wifi connecting issues with devices which support only 2.4ghz

[Farahad]

Hi

I have a p1p Bambulab 3d printer with has an old wifi chip which supports only 2.4ghz. I read a lot on internet about connection issues of this printer. This is what I did;

I have separated my wifi in two different SSIDs which one has only 5g band and the other one only 2.4ghz. When I try to sync the printer and my phone together I get an error message. I saw a video about IoT but I see nowhere in my deco app anything like that! There was a "beamforming" and turning it off didn't help. “hiding” of the main wifi and letting only the guest wifi with 2.4ghz didn’t work either. On/off fastroaming at deco app neither.

P.S I’m using 3 deco M4 and as far as I know doesn’t have IoT

Any idea where that IoT in new deco app is? or any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance

[Dave]

TP-Link Deco M4
Deco M4 installation in combination with Ziggo

Step 1: Install the Deco app via the Google Playstore or the Appstore

Step 2: Turn off your WiFi network from your Ziggo modem. You can find out how to do this via www.ziggo.nl/wifi-uit, which remains disabled after installation.

Step 3: Enable your Bluetooth and location services on your smart device

Step 4: Open the Deco app and register a TP-Link ID

Step 5: Use your TP-Link ID to log in to the Deco app

Step 6: Connect Deco 1 to the mains and the supplied network cable to your Ziggo modem

Step 7: Press “Let's get started” and go through the installation (during installation, you need to choose “Dynamic IP” for Connection Type)

Step 8: At the end of the installation you will be given the option “Add another Deco”, connect Deco 2 close to Deco 1 on the mains voltage and wait until the LED of Deco 2 pulses blue. Then choose “Add another Deco” and go through the installation

Step 9: Perform Step 7 on Deco 3 and at the end of the installation choose  “I'm done for now”

Step 10: In the Deco APP, go to “More-Advanced-Fast Roaming” and enable it

Step 11: In the Deco APP, go to “More-Advanced-Operating Mode” and choose “Access point”, then press “Okay” and your Deco will restart

Step 12: If you want to add a Deco afterwards, you can press the "+" icon at the top right of the main screen of the Deco APP.

Step 13: If you want to wire the Decos afterwards, you can do this in 2 ways (do not connect multiple Decos to your Ziggo modem router).

Step 14: You can view the following FAQ for tips on placing your Decos: https://www.tp-link.com/nl/support/faq/1446/

Step 15: Enjoy your Deco network
NB! Your main Deco must remain wired to your Ziggo modem at all times

Turn off Deco M4 LEDs

https://www.tp-link.com/nl/support/faq/1463/

ore you can Go to this topic but it is in Dutch

Als je meer wilt weten over de TP-Link Deco M4 dan kan je ook deze Leidraad lezen.
Leidraad voor TP Link DECO

[Farahad]

I guess you didn't read the issue I have?!

I have no problem with the simple installation of deco app or Deco's!

[Jacob]

@Farahad  Let's keep it friendly, the response was written with the best intentions and misunderstandings happen even to the best.
 

Well, as for the problem: could @horizonfreak  check what could be wrong?

[tobiastheebe]

The Deco APs do not fully support separate SSIDs for 2.4 + 5 GHz. You can only configure the main SSID for 2.4 GHz and guest SSID for 5 GHz or vice versa. A guest SSID usually does not allow devices to communicate to devices on another SSID and/or with each other. I suspect this may be causing the connection problem you are experiencing. Please ensure that both the printer and smartphone are connected to the main SSID.

I suspect that the IoT option you mention configures radio settings for maximum compatibility. Unfortunately, the Deco app does not support configuring radio settings manually.

[Farahad]

Thanks for your reply. Through the app I made main SSID "hidden" and created a guest SSID with no success. I would follow your advice through "connect box" so I can shut down the main SSID. 

I had an old router (Linksys) which has only 2.4ghz and could make it work as an access point. It was possible to connect to it with my klaptop and android phone but the 3d printer (P1P) couldn't find it! Isn't it strange? Linksys was broadcasting wifi and I guess it cannot even send 5ghz. So why the printer was unable to find its signal?

