Smart Connect

[ChrisAhlund]

Hi! I got a TP-Link Deco X60 Mesh right now but planning to buy the RT-AX86U Pro. Some of our smart TV's can only connect to 2,4 GHz but constantly drops the connection in standby, probably because they try to connect to 5 GHz and fail. I also got a smart speaker that stops playing for a couple of seconds when switching between 2,4 and 5 GHz. I would like to force these units to stay with the 2,4 GHz, but would like all of our phones to be able to switch freely between 2,4 and 5 GHz. Is this possible with Asus Smart Connect or is it better to keep the network separated? If the bands are separated with different SSID and our phones have both 2,4 and 5 GHz saved, can they jump freely between the bands depending on signal strengh without any notable Wi-Fi drop?

 

[bbunge]

One thing you can do is to use Wireless MAC Filter and deny a client access to either 2.4 or 5 GHz.

 

[bennor]

One thing you can do is to use Wireless MAC Filter and deny a client access to either 2.4 or 5 GHz.

To add to this; if using MAC Filter, make sure to disable any feature on the WiFi client that randomizes or uses alternate MAC addresses for privacy/security reasons.

 

[ChrisAhlund]

One thing you can do is to use Wireless MAC Filter and deny a client access to either 2.4 or 5 GHz.

Ok, so if a client is on 2,4 GHz it won't even try switching to 5 GHz?

 

[bbunge]

Ok, so if a client is on 2,4 GHz it won't even try switching to 5 GHz?

It may try but will be blocked if the Wireless MAC Filter is set correctly. I have a neighbor that has an unconfigured "smart" device that tries to connect to my WIFI and shows in the log as trying to connect. With the MAC set to deny the "smart" device is blocked.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Some of our smart TV's can only connect to 2,4 GHz but constantly drops the connection in standby, probably because they try to connect to 5 GHz and fail.

If a 2.4 only client with no 5.0 radio (it can't 'see' a 5.0 SSID!) is 'confused' and disconnects when using Smart Connect/same SSIDs, your only options may be to wire it or disabled SC, use different SSIDs, and only connect that client to the 2.4 band/SSID. If this doesn't stop the disconnects, I'd assume the Smart TV wireless adapter is not smart enough to recover from its 'standby' mode.

OE

 

[bones5050]

Hi! I got a TP-Link Deco X60 Mesh right now but planning to buy the RT-AX86U Pro. Some of our smart TV's can only connect to 2,4 GHz but constantly drops the connection in standby, probably because they try to connect to 5 GHz and fail. I also got a smart speaker that stops playing for a couple of seconds when switching between 2,4 and 5 GHz. I would like to force these units to stay with the 2,4 GHz, but would like all of our phones to be able to switch freely between 2,4 and 5 GHz. Is this possible with Asus Smart Connect or is it better to keep the network separated? If the bands are separated with different SSID and our phones have both 2,4 and 5 GHz saved, can they jump freely between the bands depending on signal strengh without any notable Wi-Fi drop?

IMHO the best option is to use separate SSIDs for each band. much less complicated and truthfully smart connect (as you've seen) isn't very smart.