NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Nighthawk mesh MR60 - devices that require 2.4 GHz connection
Please be patient and descriptive in your replies, I pick things up pretty quickly but am far from a network engineer. I upgraded my entire network when the pandemic lockdown started due to my en...
Thank you so much worked for me...I turned off my 2 satellites and went into my garage. I connected all my smart outlets in there.
MarcHChampagne wrote:The devices would not reconnect (they use an app, "Smart Life," to connect and program). I found out, through another inquiry with their support team, that they only work on 2.4 GHz band and I should connect to that band with my iPhone for a successful setup. Any other suggestions they had were not available to me with the Netgear routers (for example, setting up two separate named networks, one for 2.4, one for 5 GHz)
Go back to the IoT "Smart Life" support and explain them on how decent wireless systems are working - feel free to send them a link or this information - and ask when this simple fix will be made vailable to the App:
===
There is _no_ technical need to connect to the 2.4 GHz radio - the only purpose _was_ for legacy routers where different network names are used for connecting to th every same network, so the App will pick the correct SSID (network name) to be configured to the IoT.
What really happens? The factory reset IoT are putting up a typically hidden set-up SSID on air, the App will fetch the current WiFi SSID (probably also the security key), briefly disconnect from the WiFi network, search for the manufacturer specific SSID on air and connect insecure or with a predefined password, then push the WiFi SSID (along with the wireless security key or passphrase) to the IoT.
At no point it's required to have the mobile on the 2.4 GHz network - especially not on modern Mesh systems using a single SSID. It does not matter if the mobile with the App is connected to a 2.4 GHz, a 5 GHz, a 60 GHz network, or the new WiFi 6E 6 GHz band the latest wireless systems can use - permitting all wireless SSID and security are set the same.
All they have to do is remove the stupid check for a 2.4 GHz connection, or allow to skip this check (instead of a dead end!) in their stupid discovery and configuration Apps.
For reason, no mobile device wireless client does allow a control which band should be used - because ONE SSID defines the connection to ONE network.
===
retromad love the proposal wrapping (shielding) the device - cool workaround!
Reviewed the "Smart Life" App (on Android) - at no point it does ask to use or connect to the 2.4 GHz network. There is just a note stating "The device only supports connection to the 2.4g network. Thank you for oyur support andunderstanding.".