Routers struggle with smart gadgetsDevice overloads network connectionsModern appliances increase traffic demand
Routers struggle with smart gadgetsDevice overloads network connectionsModern appliances increase traffic demand
To prepare the setup, I installed fiber optic cables at 1g up/down. My current setup includes a Linksys EA9500 router and a TRENDnet 24-Port Unmanaged Gigabit GREENnet Desktop Switch with 24 x 10-100-1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a 48Gbps switch capable of 2012 standards. Everything is functioning, though it feels a bit dated. Now I’m facing a problem: we had several Kasa smart bulbs that work well, but my wife wanted to fully smartify the lighting. Since I was already invested in Kasa, I added smart switches, bulbs, and some smart plug adapters to the system. However, Kasa devices operate on 2.4GHz and don’t use a hub, so all connect via that band. My router is getting overwhelmed with the number of devices. Turning off band steering helped temporarily, but it’s now at a breaking point—2.4GHz is likely to crash, forcing daily restarts. I’m looking for advice on how to resolve this without spending much more, especially since I’ve already spent time on all the smart devices. I’m considering using my old Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 as a backup router and moving the smart gear there, but I’m unsure if that would solve the issue or add more issues. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
The EA9500 performs well. How many IoT gadgets are you tuning the 2.4GHz antenna? This refers to its operation in that frequency range. Does it become fixed so that only IoT devices can reach the internet? Are non-IoT items still able to connect via the 2.4GHz spectrum? Can you capture a screenshot of both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz configuration pages? Please keep any confidential details safe. Also, perform a wireless scan for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz using tools like WiFi Analyzer or WiFiMan.
Approximately 32 IoT devices are connected on the 2.4GHz network, and I also have some non-IoT gadgets there. The 5GHz band maintains a strong signal throughout the house. Regarding the lock-up feature… the 2.4GHz frequency simply disappears from all devices. You won’t be able to connect, and even switching it off and back on in settings won’t resolve the issue—restarting the router is necessary. The 5GHz band remains unaffected. This problem began after I added all the new smart switches; since it’s not a home network, I can’t retrieve the additional details you requested at that time.
That’s quite a lot of limited data exchange. Would that work? Because this device features two 5GHz antennas, you can turn off Smart Connect and use one with a broader channel width (faster speeds, shorter coverage) and another with a narrower width (slower speeds, slightly longer range). This helps non-IoT devices stay connected even if the other end of the house has issues. That’s not typical, especially since 5GHz connections don’t get impacted. The same BCM4366 SoC powers both the 2.4GHz radio and at least one 5GHz radio. This detail would be very useful as interference in a crowded 2.4GHz band could behave similarly.
Make sure it's on another channel and in AP mode (or disable DHCP Server, UPnP, etc.). That should help. It's disappointing that Netgear is blocking OpenWRT installations now, especially since the firmware might still be outdated if they acted quickly.