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Nighthawk mesh MR60 - devices that require 2.4 GHz connection
Please be patient and descriptive in your replies, I pick things up pretty quickly but am far from a network engineer.
I upgraded my entire network when the pandemic lockdown started due to my entire family working/schooling from home. I had a slow cable internet and a 2nd generation Apple airport. I upgraded to 1G fiberoptic internet and bought the Nighthawk Mesh router and satellite. I have loved the system, and actually bought 2 more satellites to hit the hard to reach areas of my home (which because of the metal lathe plaster walls is a challenge for all wireless communication).
The only issue I've had has come to light recently, with daylight savings time coming to an end. I had purchased 3 WiFi controlled outlets (connected to my old router) that I love because of the ability to program them to turn on some lamps at different times and weather conditions. When I switched routers to the new Nighthawk mesh, there was no isssue with these devices at all. When daylight savings time ended, however, the devices were now coming on an hour earlier than what was programmed. When I asked the manufacturer's support, I was told to disconnect the devices then reconnect them to fix the problem. In retrospect, I wish I hadn't.
The devices would not reconnect (they use an app, "Smart Life," to connect and program). I found out, through another inquiry with their support team, that they only work on 2.4 GHz band and I should connect to that band with my iPhone for a successful setup. Any other suggestions they had were not available to me with the Netgear routers (for example, setting up two separate named networks, one for 2.4, one for 5 GHz)
Therein lies the rub. I can't specify which band my phone connects to. Checking through this forum, it seems that band selection is not a possibility with my new router.
I looked online to see if there were any other WiFi outlets for purchase that do not require 2.4 GHz band, and came up empty.
Am I out of luck, or is there a work around in the router settings that I can use to help connect these type of devices? Has any one had success with these types of devices and setting them up? I was actually getting ready to purchase some wireless doorbell/security cameras, but now am hesitant due to this problem. I truly feel this is a unfortunate limitation of my otherwise great router that I think Netgear should have been in tune to, or at least, be reacting to now.
Thank you in advance for any replies and help.
Thank you so much worked for me...I turned off my 2 satellites and went into my garage. I connected all my smart outlets in there.
48 Replies
Hi,
I was having this same problem and have literally been scratching my head over it all day. If you go into your Nighthawk Netgear app and create a guest login. I was able to make my devices which require 2.4ghz to work that way. I am guessing guest logins get assigned to 2.4. I hope that helps.
pjcesmat wrote:Hi,
I was having this same problem and have literally been scratching my head over it all day. If you go into your Nighthawk Netgear app and create a guest login. I was able to make my devices which require 2.4ghz to work that way. I am guessing guest logins get assigned to 2.4. I hope that helps.
pjcesmat Thank you for the reply... Sorry it has taken me so long to circle back.
When you say "If you go into your Nighthawk Netgear app and create a guest login" - how, exactly? I don't see an option for this?
My iPhone uses an app that allows me to connect the "smart" plugs in my house (that are now useless). I would have to connect my iPhone to the 2.4 Ghz "guest" login somehow?
Sorry - again I'm an engineer, just not the right kind for this stuff - but learning fast.
I tried using the guest login and it was still 5GHZ!
pjcesmat wrote:Hi,
I was having this same problem and have literally been scratching my head over it all day. If you go into your Nighthawk Netgear app and create a guest login. I was able to make my devices which require 2.4ghz to work that way. I am guessing guest logins get assigned to 2.4. I hope that helps.
MR60 Foiled!
Netgear support: fix your firmware and allow for 2.4gz only mode or seperate sids -
netgear 2.4ghz only mod
MarcHChampagne wrote:The devices would not reconnect (they use an app, "Smart Life," to connect and program). I found out, through another inquiry with their support team, that they only work on 2.4 GHz band and I should connect to that band with my iPhone for a successful setup. Any other suggestions they had were not available to me with the Netgear routers (for example, setting up two separate named networks, one for 2.4, one for 5 GHz)
Go back to the IoT "Smart Life" support and explain them on how decent wireless systems are working - feel free to send them a link or this information - and ask when this simple fix will be made vailable to the App:
===
There is _no_ technical need to connect to the 2.4 GHz radio - the only purpose _was_ for legacy routers where different network names are used for connecting to th every same network, so the App will pick the correct SSID (network name) to be configured to the IoT.
