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Forum Discussion
MarcHChampagne
Nov 21, 2020Guide
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...
- Nov 28, 2021
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.
retromad
Mar 22, 2021Star
So this issue and a host of google smart device issues has led me to believe that there is a deeper issue with how the nighthawk mesh devices bond the 2.4 and 5ghz channels. Keep in mind these channels are all on the same sid. Additionally I believe the connected device limit listed on the Nighthawks (30 devices I think) is probably an best case scenario number.
My results with the nighthawk MR60 system is that devices on the same sid occassionally could not "see" each other unless they were also on the same frequency (e.g. 2.4 or 5). My home has approximately 25 devices (rgb bulbs, thermostats, dimmers) and it seemed like the MR60 struggled to keep all of them happy/connected in a 2000 sq foot house with normal (not concrete or metal) walls.
Given the wifi/IOT devices out there right now usually have junky antennas and poor support for anything out of the ordinary when it comes to wifi. I guess this was to be expected.
The solution (and you are probably not going to like it..) was to return my MR60 and purchase an orbi mesh system (still netgear made). Once I installed the orbi all my connected devices on both 2.4 and 5ghz could talk to each other.
JamesterReyburg
Mar 22, 2021Star
Probably too late to return my system, so I'd have to eat the cost. So much for thinking I was getting a "better" system than if I'd just bought a single router, rather than a mesh system. Very disappointed . Thanks for answering.
- schumakuMar 22, 2021Guru
JamesterReyburg what cost? Find the App on Google Play resp. the Apple App Store, and contact the App maker. Or get in contact wth the maker of your wonderful IoT and point them to this thread resp. my post above.
Again: This is neither a Mesh/router issue nor a problem with the Android or Apple mobile. Granted, both could add controls to allow a 2.4 GHz connection - but for several practical reasons, this isn't available.
- JamesterReyburgMar 22, 2021Star
My issue isn't with Google (as far as I know). The main problem is with Amazon Echos. They all get on the network, but they pick whatever band they pick, and they can't then cooperate to play music everywhere, because they technically aren't all on the same network. To the best of my understanding. But I had mind-bending issues trying to get myQ garage door to work, an HP printer, and now a wall switch. ALL of these things are the fault of the others and not of Netgear? Apologies, but I don't understand that.
- JamesterReyburgMar 22, 2021Star
Okay, you seem to know a lot about this sort of thing, so maybe you can answer this.
I tried *everything* to get my myQ garage door to function to no avail, even got on the phone for an hour with one of the techs at LiftMaster. And it was only when, by chance, I tried enabling the guest network, and hooked to that, and BAM, it worked, first try.
Thinking myself a genius, I tried this with my Amazon Echos. Nope. Tried it with the wall switch. Nope. But the garage door lets me say, "alexa, open sesame," and it still works on the guest network. Why?
Anyway, thanks for your responses. I never heard of "IoT," and I'm the guy most of my friends and family turn to when tech stuff doesn't work. Guess I'm falling behind.- JamesterReyburgMar 22, 2021Star
I really did find the solution. Youtube tech guy had the easy, easy solution.
https://youtu.be/xarVXR1nSs8
Basically, you just unplug the satellite boxes, walk away with your phone until the network disengages, then walk slowly back until it re-engages. Bada-bing, you're on the 2.4 Ghz connection, and can set up the devices. Worked for the wall switch, worked for the echos. And I'm not dumb enough to even mess with the garage door, it's working on the guest network, it can stay there.Whew.
--Jamie
- retromadMar 23, 2021StarNp, glad to help. Maybe netgear support would let you trade up given the issues you are having. Could not hurt to try...