Orbi RBK853 - no way to turn off the 5Ghz wifi band? Can't get smart home devices connected.

Question

EDIT: Just so everyone knows before responding, I've gone to the Advance tab > to Advanced > Wireless settings which is where the option would normally lie for disabling a broadcast. It's not there.

Hi,

I recently upgraded to the Orbi RBK853 Mesh system (1 router, 2 satellites) and I've had major issues trying to get my WeMo smart light switches and dimmers to connect. It's been well documented that WeMo's products some times have this issue with mesh systems.

I've tried everything in the book to get the switches to connect (Ring connected just fine) and I'm at a loss at this point. Is there a way to disable the 5Ghz band so I can try and get these devices connected and then re-enable the band? It seems like every other Orbi and Nighthawk product gives you the ability to do this (I had the XR700 Pro Gaming router previously) but I'm not seeing anything on the Orbi web interface to do this. Am I just missing something or did they really omit an important feature like this? I attached a screenshot of the Advanced wireless settings and as you can see there isn't a checkbox to disable either 2.4 or 5ghz.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

FURRYe38 · Answer

NG hasn't brought the disable of the SSID broadcast to Orbi AX as of yet. We've asked for it. No idea if or when that will happen.

Try lowering the power out put on the 5G radio down to 25% then apply. Reboot your mobile phone and devices to see if they will connect to the 2.4Ghz radio.

skott79 · Answer

Thanks for the reply. I've done that previously and it still didn't work.&nbsp;

FURRYe38 · Answer

Are you having problems with the setup phone or pad that is using the devices app to get the device installed? If so, disable the wifi radio on the phone or pad after you reduce the power on the RBR. I would move the phone or pad to a farther distance. Then turn On the wifi radio on the phone or pad, then see if it connects to the 2.4Ghz radio. Being to close to the RBR may still cause the phone or pad to connect to the 5Ghz radio even with lower power setting.

Also try disabling of the AX mode.

Are you using the same SSID name and PW from the prior router? This is recommended so most devices will migrate to the new system with out any hassle of setting them up again.

Do you still have one of the prior routers?

skott79 · Answer

To answer your questions...- I've done those steps prior on the phone with WeMo (disable wifi on phone, turn down 5ghz signal, reconnect to wifi) but the WeMo app kept crashing. So that's on their end.&nbsp;- I also keep my SSID the same as my prior router/network.- I have not tried disabling ax. I'll try that.&nbsp;- I've tried disconnecting the satellite units, moved out to my garage, checked the Orbi app under connected devices after I reconnected wifi on my phone and could see that I was on 2.4ghz. But that's when WeMo app would crash during setup of my light switch in my garage.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyway, if I could just disable 5ghz that would probably help alot, but judging by the posts I've seen on Reddit and other place WeMo doesn't play well with Mesh networks and they really need a firmware update and app update to solve some of the issues users encounter.&nbsp;

FURRYe38 · Answer

Try the AX mode.&nbsp;It sounds like this one app is the cause. If your phone is on the 2.4Ghz radio and the devices only support 2.4Ghz, then they will not ever see 5Ghz. This app needs to be checked. Try a different phone or pad with this app to see.&nbsp;Contact the Mfr of this app and let them know whats happening.&nbsp;

Forum Discussion

Orbi RBK853 - no way to turn off the 5Ghz wifi band? Can't get smart home devices connected.

10 Replies