Power Hub Split WiFi problems

[savereo_john]

Hello all

I’ve recently switched to Vodafone from EE (better deal) and am on the Full Fibre 500 plan. I’m having some issues with my power hub and was hoping the panel could help out. Im a semi-retired IT professional and, whilst definitely not a networking expert, I’m comfortable with technical detail.

Activation occurred yesterday and went well. I read the Power Hub manual in advance and successfully used the web interface to reset the UI password, set the WiFi SSID and reset the WiFi password. I also disabled Guest Wi-Fi and enabled Compatibility Mode, as one of my older devices wouldn’t connect without it. I use TP-Link Power Line switches for Ethernet round the house and they are working fine. I checked the Firmware version -   22.1.0404-6421030 – and it’s up to date.

The problem –

I did all this using Basic Mode. Now I need to Split the WiFi bands into 2.4 and 5 ghz bands, for which I need Expert Mode – and that’s where the problem is. When I go to WiFi Settings/General and select Expert Mode nothing happens, the display stays the same. I tried switching back and forth, refreshing the screen, switching back and forth between tabs and eventually after about 10 attempts I got the expert mode settings to appear, but they didn’t work. I could see the Split WiFi toggle, as per the manual, but it didn’t work, clicking on it does nothing and it stays greyed out. The fields below to name the two SSIDs were there, but they don’t work

Since then Ive been unable to get the additional options to display again, even though it says Expert Mode in the drop down.

Ive also tried the phone app, but there is no option to split wi-fi that I can see

Has anyone seen this before or know a fix ?

[thompsi]

I too have this issue - and so far unable to fix it. Bizarrely when I sign onto the router in Expert mode and select the Wi-Fi tab I do not see an option to split SSIDs. However, I stumbled across the fact that if I work up the list of options ie Client Monitoring, Analyser, Wi_fi Setting, WPS and finally back to General the Split 2.4Ghz and 5GHz bands option appears. However, it is set off and is effectively greyed out - it does not allow it to be set on. I only want 5GHz and so tried to set the broadcast SSID frequency to 5GHz and although it appears to accept this when I go to the bottom of the page and select Apply nothing happens. This router desperately needs a firmware update - I'm sure this feature must be available but not been implemented. Basically a heap of carp currently. Wish I'd stucj with EE.

[thompsi]

I believe it is possible to use a powershell command to set a preferred network frequency and am about to research and hopefully implement this!

[Ripshod]

If you're using Windows you could also do it through device manager.

@thompsi features have been disabled on purpose. The less settings you can access the less chance there is for something to go wrong and need customer support. Vodafone 101

You want full control? Get your own router. 

[savereo_john]

Yes, you can set that in device manager on windows and whatever the equivalent is on mac. 

I agree, the vodafone router, like the EE one, is pretty basic. The only way to get better configurability is, like you say, a third party router.

Thanks anyway for the reply

[thompsi]

The option is not available with my hardware/device driver combination.

[thompsi]

I only want to split SSIDs. If tey provide an "Expert" mode why then prohibit expert mode changes. Surely it's hardly an expert mode requirement anyway!

[savereo_john]

Thanks, I already know how to do that. the easiest way is control panel/device manager/network adaptors then select the wireless card and right click to get the properties, then its advanced tab and from the list select Preferred Band. You can then set the band frequency from the drop down.

Unfortunately it won't help in my case - the devices I want to only direct to 2.4ghz band are old TVs and tablets that run android and ring video v1 that don't have the above. So far the router is sending devices to the right band (or at least making a better job of it than my EE router did), so I'm just going to live with it.

Thanks for replying anyway

[thompsi]

The powershell command appears to have worked. Early days but the last 20 "boots" have resulted in 5GHz attachment! Phew.

[belfasti]

Please share powrsehell method, splitting wifi can help lot of customers.