EX7500 Extender - no 36 channel option for 5ghz

Question

My internet router is provider by my carrier and has fixed channels for both the 2.4 and 5 ghz frequencies. The 2.4 is on Channel 1 and the 5 ghz primary is on 36 with the secondary on 157. When I set up my EX7500 for mesh extention (or in API mode) the Nighthawk will ignore the incoming 2.4-1 channel and take in the 5-36, then retransmit this on both the 2.4-1 and 5-157 channels of the Nighthawk (however as such I can only use the 5 ghz channel for internet). If I try to change the 5 ghz channel in the extender the lowest selection offered if 149! As such I cannot select channel 36 in the 5 ghz frequency, and since I cannot change my router channel, this is basically unless.

When I select the Nighthawk to only select the 2.4 for mesh it will do that no problem; so in summary I cannot use my extender eventhough Netgear state that this unit is "universally compatible". Obivouslly not the base as they don't offer lower 5 ghz channel selections.

plemans · Answer

in the eX7500 the 5ghz chips are designed to run either the low band or the high band. They can't run both. its designed that way.

And its designed to run a dedicated connection between the router and the extender. hence the extender running channel 36 to communicate with the router.

the way extenders are designed is the radio communicating with the router needs to be on the same band. Its why standard extenders channel selection is disabled when running in extender mode.

Not being able to run both 5ghz radios on the same channel is actually a benefit. If you had both wireless 5ghz chips running on channel 36, they'd interfere with each other. Causing interference and slow downs because they can't broadcast at the same time. Versus it being able to recieve/transmist between extender----router at the same time the other 5ghz chip is communicating with devices. It'd ruin the whole point of having a triband extender as only 1 of the 5ghz chips could run at a time.

I'm not sure why you think channels 149+ are useless? Your devices should still connect to them fine.

Mabye some more details on what makes you believe they're useless and what you're attempting to do?

MatchesD · Answer

Thanks for your comments but I never said that the higher channels were useless; I said that this extender isn't useful to be if I'm only able to use the higher 5ghz channels with it as I cannot change my routers 36 channel.&nbsp; Because of this I can only get either the 2.4 ghz or 5 ghz out of the extender, not both at the same time.&nbsp; And as devices swtich between both based on their useage, some of my devices will not connect to the extender.&nbsp; I'm trying to determine if there's a solution or workaround with the extender or if I'm forced to attempt to get my routers 5 ghz channel changed.

plemans · Answer

MatchesD&nbsp;wrote:Thanks for your comments but I never said that the higher channels were useless; I said that this extender isn't useful to be if I'm only able to use the higher 5ghz channels with it as I cannot change my routers 36 channel.--- You wouldn't want to or they'll interfere with each other.&nbsp; Because of this I can only get either the 2.4 ghz or 5 ghz out of the extender, not both at the same time. ---yes you can. But devices can't connect to 2.4ghz AND 5ghz at the same time.&nbsp; And as devices swtich between both based on their useage,---bandsteering. some of my devices will not connect to the extender.----which devices? &nbsp; I'm trying to determine if there's a solution or workaround with the extender or if I'm forced to attempt to get my routers 5 ghz channel changed.&nbsp;It can use both the 5ghz and 2.4ghz at the same time. they're different radios and can broadcast at the same time.&nbsp;It also has band steering and will switch devices between 2.4ghz and 5ghz if you're using bandsteering.It also has mesh so it'll use the same ssid as your router and allow the devices to roam based on their roaming standards if you're&nbsp; using it.&nbsp;&nbsp;I guess i'm still confused as to why think you can't use the higher 5ghz channels?&nbsp;And what device are you using that you think can't use the higher 5ghz channels?&nbsp;&nbsp;Are you thinking a single device can connect to 2.4ghz AND 5ghz at the same time? They can't. they connect to 1 band at a time.&nbsp;

MatchesD · Answer

I understand beam steering and I know that devices don't connect to both bands at the same time.&nbsp; I'm going to explain my setup again.&nbsp;I'm attempting to use the EX7500 in Mesh Extender Mode.&nbsp; My Internet router is provided by my internet provider and it has it's 2.4 ghz on channel 1, and it's primary 5 ghz on channel 36, with the secondary on channel 157.&nbsp; When I attempt to set up the mesh network, the 7500 will only connect to the 5ghz-36 channel and not the 2.4-1 channel.&nbsp; However when the 7500 connects to 5-36, it when takes that internet signal, and broadcasts it on both the 7500's 2.4 &amp; 5 ghz radios (however only the 5 ghz works as that's the frequency it's receiving from the router).&nbsp; I'm unable to get the Mesh Extender to connect to both frequencies from my router like it's supposed to.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If I turn one of the channels off in the 7500, then I'm able to connect and use that single frequency with the router, whether 2.4 or 5; just not both at the same time.&nbsp; And as my router is provider by my internet provider I cannot change the channels used.&nbsp;The 7500 will also only attempt to connect to the primary 5ghz 36 channel; I won't try the router's 157 channel secondary.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This makes me believe that my only solution is to try and get my internet provider to change the 5-36 channel to a 5-149 or etc.

plemans · Answer

MatchesD&nbsp;wrote:I understand beam steering and I know that devices don't connect to both bands at the same time.&nbsp; I'm going to explain my setup again.&nbsp;I'm attempting to use the EX7500 in Mesh Extender Mode.&nbsp; My Internet router is provided by my internet provider and it has it's 2.4 ghz on channel 1, and it's primary 5 ghz on channel 36, with the secondary on channel 157.&nbsp; When I attempt to set up the mesh network, the 7500 will only connect to the 5ghz-36 channel and not the 2.4-1 channel.&nbsp; However when the 7500 connects to 5-36, it when takes that internet signal, and broadcasts it on both the 7500's 2.4 &amp; 5 ghz radios (however only the 5 ghz works as that's the frequency it's receiving from the router).&nbsp; I'm unable to get the Mesh Extender to connect to both frequencies from my router like it's supposed to.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If I turn one of the channels off in the 7500, then I'm able to connect and use that single frequency with the router, whether 2.4 or 5; just not both at the same time.&nbsp; And as my router is provider by my internet provider I cannot change the channels used.&nbsp;The 7500 will also only attempt to connect to the primary 5ghz 36 channel; I won't try the router's 157 channel secondary.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This makes me believe that my only solution is to try and get my internet provider to change the 5-36 channel to a 5-149 or etc.1. Your providers router is a triband according to what you've written. If so, it'll have the same restriction on bands. One of the 5ghz is dedicated higher band, the other lower band.&nbsp;2. By default the EX7500 prefers to setup using the high band channels for the backhaul. Not sure how you're going through setup so you're using the lower band 5ghz. Are you setting up using wps? or the installation wizard?&nbsp;3.If your primary router is using "mesh/single ssid" have you tried disabling it while setting up the ex7500? then you can set the 5ghz channel you want it on with the ssid you want? That way once its setup, you can turn the mesh/single ssid function back on with that ssid?&nbsp;4. using the 2.4ghz as backhaul is pretty much pointless. Reason why is 2.4ghz has such significant lower throughput than 5ghz.&nbsp; the EX7500 (and other tri-bands) are designed to use the 5ghz for backhaul. If you're wanting 2.4ghz as an extender, I'd recommend returning this and buying a basic dual band extender and using fastlane.&nbsp;

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EX7500 Extender - no 36 channel option for 5ghz

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