iPhone 16 pro picks 5ghz instead of 6 (GTBE98 pro / BE96U mesh)

[hodgeadam]

I've meshed GTBE98 pro / BE96U. Ethernet backhaul. I setup the MLO network. Initially the iphone would not get a 6ghz connection anywhere. I found setting the security to WPA2/WPA3 personal allowed it to connect and boost the wifi speed in the BE98 zone. I thought WPA3 was required for MLO so I initially just had that turned on.

When moving upstairs to the BE96U area, the phone seems to only pick the 5ghz band. What can I do to adjust?

 

[Richard1864]

1. Update the iPhone 16 to iOS 18.0.1, released yesterday.

2. Reset the network settings on the iPhone. Settings>General>Transfer or Reset iPhone>Reset>Reset Network Settings.

If that doesn’t work, then there’s something weird with the routers.

 

[hodgeadam]

Yes, tried that. Still prefers the 5 band on the 96U...When I go back downstairs it takes a minute or two but it eventually gets on the 6 band on the 98 pro.

 

[arthelinus]

in your router, you can go to wireless mac filter and block 2.4 and 5ghz bands for your iphone.

 

[Crimliar]

Especially with mobile devices, you'll probably find that when you arrive home it's connecting to 5GHz (or even 2.4GHz) first, and may dance around the bands and even the mesh units before clinging on to what it believes to be a perfect signal. At that point it's often down to the device and not the router to pick a better signal if one is available.
So the router is not doing anything wrong, it's more likely the "Roaming Aggression" on the iPhone (which I don't believe you can tweak) is a bit low. Solution, as has already been mentioned, it may be to turn off MAC randomization on the device, and then add the now static MAC to the 5GHz Wireless MAC filter "Reject" list. *Personally, I'd not stop the device connecting to the 2.4GHz until you've tested it just being on the 5GHz reject list!

 

[Ripshod]

At the end of the day, how much is gained by having the iPhone on 6Ghz or MLO rather than 5Ghz? What advantage is there having all that speed available? Day to day use my phone would be happy on 2.4Ghz if it didn't prefer 5.

 

[jzchen]

If AiMesh is ON then likely the system is reserving the 6 GHz on the BE96U for backhaul. AiMesh has self healing so even if you unplug an Ethernet Backhaul it jumps to WiFi backhaul instantly. It can't do this without reserving the bandwidth. You can try Ethernet Backhaul Mode (web interface):

-> AiMesh -> System Settings -> Ethernet Backhaul Mode (toggle ON).

If you haven't already. If you unplug an Ethernet Backhaul you will then lose a node temporarily.

 

[Tech9]

Not sure why this 6GHz band is so important for a phone.
Here is my iPhone on 5GHz band Wi-Fi 6 with 80MHz wide channel:

 

[hodgeadam]

At the end of the day, how much is gained by having the iPhone on 6Ghz or MLO rather than 5Ghz? What advantage is there having all that speed available? Day to day use my phone would be happy on 2.4Ghz if it didn't prefer 5.

This is reasonable but I'm trying to get things working in a way that I understand. If the product is supposed to perform a certain way, then it should. It could be I don't understand how it should work. In that case, I just need to learn.

 

[Tech9]

If the product is supposed to perform a certain way, then it should.

In theory - yes. In reality - no.

Your routers run work-in-progress firmware. If you follow SNB Forums you know already. What was written as specs on the box may or may not happen for the life of the product. This is valid for all consumer products, not Asus specific. Early adopters of new technology are used as beta testers. Use what works now, hope for improvement in the future. There will be new wireless drivers from Broadcom and fixes from Asus addressing current issues.

 

[coffee5619]

Silly question, but are you connecting the iPhone 15 Pro to your MLO SSID?

I don’t believe the iPhone 15 Pro supports MLO, so it may be best to use the main (smart connect) SSID.

 

[hodgeadam]

Silly question, but are you connecting the iPhone 15 Pro to your MLO SSID?

I don’t believe the iPhone 15 Pro supports MLO, so it may be best to use the main (smart connect) SSID.

16 pro