I recently upgraded my ISP, and they connected an ethernet cable to my mesh router, replacing the previous setup with a ‘ISP Router’ and ‘Personal Mesh’ networks. The issue now is that my smart outlets struggle with the mesh network when both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are active. I tried disabling the 5 GHz band and setting up one IoT device which seemed to work, but I’m looking for a more permanent solution. Can I set up a dedicated 2.4 GHz ‘Dummy’ network specifically for my IoT devices? Or is there a better approach to ensure smooth operation of these devices without messing with the dual-band settings constantly?
While it’s technically possible to set up a separate IoT network, it might be more complex than necessary. If you’re not familiar with network management, simpler solutions might be more reliable.
You could temporarily disable the 5 GHz band when you set up your devices. In my experience, once IoT devices are connected and configured, they generally operate fine when you reactivate the 5 GHz band.
@Steve4
Thanks for the tip. I’ll try that approach later today and see how it goes.
kyle said:
@Steve4
Thanks for the tip. I’ll try that approach later today and see how it goes.
Hope it works out!
kyle said:
@Steve4
Thanks for the tip. I’ll try that approach later today and see how it goes.
Hope it works out!
Disabling the 5 GHz band worked for setup, and everything’s running smoothly now. I’ll need to reconnect the rest of my devices similarly.
I resolved a similar issue by creating a new SSID just for my 2.4 GHz devices.
Consider setting channel bandwidths to minimize interference and managing traffic efficiently. Using two routers or a dedicated IoT bridge could work but might complicate your network setup.
Pete said:
Consider setting channel bandwidths to minimize interference and managing traffic efficiently. Using two routers or a dedicated IoT bridge could work but might complicate your network setup.
That’s an interesting point. I have a couple of Raspberry Pis that could serve as a dedicated IoT bridge. I’ll look into setting that up.
Some mesh systems come with built-in network segregation options for IoT devices. It simplifies management and keeps your main network performance stable.
Padukone said:
Some mesh systems come with built-in network segregation options for IoT devices. It simplifies management and keeps your main network performance stable.
My current mesh system doesn’t support that feature, unfortunately. But I did read about newer systems that offer dedicated IoT networks. Might consider an upgrade if this workaround proves too cumbersome.
@kyle
Checking for security vulnerabilities in newer systems is also crucial, especially for devices connected to your IoT network.
Padukone said:
@kyle
Checking for security vulnerabilities in newer systems is also crucial, especially for devices connected to your IoT network.
Good point on security. I’ll make sure to keep that in mind when exploring newer options.
I’ve successfully set up separate networks for my main devices and IoT devices without any issues.
A secondary router dedicated to 2.4 GHz might be your simplest solution. Just ensure it’s configured to handle device communications effectively without interfering with your main network.
GuardianGary said:
A secondary router dedicated to 2.4 GHz might be your simplest solution. Just ensure it’s configured to handle device communications effectively without interfering with your main network.
Setting up an older router for this might just be the easiest fix. Thanks for the suggestion!
@kyle
Check if your mesh system can be configured to support a guest network for IoT devices. Some systems allow for network isolation which can simplify your setup.
Cameron said:
@kyle
Check if your mesh system can be configured to support a guest network for IoT devices. Some systems allow for network isolation which can simplify your setup.
I’ll look into the guest network option. It might be a good balance between ease of setup and network security.
@kyle
Just be wary of isolation settings that might prevent your devices from interacting with each other or with your main devices.
Cameron said:
@kyle
Just be wary of isolation settings that might prevent your devices from interacting with each other or with your main devices.
That’s a valid concern. I’ll need to make sure that communication between devices isn’t hindered.