Before posting a new question, please check out our Internet / WiFi and Spectrum TV App troubleshooting pages for common issues, as well as useful information to include in your post.

Advanced Search Options


We have advanced search options to make it easier to locate posts, questions and answers on this community.
More information can be found at Advanced Search Options
If you are looking for something specific, please check if someone else has already asked or answered the same question.

Frequently Asked Questions


(Quick links to the current most searched topics)
How can I pause and rewind live TV using the Spectrum TV app?
Spectrum TV App Supported Devices

Is New Wi-Fi 6 Switchable between 2.4 and 5 ghz

old_texanold_texan Posts: 56 Contributor
edited May 22 in Home Networking Apr 21, 2023

My old RAC2V1K actually had 2 network settings -- and names -- for 2.4 and 5 ghz.


The new Wi Fi 6 that replaced it (SAX2V1R) does not. One technician told me it could be set up for 2 network IDs, 2.4 and 5.0, but on my last service phone call, the tech told me it was always automatic, picking the best signal.

So -- which is it? If it's possible to set up 2, I can't find that anywhere in the set-up guide.

I only ask because on occasion one of my fire sticks would run slow, and I'd switch to the other network.

??

Replies

  • Tyleen_ZTyleen_Z Posts: 541 Moderator
    Apr 22, 2023

    Hello,

    I do apologize for any confusion. The new routers we have are advanced wireless. This means that the router has both 2.4 and 5gHz networks. They are not broadcast separately though. The router itself determines what network would work best for each device. If you prefer to be able to choose the network you would need to purchase your own router as these are the only types of routers we are offering going forward at this time.

    -Tyleen

  • old_texanold_texan Posts: 56 Contributor
    Apr 22, 2023

    Thank you, Tyleen Guess the Tech Support agent confuesed it with the older switchable models

  • Tyleen_ZTyleen_Z Posts: 541 Moderator
    Apr 23, 2023

    You're welcome!

  • HT_GreenfieldHT_Greenfield Posts: 334 Contributor
    edited April 24 Apr 24, 2023

    Dual-band-capable devices are presumably reliably steered to the 5-GHz band as long as they’re not to far away and not too materially obscured from the router. 

    🔗https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/adaptive-steering

    🔗https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/connect-to-wifi-network

    You might be able to verify that via the My Spectrum app (by tapping on the device in the connected devices list) and/or the Fire TV Network Status Tool or Fire TV Network Status Advisor. Whichever way, see if you can find the connected RF band for the device, explicity. If not, look for the nominal “link rate” aka “Tx rate”. If you can’t find either the RF band or nominal link rate and the device does specifically have the Network Status Advisor, then use that to run a speed test. Without going into any of the “why”’s and “wherefore”’s, if a Fire TV Stick has a nominal link rate or download speed greater than 144.4 Mbps, then it’s operating in the 5-GHz band. Otherwise, it’s most probably (albeit not definitely) operating in the 2.4-GHz band. 

    🔗Spectrum WiFi 6 Router User Guide

    🔗Fire TV Network Status Tool/Advisor

    If the device seems to be inexplicably stuck on 2.4 GHz, you presumably can disable 2.4 GHz on the router and see if the device moves to 5 GHz and stays there even after you re-enable 2.4 GHz.

    🔗https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/slow-wifi-speeds

This discussion has been closed.