Can't connect to smart devices?......SOLUTION

[Pca15]

Since vodafone are ignoring this problem, here's a solution if you have a router that wont let your smart devices connect to 2.4ghz. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WA850RE-Universal-Extender-Broadband-Ethernet/dp/B00AHXXJVW/ref=sr_1_13?...

Tescos are also selling them for £18 if you are in a hurry. Takes 5 minutes to set up and gives you a permanent  2.4ghz wifi network you can connect to easily. 

maybe if vodafone actually listened to their customers we wouldn't need to do ##~## like this 

[wharfedale66]

Whilst I dont use Vodafone's broadband, it should be a straight forward settings change in the router to split the "auto connect" to separate 2.5Ghz & 5 Ghz Wi-Fi connections.  Although the "auto connect" works fine for some, Its very common for many users to split the SSID's as there are many devices that simply wont connect to a 5Ghz connection. (as you are obviously aware)

Tbh you should not have to purchase any additional hardware to do this? I do realise it would no doubt provide a "quick fix" and less of a headache perhaps than having to deal with Customer Support, but as I have already stated you shouldn't need to buy any other hardware at all.

From your post I'm guessing customer support has been unable to help you with this? 

Do these instructions not work on your router ?  If they don't then you should request another router from Vodafone, as it should work without any issues.

[Pca15]

The instructions you have given are for an old router. Vodafone removed the ability to switch between frequencies or separate ssid on the new hubs.

You are correct that we shouldn't need to buy seperate hardware but I'd rather spend £11 as an easy solution than waste hours on live chat on a problem they know about and won't fix. 

[wharfedale66]

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@Pca15 wrote:

The instructions you have given are for an old router. Vodafone removed the ability to switch between frequencies or separate ssid on the new hubs.

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If correct, that's absolutely a disgrace?? It's a VERY common practice? ..surely Vodafone are aware not all devices can connect to 5Ghz ?? (or via the combined "auto connect" for that matter)

If this the case, quite frankly I would be first making an official complaint regarding the issue & if is not rectified then I'd be sending them the receipt for the additional equipment you have been forced to buy. 

I've never come across any other broadband provider that has removed the ability to do this from within their routers / hubs?

I know for a fact Sky, Virgin, BT, Plusnet & TalkTalk have no issues doing this as I've done it on behalf of family / friends on numerous occasions who use these providers.  If customer support is of no help, then you need to escalate this as it's not acceptable.

And btw I certainly wasn't knocking you for sharing the WiFi extender link, (I understood your thinking)  it just seems ridiculous you need to go & buy additional hardware that your router / hub should be able to do in the first place.

[Jayach]

@wharfedale66

It's only on the Pro packages that they have removed the option to split the Wi-Fi frequencies, presumably doing so upsets the boosters.

I believe it's not that smart devices can't connect to the 2.4Ghz (they can even without splitting the bands) but that the apps for setting them up will be running on the 5ghz and so they can't configure them.

[Anonymous]

@Jayach you are correct that often both mobile client and device need to be on the same band in order to create an initial connection.  Yes it should be easier to manage this on the Vodafone routers, but the blame does need to be shared.  To be honest, in way too many cases, it's just poor coding on the part of developers - not a good start if you are investing in smarts!

There are multiple solutions out there, one of the simplest being to replicate the router SSID & Pass as a 2.4GHZ hotspot on a phone, connect, set up, and then turn the hotspot off!

*Most of my 3rd generation of smarts have failed, and so I'm starting my 4th generation (gen 3 were seriously short lived).

[Jayach]

Personally I can't see why being connected to the same router isn't good enough, but from experience I have found they need to be on the same band.

[WoefulPhone]

Tried this too and it didn't work, it won't connect at all witelessly and if I use the Lan it won't allow a password. To work,  Vodafone are hideously poor for hiding  from this issue. They've totally disabled Hundreds of pounds worth of devices and I'm stuck in a contract for another year. I've tried calling and their sp called "tech support" doesn't even know know the correct version of the Broadband app, telling me there is an option for switching to 2.4, which there was on the old app. I hate Vodafone and the second my contract is up I'm off to and decent provider. I spend a lot of time telling people about this and to not use Vodafone, they don't deserve our custom.

[Jayach]

@WoefulPhone 

There are ways around the problem, you just have to find them. For instance, see this post and it's replies: Re: Router, how do you switch off 5ghz band, app u... - Page 2 - Community home (vodafone.co.uk)

You will find many other ways on the forum.