MBP 14" M2 Pro 2023 - Wifi Problems on 6E [Toronto/Canada region]

[brizna]

I bought the new MacBook Pro M2 Pro released on Jan 24th.

I have followed the instructions on https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT213433 including the usual resetting turn on off the router and computer. Regardless of separate SSID for 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz and 6Ghz or a combined automatic one, the 6E network does not actually show up on my new MacBook Pro.

Do I need to change some setting or does Bell need to activate Wifi 6E manually from their side etc?

Screenshot of my Mac 6Ghz support and the config screen of Bell Wifi is shown (note I have also tried common SSID, auto channel/bandwidth, and different security modes)

Bell Gigahub configMacBook Pro system config screen

[Tremblay]

Hi Brizna, 

Yes, not sure why it was removed, but using the 3rd party software (Wifi Explorer) it detects all networks, it's used for Site wifi surveying. I was able to see a neighbours 6Ghz network but was not able to see my own, even though the Gigahub says it's broadcasting. Yes, I am using a MacBook Pro 16" M2 Max, yet I have never been able to see or connect to the 6Ghz network. @BellPatricia do you have any insight why this is the case or what we can do to troubleshoot?

[Ski_Bum_514]

Hello!

I purchased a Mac Mini 2023 with M2 chipset which has Wi-Fi 6E capability.  I upgraded my service to Fibe 1.5 with the Giga Hub modem.  When I set-up my Mac Mini, I was disappointed when I realized that my Mac Mini would not connect to the 6 GHz band. 

I have had several calls with Apple and Bell Tech Support since the end of February and now in June, I am still not able to connect to the 6 GHz band.  Apple is pointing the finger to Bell.  Apple insisted that I go to the Apple Store just to tell me that my wireless NIC tests fine.  My argument to Apple was that they could not demonstrate to me that my Mac actually connects to the 6 GHz band since the Apple Store only had Wi-Fi 6 on the 5 GHz band to test.  Bell points the finger to Apple saying that they had tested the Wi-Fi 6E on the 6 GHz band successfully with a Samsung Galaxy S22+.  This was way back in March.

I have tried every possible setting in the modem admin page.  Whole Home optimization on / off, common SSID, three separate SSIDs, 5 GHz and 6 GHz with a common SSID, trying to use only the 6 GHz band and selecting every 6 GHz channel manually.  I have even tried my Mac near the Giga Hub to eliminate possible distance / building materials issues.  The best connection I can achieve is Wi-Fi 6 on the 5 GHz band.  I even factory reset my Giga Hub to make sure I had the latest firmware update, 1.16.5 but this has not improved my situation.

I spoke a few times to escalation techs and even a member of the management team twice!  I am without any contact with tech support since April 4th 2023.  This is only about the Wi-Fi 6E issue, I'll spare all of you the story that my residential phone service went out during the April ice storm and no one in sales or install teams bothered mentioning that there is no battery back-up in the Giga Hub (it was nixed in the second generation of the HH3000!)

I'd like to hear if someone out there has been able to connect to the 6 GHz on the Giga Hub consistently with a M2  Mac Mini 2023, a M2 Mac Book, any Windows 11 machines or with a smartphone.  Is there anything I am doing wrong?  There has been a lot of ink flowing in this forum and others on the web about connecting to 6 GHZ without success with fingers pointed at both Apple, Bell and Sagemcom.  I'm curious if any of you have managed this feat.

[Cod751]

I had the same problem. But I updated my MacBook Pro and now use the new Mac OS Sonoma and now everything works fine and I connect to Wifi 6e, The problem was Apple's fault but now the problem is over. I now know that the Bell Giga Hub is actually wifi 6e compatible, The download speed is really fast. There's a big difference. I'd like to know if I'm the only one reporting the same issue.

[Cod751 · Accepted solution]

I also own a MacBook Pro 2023 and everything is working fine, I can see and use the 6.0GHz. I have the Bell Giga Hub. Juste 3 days ago I didn't see the 6.0GHz band. Then I downloaded the new Apple Sonoma OS. So wifi 6e is working fine. You need to download the new Apple Sonoma OS in Beta. After that you will connect to the new 6.0GHz band using wifi 6e. If you own an Apple MacBook Pro from last year it's not going to work. Only with the new MacBook Pro 2023. Now my MacBook Pro 2023 is working fine and really fast. Up to 1748mbps download.

If you need more information how to use the new Apple OS Sonoma, just contact me and I'll be pleased to give you more informations.

[Cod751]

The problem is really with Apple. The only way you can use wifi 6e is to upgrade your Mac OS to the new Sonoma OS. Then it's going to work just fine. You'll see the 6.0GHz in the list of available networks. The wifi speed is really fast, My download speed is always over 1600mbps, even reaching 1789mbps. 

