Issues Syncing Smart Plug To App

Hi all,

I received a smart plug yesterday (one to try prior to getting a few more ideally) but am having no joy with getting it synced into the app. I can get the plug to respond to step 2 and 3 (fast blink and slow blink), and also connect to the plug's wifi network, etc. But I cannot get the button in Step 4 to not be greyed out, regardless of being on my home wifi, connected to the smart plug, etc. I'm wondering if anyone has had success with syncing a plug in 3.1.22 or 3.1.23?

For reference, this is the step that states:
'Please make sure that you are currently on your home WiFi network. The button below will be greyed out if you are not connected. This is to ensure the plug is able to connect to the WiFi network you are on.'
I'm not sure what the pre-requisite is for that button to be press-able, but when I am on my home WiFi network (same network my inverter is on) it does not change from grey.
I have also tried connecting to the plug's wifi (when it is broadcasting, slow blinking state) and searching for a configuration page where I can put in network details, but I don't think this is possible.

I noticed a couple of app updates yesterday, the first of which I was forced to download before continuing use - I am wondering if perhaps there is an issue on that side of things rather than mine.

Thanks for any help.
Phil

your wifi network will have two bands, 2.4ghz and 5ghz. suppliers often supply routers with the same wifi name for both. make sure you are connecting to the 2.4 band (turn 5 off in the router or rename the 5ghz wifi)

positor1 Thanks for the tip - have disabled the 5ghz after noticing the plugs only work with 2.4ghz, but without success, and additionally my second access point to ensure everything is only looking on the same AP.

I am curious as to the requirement for that button to turn click-able. I watched a video on youtube of the setup process and once you click that button it seems you have to click another 'confirm this is your home network' button and then additionally put in the ssid / password anyway.

I found that for the Givenergy app needed access to my location (to get the Wi-Fi network ssid name).
Once it had this access the button became useable.
Nothing I have seen advises that this access is needed.

Wb1 Thanks - I think this is what sorted it for me. I did location services on after which it was still grey, but then set it to 'ask next time' after which I restarted the GE app and was prompted to share location data. Low and behold the button was press-able. I also noted after leaving the app I got the usual 'allow to continue using data after closing the app?' prompt and there was some info about it using location data to save entry of the users ssid. Stupidly I never took full note of it.

Thanks again - hope this proves useful for anyone else struggling to set them up!

Should have looked here before I wasted the best part of 2 hours wondering what I was doing wrong as it can't be this difficult to add these!
Ended up adding OK with my iPad in the end as just couldn't get it to work from my iPhone. Just checked settings and on the iPad the App had location access, on the iPhone it didn't.

treborUK hehe you plonker 😃 Happens to the best of us. (Never pass up the chance at a Only Fools and Horses reference)

I really don't know why all these apps need locations, I mean seriously wth, same with 2fa my smart watch samsung has been useless for years because they turned on 2fa which you can ONLY use a phone number on (I refuse to tie my phone number to logging into accounts) and its only used for a friends feature.

Instead of having that feature requiring a phone number they just blocked access to the whole app

Is the Smart Plug referred to the same as the Wifi dongle which sits in the bottom of the Givenergy inverter? Since it was installed my "dongle" has randomly dropped out of connectivity on a number of occasions (ie it starts flashing instead of being a continuous blue light). Then I have to go to the Gateway page 10.10.100.254 and reconfigure and reboot. Very frustrating! Any ideas from this area for a more stable connection? (PS no lude jokes about my dongle flashing etc!)

timallen No, the Smart Plugs are 'smart' (i.e. controllable through App, scheduled etc) mains plugs to control switching of equipment and also shown the power consumption.

I run my inverter on a wired LAN connection so haven't experienced and dongle issues, can't help there

Jellybaby proper 24 carat moment

Hi I am having problems as to I can only get to stage 6 in the set up with wifi name correct and password.
When pressing submit to WiFi it then tells me Not connected to SmartLife network.
Any advice would be help fun .
So close yet so far.

