Hi,I an Orbi Tri-Band Mesh WiFi System 3 Gbps model # RBR50V2. One band is 2.4 GHz and the other two bands are 5GHz. I can’t set-up a Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell with my iPhone. The doorbell is not compatible with 5GHz networks but only can connect to a 2.4 GHz network. Is it possible to disable the 5GHz bands and only have the 2.4 GHz band active to allow set-up of the video doorbell? If video doorbell can be added, how to I disable the 5GHz on my router? Can the 5GHz bands be reactivated once the doorbell is added? Thank you for your help!

This thread (among many) points to a problem that has, and continues, to cause me unnecessary hassle and frustration. My experience mirrors others here w.r.t. setting up 2.4GHz devices. The contortions to get this simple thing done are ridiculous! And I have several such devices, including a brand new La Crosse alarm clock that gets current weather over wifi. The fact is we're stuck with 2.4GHz devices. NG must give us the tools we need to easily deal with them. I was in IT for 25+ years and developed software for Fortune 50 companies. Logically, I know there is a reason for NG's decision to remove functionality, like the ability to disable 5GHz. Pessimistically, the only one that comes to mind is bad -- frustrate us into spending $500 on the new MK83 (make sure you can disable 5GHz before you buy!). That's a terrible(!) strategy and it will force me, a NG customer for decades, to look elsewhere for my next router. Apologies for the rant, I don't usually go there. Hope someone from NG monitors their own forum (but I doubt it).

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your advise vajim When you think about on how virtually all[*1] these discovery processes work, you will see that a factory default or reset IoJ will put up some hidden SSID (open, secured with some shared security, or with security key related or derived from to the BSSID AKA. radio MAC), and the App will put the previous active SSID (including the security key on Android, on iOS the user has to enter it because it's not readable by an App AFAIK) is pushed to the IoJ wireless client, so it will hopefully be able to connect to the normal SSID. At no point (!!!) having the mobile mobile phone connected by 2.4 GHz radio is required. This strange idea comes from the time where people had different SSIDs and security configs for the different radio bands - that's why some crappy Apps check if-connected-by-2.4GHz-go-ahead-else stop code in place. These App designers wanted to avoid that wrong SSID and security (from the 5 GHz radio config) is pushed to the device. This problem does not exist on a Mesh system with single SSID and security setting over all APs. Some slightly enhanced apps allowed to continue regardless, other Apps silently avoided to push the what-they-thought-is-5GHz-config-data to the IoJ. [*1] Some more advanced IoJ use Bluetooth, some even NFC, for discovery and config programming - this makes the device resp. the radio interfaces on the board (much) more expensive.

Its due to the fact that this IoT mfrs don't allow there sofware to work on phones that are dual band. There stuck on 2.4Ghz only on there code and mfrs don't take into consideration that 2.4 and 5Ghz are on the same network. If the Mfrs of the software allowed for both bands to be used, this would not be an issue.

Log into the Orbi web interface (http://orbilogin.net)Navigate to the Advanced Tab, Advanced Settings, Wireless SettingsUncheck the box, "Broadcast SSID on 5G"Click "Apply"All devices that are currently connected to the Orbi will remain connected.On the smartphone, go to wireless settings and "forget" the Orbi SSIDSearch for available WiFi networks. Select the Orbi WiFi. Enter the password. and connect.If you are curious about whether the smartphone is actually connected at 2.4G, you have to wait a few minutes, because the "Attached Devices" display takes a while to update.Open the app and set up the 2.4G device.Once the device is connected and working as it should, reverse the steps.Check the "Broadcast" box and click "Apply""Forget" the Orbi WiFi. Search. Enter password. Connect.Be aware that there seems to be a time limit with some iOS or Android devices that will connect to the 2.4Ghz radio for a short period of time before changing automatically to the 5Ghz SSID, even though it's been hidden. The SSID is hidden only, thus the signal is still present. 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. Sanden wrote:Hi,I an Orbi Tri-Band Mesh WiFi System 3 Gbps model # RBR50V2. One band is 2.4 GHz and the other two bands are 5GHz. I can’t set-up a Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell with my iPhone. The doorbell is not compatible with 5GHz networks but only can connect to a 2.4 GHz network. Is it possible to disable the 5GHz bands and only have the 2.4 GHz band active to allow set-up of the video doorbell? If video doorbell can be added, how to I disable the 5GHz on my router? Can the 5GHz bands be reactivated once the doorbell is added? Thank you for your help!

So you don't see these check boxes anywhere?

Disable 5GHz | NETGEAR Communities

33 Replies

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plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 01, 2021
You can't disable the 5ghz wifi.
you just need to make sure your phone is on 2.4ghz to set it up.
what you can try doing is to disable the 5ghz ssid broadcast (radio is still on) and then turn down the broadcast power on the 5ghz.
Then just shut off the wifi on your phone and turn it back on. You might need to move a bit away from the router/satellites. many times that'll cause the phone to connect to the 2.4ghz so you can get through setup.
schumaku
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 01, 2021
Sanden there is no such requirement. All radios connect to the very same network.

