Found a neat way to connect my new devices to 2.4Ghz channel on the Orbi Mesh System

[GregS_from_MI]

bout a month ago, I posted on the community site because I needed to add a camera to my network but my new Orbi AX4200 does not support a way to differentiate 2.4Gh from 5Ghz channels. Both networks carry the same SSID. (Solved: Re: How do you turn off 5G on RBK753 - NETGEAR Communities)

I received a solution from people recommending I reduce the 5G power level to 25% and unplug the 2 satellites. I tried that solution but could never properly connect to the 2.4 channel and the app/camera wouldn't let me add the device because it though I was on the 5Ghz channel. I eventually got the camera to connect but it was through a Soft-AP that the camera itself provided, in other words, it became a 2.4Ghz hotspot which I could connect my phone and then I could register the camera. 

I was playing around with an app on my phone called Wifi Analyzer. I've had the app for awhile, and used it to look at signal strength when I was placing the satellites around the house. On one menu tab called Access Points, you can look at all the SSID, with in range and it will show you the strength of the signal. You can change from 2.4 to 5 channels. 

What I learned is if you are displaying the SSID for the 2.4 channel, if you tap that SSID (in your network) you will get an option to Connect to that channel. To test it, I deleted the camera (the one I had a problem with) from my network.

1. I went back into the router, reduced the 5Ghz to 25%, hit Apply. 

 > Advanced Tab

  > Advanced

   > Wireless Settings 

2. Unplugged the 2 satellites

3. Opened the Wifi Analyzer, went to the 2.4Ghz channel under Access Points, select my SSID and connected to it. (enter your network Password to connect). See attached file. 

Once I connected to th 2.4Ghz channel, the camera connected to my network without any problem.

When you are done, go back to steps 1 and 2, reverse your actions. 

This may not be a revelation I thought it was a slick way to get the job done. 

[CrimpOn]

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@GregS_from_MI wrote:

What I learned is if you are displaying the SSID for the 2.4 channel, if you tap that SSID (in your network) you will get an option to Connect to that channel.

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Congratulations on an excellent suggestion for Android users.  I have a (dim) memory that WiFi Analyzer type apps are not supported on the iOS platform, so iPhone users may not be able to use this method.

I will do some tests to see how long the phone remains connected to the 2G WiFi channel.  What a cool solution!

[GregS_from_MI]

You are absolutely correct, the app I used was on an Android phone so I don't know if this is available for iPhone.

[CrimpOn]

Well, grrr.  Opened two WiFi Analyzer apps and could not find a way to get it to let me connect.

Mind sharing which WiFi Analyzer app worked for you?

[GregS_from_MI]

Here is what I'm using. As said before, this app is used on my Android phone so I am not sure if it is available for the iPhone. 

I got the app from the Play Store. There are 2 versions of the app, standard and Premium, which I guess I purchased and don't recall. I've attached 3 files. 

1. Screen shot of the app, selected About for this shot

2. Screen shot of the download page on the Play Store

3. User guide

I could only attach one file so it is number 2. sorry

Good Luck, 

Greg

[McLong]

Good look and I'm sure this will help others. I ran across a similar article online that discusses this method but just so others are aware I was unsuccessful switching to the 2.4ghz channel using a Samsung S21 Ultra on Android 12; However, I wasn't using the premium version so that may be the ticket. Glad you got your camera connected but still searching for a way to connect a hunter ceiling fan.

[GregS_from_MI]

Sorry to hear that it didn't work for you. I too have the S21 Ultra phone on Android v12. Maybe the premium version has more capabilities. Like I said, I don't remember upgrading the app version but I obviously did.

[McLong]

That gives me hope. I'll pick up the premium version and try again one of these days. Thanks for the quick response!

[FURRYe38]

Might be helpful if you showed a screen capture of this app listed in the google store and the Mfrs name, there are many "wifi analyzer" apps seen in the store. 

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@GregS_from_MI wrote:
Sorry to hear that it didn't work for you. I too have the S21 Ultra phone on Android v12. Maybe the premium version has more capabilities. Like I said, I don't remember upgrading the app version but I obviously did.

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[CrimpOn]

That was the screen shot in the message above.

[GregS_from_MI]

I did attach the screen shot file in my previous post of ‎2022-01-02 09:53 AM. I'll attempt to put the photo in this reply and not attach the file this time. 

