How do I distinguish the 2.4GHZ on ORBI RBR750 firmware V4.6.9.11_2.3.5

[KRBMT]

Hello.  Does anyone have CURRENT info/scripts that will allow me to separate/distinguish the 2.4GHZ from the 5GHZ on the ORBI RBR750 router?  I am trying to connect Defender cameras, which require that my Android phone/app be connected to the same 2.4GHZ channel that the cameras use.   I am on Windows 11, as to where I can run scripts or telnet.

I have read numerous posts suggesting the use of options that are no longer available in my version of NetGear., firmware  V4.6.9.11_2.3.5   I do not have the options to broadcast SSID, or to enable telnet so that I can do a set config of the 2.4GHZ channel to have a different name than the 5GHZ.

I tried (old) telnet_enable scripts that were listed in this community as solutions.  None have worked.  I was prepared to try the latest (2 yo) python script, but I do not see where the (required?) option of a MAC address is, in the Netgear firmware.

Please please help!  I am so frustrated.

I am trying to setup these cameras to watch my horses while I go on vacation.

Thanks in advance, if this user group can come through for me:)

[CrimpOn]

It would be a big help if you could post a link to these Defender cameras.

Most cameras that I have connected get set up by creating a QR code on the smartphone app and pointing the camera at the QR code.  When I use a "QR reader app" to look at the same QR code, all it contains is the SSID and password of the WiFi system.  Absolutely nothing about 2.4G or 5G.

I have connected at least four brands of WiFi cameras without doing anything to the Orbi.  It would also be helpful if you can provide a link to the setup instructions and indicate "where it fails".  (what step in the process)

Thanks

[FURRYe38]

So you might want to also change the power output of the 5Ghz radio to 25%. 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. Turn OFF all RBS temporarily as well. 
Be sure that 20/40 MHz Coexistence enabled.

Separation of SSIDs is NOT supported on Orbi systems. 

[KRBMT]

Exclusive Bundle: Guard Pro 2K WiFi. Plug-In Power Security Camera, 2 | Defender (defendercameras.co...

Guard | How To Connect Your Defender Guard Camera. | VIDEO – Defender Cameras

The first link is to the cameras, the second is to the setup video.

During setup, after successfully scanning the QR code, the app creates a device hotspot, then goes into 'Detecting network security config', then says 'Unable to detect network security config.  Please confirm your phone and device are connected to the same network'.  My phone had still gone to the 5ghz, I assumed.

In that video, it says right at the start that you must have your phone connected to the 2.4ghz channel.  I did not watch it before purchasing; previously I had setup Arlo 2.4ghz cameras just fine on my Orbi.  I found the info about not working on 5ghz by going through the comments on the Defender cameras and problems other people had with getting to 2.4ghz.  I did try one's suggestion of taking the camera and phone out to the shop to my Orbi satellite, which is using 2.4ghz (according to Netgear device info).  Didn't work.

[KRBMT]

Any chance you could tell me what the exact option in the NetGear software is, to decrease the power output?   I hope that is not done via my ISP, because they won't work with me due to the fact that I am no longer using their router, but the Orbi.

And, once I unplug the satellites and move my phone away from the router, how to I tell if it got hooked up to the 2.4ghz?

Thanks you guys for trying to help a newbie 🙂

[FURRYe38]

Set the 5Ghz power from 100% to 25%. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

[KRBMT]

I am going to try a connection directly with the ethernet cable, per the Defender CS.  But they say the cameras will fail if the network switches the connection to a 5ghz.  I believe, though, that my satellite will ALWAYS be 2.4ghz.

Can anyone confirm?  These cameras are to be a long way from the router, out in horse stalls, and I believe they can only connect to my 2nd satellite, where I have router, then  XX feet to first satellite, then XX feet to 2nd satellite.

[CrimpOn]

Thanks for the links.  An interesting connection method.  On page 9 of the printed instructions,

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0115/0110/9314/files/IP4MCB1-UserManual-v2_WEB.pdf?v=1605717085 

it is clear that their "WiFi Range Test" is intended to verify 2.4G signal strength at the proposed camera location.  (This step is absent from the setup video.)

Step 6 on page 10 may hold the key.  Can you open a QR Code scanner app and display what the information the QR code contains?  (I have three different QR code scanners on my Android phone. All work about the same. Point at code. Read results.)

My suspicion is that the camera temporarily creates a WiFi hot spot and the smartphone app reads the SSID to look for from the QR code.

