Spark Smart modem 2 - disabling 5ghz

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark Smart modem 2 - disabling 5ghz

Subway

45 posts

Geek

#303322 1-Feb-2023 12:24

Have onsold someone a wifi bbq thermometer that is quite temperamental - it will only connect for the first time over 2.4ghz and after that will work fine with 5ghz.

Am trying to troubleshoot from afar, is there anyway to temporarily disable 5ghz in the settings?

I understand the router is a vrv9517uwac34/Spark Smart Modem 2

ShaneKNZ

28 posts

Geek

Trusted

Spark

#3030275 1-Feb-2023 12:30

You can disable 5GHz. If you look under ‘how to change your wifi channel’ here: https://www.spark.co.nz/help/internet/broadband-help/spark-smart-modem-2-support
You’ll find the radio button to disable it. Just don’t disable them both!

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Silvrav

443 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3030330 1-Feb-2023 12:48

As shane mentioned, - photo for reference.

Subway

45 posts

Geek

#3030335 1-Feb-2023 12:51

I'm wondering if disabling radio will turn both off though, whether 5ghz can be switched off independently

Silvrav

443 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3030338 1-Feb-2023 12:53

Subway:

I'm wondering if disabling radio will turn both off though, whether 5ghz can be switched off independently

yip, that is the 5ghz option I highlighted. To the left of it is the 2.4ghz option, and then the tab labelled main WLAN is where you switch the entire radio (2.4 and 5ghz) off.

Then on summary page you will have an OFF here:

Subway

45 posts

Geek

#3030340 1-Feb-2023 12:55

Edit, looks like the vrv9517uwac34 is the Smart Modem (not the Smart Modem 2)

Silvrav

443 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#3030347 1-Feb-2023 13:02

Subway:

Edit, looks like the vrv9517uwac34 is the Smart Modem (not the Smart Modem 2)

From this page the UI looks the same - https://www.spark.co.nz/help/internet/broadband-help/spark-smart-modem-support

So above should work? ask them to send you a photo?

Subway

45 posts

Geek

#3030352 1-Feb-2023 13:10

Silvrav:

Subway:

Edit, looks like the vrv9517uwac34 is the Smart Modem (not the Smart Modem 2)

From this page the UI looks the same - https://www.spark.co.nz/help/internet/broadband-help/spark-smart-modem-support

So above should work? ask them to send you a photo?

Sounds like this did the trick, always hesitant suggesting non technical people fiddle with things like wifi if I don't know they have the know how to fix it haha

johno1234

2696 posts

Uber Geek

#3030388 1-Feb-2023 14:16

Subway:

Have onsold someone a wifi bbq thermometer that is quite temperamental - it will only connect for the first time over 2.4ghz and after that will work fine with 5ghz.

Am trying to troubleshoot from afar, is there anyway to temporarily disable 5ghz in the settings?

I understand the router is a vrv9517uwac34/Spark Smart Modem 2

Are you sure the thermometer has 5GHz WiFi ? Embedded WiFi devices like these tend not to have 5GHz radios. It will most likely only connect to 2.4GHz. Reasons are a) cost, b) no need for higher speed data and c) range is much better on 2.4 than 5.

No harm it switching off the SM 5GHz radio to test this out though.

lxsw20

3512 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3030391 1-Feb-2023 14:28

I've come across the odd 2.4GHz device that won't connect if band steering is enabled.