BT WholeHome WiFi app not working

For the past couple of years I've been using BT WholeHome wifi. We have five discs, each going back to the router via Ethernet. Those Ethernet connections are either direct to the router or via powerline networking plugs.

They've worked fine most of the time, although individual discs do drop out for seemingly no reason.

Lately, whenever I try to view the network in the iPhone app it tells me that I'm not connected to the WholeHome network. But I am.

I wouldn't care if it weren't for the fact that individual discs drop out often enough that I need to be able to view the state of the network.

I eventually rang the tech support number suggested by the app to be told that they're not designed to be connected via Ethernet, which is not what I understood. Also, I was told to delete then re-install the app. When that didn't work I was told I didn't need the app.

Basically, I'm wondering how other people get on with the BT WholeHome wifi discs and if anyone else has noticed app or disc flakiness. Cheers.

I've installed one WholeHome setup with 3 discs, and I know of two other setups, each with 2 discs. Only the first disc should be connected to the router by ethernet. The WiFi on the router should be turned off if you can. (not all allow it).

The Ethernet port on the other discs is useful for connecting a device without WiFi, such as older game systems. Having to wire them all back to the router would be complicated in a large property, and the point of the WholeHome was to get broadband around the home without wires!

You can do a lot of the management via the disc web page, if you can find the IP address it has been given by your router. You would need to look on the router settings for this.

Support are talking out of their backside. The WholeHome Discs are very much designed for both wired & wireless backhaul. Not a very good technical help desk but they might have got confused with the "mini" version which doesn't support this.

Are you on the latest firmware? I remember a lot of people moaning about this on HotUK deals a year or so ago (that their discs had gone unreliable doing what you describe) but it was supposed to have been fixed and did effect wired and wireless.

I am not sure having the discs plugged in powerline adapters is something that is advisable though, you might be best of letting them run via wireless as they do have a dedicated backhaul channel so shouldn't effect speed.

I agree.
I have 6 of these all wired (via a switch) back to the router.
From my own experience, the app needs to be able to connect to the first disc installed, as this is the "master". If the client device is connected to a remote disc and that disc can't communicate with the master (a problem with the poweline adapters maybe?) It won't function.