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

[Peter1]

Hey, I am having exactly the same issue. I have reached out to Apple and have done several troubleshooting steps, unfortunately with no success. My case has been escalated and I have yet to hear from Apple.

Bell said I have everything set up correctly.

[brizna]

What about Bell, unfortunately I don't have a secondary 6E capable device to test if it is the fault with my MacBook Pro or the Bell modem. Do you have a secondary device?

Did Bell support help you with any troubleshooting?

As of Jan 30th (and the foreseeable future of the Apple Store guys at Apple Eaton Centre, they do NOT have a 6E modem to demo the speeds or verify it!)

[ZaneP]

Hi @brizna ,

Bell's Giga Hub, its latest gateway modem,  doesn't have Wifi 6E capability implemented yet as far as I know.

Cheers, 

ZaneP

[brizna]

Hmm so despite Bell advertising 6E

Because they claim this to be the case and if you saw the screenshot on my post they have a router setting showing an enabled 6Ghz network as part of the 6E standard.

You can also view it here https://www.bell.ca/Bell_Internet/Internet_access?INT=ISP_ispfibpg_BAN_Boxing22_Acq_121522_mcc

[ZaneP]

There's been previous discussion on WiFi 6e here in the forum. You could do a quick search to get caught up. Also you might want to call Bell, to get the very latest info on the 6e rollout. 

Cheers,

ZaneP

[brizna]

You said the latest Giga Hub doesn't have Wifi 6E capability implemented contrary to what was being advertised by them or shown on the original post.

[ZaneP]

If you want substantive technical details on the rollout of 6e contact Bell tech support. 1-866- 797-8686.

You can also go to support.bell.ca/Resolve-a-concern to have a live chat with Bell's Management Team, or fill out the form and email it. 

[BellPatricia]

Hey there @brizna, thanks for your post and welcome to the Bell Community.

We just wanted to jump in here and mention that 6.0 GHz only supports WPA3, can you please make sure the Security Type for 6.0 GHz is on WPA3?

We also recommend that you leave the Bandwidth setting in Auto. You could also try switching to a lower channel (we recommend trying channel 69) then reboot your modem and let us know how everything is working.

- Patricia

[brizna]

You are the one who claimed the 6E capability has not been implemented. If the google search for 'Bell Support' helped I wouldn't be toiling around with screenshots.

This is a specific issue and I am trying to gather additional details with the help of people who have 6E devices and the Bell Giga Hub 6E.

[brizna]

Please let me know if the picture in the original post or the comments on it are not visible.

As shown it was set to WPA3 and as mentioned in the post I have tried Auto bandwidth and Auto channel.

I have now tried specifically channel 69 as per your reply and rebooted, but I still don't see it show up on the list of Wifi.

[dks]

What is the firmware version on your Giga Hub? I also don't see Current Network Information for the 6G network, just your 5G network. Does the diagnostic show the same information for the 6G network? 

You may also find some assistance from the Bell Canada Direct forum on DSL Reports. You will need to create a free account. Posts are very private and the techs knowledgeable. The users on DSLR there have been able to determine that wireless 6E implementation is not quite there yet, at least for some users. That seems to change regularly, however. 

https://www.dslreports.com/forum/sympatdirect 

[cisco7507]

Hopefully this will help you. I have exactly the same hardware you have and had the same issue. 

- Go with  with your macbook close to your modem, i.e no interfering walls, etc

- Set the SSID on the Gigahub to be the same across all frequency bands

- Use your airport utility located at:  /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport

or you can simply do a symlink: sudo ln -s /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport /usr/local/bin/airport

Scan your networks using "airport -s" and make sure you see an SSID per each of the frequencies you have enabled in your modem. In my case I have all three bands enabled so I see one for each:

bash-3.2$ airport -s | grep Juniper
Juniper-5 -27 6,-1 Y -- RSN(PSK/AES/AES)
Juniper-5 -34 60 Y -- RSN(PSK/AES/AES)
Juniper-5 -47 197 N -- RSN(SAE/AES/AES)

Now if you don't have a shared SSID name on all the bands airport -s will see the 6E SSID but you won't be able to get it listed in your wifi available networks in the GUI, I ignore why but most likely a bug. Once they are named the same just connect and hopefully the 6G band will be  selected.

[brizna]

Thank you! I followed the steps, unfortunately the Mac does not connect to the 6G band at all, and the option to connect to it as mentioned on the Apple 6E article does not show up.

IF I set it back to separate SSIDs this is what I get. But hey at least now we know Bell modem is broadcasting some 6Ghz signal and Mac is able to detect it.

I spoke to two 'technical experts' on Apple support and asked them is there a command to scan for 6Ghz wifi maybe and they are like we don't know anything.

[cisco7507]

I have been able to connect a couple of times only and when close to the modem. When I'm upstairs I switch to the 5Ghz band. Although when it works you get very nice speeds as shown in the picture below.