What really happens? The factory reset IoT are putting up a typically hidden set-up SSID on air, the App will fetch the current WiFi SSID (probably also the security key), briefly disconnect from the WiFi network, search for the manufacturer specific SSID on air and connect insecure or with a predefined password, then push the WiFi SSID (along with the wireless security key or passphrase) to the IoT.
At no point it's required to have the mobile on the 2.4 GHz network - especially not on modern Mesh systems using a single SSID. It does not matter if the mobile with the App is connected to a 2.4 GHz, a 5 GHz, a 60 GHz network, or the new WiFi 6E 6 GHz band the latest wireless systems can use - permitting all wireless SSID and security are set the same.
All they have to do is remove the stupid check for a 2.4 GHz connection, or allow to skip this check (instead of a dead end!) in their stupid discovery and configuration Apps.
For reason, no mobile device wireless client does allow a control which band should be used - because ONE SSID defines the connection to ONE network.
===
retromad love the proposal wrapping (shielding) the device - cool workaround!
Reviewed the "Smart Life" App (on Android) - at no point it does ask to use or connect to the 2.4 GHz network. There is just a note stating "The device only supports connection to the 2.4g network. Thank you for oyur support andunderstanding.".
Agreed that the applications/connecting devices should not be dumb, however, If netgear is not going to let us have seperate sids, what would be nice is if they allowed us to choose what devices get what frequencies (filter via mac address). I have a house full of google home devices that cannot seem to understand that devices on a 2.4 network are on the same network as the 5 devices (I know google dumb). I would like to be able to just specifiy all Ghome devices as 2.4. I have them setup with reserved IP, how hard would it be to add a network frequency to this setting?
Aside from all this, we should be able to setup sids with frequencies, it is really dumb on netgears part that we cannot as the hardware in these units can do it. I should be able to setup a 2.4 and 5 ghz sid without putting foil on my router... :)
Any luck on your end resolving this problem?
I've had Amazon Echos go in and out of working or working oddly, I've had smart switches and plugs stop working, I had a devil of a time getting the garage door connected, and all around this 2.4Ghz/5.0Ghz issue. And then to face hostility when looking for answers, because the devices and apps are the problem? I'm with you, how hard could it be to just allow a setting for the "dumb" smart devices, so that everything plays nice?
Seriously? The solution is to disconnect all of my satelites (3) and wrap my router in foil? I paid good money for a router and I have to get out the tin foil?
This router sucks, but I'm beyond the return period...
Seriously: Complain to the maker if this IoJ and whatever smart app used for discovery. At no point it's required the mobile must connect by using the the 2.4 GHz band - for a reason, NO wireless client does allow to force the usage eg. either the 2.4 or the 5 GHz band - why ever, this is what this junk asks for. The single SSID and security key does work on both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz band, a 2.4 GHz only client configured to these settings will connect to 2.4 GHz - except if the wireless clients struggle with the additional bits in place on a Mesh system. In that case again, only the IoJ maker can help.
I've seen this sort of reply a few times, that the fault lies with the maker of the app or device. Yeah, well maybe. But it lies with a WHOLE LOT of them. Whirlpool, Liftmaster, Amazon, HP, and a bunch of foreign makers of switches and plugs. I've had problems with almost everything in my lengthy list of "smart" devices since I got the Netgear Nighthawk mesh system. The Ring doorbell and Nest thermostat are the only devices that haven't had an issue.
This is an infuriatingly frustrating problem, and it recurs. Even after everything has been set up, things "fall out" of working, and setup again becomes a torturous process of tinfoil and trying to force the phone to connect to 2.4. Your answer isn't helpful. Contacting a long list of manufacturers, and asking them to change their devices and apps isn't likely to result in a solution.
