On last week’s IoT Podcast, our voicemail hotline got a question from Mike about his smart Christmas lights. It turns out that he’s having issues connecting them to his home Wi-Fi network, which is built around a Google OnHub. It also turns out that this is a common problem, even though Wi-Fi smart lights, switches, doorbells and other devices are built around Wi-Fi standards, and therefore should just work on the network.
This is a two-part problem directly related to the growing number of mesh Wi-Fi networks, which is what Mike is using in his home. The other piece to this puzzle is the Wi-Fi chips used in many smart home devices.
Remember, mesh Wi-Fi networks combine both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies into a single network. That’s different from the “old days” where a router often had a separate network for each of these signals. In that scenario, you’d have two different networks in your home; with today’s mesh networks, you only have one.
So that presents a challenge for devices using lower-cost 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi chips because they’re looking for a 2.4 GHz network to latch on to. And in a mesh network situation, there really isn’t one to find, hence the problem.
I’ve experienced this problem myself on a number of devices with my Google Wi-Fi setup; it’s frustrating, to say the least. At the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in January, I spoke with several industry contacts who make Wi-Fi smart devices and they’re well aware of the problem. Some weren’t prepared for the fast uptake of mesh networks in the home, while others said the standards were still evolving. In either case, they chose 2.4 GHz wireless chips for network connectivity at the time.
The situation is likely to get better but it won’t happen overnight since designing and producing hardware can take months, if not years. So what can you do now if you’re having the same issues as Mike?
Your best bet is to manually set up a separate low-cost 2.4GHz router that’s attached to your mesh network, unfortunately. Yes, this could confuse things since you’ll now be back to a dual-network situation but you only need the new 2.4GHz option for any smart devices that can’t seem to connect to your mesh network.
To hear Mike’s question in full, as well as our conversation about the issue and solution, tune in to the podcast below.
I’ve had good luck using an old table that is only 2.4ghz. Since I discovered this trick, I’ve not had a single problem setting up a smart home device on my google wifi
Thank you! You are a genius!
What do you mean by table, Sir? We’re in this spot, about to take router back so I’m deeply intrigued).
I believe the OP probably meant “tablet.”
I’ve noticed that if you set up your router’s 2.4ghz and 5ghz network with the same SSID, the smart WiFi devices can get confused and try to connect to the 5ghz network. It’ll fail to connect and you may not get any indication why it failed. You’ll have to change the SSID of the 5ghz network to something different and the smart WiFi device will then connect to the 2.4ghz network.
Yup, and with mesh networks, you can’t configure the two frequencies to have separate SSIDs; there’s only one for both.
Using a Telnet interface, you can with the Netgear Orbi.
Do you know how to do that? I’ve tried and never could get Telnet to work properly. (I also have an orbi)
Hi all – I have an improved solution for this which means you won’t need two networks at the same time (which could also have meant having bridging issues).
The best solution is to use that old router but change its SSID (network name) and password to be the same as your mesh network. Then turn off Wi-fi on the mesh (or just switch the mesh off) and connect your smart home device to the 2.4ghz band on your old router.
Once that’s all done, turn off the old router, and turn the mesh Wi-fi back on – your smart home device (which now recognises the SSID and password of the mesh) should now connect directly to the 2.4ghz channel with no problems 🙂
Good luck!
Steps to set up a 2.4 Ghz only user on your google wi-fi:
1. Set up the “Guest Network” (use a different name then your main network).
2. Select the Guest Network under wi-fi settings on the phone, tablet or computer you are using to set up the 2.4 only device.
3. Set up the device.
4. Once the device is hooked up to your wi-fi you can switch your phone, tablet or computer back to the main network.
The “Guest Network” by default prioritizes 2.4
Thank you! I was going crazy trying to connect an IoT device – I thought I wasted my money, but this fixed it! If only it also worked on my non-responsive Ring lighting bridge!
THIS WORKED LIKE A CHARM!
Thanks!
This guy deserves a raise!!!!!! I was fighting some new switches (not my first) that I bought, that only used 2.4. Read the idea about buying another router and wasn’t in love with it. This guest network idea worked like the magic I hoped to experience when setting these switches up. Appreciate the knowledge!
