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How to connect 2.4GHZ Devices
I just bought few smart plugs. But they only connect to 2.4 Ghz. How do i add them to my home network as they will not show up in App on my phone for a setup. I have a good coverage in my house so mo...
Kcobra1 wrote:I just bought few smart plugs. But they only connect to 2.4 Ghz. How do i add them to my home network as they will not show up in App on my phone for a setup. I have a good coverage in my house so most of the time phone is on 5Ghz.
While the smartphone apps for many (most?) Internet of Things (IoT) devices are able to deal with "mesh" WiFi networks, there are some which are poorly written and simply fail to work when the smartphone is connected at 5G. What has worked for many people (including me) is this:
- Access the Orbi web interface (http://orbilogin.net) using the admin credentials user "admin" and the Orbi router password (not the WiFi password)
- Navigate to the Advanced Tab, Advanced Settings, Wireless Settings
- Uncheck the box "Broadcast SSID on 5G Channel"
This will not affect any devices which are currently attached to the Orbi at 5G. - On the smartphone settings, "forget" the Orbi WiFi
- Search for WiFi networks and select the Orbi WiFi
- Enter the WiF password and connect
- At this point, open the IoT app and go through the steps
- After the device is connected, reverse the steps
Check the box "Broadcast SSID"
"Forget Orbi WiFi"
Search for and connect.
This sounds like a lot of work, but doesn't take very long.
p.s. "Poorly written" may seem harsh, but GEEZ. My TP-Link, Belkin, Eufy, Teckin (and other) smart plugs connected immediately. I have only had one that required the above steps. For one plug, I simply ignored the warnings "MUST connect to w.4G" and kept hitting "Continue" until it worked. "TAKE THAT!", I said.
Orbi AC systems was not designed or intended to have the options to separate SSIDs. During this early phase, IoT mfrs were up and coming and starting to be present on the market. However, these IoT mfrs are mostly responsible for how there devices interact with Smart Connect featured systems with 1 SSID that connects both 2.4 and 5Ghz signals into one SSID broadcast. This feature started back in 2012. Also the fact that both frequencies are on the SAME network. Where the problem is, is that the IoT mfrs don't understand or fail to implement both frequency networks with in the setup software for there device when installed on a dual band supporting mobile phone or pad. And not maybe realizing that most of these devices prefer the 5Ghz signal over 2.4Ghz. The problem is that there setup software is designed only on the 2.4Ghz in mind and thus the software only looks for the 2.4Ghz signal. if these IoT mfrs would support BOTH frequencies with in there setup software and allow the software and mobile device to be supported on ether frequency since they are on the same network system, would no longer have problems with setting up new IoT devices on Smart Connect featured router systems. You don't need a 9 series Orbi.
I recently ran into this as well. Two new smart bulbs I bought. Would not connect with my Android pad to my Smart Connect enabled router at the time. I had to disable it to get the IoT connected. Now for Orbi, we can't do that. So couple of suggestions are available that will help users that don't have a 9 series system and you don't have to buy or change out anything.
1. Turn off all RBS and change the RBRs 5Ghz transmit power to 25% leaving the 2.4Ghz power at 100%. Walk the setup mobile device out away from the RBR to ensure the device gets connected to the 2.4Ghz radio signal. May need to disable and re-enabled the radio on the device a couple of times. After it connects, should allow the setup process to begin and then be completed. After all is setup, revert the 5Ghz power change and turn back ON the RBS.
2. Something I've done and continue to use as I have resources. Setup a 2nd router, something that is easily configurable for 2.4Ghz. You can even connect it behind the Orbi system as a 2nd router. Just temporary. Use this router with Wi-Fi channels set to different from the Orbi system. Use the same SSID name and password on the 2nd router as the Orbi system. Sit close to this 2nd router with your setup and IoT devices. Use this 2nd router to get the IoT device connected. Once it's connected and up and running, just turn OFF this 2nd router. This will force the IoT to auto migrate to the Orbi Wi-Fi signal and should auto connect with out any issues. I've done this many times when I bring on a new router system to test. I'll set up the new router and get it all configured using same SSID name and PW. When I go to put it in place, I leave the out going router system ON, just not connected to anything, long enough to get the new router in coming turned on and connected. Once the new router is up and running, I turned OFF the out going router and all wifi devices auto migrate and connect to then new router. "Easy peasy lemon squeezy."
Overall, its the new or initial setup for IoT that's the problem. Most users do know or are aware of Orbi and IoT issues by now. It's not new. Been around for a while. For new users, and with some help and using the suggestions and information posted by others, all Orbi systems will work with IoT devices. Just needs some help to get it going where needed.
Agree with most of what you've said, however a few things stand out as unrealistic or not quite right.
1. Yes, it is the 'smart' devices that are the primary cause of the issue. The reason is that chips to support 2.4ghz are cheaper than those for 5.0ghz or both, and 2.4 supports longer range (which is an issue that mesh systems don't really have, because that's what they're designed to fix). Yes, for the price of these things, they should support 5.0ghz too, but they generally don't. And, there have also been poor coding decisions made. My new garage door opener was able to figure it out painlessly, even though they don't support 5.0ghz.
The problem is, if I have pre-existing devices, I don't have the option of returning them when they can't connect. That would be just as expensive a retrofit as upgrading to a top end Orbi, or replacing my phone. So, blaming them doesn't help with creating a solution, and the fact is, the mesh system designers had to know that this was an issue, and that the people most likely to buy a mesh system are the same target market as people buying connected devices, so this should have been solved a long time ago, especially at Orbi's price point. Apple is a little too cute in how they do their programming, but they are the least at fault in this problem. Would be nice if there was a table showing the combinations that work, so it doesn't have to be trial and error.
2. Turning down the 5.0ghz radio can work, but it depends whether you can move the router far enough away from the thing you're trying to connect. This doesn't work for me, because even at 45ft distance from a video doorbell and smart lock, the signal on 5.0 is still strong enough that it is the preferred network. This is actually pretty annoying, because if you can attenuate the signal down to 25%, why not to 0%, or even 5 or 10%? This is the first solution that Netgear suggests, but they know it only works for some people.
3. All Orbies will work with IoT products, but importantly, not all IoT products work with Orbi. If you have the wrong ones in your home before installing mesh, there's not much you can do, since it's too late to return them.