5ghz Band Vs 2.4ghz
Nicholas Mahendra
I recently upgraded my computer, changing out the motherboard, cpu and ram but I'm sticking to Windows 10 for now (version 2004 currently). While upgrading, I formatted my drives, flashed the bios with the latest driver and installed the AX200 wireless card that came with the motherboard instead of using my old card. Ever since the upgrade was complete, the AX200 shows the 2.4ghz SSID that my router is giving off but when I try connecting to it, it says "Cant connect to this network" but it will allow me to the 5ghz SSID. Plugging my old card in, I can connect to each of those bands but at slower speeds so I'm wanting to do what I can to keep my AX200 and ditch the old wifi adapter. My phone and other computers in my house are able to connect to both networks just fine, it seems like its just an issue with the AX200 that I have. I've tried wiping my network adapter drivers clean and installing the latest version of drivers (driver version 21.90.3.2) for the AX200 but I'm still having the same issue. I'm at a standstill now and don't know how to fix this.
1. I would like just to confirm why exactly would you like to use the 2.4GHz band? Just keep in mind that the 5 GHz allows to use more features of the wireless card and depending on the modem, use all the performance of the WiFi 6 (802.11ax).
2. This wireless adapter is 802.11ax, and router seems to be 802.11ac (I could not confirm this from an official website of the manufacturer), so they will most likely connect in AC mode (5GHz band), to use the 2.4GHz band, try the following in the Advanced Wireless Adapter Settings setting:
1. I understand the value proposition of the 5GHz band, but I'm not able to fully utilize it due to my desktop being on a different floor than where the modem/router is and neither of these two things can move. This leads the 5GHz to perform well, but only when the band can make it through the house and show up to perform.
3. I'm not sure how i can set up different networks to test this theory. I'm not in a position to bring my desktop to anyone else's place or bring someone's modem/router into mine to investigate if its an issue with my network.
4. From what I've been able to lookup, there is nothing suggesting that the modem/router combo I currently have implemented is WiFi 6 enabled. This is leading me to believe Spectrum cheeped out on me and might need to upgrade what they gave me to use.
1. There are 2 driver versions that we have not tried yet, the driver listed in the ASRock's website (version 21.0.0.5) and the latest Intel driver (version 21.110.1). You may try doing a clean install of these drivers, however; this does not seem to be a driver issue:
Locate the drivers you downloaded back in Step 1. Run as administrator, and follow the wizard to completion. To Run as administrator right-click over the file you downloaded and select the option to Run as administrator.
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I think that will be the best approach, as per the troubleshooting done at software level, this might need a hardware inspection from the OEM, or checking the router for any limitation or settings missing.
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I have a R6220, that transmits both on 2.4ghz and 5ghz simultaneously. The router admin page will not allow both bands to have the same SSID, however the genie App did allow me to force identical SSIDs. What I describe below happens regardless of whether the 2.5 and 5ghz bands have the same SSID or different ones.
Thanks for your response. It is intersting that you mentioned VLAN. In the setup instructions from the ISP it said to enable VLAN. At the time I thought I wonder what this is. So my VLAN settings are thus:
I just bought few smart plugs. But they only connect to 2.4 Ghz. How do i add them to my home network as they will not show up in App on my phone for a setup. I have a good coverage in my house so most of the time phone is on 5Ghz.
While the smartphone apps for many (most?) Internet of Things (IoT) devices are able to deal with "mesh" WiFi networks, there are some which are poorly written and simply fail to work when the smartphone is connected at 5G. What has worked for many people (including me) is this:
p.s. "Poorly written" may seem harsh, but GEEZ. My TP-Link, Belkin, Eufy, Teckin (and other) smart plugs connected immediately. I have only had one that required the above steps. For one plug, I simply ignored the warnings "MUST connect to w.4G" and kept hitting "Continue" until it worked. "TAKE THAT!", I said.
@CrimpOn Your solution worked like a champ for my Feit Flood Light & Security Camera Combo. Super easy and connected in 30 seconds after the settings swap. Appreciate the time to write it up for newer mesh users like me!
Still relevant and working in 2022. Thank you. I have Phillips Wiz lights for my recessed lighting and they started acting buggy not all properly showing up in the app. I had to manually delete the lights and I was having a hard time getting them repaired. As soon as I went in and turned off 5ghz, they all instantly paired up and I have everything working again. I wish they provided this setting to do from the app itself, instead of having to go into the settings from my computer.
The answer to this will not make you happy, but users need to know this when considering purchase of an Orbi system or when tearing their hair out because most (if not all) of their smart devices cannot be connected or configured on the network.
The problem is that almost all mesh systems, and particularly the more advanced ones like Orbi are set to have a single SSID for both 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz bands, and they cannot be separated nor can you turn off or temporarily suspend 5.0ghz. But, almost all smart devices, whether locks, video cameras, doorbells, thermostats, security systems, lights etc, are designed to ONLY work on 2.4ghz, and your phone MUST be connected to the same band and SSID during setup for the app to recognize the device. But the rub is, smartphones will ALWAYS prefer 5ghz when it's available, and you can't force them to connect on 2.4.
1. Move far enough away from the router so that the phone can't connect on 5ghz. Because 2.4ghz has greater range, the phone will switch to 2.4ghz. Unfortunately, if the phone needs to be in bluetooth range of the device, or to be able to scan a QR code or some other identifying attribute, you'll be too far away from the smart device for this to work and solve your setup problem.
2. Turn down the radio strength of the 5ghz band and unplug all your satellites temporarily. Go to the desktop portal to your router (192.168.1.1) and click on the Advanced Settings tab, and then Advanced Setup, and then Wireless Settings. You should see settings for the 2.4ghz and 5.0ghz bands on this page. You want to change the Transmit Power Control value from 100% to 25% to reduce the broadcast strength of the 5.0ghz radio. In theory, this is doing the opposite of (1) above, by shortening how far the 5ghz band will reach and giving 2.4ghz a chance to be the best choice for your phone to connect to. Unfortunately, the Orbi routers, particularly the higher end ones are still able to reach a considerable distance, even at 25% power (I've had laptops and phones with only 2 bars of signal strength, still preferring 5ghz at 45ft from the router). So, if you're trying to install a video camera or doorbell or even a light, and you can't move the router far enough away, this will not solve your problem, but it's worth a try.
3. If (2) didn't solve the problem and your phone still won't connect on the 2.4ghz band, then the next thing to try is to turn off the AX functionality (the Wifi 6 features) if your router has Wifi 6. Leave the 5ghz radio set to 25%, and go up to the regular Setup link (still on the Advanced Settings tab), and then choose Wireless Setup. At the top of this page, you will see Enable AX-This Wifi Mode Will Enable AX Features. You'll want to uncheck the two boxes below that -- turn off both 2.4 and 5.0 bands. Apply that change and wait for the router to reset. Then go try again to see whether your phone can connect to the 2.4 band. (For both steps 2 and 3, if your phone is near the device that you need to configure with the app, you'll be able to see on the Basic Settings tab under Attached Devices what things are connected to the network and what band they are connecting on.)
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