New Router / Config Changes

[dinny_g]

Despite working in IT, I'm absolutely clueless about technology (I'm a PM obviously... ) and following a recent Router Upgrade by Vodaphone, 2 key devices are giving me grief - my Ring Doorbell Camera and My Sonos 5.

Symptoms are the same - end up in a disconnected state so try to re-connect. Sometime it works for a while and then stops, other times, they just cannot connect.

My brother, who is equally clueless, suggested the channel may need to be updated (from 2.4 to 5.0 or vice versa) but when pushed, couldn't offer any more than that. Is that even a viable diagnosis for what's happening ? Is that done at the device side or the router side (I don't seen any option with either Ring or Sonos config to change channels)

Just look for any ideas before I try the full factory re-set and reinstall option.

Cheers

[Mito Man]

Also clueless but do know that Ring stuff is 2.4ghz only as is the older Sonos stuff so if your router is only putting out 5Ghz it won’t connect.

[240PP]

Had the same issue with new router and Ring. I fiddled around between 2.4 and 5 (can’t remember which worked in the end) and it sorted it.

It’ll be done via the router admin page.

[DeskJockey]

That's a good place to start.

[dinny_g]

Cheers folks, I'll give that a try to see if I can sort it.

[scotta]

my strategy for new router swaps.

Set router to the same SSID and password as the previous router. All devices should then connect without needing any changes.

[dinny_g]

This was the case Scott but still I have issues - I'm now more convinced it's a channel thing...

[Ascender]

For IoT stuff, its worth setting up a separate 2.4Ghz only channel for this sort of stuff and connect anything problematic to that SSID.

[Jobbo]

For IoT stuff, its worth setting up a separate 2.4Ghz only channel for this sort of stuff and connect anything problematic to that SSID.

To achieve that, would you need to use a separate router so that devices only connect to the one you want them to? Makes me wonder if my Squeezeboxes aren't quite ready to be pensioned off.

[DeskJockey]

For IoT stuff, its worth setting up a separate 2.4Ghz only channel for this sort of stuff and connect anything problematic to that SSID.

To achieve that, would you need to use a separate router so that devices only connect to the one you want them to? Makes me wonder if my Squeezeboxes aren't quite ready to be pensioned off.

Depends on the router. Most have the ability to run multiple SSIDs, so you can dedicate one to that kind of thing.

Worth factoring in that some devices require that they're on the same SSID as a phone/tablet to connect with control apps.

[Beany]

For IoT stuff, its worth setting up a separate 2.4Ghz only channel for this sort of stuff and connect anything problematic to that SSID.

To achieve that, would you need to use a separate router so that devices only connect to the one you want them to? Makes me wonder if my Squeezeboxes aren't quite ready to be pensioned off.

Not really these days, most routers support multiple SSIDs (wireless names) on the same hardware (like, three SSIDs on 2.4ghz, two on 5ghz) so you can do it from one device.

Edit: that's what I get for opening a reply box about 7pm and not replying till now

[dinny_g]

what I get for opening a reply box about 7pm and not replying till now

I do that all the time…

You’re like me…

Let that sink in…

[Jobbo]

For IoT stuff, its worth setting up a separate 2.4Ghz only channel for this sort of stuff and connect anything problematic to that SSID.

To achieve that, would you need to use a separate router so that devices only connect to the one you want them to? Makes me wonder if my Squeezeboxes aren't quite ready to be pensioned off.

Not really these days, most routers support multiple SSIDs (wireless names) on the same hardware (like, three SSIDs on 2.4ghz, two on 5ghz) so you can do it from one device.

Edit: that's what I get for opening a reply box about 7pm and not replying till now

'Most routers' - you mean the enterprise ones you use professionally, or the ones which come free with a new Plusnet connection...?

[Ascender]

For IoT stuff, its worth setting up a separate 2.4Ghz only channel for this sort of stuff and connect anything problematic to that SSID.

To achieve that, would you need to use a separate router so that devices only connect to the one you want them to? Makes me wonder if my Squeezeboxes aren't quite ready to be pensioned off.

No, that's really basic functionality for any consumer router to be able to handle so you should be grand.

[Beany]

To achieve that, would you need to use a separate router so that devices only connect to the one you want them to? Makes me wonder if my Squeezeboxes aren't quite ready to be pensioned off.

Not really these days, most routers support multiple SSIDs (wireless names) on the same hardware (like, three SSIDs on 2.4ghz, two on 5ghz) so you can do it from one device.

Edit: that's what I get for opening a reply box about 7pm and not replying till now

'Most routers' - you mean the enterprise ones you use professionally, or the ones which come free with a new Plusnet connection...?

The ones that come for free with a new Plusnet connection don't even support a simple guest network by the looks of it, so no, won't work on that.

Weirdly, it used to support it - but not on the latest one?
https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/router-information/
(see 'split wifi bands/ssid')

But on basically any third party router (the sort supplied with smaller ISPs like IDNet, or local ISPs like Jurassic Fibre or that you can buy off the shelf - yer Asus's, Nokias, TP-links etc) from the last decade mostly, and the last five years certainly, it's pretty much bread and butter stuff. It's certainly not enterprise level stuff by any stretch.

I saw a thread of someone on an older plusnet router who didn't have multi-SSID available in their interface, but they telnet'd in and enabled it just fine after doing a bit of reading, so it's likely they're deliberately disabling useful security options the router *can* do, on purpose - presumably so they can upsell you to their business package, or similar.

I guess the jokes on me for assuming ISPs give a shit about their customers! A decade ago? Acceptable. In 2025? Absolutely not.

[DeskJockey]

That's rather poor service from them.

Another thing to think about is that the ISP supplied routers aren't necessarily the best at handling many devices, they tend to be the very cheapest/lowest spec they can get away with.

I've got an Amplifi setup that's doing sterling service with the 25-30 devices we've amassed.

It is obviously an additional cost, but it'll give you much better features and control. Take your pick of whichever one you like.

[IanF]

Jobbo, spending money on a mesh WiFi was a really good investment during Covid and I can’t imagine ever going back to the supplied router… the difference (and control) you get from a proper mesh system makes you realise how much time you’ve wasted waiting for downloads/pron that was down to dodgy WiFi.

[dinny_g]

Update - Sonos is sorted. It turns out it was connecting to the booster unit in my office, rather than the main hub and the WIFI strength wasn't enough for it. It's now connected (at 5GHz) to the main hub and working fine.

Ring is still an issued but I suspect the unit's borked. There's a sequence in the set-up (push Orange Button, get spinning white light) that isn't happening not matter what I try so I think it may need replacing