Is my extender breaking my Philips Hue Secure camera?

The short answer

Pairs through an extender and then holds a weak link. Cheap extenders make a second network. Once your phone and the gadget end up on different halves of it, they can no longer find each other.

What's happening underneath

Talks mainly to the manufacturer's servers, so it survives strict routers well — but live view needs a steady upload, not just a good signal bar. An extender that makes its own network name puts your phone and the gadget on two different networks.

Source: Manufacturer documentation

Try these, in this order

• • Remember the lights use their own radio through the bridge — the camera does not. Judge the Wi-Fi separately.
• • Check the upload speed as well as the signal.
• • Set it up in its final position, not next to the router.
• • Check the signal where the gadget actually lives, not where you're standing.
• • Move the router off the floor and out of any cupboard before buying anything.
• • Put the gadget and your phone on the same Wi-Fi name.
• • Restart the gadget before the router — it is quicker and it fixes more.

Setting it up again properly

• • Stand next to your router while you set it up, then move the gadget to where it lives.
• • Put your phone on the 2.4 GHz network name for the setup, or use one name for both bands so the phone can follow.
• • If your router splits bands into two names, turn the 5 GHz one off for five minutes rather than fighting it.
• • Turn mobile data off on your phone during setup — some apps quietly use it and never find the gadget.

When it's worth spending money

An access point on the nearest indoor wall, before replacing the camera.