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Forum Discussion
Orbi-Compatible Smart Plugs?
I see that all the smart plugs on the market are limited to the 2.4GHz WiFi band. Are there any recommendations for smart plugs that set up easily with the Orbi system, and don't require any "workaro...
Thanks Joe!
I'll get one of those plugs, then.
My concern, as stated previously, is that the Orbi system is set up such that the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands use the same SSID, and I've been unable to connect my Whirlpool applicance because both the applicance and my iPhone must be on the same 2.4GHz network during setup. There's no means I've found of "forcing" my phone to connect to the 2.4GHz band...it always connects to the 5GHz band. And, even when I'm able to temporarily shut off the 5GHz band (and verify my phone and applicance are both connected to the 2.4GHz band) I'm not able to complete the setup on my iPhone.
Thanks again for the recommendation!
First, I had no problem that way for the Kasa set up even though it is the same potential 2.4GHz issue. With your appliance, the issue is one that appears often with Orbi being both networks on same SSID and setting up some finicky devices. One thing you may try is turning your 5GHz singnal down very low in Orbi while you are attempting the appliance set up. On web interface for Orbi, Advanced>Advanced Setup>Wireless Settings under 5GHz. If you are near a satellite you may want to power it down. If you are near the router take the 5GHz signal down to perhaps 25%. One other thing you may do to help you in this is download WiFi Analyzer. You can see signal strength on your phone so can get a feeling when your phone will perfer the 2.4GHz band because the 5GHz is so low at the point you are located. This will also help you determine how low to set the 5GHz output to inssure your phone is connected to 2.4GHz only.
I've tried the suggestions you posted before, but they really didn't work for me (or the applicance). The only thing I haven't tried, and just thought of, is to temporarily turn off the 5GHz band, then perform a Reset Network settings on my phone...then try to connect this appliance to the phone. (I'm thinking that maybe, when I ensured both the phone and applicance were connected to the 2.4GHz band, my phone still thinks it's on a different network than the applicance?).
Anyway...that's a subject for a different thread, not this one. I've ordered the TP Link plug recommended earlier...it should arrive Tuesday.
Can one of the experts please explain what this obsession with 2.4G vs. 5G is?
I confess to not having much experience, but it seems to me that a device with ONLY a 2.4G radio in it can only connect to ANY WiFi host (including Orbi) at 2.4G. It shouldn't matter what SSID is being broadcast on 5G. The device simply CANNOT SEE IT. The WiFi host is not going to "see" a signal at 5G. It isn't going to try to connect at 5G. 5G has nothing to do with this device.
Likewise, when a person has an app on their phone, tablet, laptop etc. that is connected to the router at any speed (2.4G, 5G, or ethernet), that should have nothing to do with "connecting" to a device that is connected to the same WiFi router (or Access Point). Each device talks to the WiFi host. They do NOT "talk to each other."
What am I too dense to understand?
Good questions...for which I really don't have a definitive answer. (I'm not a programmer or network admin type, either).
Your thoughts are the same as mine when I was first unable to connect my Whirlpool applicance's app on my iPhone. The appliance itself is connected to the 2.4GHz band on my Orbi, and my iPhone is connected (usually) to the 5GHz band of the Orbi...but both are on the same "network", as both bands use the same SSID. In my case, Whirlpool makes it clear in their app that the appliance and the iPhone must be connected to the same 2.4GHz network.
So I can only surmise that the 2.4GHz band and 5GHz bands are somehow, on a technical level, two separate networks that use the same SSID.
The above being said, this seems to be problem limited mostly to "unusual" or low volume products. I've read reports here that LaCrosse weather stations can't be set up in the mobile app if the phone is on the Orbi's 5GHz band and the LaCrosse device is on the 2.4GHz band.
Why this is a problem is something I really don't understand, as it's not a problem for all devices. My Rachio irrigation controller, for example, uses the 2.4GHz band, but I'm able to set it up with my iPhone when my iPhone is on the 5GHz band.
So I really don't know if this issue is caused by poor programming or something else.
