Enable on telnet on the router or satellite For the router, go to http://192.168.1.1/debug.htm For a statellite, log into the router, copy the IP address of the satellite, and go to http://<satellite ip>/debug.htm Check Enable Telnet Telnet to the router or satellite Use telnet from the command line or terminal (use nc if on the latest macOS) Enter the admin username and password Disable the wifi band by entering the following commands For 2.4Ghz band use config set endis_wl_radio=0 ifconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP) down For the 5Ghz band use config set endis_wla_radio=0 ifconfig $(config get wl5g_NORMAL_AP) down For the guest 2.4Ghz band use config set wlg1_endis_guestNet=0 ifconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP) down For the guest 5Ghz band use config set wla1_endis_guestNet=0 ifconfig $(config get wl5g_GUEST_AP) down The first command will disable the wifi monitoring for the band and the second command will shutdown the band itself. The config command write to the nonvolatile memory so the settings will still be there after a restart.

Thanks for the correction. The settings work on the latest firmware, V2.2.1.210. Also, you have to apply the settings to every router and satellite if you want to disable 2.4GHz entirely. To check that the settings were applied, run the command "config get endis_wl_radio" and make sure it returns 0. Also run "iwconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP)" and verify that Access Point is Not-Associated. If you're willing to try something untested, it appears that the entire 2.4 and 5GHz bands can be disable from the web interface. You have to log into the router and navigate to Advanced -> Advanced Settings -> Wireless Settings. Then open the web console in firefox (Developer Tools then Console for Chrome) and enter the following and press return: document.getElementById("formframe").contentWindow.document.querySelectorAll("[style='display:none']").forEach(i => i.removeAttribute("style")) This should show all the hidden elements including the "Enable Wireless Router Radio" checkboxes for 2.4 and 5GHz. You can uncheck and press Apply. It seems to conflict with the first procedure so I haven't really tested to see if it works.

This is insane. Disabling the 2.4GHz or 5GHz channel should be as easy as going to wifi settings and doing so. Is anyone from Orbi/Netgear monitoring this thread? Please fix this interface shortcoming.

troytemplin wrote: This worked perfectly but if I want to turn it back on what are the commands? To disable: For 2.4Ghz band use config set endis_wl_radio=0 config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath0) ifconfig ath0 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above To enable back: For 2.4Ghz band use config set endis_wla_2nd_radio=1 config set wl2g_NORMAL_AP=ath0 ifconfig ath0 up ------------------------------------------------------------- To diable: For the 5Ghz band use config set endis_wla_radio=0 config get wl5g_NORMAL_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath1) ifconfig ath1 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above To enable back: For 5Ghz band use config set endis_wla_2nd_radio=1 config set wl5g_NORMAL_AP=ath1 ifconfig ath1 up ------------------------------------------------------------- To disable: For the guest 2.4Ghz band use config set wlg1_endis_guestNet=0 config get wl2g_GUEST_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath02) ifconfig ath02 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above To enable back: For the guest 2.4Ghz band use config set endis_wla_2nd_radio=1 config set wl2g_GUEST_AP=ath02 ifconfig ath02 up ------------------------------------------------------------- To disable: For the guest 5Ghz band use config set wla1_endis_guestNet=0 config get wl5g_GUEST_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath11) ifconfig ath11 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above To enable back: For the guest 5Ghz band use config set endis_wla_2nd_radio=1 config set wl5g_GUEST_AP=ath11 ifconfig ath11 up

Barney67 wrote: Hi, Ok can confirm this is NOT disabling the 2.4 Wifi on the router. I do the following: config set endis_wl_radio=0 config get endis_wl_radio (Returns 0) ifconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP) down config commit reboot config get endis_wl_radio (Returns 1 after reboot) I do have different SSID for 2.4 and 5GHz Networks if this makes a difference. I have the satellite turned off during the test. I tested this procedure now. The command "ifconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP) down" does not work for some reason. Instead follow the following procedure: For 2.4Ghz band use config set endis_wl_radio=0 config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath0) ifconfig ath0 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above For the 5Ghz band use config set endis_wla_radio=0 config get wl5g_NORMAL_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath1) ifconfig ath1 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above For the guest 2.4Ghz band use config set wlg1_endis_guestNet=0 config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath0) ifconfig ath0 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above For the guest 5Ghz band use config set wla1_endis_guestNet=0 config get wl5g_GUEST_AP --> Get the prontout (should be ath11) ifconfig ath11 down --> Or use the output from command in point 2 above

You can't disable the WiFi SSID broadcast only. Disabling of either radio is not officially supported by any other means. This is not a bug. Orbi needs wifi running so the RBS and any connected devices have wifi signal. How it's designed. If you need to disable wifi radios on a schedule, find something else that supports this. icalks wrote:This is insane. Disabling the 2.4GHz or 5GHz channel should be as easy as going to wifi settings and doing so. Is anyone from Orbi/Netgear monitoring this thread? Please fix this interface shortcoming.

How to disable WiFi on the Orbi Router or Satellite

22 Replies

Replies have been turned off for this discussion

Barney67
Aspirant
Jan 01, 2019
On firmware V2.2.1.210 I was unable to disable the 2.4GHz channel using this procedure. Is it still valid?
- ekhalil
  Master
  Jan 02, 2019
  Barney67 wrote:
  
  On firmware V2.2.1.210 I was unable to disable the 2.4GHz channel using this procedure. Is it still valid?
  
  Yes, should be valid. Please make sure to reboot the node after you do the procedure.
  
