How to set a separate SSID for the 5 GHz network on your Orbi

[FURRYe38]

Has anyone try this?

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Kindle-Paperwhite-not-found-my-Orbi-RBR40/m-p/1712069/highligh...

[ekhalil]

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@FURRYe38 wrote:

Has anyone try this?

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Kindle-Paperwhite-not-found-my-Orbi-RBR40/m-p/1712069/highligh...

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I tried this and it does not work to force a device to attach to the 2.4 GHz band, simply because Orbi still broadcasts the 5GHz channel but with a hidden SSID which is the same as the 2.4 GHz SSID and has the same password, so a device that has the SSID and password for the 2.4 GHz network will also be able to attach to the 5 GHz network using the same credentials!

I tried this with different Apple devices and was always able to connect to the hidden 5 GHz network. It can also depend on the device, so maybe some devices -like Kindle- will choose not to try to connect to a network with hidden SSID, but -for sure- Apple devices as well as many other smart devices will. 

[FURRYe38]

For Apple devices, if one were to "Forget This Network" then try to have the Apple device try to reconnect. It may connect to the 2.4Ghz radio. It would depend if the Apple device will still use the Hidden 5Ghz channel or not though it would have same PW credentials. 

It's an option for some to try I guess. One user mentioned it worked for him for his IoT device. 

[graxxus]

More recent firmware, confimed with V2.3.0.28, additionally requires that the following is changed to allow for separate broadcast names:

config set wla_2nd_ssid="CUSTOM5GNAMEHERE"

[Crazy-Bubble]

It doesn't work for me on the RBR20 either.

I also reported that the Orbi's management interface runs on HTTP instead of HTTPS as well as command line access is via Telnet. How difficult is it for NetGear to get with the program & properly implement secure access? This is another security breach waiting to happen.

[Crazy-Bubble]

I tried the following today on my RBR20:

1. Updated firmware of both router and satellite to V2.3.0.28.
2. Enabled telnet & made the following changes:

   config set wla_ssid="my5Ghz"
   config set wla_2nd_ssid="my5Ghz"
   
   config commit
   
   config get wl_ssid
   config get wla_ssid
   config get wla_2nd_ssid
   
   reboot

3. The 5Ghz network name is not visible to any device & when I went in via telnet to see if the configuration is still there, it shows the single network name which has been defined via the GUI.

To me. it looks like NetGear has decided not to allow command line modification anymore & resets the above parameters to default upon reboot.

[Retired_Member]

I have the same problem on my SRK60 system since the firmware V2.3.0.0 (automatic) update.

The separate SSIDd for the 5GHz WiFi merges back into a single SSID after each reboot.

[biga888]

Hi, here is what I did yo keep my main network merged and use my guest for my home automation. I uploaded to the latest firmware 2.3 etc

telnet in

list all the config settingsd that I can set SSID's and then trial and error to figure out which one was which.

config show | grep ssid

config set wla1_ssid="CHROME-5G"
config set wlg1_ssid="CHROME"

config comit

reboot

Now I get my main network SSID and 2 seperate guest networks.

Cheers

[FURRYe38]

FYI, for users who are trying to get some 2.4Ghz supporting only devices setup on there Orbi's you don't have to separate the SSIDs. You can however disable the 5Ghz SSID from being seen temporarily by setup devices. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings. Take the check mark out of the Enable SSID (5G) box. This will hide 5Ghz SSID support for any 5Ghz supporting setup devices and force them to connect to the 2.4Ghz SSID frequency. This should allow the 2.4Ghz setup software on the mobile device to fully discover the 2.4ghz device and get it setup correctly on Orbi. Once completed, Check mark the Enable SSID (5G) box to put the Orbi back in normal operation. 

[schumaku]

@FURRYe38  is this a new(ish) control introduced on some recent firmware update?

[FURRYe38]

Seems like it. @Chuck_M confirmed this for me. I initially saw this on my CBR40. I asked about it but got no response from NG. I was able to disable either SSID. The broadcast was still going however seems to force connections to either frequency that the SSID is not hidden for. 

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@schumaku wrote:

@FURRYe38  is this a new(ish) control introduced on some recent firmware update?