PRS
Strange. Mine won't connect via the Givenergy App, always failing to connect at the last step. Out of frustration I tried the SmartLife app which already has three generic smarplugs ( Gosund purchased from Amazon )and went through the process of adding them there. They connected first time and are now visible and controllable in SmartLife though I don't have the functionality of the Givenergy App.

Many thanks for that info most helpful.

I am having similar issues connecting a Givenergy Smartplug to the App as above. I can get through step 5 i.e. connecting to the smart plug hotspot it then goes to a screen for me to enter the Home WiFi SSID and password. Despite carefully typing the password in multiple times it refuses to connect. I have made sure the App has location access and the router is only working on 2.4hz WiFi but nothing makes a difference. It just won't accept the password for the WiFi or get past that stage.

I know the obvious answer is the password is wrong but I connected another device using the password and it connected OK I have checked and checked/retyped again multiple times that I have got the password correct but it just won't have it.

killythebid
This is exactly what happened with my attempts to set the Smartplugs up ( I have two, and each failed at exactly the same stage. I tried over several days, and was meticulous in ensuring that I did everything " by the book " It was at this stage that I gave up and thought " eff it, life's too short ". As mentioned in a previous post, after this I tried and was able to connect to the GE Smartplugs using the " Smart Life " app that i use to control other generic Smartplugs that I have around the house.

Tenkaykev It's not a good outcome though.

A Givenergy product should be able to be used in the Givenergy App. I tried the Smart Life App too and I was also able to get the smart plugs working through it.

killythebid
Oh, I completely agree. The fact that the plugs will connect sucessfully using Smart Life shows that the hardware does function, It's the Givenergy setup process that's flaky.

Have emailed GivEnergy direct to get a reply I will keep you posted

Common issue with adding them to GE app on iPhone is not having location access turned on for the app, this is required for the process to work. Check Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services then check the GivEnergy App has location access enabled.

treborUK I am using the App on Android but with no good effect.

treborUK
I mentioned in a previous post, I did all that, all to no avail.

philipm26
Hi there I had the same issues when trying to set it up with my iPhone sorry to say I gave up after many attempts and even asking the manufacturers to assist me to no avail and returned it.
I feel they have an issue that they are not wanting to sort out.
Other members have talked about using other brands without set up issues might be worth checking out.
Good luck.

I had some issues initially, due to the location service thing but after that they added into the GE App ok. I followed the App which was slightly different to the printed instructions.
Since adding them they have been faultless.
Daily scheduled multiple on/off working a treat.
Manual switching fine too.
Only slight issue is with HomeAssistant - I can see the on/off state and the power use and if I switch them manually or through GE App the state change is shown pretty instantly. But I don’t appear to be able to turn them on/off through HA, the HA switches change then default back shortly after and there is no change on the device.

treborUK
If you are a HA user then I’d strongly suggest you look at other plugs. Personally I use ones which have been flashed with open source firmware called Tasmota. You can do this yourself, or (easier) buy pre-flashed.

For example https://www.mylocalbytes.com/products/smart-plug-pm

I've been wondering what are the benefits of the GE smart plugs over other brands, when they are working? Presumably they are controllable through the existing GE API, app and portal. Reporting via the GE portal (which for me isn't terribly important at the moment).

I don't use HA, but tasmota still seems a strong contender, (I have some cheap 'n' nasty ones which use the proprietry protocols - they do the job, but not ideal: should have spent a little more to go Tasmota, I had hoped they might be reflashable, but no.)

DD
I've acquired several brands of Smart plugs over the years, TPLink etc, they're a lot more compact now which avoids the problem of the older style sometimes partially obscuring adjacent sockets. I like the idea of the Tasmota plugs, I wasn't aware of them, but having recently purchased a couple of GE plugs I don't want to buy yet another type.

Tenkaykev
Fair enough.

But it's not exactly a major capital expenditure. Lat time I bought a pack (a few years ago, admittedly) they were £5-6 each. I flashed them myself, but you can often find good tips about what people are using on the HA forum or by checking a compatability link.

Tasmota rocks. But some people prefer the other competing open source firmware - ESPHome