Impact of restricting router to 2.4Ghz?

Mikeymay2

I have got new Virgin broadband.
I also have electric heating that should be internet connected so that I can regulate the heating from the app.
Hoewever it won't work with the broadband.
The heating people have told me that this is because the app works only on 2.4GHz and the Virgin broadband broadcasts on 5GHz as well as 2.4GHz.


They say I should go into the router and deactivate the 5.0Ghz output and this will allow the app to work.


This sounds iffy to me. Is it OK or are they telling me to deprecate my broadband because their app (and the module it connects to) isn't up to scratch.



Or is there a better solution?


Thanks for any advice.

DopeTech

Mikeymay2 wrote: »

I have got new Virgin broadband.
I also have electric heating that should be internet connected so that I can regulate the heating from the app.
Hoewever it won't work with the broadband.
The heating people have told me that this is because the app works only on 2.4GHz and the Virgin broadband broadcasts on 5GHz as well as 2.4GHz.


They say I should go into the router and deactivate the 5.0Ghz output and this will allow the app to work.


This sounds iffy to me. Is it OK or are they telling me to deprecate my broadband because their app (and the module it connects to) isn't up to scratch.



Or is there a better solution?


Thanks for any advice.

Just disable it for the duration it takes you to pair it. Afterwards you can turn back on 5GHz

johndanielmoore

Mikeymay2 wrote: »

I have got new Virgin broadband.
I also have electric heating that should be internet connected so that I can regulate the heating from the app.
Hoewever it won't work with the broadband.
The heating people have told me that this is because the app works only on 2.4GHz and the Virgin broadband broadcasts on 5GHz as well as 2.4GHz.


They say I should go into the router and deactivate the 5.0Ghz output and this will allow the app to work.


This sounds iffy to me. Is it OK or are they telling me to deprecate my broadband because their app (and the module it connects to) isn't up to scratch.



Or is there a better solution?


Thanks for any advice.

Whoever told you that is full of BS. Since your broadband access point is broadcasting on the 2.4GHz band as well as the 5GHz band any 2.4GHz only devices should work. If they don't the problem lies elsewhere.

irishgeo

Mikeymay2 wrote: »

I have got new Virgin broadband.
I also have electric heating that should be internet connected so that I can regulate the heating from the app.
Hoewever it won't work with the broadband.
The heating people have told me that this is because the app works only on 2.4GHz and the Virgin broadband broadcasts on 5GHz as well as 2.4GHz.


They say I should go into the router and deactivate the 5.0Ghz output and this will allow the app to work.


This sounds iffy to me. Is it OK or are they telling me to deprecate my broadband because their app (and the module it connects to) isn't up to scratch.



Or is there a better solution?


Thanks for any advice.

do you have separate WiFi networks for 2.5 and 5.

The router default is one network for both.

my speeds were crap until I created 2 separate networks.

One eyed Jack

You could also separate the two WiFi bands into 2.4GHz and 5GHz, giving each band a unique name.

Then make sure when you’re setting up the hardware that your phone is also connected to the 2.4GHz band through the app. It should be able to see the heating regulator device for you to be able to set it up. It’s the same way you’d set up WiFi bulbs for example which also only work on the 2.4GHz band, but the Google Mini will work on both bands.

I have my WiFi bulbs set up on 2.4GHz and the Google Minis and Chromecasts set up on 5GHz. Some phones will only connect on 2.4GHz, and some will detect both, so I run them only on the 5GHz, because flip flopping between the two bands can reduce network speeds and connectivity.

I’m a Sky customer though for both broadband and tv using the stock Sky router, so I’m not sure what’s possible with the Virgin Media router, but the principles should be similar - splitting the bands should see an improvement in your network as opposed to degrading it. The Sky Q box for example broadcasts to the Sky Minis on the 2.4GHz band, but the Minis themselves can act like wireless access points and broadcast at 5GHz creating a wireless mesh network, and I have my laptop hard wired into one of the Sky Minis to take just that little bit of strain off the Wireless network.

I’m not sure about whether or not your heating works with Assistants like Google, Alexa or Siri, but if it works with Google Assistant, you should be able to add it to Google Home and have some of the basic controls of all your devices (including remote control away from home) at least in the Google Home app, no matter what band they’re on on your Wireless network.

killbillvol2

^^^^^^

This. Split the bands. You should only need to use the 2.4 band to get the system up and running.

Mikeymay2

Thanks guys. This has been reallly helpful.

ED E

johndanielmoore wrote: »

Whoever told you that is full of BS. Since your broadband access point is broadcasting on the 2.4GHz band as well as the 5GHz band any 2.4GHz only devices should work. If they don't the problem lies elsewhere.

Nope, its common enough to have IoT devices the issue the OP described.