wait until Hybrid Connect flashes green
  4. your Hybrid Connect is ready to pair with your new Smart Hub
  5. press the WPS button on your new Smart Hub
  6. press WPS button on your Hybrid Connect within 2 minutes
  7. the Hybrid Connect will turn solid blue or aqua to show pairing is complete.

 

Pair Hybrid Connect with a new Smart Hub using a cable

  1. Remove the Ethernet cable from your Hybrid Connect
  2. factory reset your Hybrid Connect, in preparation for connecting to your new Smart Hub.

To factory reset and then pair:

  1. Insert a pin or similar object into the factory reset hole on the back of your Hybrid Connect device, hold for 4-5 seconds and release
  2. the Hybrid Connect will then reboot
  3. please wait until Hybrid Connect starts to flash green
  4. power off your old Smart Hub
  5. use the EE app to set up your new Smart Hub before pairing your Hybrid Connect
  6. your new Smart Hub will update as part of the setup process, this needs to complete before pairing the Hybrid Connect
  7. connect an ethernet cable between your new Smart Hub and Hybrid Connect
  8. the Hybrid Connect will show solid green, followed by flashing green and then flashing blue - pairing has started
  9. the Hybrid Connect will turn solid blue or aqua - pairing is complete. This can take a few minutes.

If pairing is not successful, the Hybrid Connect will flash for more than 5 minutes, so,

  • Turn off your Hybrid Connect
  • turn your Smart Hub and any Smart WiFi devices off and on
  • turn on your Hybrid Connect
  • the Hybrid Connect will attempt to pair with the Smart Hub automatically
  • if pairing is unsuccessful, the pairing journey has to be restarted.

To start the pairing journey again, you must factory reset the Hybrid Connect. Remove the Ethernet cable from the Hybrid Connect before factory resetting.

To factory reset and then pair:

  1. Insert a pin or similar object into the factory reset hole on the back of your Hybrid Connect, hold for 4-5 seconds and release
  2. your Hybrid Connect will then reboot
  3. turn your Smart Hub and any Smart WiFi devices off and on
  4. wait for the Smart Hub and any Smart WiFi devices to be online before doing the next steps
  5. when the Hybrid Connect flashes green, re-insert the Ethernet cable
  6. when the Hybrid Connect flashes blue, pairing is underway
  7. the Hybrid Connect will turn solid blue or aqua - pairing is complete. This can take a few minutes.

If your 4G signal is weak

If you’ve set up Smart Hybrid Connect and your 4G signal isn’t strong enough, try moving your device to another spot. 

Your Smart Hybrid Connect is best placed:
  • well ventilated
  • raised up from the floor
  • away from other electronics
  • near a plug and a window
  • relatively close to your hub

What the lights on your Smart Hybrid Connect mean

The lights on the device will tell you when you’ve found a good spot.

The central light should be aqua and the 4G signal bars aqua or white. This means your Smart Hybrid Connect device is connected to your Smart Hub using WiFi, and also to the mobile network.

If the central light turns red then try another location and restart the device.

Central light

Solid green
Your device is starting up.

Solid orange
Your device is too far from your hub.

Solid aqua
Your device is paired with your hub.

Solid red
There’s a problem, please restart your device. If it’s still red, get in touch.

 Flashing green
Your Smart Hybrid Connect device is not paired with your Smart Hub. Make sure the hub’s on and attached to your device.

 Flashing red
Your device cannot connect to your hub. Try connecting with an Ethernet cable or moving it closer.

 Flashing aqua
Your device is pairing with the hub.

4G signal bars

Flashing aqua
Your device is connecting to the mobile network.

 Solid aqua
Your device has a strong signal. Two or three bars are good.

 Partially aqua
One bar is ok but you may be able to improve it. Follow the instructions in the earlier section

 Solid white
Your device is using mobile data to support your broadband. Two or three bars are good.

 Partially white
One bar is ok but you may be able to improve it. Follow the instructions in the earlier section.

 Solid red
There’s a problem with your device. We’d like to help, so please get in touch.

Connection speed with Smart Hybrid Connect

Smart Hybrid Connect uses the EE mobile network to give you a connection of up to 30 Mbps (download speed) and 5 Mbps (upload speed). It might be a bit faster or slower depending on your Smart Hybrid Connect's mobile signal and how busy the network is. 

If your connection is slow, try moving your Smart Hybrid Connect to a different spot.

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