I'll update after trying your suggestion.

[tobiastheebe]

The printer not detecting an SSID (assuming it is not hidden) may be caused by the SSID length exceeding 31 bytes, see point 7 on this page. Avoid using spaces or special characters in both the SSID and PSK.

[horizonfreak]

Hello. Do not use get lot network or this function is for if you want to use security camera systems in your network and want to add them separately to their own channel. Have you set the connection to WPA 2 and then tried it? It can also sometimes cause problems if you have WiFi 6 turned on, as some old devices cannot handle it well. and set your WiFi to a fixed channel, for example channel 1 or 6 or 11. Also check to be sure whether your printer has the latest firmware. I have included a link below with detailed information about how to solve WiFi problems with your printer.https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/p1/troubleshooting/wifi-bt-liveview 

[Quadral]

try to turn off fast roaming, most of the time this helps

[Karel.]

Before trying to connect to your wifi, the printer should forget the old wifi settings see: https://forum.bambulab.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-change-which-wi-fi-the-p1p-is-set-to/2816

The same bambulab community a topic about used wifi ap’s and routers see: https://forum.bambulab.com/t/what-routers-have-been-successful-binding-p1p-s/38013

[tobiastheebe]

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@horizonfreak  schreef:

Hello. Do not use get lot network or this function is for if you want to use security camera systems in your network and want to add them separately to their own channel. Have you set the connection to WPA 2 and then tried it? It can also sometimes cause problems if you have WiFi 6 turned on, as some old devices cannot handle it well. and set your WiFi to a fixed channel, for example channel 1 or 6 or 11. Also check to be sure whether your printer has the latest firmware. I have included a link below with detailed information about how to solve WiFi problems with your printer.https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/p1/troubleshooting/wifi-bt-liveview 

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The Deco M4s are Wi-Fi 5 only and do not support configuring radio setting such as channel (width) manually. I have seen them broadcast on an overlapping channel (all APs broadcast on the same channel) such as 9.

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@Quadral  schreef:

try to turn off fast roaming, most of the time this helps

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Farahad already tried this, see initial post.

[Farahad]

Thanks for the tip. I read about it before and tried it with no success!

[tobiastheebe]

When posting a short reply, please click the button (fifth from the left in text editor's toolbar) first to indicate which post you are replying to.

[Farahad]

Hi. Thanks for response. I guess what you say is actually the fact that Deco M4 is 5ghz ONLY! I just turned off 2.4ghz through connect box and printer couldn't find my network. 

Till now the only way I've been able to connect to p1p was using my phone as hotspot. I suppose it means that there's no broken antenna or loose cable.

I read somewhere that p1p doesn't support SSID above 31 bytes so gonna try your advice now and get back to you 😉

[Farahad]

thx. read all in Bambulab community. 

[tobiastheebe]

Ensure that the Deco M4s are configured in AP mode (see More → Advanced → Operation Mode in app) so they become part of the Connectbox LAN. Otherwise, devices will not be able to communicate with each other when you connect one device to the Connectbox and the other to a Deco.

[Karel.]

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@Farahad  schreef:

…. I guess what you say is actually the fact that Deco M4 is 5ghz ONLY!

Equipment with Wifi5 standard works with protocol 802.11ac and older. It works on 5 GHz and with Wifi4 standard on 2.4 GHz

Wifi4 is an standard with an older protocol 802.11n and also works on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

Every new Wifi standard should be downwards compatibel with older standards, it means Wifi5 equipment supports Wifi4. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

[Farahad · Accepted solution]

Problem solved! 🙂

If you have Ziggo delivered Deco M4 you should know these devices don't broadcast 2.4ghz even the deco app says so (or very weak signal that a device in 40cm distance from the deco is unable to get the signal). 

I finally managed to connect directly to Ziggo modem. Just give SSIDs different simple names (they are same in default setting of connect box) and perhaps giving the 2.4ghz a specific channel (set from automatic to manual) helps. 

Thanks everybody especially Tobias