5 Messages
Setting up a 2.4 Ghz band with access to the home network
I have a printer that uses only 2.4 Ghz WiFi. I am using a Motorola Router BGW210. The rest of the home network can use the 5 Ghz band. My understanding is that for the other devices to use the printer, the printer needs to be on a 2.4 Ghz band with access to the home network.
So that the devices connect to the right band, a requirement is that the two bands have different names. Since all the 5 Ghz devices are using the band named Assassin on my network, I want to have a 2.4 Ghz band with name like Assassin2.4. Both bands need access to the home network, the 5 Ghz also needs access to the internet.
The Smart Home Manager isn't smart enough to handle this, so I think I need to get at the settings for the BGW210 via it's IP address. I think I need to set up something like the Guest Account, except the Guest Account only has access to the Internet (no access to the home network) and my account will have access to the home network and not the internet.
I haven't been able to convince the BGW210 to do that yet with the interface I can use.
Any help will be appreciated.
Accepted Solution
stevem1949
5 Messages
8 months ago
It might be that I'm not sophisticated enough to understand what the other posters told me to do. I worked with the instructions given by my printer's manufacturer (Lexmark) to get it recognized as a network, then fumbled my way to a solution.
The first thing I should have done was to pull out the router and take a picture of the information and codes printed on the label. The password and access code are crucial. Then I went to the router's IP address https://192.168.1.254 , selected Home Network then Wi-Fi (this is when you need that access code from the router.)
The 5 Ghz band called Home SSID can stay as it is. The second network that is preconfigured is the Guest SSID. It would be better to leave this as it is and create a third network, but I couldn't see how to do that. So I kidnapped the Guest network and first changed it to give it access to the Home LAN. So the Network access is Internet & Home LAN.
Working through the instructions from Lexmark I made my printer a "network" with name B2236dw-WSA-x0x0 and gave it a password. Lexmark then had me connect to this network using their app Lexmark | Mobile Assistant to connect the printer to this network. At this point I had a printer working on my network.
Then on my PC (Settings->Network & Internet -> WiFi -> Show available networks -> Hidden Network) I set up the printer as a network that connects automatically. The printer's name is some internal Lexmark name that no one would recognize, so I went to (Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Printers & Scanners), selected the unrecognizable name, printed a test page then changed properties and preferences so it would be recognized and I liked the defaults. Finally, I went to More devices and printers settings, selected the Lexmark and set it as the default printer.
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gr8sho
ACE - Professor
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5.5K Messages
8 months ago
Yeah, slow down. Band steering is capable of talking to 2.4GHz only devices. If for some reason the device can’t initially establish a link, temporarily turn off the 5GHz radio in the gateway, pair the device, and then restore the radio setting. You’ll find the toggle under advanced settings in the management console. Everything should work smoothly after that.
Caveat emptor. The WiFi section in the gateway has general drawbacks that may cause other problems with reliable connectivity.
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stevem1949
5 Messages
8 months ago
I heard about that approach or carrying the device outside the house since 2.4 GHz has a longer range.
I sneered, which now seems like a mistake.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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232.1K Messages
8 months ago
Thank you for reaching out. We hear you, and are happy to assist you with this @stevem1949
You need an extender to set up a 2.4 GHz band with access to the home network.
Also, you may try to set up a 2.4GHz network on AT&T, you can follow these steps:
Alternatively, you can set up a 2.4GHz network by logging in to your router's IP address and enabling the 2.4GHz band2.
Let us know if this helps!
Please reach back out if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Sara, AT&T Community Forums Specialist
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stevem1949
5 Messages
8 months ago
Add extender sounds like I'd need to purchase another device. I'd like to avoid that if possible. I think now I might be able to interpret the phrase "enabling the 2.4GHz band2", but not when I first read this.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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232.1K Messages
8 months ago
Hi @stevem1949,
We understand you, and we're here to help make things easy for you.
To set up a 2.4 GHz band with access to the home network, you can follow few steps:
Let us know if this helps!
FionaA, AT&T Community Forum Specialist
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gr8sho
ACE - Professor
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5.5K Messages
8 months ago
@stevem1949
ACEs have a lot of experience to offer. These are not guesses, but rather things we've had to do to make things work for our home networks. Good luck.
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stevem1949
5 Messages
8 months ago
I am sure that your experience far exceeds mine. I didn’t follow your advice since I didn’t know how. My lack, not yours.
Steve
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