2.4GHZ and 5GHZ Bands BT Smart Hub 2

[Enix]

Just installed the Smart Hub 2 and accompanying dish that came with it today, and I've noticed that when viewing the 'My BT App' to see what devices are connected to which access point, i.e. the Hub or Dish, 1 phone that belongs to a family member (the same phone that I'm using) is showing as being connected to the 2.4GHZ band, whilst my phone (the same phone as his) is connected to the 5GHZ band, irrespective of which access point it's connected to.  Can anybody explain why this would happen?  

Also, his XBox One is connecting to the 2.4GHZ band and not the 5GHZ band.  Can anybody enlighten me as to why this is occurring?  I understand that the 5GHZ band provides a faster speed, so his phone and console would obviously benefit from using that band, but seems to be connecting to the 2.4GHZ band by default, at least according to the 'My BT App' information.  

BT Update:

Updates from BT can be found on page 68, post 674. Click on this link to read the most recent message:

BT’s latest update on this subject

[licquorice · Accepted solution]

The devices decide which band they connect to not the hub. They will connect to which signal they regard as being the strongest. As it is not possible to split the bands on the SH2, the only way to force one or the other  is to turn off one or the other either on your devices or the hub. 5GHz is faster but has a much shorter range than 2.4GHz. If you are connecting to the internet rather than to another device within your LAN, your broadband speed will be the slowest link in the chain in any case.

[Enix]

Thanks for the explanation.  I do remember certain things about... certain things, but at my age every time I learn something another thing gets pushed out (my brain's reached it's threshold, I think).

The previous iteration of BT's hub did have the ability to split the bands, right?  I suppose for ease of use, as most people can't remember their phone numbers these days, having another thing to concern themselves over with regards to choosing a certain frequency for their device would just be superfluous.  Better to let the so-called 'smart device' choose for you, eh?  

[licquorice]

The devices would still choose anyway, but at least with different SSIDs you could manually change from one to the other. A very bad decision by BT to remove the ability to split the bands in my opinion.

[Darryll]

I too feel this ability to remove the splitting of bands is a serious error of BT. One can always hope it will be introduced again in a future firmware update.

[Ribblelancs]

---

@Darryll wrote:

I too feel this ability to remove the splitting of bands is a serious error of BT. One can always hope it will be introduced again in a future firmware update.

---

I’m not sure.

You may find that if you wander out of range of 5Ghz then the system reverts to 2.4 GHz and remains there.

It’s quite stable (for some). It doesn’t hop between bands, as it stands,

Suppose if you only want 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz then there’s little choice. 

Splittling the bands was always an easy option. Perhaps it may be introduced again, but think.......

[Drscoity]

I’m very frustrated by the inability to separate the 2.4 and 5GHZ bands on the new hub. Strength v speed is something we should be able to choose. I have a Sony TV that is now connecting at 2.4 on the new hub, but it is so much slower than the ‘weaker’ 5GHZ it connected to on the old hub. This makes a huge difference when you want to stream UHD programmes. Please restore ability to split frequency BT!

[Darryll]

I see your point of changing to the 2.4 band, but where I live this is a bad idea as there is over 17 in my area on this frequency. OK changing channels is an option, but again the smart hub limits the channels not like other routers that give you more choice to obtain the best signal possible.

[Ribblelancs]

---

@Darryll wrote:

I see your point of changing to the 2.4 band, but where I live this is a bad idea as there is over 17 in my area on this frequency. OK changing channels is an option, but again the smart hub limits the channels not like other routers that give you more choice to obtain the best signal possible.

---

There's still the option to disable the 2.4Ghz bands from the Hub Manager, if you think that your 5Ghz has sufficient strength. This will obviously reduce the range of the signal - a bit drastic if you want a mobile phone wifi signal, for example, depending on the postioning of your disc.
In addition to the MyBt app which checks your signal, there's a Windows(10) app which will check your signal strength and bands.
Best done with a laptop placed near to the point you are receiving your signal, and it must have 5Ghz wiFi capability. I have a USB 5Ghz adaptor for the laptop.

[fjwood69]

Totally agree - The Smart Hub 2 w/ Complete Wi-Fi has been an unmitigated disaster for me.

With numerous 2.4Ghz only and 5Ghz devices throughout the house they are forever dropping in and out of their collective groupings.

Google devices (Chromecast Ultra / Chromecast Audio / Google Home) just will not play nice.  Even when I turn off 2.4Ghz, anything that connects to 5Ghz via the disc sees itself on a separate network (I assume the devices look at MAC address) and drop out of their respective groups.  And when 2.4Ghz is on.. 

Getting close to reverting to my original Smart Hub (where I'd separated the channels) and/or buying a separate mesh setup.