I am no longer able to separate my WiFi bands on the most recent Orbi firmware versions. It worked for over a year fine, but after updating firmware they are no longer separate.I have tried the Telnet method, but the change doesn’t stick after the router reboots.How can I separate these?If not possible, how can I submit a request for this feature?Thanks!

That’s too bad. Can they not allow that in the settings for the many many users that want to separate them?I purchased the Orbi because I knew of the separate 2.4 and 5ghz telnet solution. I used it this way perfectly for about a year. It no longer works and now I’m not nearly as happy with my Orbi.Specifically, my 4K media devices will connect to the 2.5 band now instead of the 5 band which causes buffering and downgraded video. I never had this problem when I could separate the bands and decide what band my devices connected to.

I recently noticed that the firmware on my Orbi satellite and router weren’t in sync. I also noticed strange behavior in the app with the satellite going in and out of connection, however everything was working fine so it was just an issue with the app.I decided to do a manual firmware update of the satellite and the router. I then did a factory reset and then tried to separate the SSIDs, but every time the ssid would change back to a single after the Orbi reboots. The telnet solution doesn’t seem to work with the new firmware unless I’m missing something.

I have some 4K streaming devices that I want to ensure connects only to the 5 ghz band even if the signal strength is better on the 2.4ghz band. The 5ghz band is still much faster even if the signal isn’t as strong as the 2.4ghz band.

What a mess Netgear has created. Users who needed to separate bands could, novices got the base config. Instead of leaving well enough alone, Netgear decided to spend time and resources to remove an advanced feature.And to add insult to injury, you don't overtly watch for the change and warn that you are preventing it. Instead you silently check for the modification, undo it, and restart the interfaces.Well Netgear, you broke my home automation. All my 5ghz devices are orphaned and must be reset and reconfigured.Rather than continue to work around your apparently endless string of poor dev decisions, I'll be shopping for new router/wifi mesh. Rest assured that it will NOT be a Netgear product.#DivorcePapers #YouHaveBeenServed

OrbiPhilip this post made me laugh, I'm 100% with you. I relegated my Orbi system with 4 satellites (1 outdoor) down to a shed last year, where it works fine providing wifi to the random person down there. It's a shame I spent so much $ for 'Features' that worked fine for years. Well i assume it still works, I don’t really care anymore as long as I can connect when I'm in the area and there is a signal down there.As for all the commenters that say "that was never a feature" you're wrong, it was a feature, just not one that was advertised. Just reading these forums it's obvious that it was used quite often by advanced users. Most products have uses and configs that aren't directly advertised as features but most companies don't put work into disabling advanced features that work just fine. Now if they could have spent more time on the upgrade process, I don't think I had an upgrade go smoothly all of last year and I had to manually intervene in every one. I guess they know what's best, maybe they'll implement a minimum 20 char password/key that rotates monthly in a setting that can't be changed so that they can help people ensure that their WiFi networks are secured. That sounds like a nice update. :)

Separate WiFi 2.4 and 5ghz bands | NETGEAR Communities

72 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru
Sep 30, 2019
NG doesn't support separation of the SSID names. Never have and probably won't. You can temporary disable the SSID broadcast on each radio for easier support and setup of 2.4Ghz wifi client devices. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

The Orbi is desgined and intended for signal SSID name use. It does work as intended.
- sclawrenc
  Apprentice
  Sep 30, 2019
  That’s too bad. Can they not allow that in the settings for the many many users that want to separate them?
  
  I purchased the Orbi because I knew of the separate 2.4 and 5ghz telnet solution. I used it this way perfectly for about a year. It no longer works and now I’m not nearly as happy with my Orbi.
  
  Specifically, my 4K media devices will connect to the 2.5 band now instead of the 5 band which causes buffering and downgraded video. I never had this problem when I could separate the bands and decide what band my devices connected to.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru
    Sep 30, 2019
    What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
    What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between them to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected.
    
    What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
    Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
    
    Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
    Try disabling the following and see:
    Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).
Retired_Member
Sep 30, 2019
sclawrenc wrote:
I am no longer able to separate my WiFi bands on the most recent Orbi firmware versions. It worked for over a year fine, but after updating firmware they are no longer separate.

How did that happen?
- sclawrenc
  Apprentice
  Sep 30, 2019
  I recently noticed that the firmware on my Orbi satellite and router weren’t in sync. I also noticed strange behavior in the app with the satellite going in and out of connection, however everything was working fine so it was just an issue with the app.
  