As of March 2021, this doesn’t work; guest network also reverts to 5GHz :/
As of July 2021 I can say this definitely still works for me with half a dozen 2.4Ghz only iOT security devices I have. None of them would reliably connect to the primary network properly but they all reliably connected just fine to the guest network.
Please note, the guest network supports 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz so a device that supports 5Ghz will still connect to the 5Ghz. That said, what I think the OP means by “prefers” is really that the band steering functionality (which encourages a device to get on the 5Ghz band) isn’t on or as aggressive on the guest network. So a 2.4Ghz device will connect and just hang out on that band w/o being shoved onto the 5Ghz band. (Just a theory, I am not a network engineer but I’ve read a lot of support forum posts on this topic.)
Also, please make sure the device (phone, tablet) that you’re using to set up your smart devices is also on the guest network when doing the set up.
I worked for me on July 17, 2021. Many thanks.
Worked for me after one change – make sure guest network is allowed to have “internet and internal network” access and not just “internet”! AT&T fiber router defaulted on allowing “internet only” for the 2.4 GHz guest network, and this resulted in “hanging” of all of my smart plugs after some time, with resetting only by unplugging. Changing it to “internet and internal network” in the configuration allowed all the plugs to work rock-solid.
Tried that. Didn’t work.
Works perfect Jan 2022, Zenwifi ASUS which I though would be the easy way out of setting up two mesh routers to extend network range. Well, well, we all make mistakes
I bought a set of 4 smart plugs. I got 2 successfully set up and also for use with my Alexa. When I pug in the 3rd plug, I loose my internet connection. It does not come back on until I remove the plug and do a modem reset. No information seems to be available on this. I do have a mesh network, running at 200 speed. Would upping my speed help.
Same issue
Same issue. However, I have Google Nest WiFi and I’m having buffering issues on a Nordictrack bike and treadmill. I spoke with customer support and they confirmed the issue is with the mesh network. Unplugging the WiFi point during the workout works great but seems like a bit of a hassle to do it every time we want to work out.
I was able to get my Ring Flood light and Ring Chime Pro to finally work by connecting my old Apple extreme router and setting it to broadcast 2.4ghz only. I put it in bridge mode so no NAT.
I have my Google WiFi mesh. Then my Verizon router ( turned off router functions no NAT, only hooked up because of the TV guide and on demand functions that Verizon utilizes the router for) then my Apple extreme router which is only being used for the Ring devices that won’t connect to the 5ghz band ?. So I have 3 routers plugged in no issues.
I literally was ready to take back my ring flood cam until ring sent me the chime pro and that wouldn’t connect. Figured my network was the problem and came aceros this website. The easiest fix is to use an old router in bridge mode 2.4 ghz only for your Stupid smart Ring devices. ?
Glad to hear we helped!
same issue, have Orbi with 3 Satellites and couldn’t connect one stupid Google Assistant product. Had to dig in my closet and find an old router, create a new network, and run all google home products off of the old router. Internet has never been faster since doing so. My next issue will be my home security looks like I need to buy one with a 5ghz chip, blows.
I struggled with this for 2 years and as many I see on online with the same frustrating problem. Here is a quick, easy, inexpensive to fix this forever.
I have a 5G Google mesh wifi, works great. 2.4Ghz smart devices doesn’t like it and won’t work with 5G.
Go to amazon.com or wherever and buy a 2.4Ghz ONLY wifi router for $15-$20, cheap.
Set it up with the same network name as your other 5G wifi, except add “2.4Ghz” to the end of the name (you can do this by using one of the Ethernet ports in you 5G router)
Use the 2.4Ghz for all your smart devices (2.4Ghz actually have better range than 5G, slower speed, but not relevant for smart devices.)
Continue to use the 5G wifi for everything else
Running both router does NO harm. Well worth it given the frustration. There are many many good 2.4Ghz wireless routers online for less than $15, problem solved
Sharing to help other with the same frustration.
I know this is an old post but it looks like a promising solution. So just to be clear, is this the setup?
1. Mesh WiFi system – leave smart switching ON to automatically switch devices between 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz
2. Connect a second router (via ethernet) that only supports 2.4 GHz (or turn its 5 GHz option off)
3. Set the 2.4-only router to create a new network
4. Set the network name on the 2.4-only router to a different name
If these steps are followed, 2.4 GHz-only devices will connect to the secondary network but still be recognized on the primary network?