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[Retired_Member]

Just got my Orbi from Costcoand updated FW to 2.3.1.44. I tried all of the telnet stuff first, and just unchecking the Enable SSID Broadcast for the 5GHz broadcast allowed me to set up a wireless clock and thermostat that only use 2.4GHz. Also, I had to chnage te MTU to 1464 so my Fire TV Stick would work (under ADVANCED tab, Setup -> WAN Setup). I also had to change my network to 192.168.x.x since my thermostat (Carrier) wouldn't use the default 10.x.x.x network.

[FURRYe38]

Instead of trying to separate SSIDs, there is a Disable SSID broadcast for each frequency under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings. Thus you can hid either freqency while trying to set up a IoT device. 

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@Retired_Member wrote:

Just got my Orbi from Costcoand updated FW to 2.3.1.44. I tried all of the telnet stuff first, and just unchecking the Enable SSID Broadcast for the 5GHz broadcast allowed me to set up a wireless clock and thermostat that only use 2.4GHz. Also, I had to chnage te MTU to 1464 so my Fire TV Stick would work (under ADVANCED tab, Setup -> WAN Setup). I also had to change my network to 192.168.x.x since my thermostat (Carrier) wouldn't use the default 10.x.x.x network.

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[Sto3]

I absolutely love the dignified manner in which you addressed this. I strive daily to acquire such sentiment when it comes to my dealings with others. Thanks!

[mikegyver]

Hi,

Anyone know if upgrading to latest firmware v2.3.1.60 will break this separate SSID functionaliy hack?

[filski]

Did anyone figure out how to do this successfully for the RBR20? I tried the telnet approaches and it didn't end up splitting the SSIDs, but just updating both. I have a laptop that keeps joining 2.4 GHz so I would rather set up a seperate SSID and just force it to the 5 GHz.

Thanks,

Philip

[FURRYe38]

Try disbling the SSID broadcast for either radio. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

[blautens]

Hey, thanks for this - it was a GREAT help, and I appreciate your sentiments throughout this thread and agree with you. I wanted to help someone else, perhaps. New to Orbi as of today, I came from having dual Asus RT-AC68Us (one in Access Point mode). In retrospect, probably not the ideal Orbi customer. But I digress.

I not only need separate SSIDs for 2.4 and 5 Ghz, but they have different preshared keys. 

So, in the CLI, after examining the output from "config show", I figured out that the command below let me change the preshared key for the new SSID I created:

config set wl_wpa2_psk=YOURPSKHERE

No quotes around the presharedkey, and of course, like SSIDs, it's case sensitive. 

FYI, rebooting doesn't blow anything away, still works peachy, and I have the very recent firmware - V2.3.5.30.

Hope this helps someone.

[rtackett68]

Thank you so much! My Orbi kept assigning my devices to 2.4, which put me back where I started. You are a life saver! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[DrKevorkian94]

Did you ever solve this problem? I have the CBR40 and no mater what I do I end up with "Command not found" same as you. 

[FURRYe38]

Separating the SSID is not supported. However you can disable either radios SSID broadcast to help with getting IoT devices connected. 

Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings

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@DrKevorkian94 wrote:

Did you ever solve this problem? I have the CBR40 and no mater what I do I end up with "Command not found" same as you. 

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[cmgreenman]

@mikegyver,
I've updated my RBK50 (router and sat) to 2.3.5.30 and still have split SSIDs. In addition I added an RBS20 to the mix, updated to 2.3.5.26(latest available) and it's showing the split SSIDs as well. Best part is all I had to was add the RBS20 to the mesh and it automatically grabbed all the right configs and set up the split ssids all on its own. No intervention by me required.

Hope this helps.

[JacoBeachCondo]

How can you split the Guest Network? I am only able to split the first network. Want to make it possible for guests to login to the 2.4 Guest network to access a SONOS play1 that hides on the 2.4

[Solarbuddy]

I was unable to make that happen either but was ultimately successful by picking up a used Sonos bridge and physically attached it to one of the Orbi remotes.

[outbreak187]

Hello

Any luck with the RBR20?

The ssid changes with the commands; however, right after reboot they go back to the original.

Even with an additional password change.....

Thanks!