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Forum Discussion
Connecting to wyze smart plugs
Just bought a WYZE smart outlet (plug) and it can only connect to 2.4 GHZ on my phone (galaxy S10+) - I dont see anywhere to temporarily force a drop from 5 to 2.4 GHZ, is this even possible without ...
First, did you attempt to set up the Wyze smart plug using the Wyze app?
(ignoring any warnings "2.4G ONLY REQUIRED !!!") Just go ahead and "do it"?
ALL smart plugs on the market these days include only a 2.4G radio chip (every brand). That means if there is no 2.4G WiFi, they cannot connect. (If you have a diesel car and the gas station has no pumps with diesel, you cannot fill up.) The smart plug lacks the capacity to detect or connect to 5G.
That does not mean that 5G has to be eliminated to configure the plug. If the Wyze app is written correctly, the app will detect the smart plug, tell the smart plug the SSID and password for the Orbi, and the plug will connect.
Some devices have smartphone apps that are poorly written. In that case, what works is temporarily stopping the Orbi from broadcasting the SSID on 5G, having the smartphone disconnect from Orbi, search for WiFi, and reconnect to Orbi. Perform the setup, then go back and resume broadcasting SSID on 5G. This is done on the Orbi web interface, Advanced Tab, Advanced Setup, WiFi Setup.
It would be a BIG FAVOR if you can confirm (a) that the Wyze setup program FAILS when you just go ahead and run it (shame on Wyze), and (b) if the app failed, were you able to shut off the 5G SSID and complete the setup.
If (a) is true, then the Wyze plug goes on my list of "products to avoid". Belkin, Eufy, TP-Link, Teckin and others work just fine. Why purchase something that Amazon doesn't offer on Prime delivery if the app is broken?
Sorry to rant. This is sort of a "hot topic" on the forum.
Yes I did try to just run the app, but it wont let you get past the "will not run of 5 GHZ" notice. It just wants to take you to the settings to change stuff.
I have not (yet) had chance to try the power reduction/move out of 5 GHZ range option yet.
Also, I have tried to install the WYZE app on older tables/phones, but (1) I get a msg about it not being compatible with my Samsung A8 and an (older) Verizon tablet, and (2), it will not load on any of my Kindles.
I am getting to the point of returning the plugs (not quite there yet, though) as they really are not worth the effort they are causing.
Stopping the SSID broadcast on 5G might work. It would be a big favor to us on the forum if you would try. (I would purchase a Wyze smart plug myself - I love their little camera - but it's not on Amazon Prime. So, "the hell with THAT!"). We have this raging debate over whether Netgear should provide a method to completely turn off the Orbi 5G signal or let users "rename" the 5G signal to solve this problem. If not broadcasting the SSID on 5G allows you to install the Wyze plug, that's evidence in favor of Netgear doesn't need to make any software changes.
1st I want to thank you for your promt and comprehensive assistance so far!!
I turned off 5 GHZ SSID broadcast, and turned off guest network completely, didnt hep at all :(
The WYZE app just keeps telling me 5GHZ network is not supported and the ONLY option from there is to go (from the WYZE app) into WiFi settings.
Even my Echo Dot cannot detect the WYZE plug - it is getting close to getting packed up and returned.
However, that does not solve the problem, my research tells me that pretty much all (most?) smart plugs only run on 2.4, so even if I go for a different brand, I will still have the same problem of them not being able to connect to my router. Seems to me that an option to specify/select a specific 2.4 option would resolve all of these issues witout needing any work-arounds.
Makes me wonder if other brands have the same problem as Orbi
Oh, my. Did you do the step of telling your smart phone to "forget" the Orbi WiFi. Then, search for available WiFi networks, join the Orbi WiFi, and then verify that the phone has connected to Orbi at 2.4G?
As far as "other plugs", I can say that I currently have these plugs that connected just fine:
Aukey
Belkin
Eufy
Kasa (TP-Link)
Teckin
All set up perfectly with my smartphone connected to Orbi WiFi at 5G. I also have a Sonoff plug that annoyed me no end because I had to use the "stop 5G SSID broadcast" procedure to get it to work. I will NEVER purchase another Sonoff plug. (I only bought it in the first place because someone asked about them and it was only $25.) Right this minute, Wyze smart plugs are on my "don't purchase" list. Please report if you have been successful connecting it using the "stop 5G SSID broadcast & reconnect the phone" procedure. That would move it from "doesn't work at all" to "works, but don't buy it".