NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Forcing 2.4 Ghz WiFi on Orbi RBR50 Guest Network
i have a Netgear Orbi router with both 5 and 2.4 G WiFi networks. I have some devices that specifically require a 2.4 g network but sometimes only the 5g network is available. how can i force Orbi to...
Turn OFF all RBS first. Change the power output of the 5Ghz radio to 25%. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
Then connect your mobile device at a distance from the RBR to ensure the mobile phone keeps connected to the 2.4Ghz radio. After you get the IoT device connected, re-configure the system back to where it was.
Be sure that 20/40 MHz Coexistence enabled.
westner99 wrote:
how can i force Orbi to provide 2.4g WiFi service over the guest network?
Orbi routers broadcast both the primary WiFi SSID and (if enabled) the Guest WiFi SSID on both 2.4G and 5G frequencies. The user has no control over this. Guest is either not enabled, or enabled on both WiFi channels.
By far the majority of Internet of Things (IoT) devices will connect despite the warnings. What device is this? Have you actually tried to complete the setup?
There are some IoT devices which have setup applications that actively block the user from connecting (because the developer was either too smart - or too stupid) They recognize when the smartphone is connected to a 5G network and refuse to complete the setup. There are a variety of methods users have found to connect these devices to Orbi WiFi:
- Ignore the hysteria. Those warnings in BIG BOLD TYPE, "Must have 2.4G WiFi" are simply stating what should be obvious. If you provide no 2.4G WiFi, then the 2.4G WiFi radio in the device will not have any network connection. (Just like, "Takes (2) AA Batteries" means - literally - "no AA batteries - then it cannot work.)
Orbi provides 2.4G WiFi. I have found that the vast majority of IoT devices will connect despite all the warnings. Have you actually tried to connect the device? (What device is it?) - Disable the 5G WiFi SSID Broadcast. The RBR50 Orbi has a feature on the web administration, Advanced Tab, Advanced Setup, Wireless Settings:
(This feature was removed when the AX products were introduced.)
After unchecking the box and clicking "APPLY", you can have the smartphone that is running the IoT setup application "Forget" the Orbi WiFi. Search for it again, and the only Orbi it will find is the 2.4G WiFi. After completing the setup, reverse the steps. - Turn off the Orbi and create a temporary WiFi network with exactly the same WiFi credentials as the Orbi (a) using an old router, or (b) by creating a Hot Spot using a cell phone. Connect the IoT device to this temporary WiFi network and turn it all off. When the Orbi WiFi returns, the IoT device will see it and connect automatically.
- FURRYe38 described another method that works for some users.
As I told @FURRYe38, I'm a total noob and I had to read your solution several times until I decided to try his solution first because I don't have a spare router and it's too complicated for me to create another radio network using a smart phone as a hot spot. Thank for providing a solution and for helping me understand the workings of Orbi.
I have purchased various WiFi cameras, light bulbs, outlets and a drone, all of which required a 2.4GHz WiFi network to set up; and most allowed me to bypass the need to have this network. They all worked fine until I bought a lightbulb camera, which would not, and insisted that I switch to a 2.4gHz network to continue the setup. Before replacing that camera, I made sure that the next camera would work in both radio environments.
Thanks again