I have the MK83 (MR80/MS80) and the solution for me was to go into advanced -> customize wifi and it lets you create a new 2.4GHz only SSID. So now I have a robot vac soley on it's own SSID. Fun.
Did this option ever make it's way down to the MK63 line?
Silly_PuTTY wrote:I have the MK83 (MR80/MS80) and the solution for me was to go into advanced -> customize wifi and it lets you create a new 2.4GHz only SSID. So now I have a robot vac soley on it's own SSID. Fun.
Did this option ever make it's way down to the MK63 line?
Nope.
The MR60/MK60/MS60 line seems to be a "beta"
People paid lots of money for a system, and had problems. They fixed the problems in the "80" series, not the "60" series and now I either have to pony up more money to buy the MR80, or get rid of all my "smart" devices.
Thanks Netgear.
MarcHChampagne wrote:People paid lots of money for a system, and had problems. They fixed the problems in the "80" series, not the "60" series and now I either have to pony up more money to buy the MR80, or get rid of all my "smart" devices.
You are mixing up two products with different feature sets.
Granted, Netgear would do much better taking care on product continuity on the same product family instead of feature nut picking expecting higher sales numbers on the latest product versions only.
Ref. "problems". The majority of issues are caused by "smart" devices App requiring a forced connection on 2.4 GHz (something virtually no wireless client can do), and by poor IoT wireless client implementations struggling about extended standard data like AX mode bits or RRM (radio resource management) bits in use for informing capable clients of neighboring access points for the same network.
Benj3390 wrote:
...when u log in go to advanced settings then wireless settings and at the bottom it says enable AX with a check box beside it that is already checked i was told to uncheck this box and hit apply when it was done updating i was able to connect my devices that use 2.4ghz ......a typical example of an IoT WiFi client struggling on the AX bits, not on the concurrent 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz availability of the same network and SSID. Very useful 8-)
- Hey i dont know if this will help everybody but i was having this same issue so i called the support line. What ended up seeming to help fix the issue for me was using the gateway id in the web browser (if you go into your wifi connection and click on the name of ur wifi it should be in there) open a new web browser and type in http:// then the gateway id number when it loads you will be asked to log in with the admin username and password (i was asked to create these during setup of my mesh system) when u log in go to advanced settings then wireless settings and at the bottom it says enable AX with a check box beside it that is already checked i was told to uncheck this box and hit apply when it was done updating i was able to connect my devices that use 2.4ghz bandwidth. I was also told that as it is a mesh system the 5.0 and 2.4 ghz would not have seperate names but would connect the items being connected to the best connection. Again i do not know if this is a fix for everybody as i called tech support and did other steps like restarting the router before we got to this fix.
First off shut off the nighthawk app. Access the router via a webpage, type in 192.168.1.1 and hit enter. Username will be Admin and the password will either be password or 1234, hit enter and you'll connect to the router. It will force you to create a new password and put in some information. Once done you'll be able to see all the router settings.
You can really mess things up if you don't know what you're doing, if you do, reset your router.
At the top you'll see Basic/Advanced settings, go to Advanced. You'll see a category on the left WIFI- select it, by default they have the 2.4Ghz band just off, just enable it by hitting the check box next to it.
Save your settings and you should be able to connect to the items that require 2.4 Ghz network.
I was using the web browser on a PC.
Thanks, things are working fine. No upgrade for me I'll be getting starlink soon and see if I need anything.
Our prayer have been heard! I'm guessing with the newest firmware update they added what they call "Customize Wifi Network". In there you can enable separate wifi profiles, one for 2.4GHz and another for 5GHz. Go to Advance > Advance Set Up > Customize Wifi Network. In there click on Customize 2.4Hz, set a network name, password. If you want another one for 5GHz scroll down and you will see the same option but for 5GHz. When you are done click apply and you will have specific Network profiles.
Be sure to save off a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
https://kb.netgear.com/24231/How-do-I-back-up-the-router-configuration-settings-on-my-Nighthawk-router
Enjoy. 📡
