Sunset of 2.4GHZ Wifi, @ Home, Whose done it?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Sunset of 2.4GHZ Wifi, @ Home, Whose done it?

nztim

4012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2710

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#275807 10-Sep-2020 13:27

Now that I have added 2 more Unifi APs to fix up the 5GHZac dead spots (4 total in 200 SQM Home) I am now considering turning of 2.4GHZ

Has anyone done this? Had Issues with Visitors with old devices who can't connect to 5GHZac ?

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

1 | 2

677 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 465

#2561713 10-Sep-2020 13:49

Why do you want to turn it off? Keep in mind a lot of "smart" devices for example run an ESP8266, or similar, need 2.4GHz.

kobiak

1615 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 551

Trusted

#2561714 10-Sep-2020 13:54

yeah I would do that, but 99.99% of smart devices are on 2.4ghz only :(

helping others at evgenyk.nz

BlackHand

135 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 19

#2561716 10-Sep-2020 13:57

I've tried doing that a few times now but failed & now its not worth the effort; there always ended up being 3-4 devices + the occasional visitor that didn't support 5GHz.

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#2561720 10-Sep-2020 14:01

Yea IoT is the problem... Shelly's, Sonoff's, ESP devices, door lock, etc.

nztim

4012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2710

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#2561742 10-Sep-2020 14:27

Thanks for the tips! I might leave it on for now, I have set the preferred band to 5GHZ so hopefully I wont have any devices fall back to 2.4 will just monitor so now

2.4 is sow crowded where I am!

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

hsvhel

1273 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 596

ID Verified

#2561743 10-Sep-2020 14:30

I have turned it off, mostly to see what broke. Nothing so far, figured if it wasn't being used may as well

Referral Link Quic

Free Setup use R502152EQH6OK on check out

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80652 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41044

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2561751 10-Sep-2020 14:38

Mostly Iot devices (scales, health monitors, cameras, smart speakers).

Also remember 2.4 GHz cover more than 5 GHz - may not be a big deal if you have good coverage with multiple APs.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

openmedia

3449 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 878

Trusted

#2561757 10-Sep-2020 14:51

Same issue as most of the other responders, too many older or IOT devices that are 2.4 only.

Modern Laptops, Fire Sticks, Echo Show etc are all 5GHz, but majority of devices are still 2.4.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

nztim

4012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2710

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#2561762 10-Sep-2020 14:56

freitasm: Mostly Iot devices (scales, health monitors, cameras, smart speakers).

Also remember 2.4 GHz cover more than 5 GHz - may not be a big deal if you have good coverage with multiple APs.

Got the extra two Unifi's Now :) so will just see if the "Prefer 5GHZ" works as it should

Averaging -80dbm interference on 2.4

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2561765 10-Sep-2020 15:01

2.4ghz here still does a good 200mbit real throughput so it's not too bad.

I keep 2.4ghz on for 3 reasons

1. Legacy devices that depend on it

2. Longer range for mesh until i eventually run a cable out to garage (Devices stay on 5ghz that way)

3. ESP8266's (on a seperate AP & VLAN)

i do however crank the power right down on my main 2.4ghz Radio's Simply because, there is no need for it and if there is, it's a close device or such.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

K8Toledo

1018 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 311

#2561841 10-Sep-2020 17:09

2.4GHz here too, for coverage & the odd legacy device (e.g. printer).

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

richms

29099 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10209

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2561849 10-Sep-2020 17:27

I have it on with a different ssid, on 5GHz I have my richms-5 main vlan and a speakers one for the LG, amazon and google devices on 5GHz, and on 2.4 I have a iot and my richms lan for old crap. No point turning it off. If I am down at the end of the driveway I still have good 5GHz coverage so things hardly ever connect on the 2.4 even at high power. I used to have my iot on a seperate AP with a big amplifier to get full coverage of barely works from a single AP, but now I have it on a few of my unifi ac pros and it all works fine. Devices are never on the 5GHz unless I specifically choose to connect to it.

Richard rich.ms

SirHumphreyAppleby

2939 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1860

#2561850 10-Sep-2020 17:28

802.11n 2.4GHz here. No need to upgrade, and I'll soon be adding a Shelly device which only supports 802.11b/g/n, so not only will I be keeping 2.4GHz around for the foreseeable future, it would be considered an essential feature for any replacement hardware. When my old UniFi units are replaced, I may choose to run an independent AP for IoT devices where currently I have two SSIDs on the same hardware, but 2.4GHz is here to stay.

rhy7s

673 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 147

#2561852 10-Sep-2020 17:34

I've got the spectrum to myself, so I've got kilometres of range from 2.4GHz equipment around the property. Just wish they'd taken the 4 colour theorem into account when spectrum was initially assigned, would make the overlap so much cleaner. Using channel 13 almost gets you there but you can't rely on all devices seeing it.

nztim

4012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2710

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#2562020 11-Sep-2020 08:40

rhy7s: I've got the spectrum to myself, so I've got kilometres of range from 2.4GHz equipment around the property. Just wish they'd taken the 4 colour theorem into account when spectrum was initially assigned, would make the overlap so much cleaner. Using channel 13 almost gets you there but you can't rely on all devices seeing it.

Oh to live rural.... what are your broadband speeds though?

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

1 | 2