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Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973
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Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

pup0975
Star

Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I'm considering buying a device (AmbientWeather Weather Station) that says that it only works on the 2.4ghz wifi and if you have a dual band router, you need to turn off the 5ghz radio. I already have a Skybell that also requires this but works anyway on Orbi. Anyone know if this requirement to turn off the 5ghz can be ignored universally on all devices? 

Model: Orbi High-Performance AC3000 Tri-Band WiFi System (RBK50)
Message 1 of 38
Mikey94025
Hero

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi


@pup0975 wrote:

I'm considering buying a device (AmbientWeather Weather Station) that says that it only works on the 2.4ghz wifi and if you have a dual band router, you need to turn off the 5ghz radio. I already have a Skybell that also requires this but works anyway on Orbi. Anyone know if this requirement to turn off the 5ghz can be ignored universally on all devices? 


I don't think this makes any sense, why would 5Ghz hurt 2.4Ghz only devices?  Are you sure you (or whoever wrote it) didn't misunderstand instructions to set 2.4Ghz, not 5Ghz?

 

I have many devices that only connect via 2.4Ghz to my Orbi and work just fine with 5Ghz also enabled.

 

Message 2 of 38
pup0975
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Just read the instruction manual online. I can turn off the 5ghz, connect it to the wifi, then turn the 5ghz back on. Skybell (doorbell) specifically tells you to turn off the 5ghz or separate the signals. It works without doing either on the Orbi. I had a AirPort Extreme before the Orbi, and the Skybell wouldn't connect until I separated out the 5ghz signal on a separate SSDI. I think some devices may try to connect to the 5ghz signal and that causes it to fail in the connection. I'll see if it'll connect without having to turn off the 5ghz once I get it.
Message 3 of 38
Ely
Luminary
Luminary

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

When a device doesn't work with the 5GHz band then it just ignores it because it's not compatible with it, ie: it does not see it, then it will normally connect to the 2.4ghz band which is what it sees and works with.

Message 4 of 38
Tim-in-CA
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

FYI ... I had to do the same thing for my Rachio sprinker system.  I think its due to the fact that SSIDs are shared between 2.4 and 5 GHz.  I turned off broadcasting of SSID for 5GHz, set up the Rachio (which wouldn't find wifi until I disabled 5 GHz SSID), then re-enabled 5 GHz SSID.  The Rachio has stayed connected ever since.  Had the same problem with Sylvania Lightify Hub.

Message 5 of 38
pup0975
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Good to know about the Rachio as I'm thinking about getting one soon. I think the Skybell worked right away with the Orbi because I went from the Airport to Orbi without changing the SSDI. Glad to know that this trick probably works with all devices that can't recognize dual band signals on setup. 

Message 6 of 38
Smitty_P
Aspirant

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I have a Ambiant WS-0262 and it does not work with my Orbi. Cant figure how to shut off 5 ghz.  The AmbiantTool does not see the WS.

 

Message 7 of 38
pup0975
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Smitty_P, Go to Advanced tab then Advanced Set up then Wireless setting. I think if you uncheck "Enable SSDI Broadcast" on the 5ghz setting, it turns off the ability of the Ambient to connect to the 5ghz. Is that waht you've done, Tim-in-CA? The other thing I thought was taking the device as far away from the Orbi to "force" it to connect to the 2.4ghz network since 2.4 ghz travels further than the 5ghz. Let me know if this works.

Message 8 of 38
Tim-in-CA
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi


@pup0975 wrote:

Smitty_P, Go to Advanced tab then Advanced Set up then Wireless setting. I think if you uncheck "Enable SSDI Broadcast" on the 5ghz setting, it turns off the ability of the Ambient to connect to the 5ghz. Is that waht you've done, Tim-in-CA? The other thing I thought was taking the device as far away from the Orbi to "force" it to connect to the 2.4ghz network since 2.4 ghz travels further than the 5ghz. Let me know if this works.


Yup.  That's what I did to get my Rachio to connect.  After the Rachio was configured, I reenabled 5GHz SSID broadcast and the Rachio has remained connected.   

Message 9 of 38
pup0975
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Update: Just got my Rachio. Didn't need to turn off the 5ghz network for it to connect. Took a little longer than expected and initially gave me an error in connected, but then it connected. The Rachio is installed in the basement just below the room where the Orbi is. Don't know if that was enough distance for my theory to work where if you distance it far enough from the Orbi that the 5ghz network is too weak to connect to. Either way, up and running without having to do anything. Now just waiting for the Ambient Weather station to get back in stock to order it. 

Message 10 of 38
rpgravey
Aspirant

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Even after turning off 5ghz SSID broadcast, my iphone still shows as connected to 5ghz.  I have "forgot the network" and logged back in, to no avail.  I'm trying to connect the Ambient Weather station but it needs to have the phone on 2.4ghz.