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@FURRYe38 wrote:

Might be helpful if you showed a screen capture of this app listed in the google store and the Mfrs name, there are many "wifi analyzer" apps seen in the store. 

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@GregS_from_MI wrote:
Sorry to hear that it didn't work for you. I too have the S21 Ultra phone on Android v12. Maybe the premium version has more capabilities. Like I said, I don't remember upgrading the app version but I obviously did.

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[FURRYe38]

Thats great info. Ya I've had this on my Android pad for a while, just hadn't used it. 

Thank you.

[CrimpOn]

Mixed results so far:

• Yes, it appears that the Premuim version of the app will offer to connect, and the (unpremium?) version does not.
  The premium also does away with the irritating ads at the bottom.
• On my Sony Xperia Compact with Android 10, the offer to connect does appear except that:
  It will not offer to connect to the top MAC address on the list, which happens to be the one I want.
  It does not give any sort of error message when the WiFi password is entered incorrectly.
  When I do enter the correct password, nothing seems to happen.

I will install the app on a tablet and see if it works differently.

(so near..... and yet so far)

[CrimpOn]

Still batting zero.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6-lite, Android 11 also fails (for me).  I remain unhappy that:

• It does not allow me to 'connect' to the top WiFi MAC address.
• Entering an incorrect password gives no error message
• Entering a correct password appears to do nothing.

Meanwhile:

• When I start the app with WiFi disabled and do a 'connect', the Android device continues to indicate WiFi disabled.  (WTF?)

I have attempted to contact the developer for more information.

[McLong]

Just purchased the paid version and same experience as CrimpOn. Any suggestions OP?

[GregS_from_MI]

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@McLong wrote:
Just purchased the paid version and same experience as CrimpOn. Any suggestions OP?

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Let me walk through this again, see if I missed any steps. 

- Logged into the router and turned the power down to 25% on the 5Ghz channel so I had a better chance of connecting the on the 2.4 channel which should be the stronger signal. 

- Unplugged my satellites so the only broadcast signal would be from my router. 

- I went into our bedroom which was furthest point in the house just to make sure the 5Ghz channel wouldn't still be the stronger signal.

- I actually restarted my phone before I did the next step, someone on the original post in early December suggested it, thinking the phone would seek the strongest connection. 

- Opened the Wifi Analyzer, displayed the 2.4Ghz channels. @CrimpOn , I noticed the same thing you commented on. That was you wanted the top channel listed but it wouldn't give you the opportunity to connect. I can't explain that one. In hindsight, I don't recall that problem. 

At this juncture, I would have only had one 2.4Ghz channel showing (besides the guest channel) since both satellites were unplugged, so I must have been able to connect on the top channel. Reaching out to the developer is probably a good choice. 

Sorry I am unable to provide any other suggestions. 

Greg

[CrimpOn]

The reason I am so excited about this potential solution is that it should be independent of the power level of the WiFi system.

After Netgear removed the option to disable WiFi SSID broadcast (which the AX product never had), people adopted the strategy of "make the 5G WiFi so weak that the smartphone will connect to the 2.4G band because it is the only WiFi signal that is any good:

• Actually power off all of the satellites, leaving the router as the only WiFi signal.
• Turn the 5G transmit power down as far as it will go (25%)
• Move the device to be connected and the smartphone as far away from the router as possible and still get a signal.
• Connect the smartphone to WiFi (which will only select the 2.4G WiFi because 5G is too weak).
• Set up the IoT device.
• Once the device is set up, physically move the device back to wherever it is supposed to be used.
• Return the 5G transmit power back to the original setting.
• Power the satellites back on.

This process is clearly tedious and disruptive.  Cutting 5G power may very well render a bunch of high bandwidth devices (temporarily) unusable.

This is what is so attractive about the WiFi app - if it actually works.  If I am telling the smartphone, "Connect to this specific WiFi SSID on this specific access point", then there is no need to fool around with the WiFi system at all.  Just use the app to connect the smartphone to the 2.4G SSID and set up whatever you want.  No muss.  No fuss.

To be honest, I worry that it was going through the original steps that caused your phone to connect at 2.4G - not the app.

I have since tested two WiFi Analyzer apps on a Moto e, Android  7.1.  No success.