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Forum Discussion
MR60 - How do I split my wireless network into 2.4GHz and 5GHz?
A few weeks back I purchased Nighthawk MR60 for my house and am very pleased withh its functioning. It has both frequencies 2.4 and 5 GHz. When I installed the Skybell for my front door, it automatic...
I would like to determine manually what radio my devices connect to. For this reason, I like to have the 2.4 Ghz band broadcast on one SSID and the 5 Ghz band broadcast another SSID (usually same as 2.4 Ghz but with 5G at the end).
This has been proven to work better time and time again in my home where I would like to force my devices to connect to the 5G network all of the time unless I go way out of 5G range in which case I can simply connect to the standard 2.4 Ghz.
I used to be able to do this with my Orbi AC3000 through Telnet, but then some updated firmware removed that option. Now I would like to still support Netgear and purchase the Netgear MK63 (my house is wired so dual band is fine), but I really do want the ability to give separate SSIDs to my 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz bands.
Is this supported? If not, can we please add it in a future firmware update? Asus does support this, but like I said, I would like to support my local Netgear company, if possible.
Hi, as I understand it from my research the answer is NO, the MK63 can't split the 2.4 and 5 streams. I've got a similar issue. However, the sales blurb on Netgear MK83 suggests that it can.
yet again DongKnows reviewer specialist doesn't think that it will. Does anyone who has a MK83 know?
I tried to get this clarified by Netgear support.............but so far deathly silence.......maybe they don't know either or their sales and technical departments live in different countries and don't communicate too well.
looks like a common FAQ.
Rud8 wrote:Hi, as I understand it from my research the answer is NO, the MK63 can't split the 2.4 and 5 streams.
Correct. The de-facto mesh system standard is having one SSID for connecting to one network. Works best for >99.99% of the use case. The other <0.01% might require some fixes on the wireless client sides. Or they have to change thier minds.
Rud8 wrote:I've got a similar issue.
What issue?
Rud8 wrote:However, the sales blurb on Netgear MK83 suggests that it can.
Links, references, ... ? The reason why this nonsense ever existed in the past was caused mostly by the industry, lead by Netgear unfortunately.
Rud8 wrote:Does anyone who has a MK83 know?
Don't own such a system - if you are not always on the same level of belly brushing or flattering even active community members get zero free hardware - however I can assure that starting from MR80 / MS80 Firmware Version 1.1.3.6 the MK8x (but not the MK6x with it's MR60 and MS60 - several complaints why this has never happened there yet) there is an option for "Supports customer WiFi, which allows IOT devices to connect to a specific 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz SSID." - in my understanding an additional SSID which can be restricted to one band for magically fixing whatever issues for connecting to the very same network.
Rud8 wrote:I tried to get this clarified by Netgear support.............but so far deathly silence.......maybe they don't know either or their sales and technical departments live in different countries and don't communicate too well.
looks like a common FAQ.
A feature change (see above) which has neither made it to the glossy marketing nor to the user manual (nor to Netgear's support training and standard Q&A) indeed.
Hi,
I too have a Nighthawk MR60 and have several IOT devices (smart switches for towel rails etc.) that will not connect on the shared (2.4Ghz & 5Ghz) frequency SSID.
I'm not interested in why Netgear does not allow the frequencies to be split or how poor the IOT providers are.
Other than this issue I’m more than happy with my Netgear Nighthawk MR60.
My question is fairly simple can I switch off or disable the 5Ghz frequency?
Cheers Paul
This process is whats used on NG Orbi AC seriers systems and maybe similar on the MK series MESH as well. Something to try and see if it helps connect these 2.4Ghz IoT devices:
Netgear provides a simple mechanism to accomplish this. The Orbi has a feature which many users have found allows them to set up devices which require the smartphone to be attached to WiFi at 2.4G:
Connect a device with a large screen to the Orbi web interface,http://orbilogin.net (routerlogin.net for MK series)?
(computer, laptop, tablet)
The user name is "admin" and the password is the web interface password, not the Orbi 'app' password.
Navigate to the Advanced Tab, Advanced Settings (at the bottom), Wireless Settings.
On the Advanced Wireless Settings page, uncheck the box under Advanced 5G Settings that reads
Enable SSID Broadcast
Click Apply
The router will go through a cycle which takes foreeeeeeeever.
On the smart phone, go into Network settings.
"Forget" the Orbi WiFi.
Search for available WiFi systems.
Select the Orbi WiFi
Enter the password and Connect
The smartphone is now connected to the Orbi at 2.4G
Note that if you attempt to "double check" by opening the Orbi Attached Devices page, that page takes several minutes to update.
Just go with it.
Open the device smartphone app and go through the setup process.
After the device is connected and working, undo the process.
On the web interface, check the box and click Apply
On the smartphone, Forget the Orbi, find it again, and connect again.
This takes less time to do than to read. It has worked for me several times.If these features are not seen on the MK Series, try the following:
Try changing the power output of the 5Ghz radio to 25%. Turn OFF all satellites as well. Then connect your mobile device at a distance from the RBR to ensure the mobile phone keeps connected to the 2.4Ghz radio. After you get the IoT device connected, re-configure the system back to where it was.
Paul_D999 wrote:Hi,
I too have a Nighthawk MR60 and have several IOT devices (smart switches for towel rails etc.) that will not connect on the shared (2.4Ghz & 5Ghz) frequency SSID.
I'm not interested in why Netgear does not allow the frequencies to be split or how poor the IOT providers are.
Other than this issue I’m more than happy with my Netgear Nighthawk MR60.
My question is fairly simple can I switch off or disable the 5Ghz frequency?
Cheers Paul