Another tactic that people have found to work in these situations is to turn off their home WiFi system and temporarily substitute a 2.4G WiFi channel with exactly the same WiFi credentials (SSID/password) as their home system.  Some people have the old router that the Orbi replaced sitting in a box somewhere.  [I have three previous routers.]  My smartphone can create a WiFi Hot Spot that happens to be on 2.4G.  I create a Hot Spot with credentials that match the Orbi and use a second smart device (tablet, usually. Sometimes an old phone.) to do the setup.  After the IoT device is working correctly, power everything off, restart the home WiFi system, and "voila"  all is good.)

[CrimpOn]

Really interested to know what information is in the QR code sticker that is on the camera.

If there is more than one camera, are the QR codes identical, or different?

p.s. I much prefer Ethernet connected cameras, but running cable to camera locations is often impractical.

[KRBMT]

Thanks for all the info, but I have run out of time 😞

I did try lowering the percentage/power, as had been suggested, to try to access the 2.4 ghz.  But still couldn't access it.

Yes, the Defender setup does create a temporary hotspot upon reading the QR code; I believe they are same across my 2 cameras.  But my network didn't appear; couldn't enter its password.

For now, I went back to my router from my ISP ( A GigaSpire), and named the two networks differently for 5/2.4, with same password.  Trying 2 different non-Netgear extenders, one set to be explicitly only 2.4ghz that both my phone and camera can connect to - they don't have the range of the Orbi satellites but I might be forced to this method.

Not sure I could complete setup like this and then go back to Orbis, as you suggest, but will try again after I return.

While the Defender setup is clearly 'deficient' in not being able to pick out the 2.4ghz from the Orbi router (my Arlo setup had no problem), their cameras can handle temperatures down to -40F, so that is why I chose them.

Did NOT realize compatibility was going to be such a challenge!

I am not happy with Netgear not separating the channels, but I AM impressed with the Netgear community 🙂

[CrimpOn]

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@KRBMT wrote:

Yes, the Defender setup does create a temporary hotspot upon reading the QR code; I believe they are same across my 2 cameras.  But my network didn't appear; couldn't enter its password.🙂

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Can you share the contents of the QR codes?

My sense is that like most Internet of Things (IoT) devices that do not have a keyboard to enter parameters with, the camera creates a WiFi access point, the smartphone app connects to it, and communicates the home WiFi credentials (SSID/password) for the camera to search for.

Typical IoT devices name their temporary access points with some obvious name, such as "MYBRAND-123456". The smartphone app goes through the list of available access points searching for one that it recognizes, "Hey. This WiFi is named just like our smart plugs!"  The smartphone app connects to that unique SSID and communicates the home WiFi SSID/password.

Cameras have the advantage of being able to take pictures.  Almost every camera I have tried uses the smartphone app to create a QR code with the SSID/password and the camera reads this information from the QR code.  This Defender camera is the first one I have seen where the smartphone app reads the QR code instead of creating one.

[FURRYe38]

So when you get back, try setting up your current ISP routers 2.4Ghz SSID name and PW and Security Mode and channels, to same as what you have on the Orbi. If you have the cameras connected on the ISP router, then all it should take is that turning ON the Orbi RBR and letting it come to ready, once it's ready, turn OFF the wifi radios on the ISP router. The cameras should auto migrate over to the Orbi RBR seemlessly and connect there with out having to do anything else. 

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@KRBMT wrote:

Thanks for all the info, but I have run out of time 😞

I did try lowering the percentage/power, as had been suggested, to try to access the 2.4 ghz.  But still couldn't access it.

Yes, the Defender setup does create a temporary hotspot upon reading the QR code; I believe they are same across my 2 cameras.  But my network didn't appear; couldn't enter its password.

For now, I went back to my router from my ISP ( A GigaSpire), and named the two networks differently for 5/2.4, with same password.  Trying 2 different non-Netgear extenders, one set to be explicitly only 2.4ghz that both my phone and camera can connect to - they don't have the range of the Orbi satellites but I might be forced to this method.

Not sure I could complete setup like this and then go back to Orbis, as you suggest, but will try again after I return.

While the Defender setup is clearly 'deficient' in not being able to pick out the 2.4ghz from the Orbi router (my Arlo setup had no problem), their cameras can handle temperatures down to -40F, so that is why I chose them.

Did NOT realize compatibility was going to be such a challenge!

I am not happy with Netgear not separating the channels, but I AM impressed with the Netgear community 🙂

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