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Force use of 2.4ghz
I am using the EX8000 to reach a summerhouse in the garden some 80 yards away. If my android phone or windows laptop are on 2.4ghz the signal reaches fine. But, they default to connecting using 5ghz and that doesn't reach yet they don't seem to automatically switch to 2.4ghz. What's the best and easiest way to switch them to 2.4ghz so I get a reliable signal there please?
Aitku wrote:
I am using the EX8000 to reach a summerhouse in the garden some 80 yards away. If my android phone or windows laptop are on 2.4ghz the signal reaches fine. But, they default to connecting using 5ghz and that doesn't reach yet they don't seem to automatically switch to 2.4ghz. What's the best and easiest way to switch them to 2.4ghz so I get a reliable signal there please?Do I understand correctly that the summerhouse is 80 yards away from the EX8000?
(i.e. the EX8000 is not located in the summerhouse)
My phone often does not switch automatically so I open the phone Network controls, turn WiFi off and back on again, and it connects.
Can you try that?
11 Replies
80 yards is quite a distance. Its probably having issues becaues 5ghz doesn't broadcast as far or thorugh as much materials as 2.4ghz.
And 2.4ghz is slow.
when you set it up, you might be able to disable the 5ghz backhaul and just use the 2.4ghz. I haven't tried it before though as the whole purpose of the tribands is the dedicated 5ghz backhaul.
Aitku wrote:
I am using the EX8000 to reach a summerhouse in the garden some 80 yards away. If my android phone or windows laptop are on 2.4ghz the signal reaches fine. But, they default to connecting using 5ghz and that doesn't reach yet they don't seem to automatically switch to 2.4ghz. What's the best and easiest way to switch them to 2.4ghz so I get a reliable signal there please?Do I understand correctly that the summerhouse is 80 yards away from the EX8000?
(i.e. the EX8000 is not located in the summerhouse)
My phone often does not switch automatically so I open the phone Network controls, turn WiFi off and back on again, and it connects.
Can you try that?
Thanks. I've tried switching off and back on the wi-fi on my phone and that does switch it to 2.4ghz. Thanks. Your other comment is right - the AC3000 is at the nearest point in the house and uses the 5ghz backhaul to the main router. I might try moving it to the summerhouse and see whether it can reach the router.
CrimpOn wrote:
My phone often does not switch automatically so I open the phone Network controls, turn WiFi off and back on again, and it connects.
Can you try that?
That is certainly is a better strategy.
It really is up to the phone to detect the correct wifi band. It is not something that you should have to do with the wifi source.
I should point out that the phone is not "selecting 2.4G". It is looking at the list of WiFi access point SSID's that it can find and that it has been told to "connect automatically". The Orbi 5G WiFi signal is too low to be usable (may not even be detected), so it selects the only usable signal, which is the 2.4G one. It is actually amazing that the 2.4G signal is usable at 80 yards. Depending on the exterior wall construction, it might be worth experimenting with placing the EX8000 in a widow.
If there is a need for greater bandwidth in the summerhouse, there are only two solutions:
- Install an ethernet cable to the summerhouse. Ethernet is rated to do gigabit at 90 meters, and will certainly do 100mb.
While the ethernet cable is not all that expensive, installation can be a challenge (and expensive). - Install a pair of WiFi bridge devices. Ubiquiti nanostation has been mentioned in several posts, and there are less expensive "no-name" brands on Amazon that get good reviews.
- Install an ethernet cable to the summerhouse. Ethernet is rated to do gigabit at 90 meters, and will certainly do 100mb.
I've solved the issue. I placed my previous BT Smart Hub 1 at an upstairs window so that it only passes through the window glass and one maple tree on the 80 yards to the summerhouse. This is linked through Powerline adaptors back to the main BT Smart Hub 2. The Netgear is in the summerhouse and links to the BT Smart Hub 1 in the house over the 80 yards on 5ghz achieving some 45mbps. So, enough to stream Zoom or video. That's only a couple of mbps less than my mobile achieves right next to the BT Smart Hub 1 so if my house wiring was better it might even be quicker. The BT signal at the main Smart Hub 2 achieves 148mbps
