2,4g vs 5g dilemma

[Grumpy24u]

Since now having installed Virgin media with 5g hub i now find that my smart equipment does not recognize or can not connect via 2.4ghz. i know that the Hub has this facility but as i think the equipment so loaned by Virgin and to me the complexity of this challenge plus i maybe contravening terms and conditions, do you think i am better replacing all with 5g compatible equipment. Help and Understanding please.

[jpeg1 · Accepted solution]

All the Virginmedia Hubs work on two frequency bands, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. 

There are many WiFi devices that only work on the 2.4GHz band, particularly older ones, and these should all work with your VM Hub. I'm not aware of any device that work only on the 5GHz band, but if you have one it should also work with the VM Hub. 

Do not confuse this with the other mention of 5g, which is the latest version of cellular radio used by mobile phones.  Your phone using 4g or 5g is connecting to the mobile network, not your home WiFi.  It will connect to your WiFi regardless of which mobile network it is equipped for.

So you don't need to buy anything new. 

[jbrennand]

There are many reports of 2.4GHz devices getting "confused" by the channel switching  and "smart wifi" on VM hubs - so it would be worth trying this....

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If you haven't done this already - try it first - it helps sort some Hub3/4/5 wifi issues for some devices.
Go into the Hub’s settings. Type in  http://192.168.0.1  into your web browser’s url box and login with settings password on the Hub's base sticker (or your own if you changed it).

Then in Advanced>wireless signal >smart wifi - tick the disable “channel optimisation” box or the“Smart Wifi” box and save settings.  May be different pathways and wording on the 3 Hub types

This (message 2) is for a Hub3… https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Networking-and-WiFi/Hub-3-Wi-Fi-constantly-dropping/td-p/539137...

Then, go to advanced>wireless signal>security, rename the 2.4 & 5 GHz network ssid's.  Just type over to change 'em to whatever you like and something that will differentiate them (e.g - Grumpy_2 & Grumpy_5) Try to avoid spaces and periods in the SSID names as they can cause issues with certain devices. Use the same password for simplicity,  Then, apply settings and restart the Hub. 

Your 2 wifi networks will now be clearly separated - and you can then select the network you want each device to connect to… individually from the "available networks" list on each of your devices. 

Note all your wifi devices will need re-connecting to the new SSID's and passwords.
All things being equal, 5 GHz is always better/faster and subject to less congestion/interference (and is better for iDevice speeds than the 2.4 one - although the 2.4 one has the better "range" and will be needed when the 5 GHz drops out of range and some older/cheaper/dumber or “specialised” devices can only use this one. 

You should also use a wifi analyser App (or Airport Utility on iOS) to check which 2.4 channels are being heavily used around you and move yours to one of numbers 1,6,11 that is least so, but it wont help if there is other interference.

See if these changes help - you will lose any “seamless roaming” benefits but it may not matter and you can always change the settings back by doing a " pinhole factory reset " if you prefer the way it was - or it doesn’t help.

[Grumpy24u]

Thanks for that Mark, i think its above my paygrade, but thanks anyway

[jbrennand]

Its not that difficult - you will only log into the Hub settings - as you are supposed to do to change yur password from that printed on the Hub.  Then looking at the pages and info in there - its all tick boxes to enable/disable things.

[Grumpy24u]

OMG i have just noticed i said thank you Mark, !!! Sorry.jbrennand

[Grumpy24u]

I will get back to you when i can explain myself better. Thank you.!! For now.

[Grumpy24u]

Not sure how to reply to all the helpers, but thankyou all. i have now connects 50% of my devices and well on the way to total connectivity, i went to a part of the house that is away from the 5g signal and the 2.4 could reach. Am a happy bunny.

[Grumpy24u]

Having just had installed The Hub 5. connecting my smart devices became a marathon, Yes the hub transmits both 2,5ghz and 5ghz  but 5 wants to over ride making it difficult to connect, As both frequencies have the same name and password it has been a challenge which could have been made easier if Virgin gave them two separate names then you can then choose the frequency you need. Yes you have to try and go out of 5ghz range hoping 2.4 will then connect i have even seen a person roaming around with a smart device plugged into an extension lead. I am not competent enough to go into the settings and change names of bandwidths myself and all it entails plus am i breaking T&C.I have connected through pure luck 50% of my smart devices but had to throw in the towel and by 5ghz models for the remainder. come on Virgin make life simples.?

[goslow]

A simple thing you can try, which does often work, is to turn off the 5GHz signal when you are trying to connect your 2.4GHz devices.

Once the 2.4GHz devices are all connected, turn the 5GHz signal back on again and see if the connection for the 2.4GHz devices holds up.