  I decided to do a manual firmware update of the satellite and the router. I then did a factory reset and then tried to separate the SSIDs, but every time the ssid would change back to a single after the Orbi reboots. The telnet solution doesn’t seem to work with the new firmware unless I’m missing something.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru
    Sep 30, 2019
    Maybe try some of the suggestions and see if they might help you with the single SSID name.
    Give us some feed back so we may help you trobleshoot this.
    Maybe we can help you get the Orib working for you in it's intended operation.
    
    Is there a reason why your wanting separate SSID names? The Orbi works with signle SSID name operation. Granted there are some 2.4Ghz IoT device setup software that seems to give users hassles. Most of this can be fixed by disalbing the 5Ghz SSID broadcast while you set up the 2.4Ghz devices.
    
    Possible that NG is closing the unsupported telnet configuration...
    
    sclawrenc wrote:
    I recently noticed that the firmware on my Orbi satellite and router weren’t in sync. I also noticed strange behavior in the app with the satellite going in and out of connection, however everything was working fine so it was just an issue with the app.
    
    I decided to do a manual firmware update of the satellite and the router. I then did a factory reset and then tried to separate the SSIDs, but every time the ssid would change back to a single after the Orbi reboots. The telnet solution doesn’t seem to work with the new firmware unless I’m missing something.
ttb
Tutor
Feb 07, 2020
same problem. using telnet i can view and change ssids. after commit and reboot, they revert back. any one found a solution?
- OrbiPhilip
  Luminary
  Feb 08, 2020
  What a mess Netgear has created. Users who needed to separate bands could, novices got the base config. Instead of leaving well enough alone, Netgear decided to spend time and resources to remove an advanced feature.
  
  And to add insult to injury, you don't overtly watch for the change and warn that you are preventing it. Instead you silently check for the modification, undo it, and restart the interfaces.
  
  Well Netgear, you broke my home automation. All my 5ghz devices are orphaned and must be reset and reconfigured.
  
  Rather than continue to work around your apparently endless string of poor dev decisions, I'll be shopping for new router/wifi mesh. Rest assured that it will NOT be a Netgear product.
  
  #DivorcePapers #YouHaveBeenServed
  - FURRYe38
    Guru
    Feb 08, 2020
    NG has never supported separate of SSID names. NG has only given the disabling of either SSID radio broadcast as a temporary solution to help IoT users get there 2.4Ghz devices connected to Orbi.
    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/orbi-20-cannot-connect-Swann-Camera/m-p/1822475/highlight/true#M75403
    
    Users who choose to separate there SSIDs are at there own risk if telnet process fails or stops working. Again, something that NG does NOT officially support. Even on Orbi AX.
    
    Good Luck.
tarzan_nojane
Star
Jul 30, 2020
Successfully running separate 2.4 and 5G SSIDs on an RBR40, RBS20 and RBS40 (converted RBR40) using firmware V2.5.1.16.

I joined the club just a couple of weeks ago. First task was to convert an RBR40 into an RBS40 - which worked like a charm (see reddit/orbi). Manually downgraded an RBR40 running V2.5.1.16 to V2.1.4.16 before converting it to an RBS40. Manually upgraded a brand new RBR40 from 1.XX to V2.1.4.16 to be my ORBI router. I chose to begin work with firmware V2.1.4.16 as that corresponded to earlier posts that reported success. Telnet config commands were used to specify unique SSID for "wla_ssid" and unique AES password/key for "wla_wpa2_psk" to create the separate 5G network. All seemed to work well, and the router web interface even showed status for BOTH the 2.4G and 5G wireless networks.

I then decided to update firmware of satellite then router to V2.3.1.58. Web interface now only displayed what was the 2.4G SSID. After some telnet investigation using wild cards to display as many of the wifi variables as I could find, I discovered that the newer firm ware is using different variable names for the 5G network, which now named "wla_2nd_ssid" and its AES password/key is named wla_2nd_wpa2_psk". Armed with this info, I was able to again configure separate wifi networks. I also applied "config set wifison-monitor_stop=1" which is reported to disable automatic firmware updates.

After a manual update to the latest firmware V2.5.1.16, NG again replaces the wla_2nd SSID. The telnet config commands were again used to correctly configure my setup. Yesterday I introduced a new RBS20 to my setup after first manually updating its firmware to the most recent V2.5.1.16 and then successfully integrating the new device. Logging into the web interface of satellites will reveal a status page that reports BOTH networks.

It is a bit of a hassle at first, but I am commited to the concept of limiting devices on my 5G network to prioritize streaming video and minimize interference/interruption.

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Separate WiFi 2.4 and 5ghz bands