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Found a neat way to connect my new devices to 2.4Ghz channel on the Orbi Mesh System
bout a month ago, I posted on the community site because I needed to add a camera to my network but my new Orbi AX4200 does not support a way to differentiate 2.4Gh from 5Ghz channels. Both networks carry the same SSID. (Solved: Re: How do you turn off 5G on RBK753 - NETGEAR Communities)
I received a solution from people recommending I reduce the 5G power level to 25% and unplug the 2 satellites. I tried that solution but could never properly connect to the 2.4 channel and the app/camera wouldn't let me add the device because it though I was on the 5Ghz channel. I eventually got the camera to connect but it was through a Soft-AP that the camera itself provided, in other words, it became a 2.4Ghz hotspot which I could connect my phone and then I could register the camera.
I was playing around with an app on my phone called Wifi Analyzer. I've had the app for awhile, and used it to look at signal strength when I was placing the satellites around the house. On one menu tab called Access Points, you can look at all the SSID, with in range and it will show you the strength of the signal. You can change from 2.4 to 5 channels.
What I learned is if you are displaying the SSID for the 2.4 channel, if you tap that SSID (in your network) you will get an option to Connect to that channel. To test it, I deleted the camera (the one I had a problem with) from my network.
1. I went back into the router, reduced the 5Ghz to 25%, hit Apply.
> Advanced Tab
> Advanced
> Wireless Settings
2. Unplugged the 2 satellites
3. Opened the Wifi Analyzer, went to the 2.4Ghz channel under Access Points, select my SSID and connected to it. (enter your network Password to connect). See attached file.
Once I connected to th 2.4Ghz channel, the camera connected to my network without any problem.
When you are done, go back to steps 1 and 2, reverse your actions.
This may not be a revelation I thought it was a slick way to get the job done.
16 Replies
GregS_from_MI wrote:
What I learned is if you are displaying the SSID for the 2.4 channel, if you tap that SSID (in your network) you will get an option to Connect to that channel.
Congratulations on an excellent suggestion for Android users. I have a (dim) memory that WiFi Analyzer type apps are not supported on the iOS platform, so iPhone users may not be able to use this method.
I will do some tests to see how long the phone remains connected to the 2G WiFi channel. What a cool solution!
- You are absolutely correct, the app I used was on an Android phone so I don't know if this is available for iPhone.
Well, grrr. Opened two WiFi Analyzer apps and could not find a way to get it to let me connect.
Mind sharing which WiFi Analyzer app worked for you?
Thats great info. Ya I've had this on my Android pad for a while, just hadn't used it.
Thank you.
Mixed results so far:
- Yes, it appears that the Premuim version of the app will offer to connect, and the (unpremium?) version does not.
The premium also does away with the irritating ads at the bottom. - On my Sony Xperia Compact with Android 10, the offer to connect does appear except that:
It will not offer to connect to the top MAC address on the list, which happens to be the one I want.
It does not give any sort of error message when the WiFi password is entered incorrectly.
When I do enter the correct password, nothing seems to happen.
I will install the app on a tablet and see if it works differently.
(so near..... and yet so far)
Still batting zero.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6-lite, Android 11 also fails (for me). I remain unhappy that:
- It does not allow me to 'connect' to the top WiFi MAC address.
- Entering an incorrect password gives no error message
- Entering a correct password appears to do nothing.
Meanwhile:
- When I start the app with WiFi disabled and do a 'connect', the Android device continues to indicate WiFi disabled. (WTF?)
I have attempted to contact the developer for more information.
- Yes, it appears that the Premuim version of the app will offer to connect, and the (unpremium?) version does not.
