WiFi router issue Question about network setup and connectivity.
WiFi router issue Question about network setup and connectivity.
I understand this might sound a bit confusing, but I gave Linksys a try and they didn’t help much. I recently received a new modem and router to save on my internet costs by using their gear. The modem is an Arris surfboard (32 x 8) and the router is a Linksys MR6350 dual-band mesh. Now I only have one Wi-Fi network available—there’s no longer a 2.4 GHz and then 5 GHz option. However, I noticed in the Linksys app it seems to assign devices to different bands. My iPad and Samsung are on the 5 GHz, but my PC is stuck on 2.4 GHz. I tried to prioritize my PC in the app, but it still stays on 2.4 GHz. It’s also possible that 5 GHz isn’t fully supported for my setup. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks.
I’m assuming the router is selecting the optimal frequency for your device. 5GHz offers a different coverage compared to 2.4GHz and doesn’t penetrate walls as effectively. This might mean the signal strength is stronger on the 2.4GHz band for your computer. Remember, not all WiFi adapters perform equally. The issue could stem from the path the signal must travel through your computer case to reach the adapter, depending on how the router and your PC are positioned. Sometimes the adapter’s built-in radio isn’t strong enough, particularly if you’re using a USB version rather than PCIe or M.2. I don’t have a mesh network setup. I looked into my sister’s Google Mesh system; if it’s as limited as that, forcing devices onto specific bands might not be possible. There could be an automatic setting that handles this, or a manual option you can enable. I’d suggest checking your device’s settings to explore band steering options. Also, confirm whether your PC supports 5GHz—note that older standards like Wireless N included it, but Wireless AC made 5GHz required.
Try using your web browser to log in and change the SSID for each band. It seems you can do that in the YouTube video’s Connectivity or Wireless section. On my setup, the Linksys dashboard automatically selects the best band, which works well.
Thanks for your assistance. I managed to adjust the settings on my PC browser to switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels. The Linksys app on my phone doesn’t offer this feature. This is the first router I’ve purchased that allows real-time switching from 2.4 to 5 GHz. I believe this might be the reason for the problem, as Donut mentioned it could be choosing automatically during gameplay and affecting speeds throughout the house. Even though I prioritized my PC on the account, the speeds still fluctuated. Now that I have separate networks with demanding devices on one and lighter ones on the other, everything is working smoothly. Thanks again—it would have taken a long time to figure this out otherwise.