Or you could install something like the Ubiquiti Access Pro AP packs, that allow you great coverage from what is effectively a mesh network,but broken into the 2 frequencies, Works a treat for me.
To John who suggested using the guest wifi to connect smart plugs and such…THANK YOU!!! It really worked!
Been trying to connect my wifi bulb all afternoon ive even managed to change my wifi to 2.4ghz and still getting no connection i am with virgin media and tried different lights on the app incase i was trying the wrong light setting and still no luck anybody got any ideas
I spent most of today trying to make my 2.4 and 5.0 ghz networks work. I tried a lot of things but your suggestion for a guest network is THE ONLY SOLUTION I found. thanks so much!
Hi
I have the same problem with mesh…. (in my case it is an Asus… but the problem is the same)
What is not clear to me: if you use the Guest network and give it a different name (main: WifiName… Guest: WifiName_Guest)… wouldn’t the device then be looking for this name when connected to the “real” (not Guest) network?
didn’t it happen to you?
I have huge problems with Netatmo, Meross switches ….
thanks
I have a Google Mesh dual band 2.4 + 5 ghz router with 3 mesh units. I could not connect CE Smart Plugs or Globe Smart Bulbs with my Pixel 3XL 5ghz phone by following the manufacturer’s instructions until I began the set up procedure of rapid blinking on the plug or bulb wifi unit and then moving away quickly with my phone to an extreme end of my house on a lower level and watched the progress on my phone as it cycled through the wifi connection process to a successful completion. A few attempts had to be made by finding the right distance away between the phone and the plug or bulb, so don’t give up.
This worked on Velop device with GoSund bulb.
I had this trouble also.
I bought two security cameras that wouldn’t connect because I had a dual network. Here’s what I did to fix it.
I logged into the router.
I disabled the 5G network.
I disabled the encryption on the 2.4G network. (Just to see if it would connect) and they both did no problem.
I disabled the WPS.
I made my security WPA-personal
Authentication mode : auto (WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK2)
Encryption mode : TKIP/AES
Both connected again. I turned on my 5G and not right away but my cameras stayed working.
Has anyone tried using their phone as a hotspot set up, same SSID and password? My current phone gives me the option to generate 2.4ghz or 5ghz. Could try pairing devices that way
Also works great for the kids tablets, let’s them get in the car without me changing a different ID and password on their device
Go to settings find your wifi and monitor what signal you are on all away from your pod until it automatically switches to 2.4 then setup whatever you need to. If you have to run an extension cord for whatever you are setting up. After it installed you can then put it anywhere you like and it will stay connected whether it’s 5 or 2.4 no problems here
Works perfectly and flawlessly as of June 1st, 2022. The best solution ever. I connected all my 2.4 ghz (both the ones I was currently using before changing to nest wifi mesh, and the ones that I plan to use later), and they all continue to work after switching back to mesh. No issues so far. After turning off the mesh wifi and turning on the old router, all the devices quickly recognized that router and began working. So I made the SSID and password to be the same on the guest wifi on both old router and the mesh, then turned the old router off and the mesh back on. What I experienced was the fact that only the newly set up devices using the newly set up network were working and online, but the rest were offline. So, I figured out that the previously set up devices had to be reset/deleted, and reconfigured or set up again using the old router with same SSID and passwords on the old router and mesh guest network. Then everything works and synched perfectly and flawlessly with the new mesh system. Thank you Chris.
This didn’t work for me. My smart plug says my guest network is 5ghz
I have Atomi String lights and just upgraded my WiFi to a TP-Link Deco Mesh system and ran into the problem that the Atomi lights only work with 2.4Ghz WiFi and with Mesh systems there is only one SSID which precludes setting up two separate SSIDs, one for 2.4 and another for 5Ghz.
I thought I was out of luck but the Deco Mesh system allowed me to also set up a separate IoT sub-network and in the IoT settings you can turn off 5Ghz so now my Atomi lights work properly!
Worked May 11, 2023. Thank you so much for the guest network advice!!!! We did not want to buy another router!