[Cod751]

As I told you I do connect to wifi 6e and I connect to the 6.0GHz and it's fantastic. The download speed with wifi is awesome. If you need more information just ask me and I'll try to give you more informations. I use a MacBook Pro but the new Mac mini use the same wifi connection. But only the Mac mini 2023 M2.

[Cod751]

Not all Bell Routers are wifi 6e. You need the last Giga Hub to see your 6.0GHz. 

[Ski_Bum_514]

Hello all,

 I'm happy to report that as of now, after reading several posts from @Cod751 , my Mac mini 2023 with M2 chip is now able to connect to Wi-Fi 6E.  I am in a position to confirm to you all who have not been able to connect to Wi-Fi 6E 6.0 GHz band on your GigaHub modems with Apple products running MacOS Ventura 13.5 or lower that the issue is definitely with Apple and not Bell / Sagemcom.

I followed @Cod751 's advice to try installing MacOS Sonoma.  After backing up my main volume and creating a separate volume, I installed MacOS Ventura 13.5 on my new volume and then registered for Apple's Beta program.  After installing the Beta version of MacOS Sonoma 14 after installing MacOS Ventura (on a separate volume than Macintosh HD) and voilà!, on the first try after rebooting, I connected to Wi-Fi 6E.  As Apple suggests, my best results with Wi-Fi 6E 6.0 GHz was to use a single SSID.

I'm a bit far from my GigaHub modem so I'll spare you the less than stellar Speedtest result.  But the important thing is that I am able to connect to Wi-Fi 6E five months to the day since purchasing my Mac Mini 2023.  I'm going to move my GigaHub from my basement to my home office eventually (I had the technician who came to install my GigaHub to leave me enough fibre optic cable to relocate my modem in my office) and I should have better Speedtest results.  FWIW, I just tested again and even though I'm not an ideal distance from my modem, I do notice that my speeds are consistently over 900 Mbps

Hope this helps!

[Cod751]

To be able to connect to wifi 6e and the 6.0GHz you need to install the new Mac OS from Apple, called Sonoma.It's a beta software meaning you have to upgrade to this new software for Mac. As soon as I installed Sonoma everything was working, even the 6.0 GHz Band. You're going to have 3 bands: 2.4, 5.0 and 6.0. If you need more informations I'll be glad to help.

[Blendama]

Hi there!  I've just had my Giga Hub installed and unfortunately I cannot get my Mac Mini (2023) which is Wifi6E enabled to connect to the 6GHz Band.  I checked for software updates, and downloaded Ventura 13.5, however I still connect at 5GHz.

Can anyone assist? 

Thanks in advance!

[Cod751 · Accepted solution]

The only way you can connect to WIFI 6e is to use the new Apple Sonoma software. That's the only way it's going to work. But be careful: Sonoma OS is a beta software. That means you have to register with Apple, but because it's still a beta software you may encounter problems. That said I use it with no problem, except for some issues. The good news is that Apple is working to deliver a good software and eventually you'll be able to connect to wifi 6e. I just couldn't connect to wifi 6e 6.0GHz band but now with Sonoma I can, It's up to you to decide what you want to do. Good luck and I look forward to get news from you. There are issues with Sonoma. So be careful. 

[dks]

Great ideas. Sonoma might be released in September. 

[Cod751]

I was so depressed that I couldn't connect to wifi 6e. So I installed Sonoma and now I connect to wifi 6e. Sonoma is great, but as it is now it's not for everybody to install. Installation is easy. You just go to settings on your Mac and you click general than to Software Updates and then you click on Beta Updates and you choose Mac OS Sonoma Public beta. Almost instantly after installation you get the wifi 6e and you choose your 6.0 GHz band. But again it's a Beta Software. You may encounter glitches. But so far it's working fine. 

[Cod751]

The 6.0 GHz should use a bandwidth of 160 instead of a lower 80. Download speed will be faster. That being said you need to change your Apple Ventura for Apple Sonoma beta if you want the 6.0 band to work. It's easy to change Apple OS for Sonoma. You go to your Mac settings. Than General, then Software Updates and then Beta updates and you click on Mac OS Sonoma public Beta.  After installation and reboot you'll get the Wifi 6e. But be careful. It's a Beta software. Or you wait until Sonoma is officially release around September. I did it because I didn't want to wait. It's up to you!

[ZaneP]

For those of us who plan to resolve the wifi 6E connection problem by using macOS Sonoma, here's a list of compatible Macs: https://osxdaily.com/2023/08/07/macos-sonoma-compatible-mac-list/