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BluStu59's avatar
Apr 28, 2020
Solved

Switching to 2.4 GHZ on a dual band

Does anyone know if I can set the R6220 dual band router to 2.4 GHZ only?  I have a Google Mesh System at the moment and I need a separate network using 2.4 GHZ only and google will not allow that.  I'm trying to set up a Ambient Weather STation  and it will only work on a 2.4 GHZ network.  

  • Forget the password recovery unless it was set-up before - you will end in a dead end loop.

     

    Do a factory reset, and login using admin and password.

14 Replies

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  • > Does anyone know if I can set the R6220 dual band router to 2.4 GHZ
    > only? [...]

     

       People who have read the R6220 User Manual should know.

     

       Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
    for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Read.  Look for "Control the
    Wireless Radios".

     

       Now, back to the real world...

     

    > [...] I need a separate network using 2.4 GHZ only and google will not
    > allow that. [...]

     

       Why, exactly, do you "need" that?  (And what, exactly, will "google"
    "not allow"?)

     

    > [...] I'm trying to set up a Ambient Weather STation and it will only
    > work on a 2.4 GHZ network.


       So?  What's stopping you?  Do you believe that having both 2.4GHz and
    5GHz radios working will cause trouble for a 2.4GHz-only device?

       Does the existence of FM radio stations stop an old AM-only radio
    from working?

     

       General advice: You might have more success if you described the
    actual problem which you are trying to solve, rather than asking how to
    implement some particular "solution", which may have little or nothing
    to do with the actual problem.

    • BluStu59's avatar
      BluStu59
      Tutor

      The weather console I'm trying to add to the network will not connect because I am using a google mesh system.  In the setup for the console it specifically tells you to use a 2.4 GHZ.  I do not want to change my routers so it was suggested that I add a separate router to the network that would work as a 2.4 ghz connection.  Hense the reason I'm asking if I could make sure that the additional network will is 2.4 only.  

      • antinode's avatar
        antinode
        Guru

        > The weather console I'm trying to add to the network will not connect
        > because I am using a google mesh system. [...]

         

           Says who?  Based on what evidence?  My quick Web search suggests that
        a Google Nest WiFi router is a "Simultaneous dual-band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz)
        Wi-Fi supporting IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac".  (As is the R6220.)

         

              https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_wifi_specs

         

           If you're having some actual problem connecting some gizmo or other
        to a Google Nest WiFi router, then you might want to explore that
        problem with the support folks for that router (or the gizmo), rather
        than hauling in yet more hardware which might do nothing to solve your
        actual problem.

         

        > [...] it was suggested [...]

         

           By...?  (Nowadays, you can find some clown who will suggest almost
        anything, even to a nationwide TV audience.  By the way, don't try to

        take your router internally.)


        > [...] the reason I'm asking if I could make sure that the additional
        > network will is 2.4 only.

         

           It's still not a good reason.  An active 5GHz radio (still) does not
        block access to a 2.5GHz radio, especially by a 2.4GHz-only device.

         

           But you have my permission to spend your time and resources in any
        way you wish.  Instructions for enabling/disabling the various radios in
        an R6220 have already been cited.  If you plan to connect the R6220 to
        some other router (like, say, a "Google Nest WiFi router"), then you
        might want to configure the R6220 as a wireless access point, rather
        than as a full-function router.  Look for "Use the Router as a Wireless
        Access Point" in the User Manual.


  • BluStu59 wrote:

    Does anyone know if I can set the R6220 dual band router to 2.4 GHZ only? 


    Yes, you can. NETGEAR AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Model R6220 User Manualp.125 ... just untick the 5 GHz Enable Wireless Radio, and [Apply].





    BluStu59 wrote:

    I have a Google Mesh System at the moment and I need a separate network using 2.4 GHZ only and google will not allow that. 


    No, you don't have to.... This is not a whatever Mesh vendor problem - wee see these kind of requests here on all decent WiFi routers and Mesh systems here for years, too. That's why even helpful people here (me included) tend to become nasty on these subjects if they read the nonsense all the junk makers write in their docs and support pages. Because it's simply wrong. Because the push customers like you to ask for a feature that is for good reasons not available on modern WiFi installations.


    BluStu59 wrote:

    I'm trying to set up a Ambient Weather STation  and it will only work on a 2.4 GHZ network.  


    No, it is implemented with a 2.4 GHz wireless interface which can perfectly work with any combined 2.4/5GHz router/wireless access point/mesh system - once it's configured with the network name and the passphrase to access the wireless it will connect to the 2.4 GHz radio - in fact it does not know there is a wireless with the same name on 5 GHz on air, too.

    The problem are braindead utilities for discovering these toys - the makers of these (and even more the makers of the IoT embedded devices chips with everything including WiFi for e few cents) are the effective problem. There you can SHOUT, AND YOU MUST SHOUT!!! Their discovery and installation applications are junk, they check that your iOS or Android device is connected to 2.4 GHz ... however most modern clients tend to use the 5 GHz band at least in the typical range of modern wireless devices.

    First complain to the maker of your IoT(oy) maker about their garbage discovery and installation App. Feel free to add a link to my post!!!

     

    Second, configure this Netgear router 2.4 GHz radio to the same SSID (network name) and password/passphrase  as used on the Google WiFi. Shutdown the Google WiFi (power off), and connect the Netgear router to the Internet connection where the Google router is usually connected. Now discover the weather station, and configure it.

    Third, shutdown the Netgear router, and bring the Google WiFi up again. Cold reboot the weather station. Well possible, the weather station will connect to the Google WiFi.

    Fourth, In case it does not, reconfigure the Netgear router to become a Wireless Access Point (Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point RT*M p.127, Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point  ...) and set a dedicated wireless name and security password, connect your mobile to that new wireless, and re-do the discovery and installation of the IoT again.

    • BluStu59's avatar
      BluStu59
      Tutor

      Thanks for the info my friend, I'll give it a shot when I get home.  

      • antinode's avatar
        antinode
        Guru

        > It[']s unfortunate that you decided to answer this thread in the way
        > that you have. [...]

         

           From the first reply:

         

        > [...] Get the User Manual.  Read.  Look for "Control the Wireless
        > Radios".

         

           Did you?  I'll admit that I was too lazy to post an annotated picture
        of the referenced page.  I'm accustomed to dealing with grown-ups who
        can read a book by themselves.  Sorry.

    • BluStu59's avatar
      BluStu59
      Tutor

      I've been trying to log into the rounter via http://www.routerlogin.com  I used the default admin and password to log in but its rejecting the sign-in.  I then entered the serial number for the back of the unit and the responce I get is invalid serial number.  I took the number from the underside of the rounter.  I'm now stumped (again)  Any thoughts?

      • schumaku's avatar
        schumaku
        Guru

        Forget the password recovery unless it was set-up before - you will end in a dead end loop.

         

        Do a factory reset, and login using admin and password.