-> https://helpcenter.netatmo.com/en-us/smart-video-doorbell/connection-network/advanced-network-troubleshooting-guide
schumaku
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 02, 2021
vajim wrote:
I had the same problem a few years back with a weather station

you must force your phone to 2.4
These issues were caused by dumb discovery/installation Apps requiring the phone on a 2.4 GHz "network" which did not allowed to continue otherwise. The Netatmo Security App does not have such a requirement.
- schumaku
  Guru - Experienced User
  Mar 02, 2021
  There is absolutely nothing wrong with your advise vajim
  
  When you think about on how virtually all[*1] these discovery processes work, you will see that a factory default or reset IoJ will put up some hidden SSID (open, secured with some shared security, or with security key related or derived from to the BSSID AKA. radio MAC), and the App will put the previous active SSID (including the security key on Android, on iOS the user has to enter it because it's not readable by an App AFAIK) is pushed to the IoJ wireless client, so it will hopefully be able to connect to the normal SSID. At no point (!!!) having the mobile mobile phone connected by 2.4 GHz radio is required. This strange idea comes from the time where people had different SSIDs and security configs for the different radio bands - that's why some crappy Apps check if-connected-by-2.4GHz-go-ahead-else stop code in place. These App designers wanted to avoid that wrong SSID and security (from the 5 GHz radio config) is pushed to the device. This problem does not exist on a Mesh system with single SSID and security setting over all APs. Some slightly enhanced apps allowed to continue regardless, other Apps silently avoided to push the what-they-thought-is-5GHz-config-data to the IoJ.
  
  [*1] Some more advanced IoJ use Bluetooth, some even NFC, for discovery and config programming - this makes the device resp. the radio interfaces on the board (much) more expensive.
  - CrimpOn
    Guru - Experienced User
    Mar 02, 2021
    schumaku wrote:
    At no point (!!!) having the mobile mobile phone connected by 2.4 GHz radio is required. This strange idea comes from the time where people had different SSIDs and security configs for the different radio bands - that's why some crappy Apps check if-connected-by-2.4GHz-go-ahead-else stop code in place. .
    I find these two statements inconsistent.
    My experience with at least two smart plugs is exactly that: the setup app "stops code in place". What then can the user do?
    In both instances, I forced the phone to the 2.4 connection, did the setup, and went on my way.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 02, 2021
Log into the Orbi web interface (http://orbilogin.net)
Navigate to the Advanced Tab, Advanced Settings, Wireless Settings
Uncheck the box, "Broadcast SSID on 5G"
Click "Apply"
All devices that are currently connected to the Orbi will remain connected.
On the smartphone, go to wireless settings and "forget" the Orbi SSID
Search for available WiFi networks. Select the Orbi WiFi. Enter the password. and connect.
If you are curious about whether the smartphone is actually connected at 2.4G, you have to wait a few minutes, because the "Attached Devices" display takes a while to update.
Open the app and set up the 2.4G device.
Once the device is connected and working as it should, reverse the steps.
Check the "Broadcast" box and click "Apply"
"Forget" the Orbi WiFi. Search. Enter password. Connect.
Be aware that there seems to be a time limit with some iOS or Android devices that will connect to the 2.4Ghz radio for a short period of time before changing automatically to the 5Ghz SSID, even though it's been hidden. The SSID is hidden only, thus the signal is still present. 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.
Sanden wrote:
Hi,
I an Orbi Tri-Band Mesh WiFi System 3 Gbps model # RBR50V2. One band is 2.4 GHz and the other two bands are 5GHz. I can’t set-up a Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell with my iPhone. The doorbell is not compatible with 5GHz networks but only can connect to a 2.4 GHz network. Is it possible to disable the 5GHz bands and only have the 2.4 GHz band active to allow set-up of the video doorbell? If video doorbell can be added, how to I disable the 5GHz on my router? Can the 5GHz bands be reactivated once the doorbell is added?

Thank you for your help!
- Sanden
  Tutor
  Mar 03, 2021
  Hi,
  Thank you for your suggestions. When I go to Advanced Wireless Settings I don't see "Broadcast SSID or 5G". I see the following:
  Name (SSID)
  2.4GHz Channel Auto
  5GHz Channel 48
  
  What do you recommend?
  - CrimpOn
    Guru - Experienced User
    Mar 03, 2021
    Sanden wrote:
    Thank you for your suggestions. When I go to Advanced Wireless Settings I don't see "Broadcast SSID or 5G". I see the following:
    Name (SSID)
    2.4GHz Channel Auto
    5GHz Channel 48
    That is the Wireless Setting under "Setup".
    At the bottom of the menu is Advanced Setup. Broadcast SSID is a check box on the menu Wireless Settings under Advanced Setup.
    
    No clue why Netgear did it this way.

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Disable 5GHz