  Only one small correction to the well described procedure above (in red text below) :)
  
  For 2.4Ghz band use
  
  config set endis_wl_radio=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP) down
  
  For the 5Ghz band use
  
  config set endis_wla_radio=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl5g_NORMAL_AP) down
  
  For the guest 2.4Ghz band use
  
  config set wlg1_endis_guestNet=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl2g_GUEST_AP) down
  
  For the guest 5Ghz band use
  
  config set wla1_endis_guestNet=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl5g_GUEST_AP) down
- ekhalil
  Master
  Jan 02, 2019
  Barney67 wrote:
  
  On firmware V2.2.1.210 I was unable to disable the 2.4GHz channel using this procedure. Is it still valid?
  
  Yes, should be valid. Just please make sure to reboot the node after applying the procedure.
  
  Just a small correction to the well described procedure above (in red text below): :)
  
  For 2.4Ghz band use
  
  config set endis_wl_radio=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP) down
  
  For the 5Ghz band use
  
  config set endis_wla_radio=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl5g_NORMAL_AP) down
  
  For the guest 2.4Ghz band use
  
  config set wlg1_endis_guestNet=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl2g_GUEST_AP) down
  
  For the guest 5Ghz band use
  
  config set wla1_endis_guestNet=0
  
  ifconfig $(config get wl5g_GUEST_AP) down
  - yata001
    Star
    Jan 02, 2019
    Thanks for the correction.
    
    The settings work on the latest firmware, V2.2.1.210. Also, you have to apply the settings to every router and satellite if you want to disable 2.4GHz entirely. To check that the settings were applied, run the command "config get endis_wl_radio" and make sure it returns 0. Also run "iwconfig $(config get wl2g_NORMAL_AP)" and verify that Access Point is Not-Associated.
    
    If you're willing to try something untested, it appears that the entire 2.4 and 5GHz bands can be disable from the web interface. You have to log into the router and navigate to Advanced -> Advanced Settings -> Wireless Settings. Then open the web console in firefox (Developer Tools then Console for Chrome) and enter the following and press return:
    
    document.getElementById("formframe").contentWindow.document.querySelectorAll("[style='display:none']").forEach(i => i.removeAttribute("style"))
    
    This should show all the hidden elements including the "Enable Wireless Router Radio" checkboxes for 2.4 and 5GHz. You can uncheck and press Apply.
    
    It seems to conflict with the first procedure so I haven't really tested to see if it works.
icalks
Tutor
May 12, 2019
This is insane. Disabling the 2.4GHz or 5GHz channel should be as easy as going to wifi settings and doing so. Is anyone from Orbi/Netgear monitoring this thread? Please fix this interface shortcoming.
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  May 13, 2019
  You can't disable the WiFi SSID broadcast only. Disabling of either radio is not officially supported by any other means. This is not a bug. Orbi needs wifi running so the RBS and any connected devices have wifi signal. How it's designed. If you need to disable wifi radios on a schedule, find something else that supports this.
  
  icalks wrote:
  This is insane. Disabling the 2.4GHz or 5GHz channel should be as easy as going to wifi settings and doing so. Is anyone from Orbi/Netgear monitoring this thread? Please fix this interface shortcoming.
  - rootard
    Aspirant
    Jul 09, 2019
    Hello
    
    I want to switch off the router at night. As there's no such option in the interface I've made a series of attempts using ifconfig + crontab.
    
    I've listed all interfaces on my RBR20, there are plenty more including NetGear_Hidden: sync channels?
    wl2g_NORMAL_AP is ath0 and wl5g_NORMAL_AP is ath2
    
    root@RBR20:~/mnt/circle/localinit# iwconfig
    ath02 IEEE 802.11b ESSID:"NETGEAR-Guest"
    Mode:Master Frequency:2.472 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
    ath12 IEEE 802.11ac ESSID:"NETGEAR-Guest"
    Mode:Master Frequency:5.54 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
    ath0 IEEE 802.11ng ESSID:"MYSSID"
    Mode:Master Frequency:2.472 GHz Access Point: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    ath1 IEEE 802.11ac ESSID:"MYSSID"
    Mode:Master Frequency:5.54 GHz Access Point: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    ath2 IEEE 802.11ac ESSID:"MYSSID"
    Mode:Master Frequency:5.18 GHz Access Point: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    ath01 IEEE 802.11ng ESSID:"NETGEAR_ORBI_hidden76"
    Mode:Master Frequency:2.472 GHz Access Point: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    ath11 IEEE 802.11ac ESSID:"NETGEAR_ORBI_hidden76"
    Mode:Master Frequency:5.54 GHz Access Point: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
    ath21 IEEE 802.11ac ESSID:"NETGEAR-Guest"
    Mode:Master Frequency:5.18 GHz Access Point: Not-Associated
    
    When I switch off the satellite then ifconfig down as above I can still see my SSID and the attached devices keep on working !
    Worse, after a couple of seconds the APs move back from Not-Associated to their original ON state
    iwconfig ath2 power off does'nt work either...
    
    Netgear Please fix this !
    Model: RBR20|Orbi AC2200 Tri-band WiFi Router
strikelight
Aspirant
Jun 22, 2022
Has anyone been able to get this to work on the latest firmware? When disabling on a satellite (connected via wireless backhaul), I've found as soon as I switch the normal bands off using this, The router will start reporting that the connection to the satellite is poor, and eventually disconnect it from the setup.
- FURRYe38
  Guru
  Jun 22, 2022
  Disabling WiFi signals on Orbi systems is not supported by NG. Thus we can presume that any attempts would lead to bad operation of the system. Would be not advised to attempt to modify this. Orbi needs wifi running so the RBS and any connected devices have wifi signal and operate correct. How it's designed. If you need to disable wifi radios on a schedule, find something else that supports this.

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How to disable WiFi on the Orbi Router or Satellite