MR60 - How do I split my wireless network into 2.4GHz and 5GHz?

[ThreeAs]

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 automatically picked up the required 2.4 gHz on the MR60 and works very well. Now, I have installed a wifi light dimmer switch which also requires a 2,4 GHz connection. When I was configuring it I was expecting that it will also automatically connect to the 2.4 GHz frequency of the Nighthawk router. Unfortunately, it did not. I need help on how to fix this issue.

When I go to Device Manager, I see 2 items under 2.4ghz. One is taken, most likely by SkyBell. The other shows N/A. So, apparently, this MR60 can only have two devices which can be connected via 2.4 ghz. 

What should I do to connect my wifi dimmer switch to the Nighthawk MR60?

Thank you.

[schumaku]

Talk to the vendor of this magic IoJ wireless dimmer. If the supplied discover and config App does allow to configure the IoJ without nonsense enforced requirement to connect to the 2.4 GHz (the typical problem with many IoJ devices) it's more likely the IoJ device has a problem with the additional bits on air from the WiFi 6 system and/or the system does not like the 802.11k (that what makes up a Mesh device...)  data and fails to see or connect.

The ubiquitous nonsense like "How do I split my wireless network into 2.4GHz and 5GHz?" won't help here. 

[JDS7426]

"The ubiquitous nonsense" So you are saying his post was nonsense? Ok can you answer the question another way. Is there a way to show for connection purpose two separate SSID's for 2.4 and 5-Ghz. Hardware Version MR60 and Firmware Version V1.0.6.110_2.0.49. 

If you could answer that It would be nice. Can it be done yes or no? If so how? I'm not finding this so ubiquitous.

[sclawrenc]

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.

[Rud8]

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.

[schumaku]

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@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.

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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.

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@Rud8 wrote:

I've got a similar issue.

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What issue?

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@Rud8 wrote:

However, the sales blurb on Netgear MK83 suggests that it can.

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Links, references, ... ? The reason why this nonsense ever existed in the past was caused mostly by the industry, lead by Netgear unfortunately. 

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@Rud8 wrote:

Does anyone who has a MK83 know?

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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.

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@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.

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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.

[Paul_D999]

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

[FURRYe38]

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. 

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@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

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[Paul_D999]

Thanks @FURRYe38 I will try this on the MR60 when a ihave a couple of free hours at the

weekend.

I used my daughter’s phone as a hot spot (via 4G) and joined that from my phone, I was then able to register and activate the IOT device.  We set up the schedule for switching on & off, we are3 still waiting to see if it works overnight…

Strangely we can control the device from our phones even when only on the WIFI, however Alexa & Google Home can see the device but cannot control it.

So half way there!

Cheers Paul

[FURRYe38]

👍

[in2ndo]

I’ve only used the MK63 for about a week and now have a MK83. The app is pretty much useless for anything custom.
I don’t recall if the 60 series has it. But the 83 does have the ability to separate the 2.4 from the 5G.
If the 60 has it. This is where you can check.

https://kb.netgear.com/000063027/Can-I-create-separate-2-4GHz-and-5GHz-SSIDs-on-my-Nighthawk-Tri-ban...

[Paul_D999]

Hi @in2ndo and @FURRYe38  thank you for your help.

I have been away for a few days and finally got back to sort out my issue.

In the end to save time and effort I bought a cheap (£20) TPLink 2.4Ghz Wifi Access Point and plugged that in to my Broadband router.  Within 5 minutes had it configured with a new SSID and had the IOT heater device connected and working.   Not the most eloquent solution but saved me hours of time messing around.

Does make me think whether to keep or recommend the Netgear Mesh solution (colleagues & friends).

Once again thanks for your help and support it is always appreciated from a newbie.

[FURRYe38]

Enjoy. 

[wolf6]

Oddly enough, when I connect my 2.4GHz devices (23 of them) to my MR60 guest network, they all connect and operate at 2.4GHz with no problem.  Not sure why, maybe guest  network default is 2.4GHz.

[TheBigRod]

I dug through my collection of old cell phones and found one that only connects to 2.4GHz networks.  I had to install all the IOT apps onto the old phone (not easy when you're running 8GB memory!), and reconnected all of them to the MR60.  I have visibility of all of them on my 5GHz devices now.  Not the easiest workaround, but prevents you from having to set up a secondary 2.4GHz network and constantly connecting/reconnecting networks on your smartphone to control your IOT devices.

Still, for the MR60 to lack such a simple splitting option in it's firmware settings is a huge miss, IMO.  They need to roll that one out, pronto.