Message 11 of 38
pup0975
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I’m a bit confused. Why does the phone need to be on 2.4ghz? Just the Ambient Station needs to be on 2.4ghz. Once the Ambient Station connects, just turn the 5ghz back on. One issue I did discover is that if the Ambient is connected to a satellite but the phone is connected to the main router (or vice versa), it won’t see the Ambient for the set up process. Some reason that causes the Ambient to be on a “different” network. That may be the issue you’re having.
Message 12 of 38
jescott3
Guide

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I have an Ambient Weather Osprey WS-2902 system, an Orbi Router with 2 satellites, and an Apple iPad Mini and iPhone 5S. When the turn-off-5 GHz-SSID-broadcast trick didn't work, I then turned the 5 GHz power down to 25% and voila!, the WS-2902 connected immediately to the Internet. The amazing thing was, everything was within 6 feet of the Orbi router in my office when it happened.

Model: RBK53| Orbi Router + 2 Satellites Orbi WiFi System
Message 13 of 38
varase
Guide

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I have never had a 2.4ghz device refuse to connect due to the presense of a 5ghz network; after all, how would a device with only a 2.4ghz radio even know the 5ghz radio was even there?

 

I suspect Allan Funt is out there filming me ... or would it be Ashton Kutcher for this generation?

Model: RBK53| Orbi Router + 2 Satellites Orbi WiFi System
Message 14 of 38
jescott3
Guide

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

The issue is that the Orbi automatically assigns the same SSID to both the 2.4 and the 5 GHz bands, thus confusing a device like the Ambient Weather Osprey WS-2902 which has only 2.4 GHz connectivity. That's why turning off the Orbi's 5 GHz SSID broadcast as well as reducing that radio's power to the minimum 25% (thus letting the 2.4 GHz radio signal power through) worked for me. I suspect I'll have to go through the same drill as long as I have the Orbi every time a reset of the Osprey is needed.

Model: RBK53| Orbi Router + 2 Satellites Orbi WiFi System
Message 15 of 38
securement
Tutor

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I have a similar issue I need to turn off 5ghz so my phone connects on the 2.4ghz connect to the smart device get that connected to my Wi-fi then turn it back on now when I spoke to the so called tech help line they told me to turn off the SSID but as we all know this does not turn off 2.4ghz just the SSID this is one of the worst and most expensive product I have ever bought, don’t get me started on the signal distance.
Message 16 of 38
jescott3
Guide

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I had a similar issue with an Ambient Weather WS-2902 weather station. I was able to successfully connect to the 2.4 GHz side of my Orbi by not only turning off the 5 GHz SSID broadcast but also setting the signal strength to O or zero. That permitted the weather station to connect at 2.4 GHz, and it has stayed connected ever since, even after I turned the 5 GHz SSID back on at 100% signal

strength.  

Model: RBK53| Orbi Router + 2 Satellites Orbi WiFi System
Message 17 of 38
securement
Tutor

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I tried that on my firmware you can only go down to 25%, but for Netgear support to inform me turning off SSID will sort it sounds like they have no idea how to support something they also sold that is not fit for purpose.

Message 18 of 38
Devora
Aspirant

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Hi you stated you set up a Skybell to an orbi. During your setup did you have to isolate the 2.4ghz channel on the orbi or did you just go straight into the Skybell app and set the doorbell up without having to do anything to Orbi?
Model: RBK44| Orbi AC2200 WiFi System
Message 19 of 38
pup0975
Star

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

I don't think I had to separate it out when connecting, but my Skybell is probably far enough away from the main router to connect to the 2.4 signal. You can try connecting without doing anything first. If it fails, then isolate the 2.4 signal, connect to the wifi, then can turn the 5 back on. 

Message 20 of 38
Nina027
Aspirant

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

How do I disconnect the 5 GHz from my router and only connect the 2.4 so I can hook up some devices that only require 2.4 GHz? I have tried several times but it keeps Failing
Model: RBK50| Orbi AC3000 High-Performance Tri-Band WiFi System
Message 21 of 38
Nina027
Aspirant

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Where and how do you go to advance settings?
Message 22 of 38
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Advanced tab/Advanced Settings on left side of browser screen...


@Nina027 wrote:
Where and how do you go to advance settings?

 

Message 23 of 38
Nina027
Aspirant

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

Thank you. I will try tonight again
Message 24 of 38
Ellsworth
Aspirant

Re: Using devices that require 2.4ghz on Orbi

This NetGear Community thread details a straightforward procedure to assign separate SSIDs to an Orbi's 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks:


A couple of notes:

  • The first item in "Step 1" instructs: "Enable Telnet on http://192.168.1.1/debug.htm." This internal page in the Orbi allows the user to "unlock" Telnet functionality in the router (a communications protocol which allows direct communication with hardware devices via text commands). You will check the checkbox labeled "Enable Telnet." Note that this creates a temporary security risk (Telnet is an old and somewhat vulnerable protocol) which makes your router vulnerable, but at the end of procedure, you are instructed to once again disable Telnet be un-checking the box.
  • The instructions explain how to change the 5GHz SSID, but don't explicitly describe how to change the 2.4GHz. You can change the 2.4GHz SSID just as easily by substituting: 
    config set wl_ssid="NAME YOUR 2.4GHZ NETWORK"
    ...for the command example for the 5GHz network.

    Cheers.
Message 25 of 38
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