Split 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz bands on the Bell Home Hub 3000/4000/Giga Hub

[Brockvegas1964]

How do I split the wifi 5g and 2.4g on home hub 4000 so I can connect my Globe plugs which are 2.4 g only. Need my iphone only to be on 2.4 g network to do this and it automatically on the 5 g network.

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❗AI Summary:

"Band steering" technology broadcasts a single Wi-Fi network name (SSID) for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, intending to automatically guide devices to the optimal band for better performance. However, this creates significant problems for devices that can only operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency.

The primary issue reported by users is the difficulty in connecting smart home devices—such as plugs, switches, and cameras—that are exclusively compatible with the 2.4 GHz band. During setup, these smart devices require a connection from a smartphone or computer that is on the same 2.4 GHz network. With band steering enabled, phones and computers often automatically connect to the 5 GHz band, preventing them from communicating with and configuring the new smart devices which are on the 2.4 Ghz band. Users have also reported unstable connections and frequent disconnections for some devices when band steering is active.

Solutions and advice shared by users in the forum thread include:

To address these challenges, forum members have shared several workarounds, primarily centered on disabling the band steering feature to separate the two Wi-Fi bands.

Permanent Separation of Wi-Fi Bands: The most common solution is to create two distinct SSIDs for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This is typically achieved by:

1. Logging into the Bell modem's administration page using a web browser (commonly at http://192.168.2.1).
2. Navigating to the "Manage My Wi-Fi" section.
3. Disabling the feature labeled "Whole Home Wi-Fi."
4. Access "Advanced settings" and uncheck the option to "Keep a common network name."
5. Assigning different names to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks (e.g., "MyNetwork-2.4" and "MyNetwork-5G").

This allows users to manually connect their setup devices (like phones) and smart products directly to the 2.4 GHz network.

Temporary Disabling for Device Setup: A less disruptive method involves temporarily disabling the optimization feature to connect a specific device.

1. Log in to the modem and turn off "Whole Home Wi-Fi."
2. Temporarily rename the 5 GHz network to force the device to connect to the 2.4 GHz band for setup.
3. Once the 2.4 GHz device is successfully configured, log back into the modem and re-enable "Whole Home Wi-Fi" to restore the single SSID.

Note: Permanently disabling the "Whole Home Wi-Fi" will prevent functionality and access to the Bell Wi-Fi app and Bell Wi-Fi pods, which rely on the integrated network management system. Some users ultimately revert to the default settings and opt for a more manual pairing process for their smart devices to retain these features. For persistent issues, some have resorted to using a separate, third-party router or access point dedicated to their 2.4 GHz devices.

[QuarterM]

My appliances and smart plugs cannot connect to the wifi (GigaHub). They all require 2.4GHz to operate on the network. I am trying to set up a guest network at 2.4GHz while leaving my main SSID at 5GHz. How can I accomplish this? Please do not get into the weeds on this. Just as simple a 'how to' as possible. 

Thanks to all who reply.

[BellPatricia]

Hey @QuarterM,

Welcome to the Bell Community, and thanks for posting 🙂

Please check out this helpful reply for a step by step on how to split the SSIDs and set up a 2.4 GHz network right in your modem GUI.

Let the Community know if you run into issues or if you have any other questions.

Have a nice day,

- Patricia

[Frenchguy]

My Smart Plugs will not connect with my 4000 modem. There are posts about dual bands (2.4 and 5 mhz) but the solution posts all seem to deal with a 3000 modem. No solutions for the 4000. When I look at deactivating the dual bands, the instructions posted for the 3000 do not give me the same screen options in the modem web page. What can I do to activate these Smart Plugs?

BTW, Bell has been unreachable. You call and they have long wait times (tells you something about how difficult their systems are) and when I scheduled a return call, they did call back at the appropriate time, only to have a robot message that they were too busy to connect me with a technician and ask if I wanted to reschedule. Not great service.

[BellPatricia]

Good day @Frenchguy

Welcome to the Bell Community 🙂

What type of Smart Plugs are you using?

Check out this helpful reply for the steps on how to temporarily disable the Whole Home Wi-Fi in your modem GUI so you can split the network and connect your Smart Plugs.

Keep us posted, and let the Community know if you have any other questions.

- Patricia

[Lastangryman]

Regarding previous posts regarding my forced installation of Bell Fibe and new Giga Hub 4000. That caused all my Lenovo brand wifi plugs to cease working with Google Home. NO combination of extenders, turning off transmitters or renaming anything worked. Days with Lenovo support yielded nothing. Solution? Replaced all 10 Lenovo plugs with Kasa smart/tp-link plugs - Model HS 103 purchased from Amazon. Easier set up than Lenovo and all are working as expected with Google Home. No extender, second router nonsense or anything else. Just make sure you are choosing your 2.4 GHz. broadcast from your Giga Hub. 

[Frenchguy]

Well I tried following the disconnection of the whole home and running on just the 2.4 to connect my smart plugs and switches. It did not work. Bell even changed my modem after I discussed this with them, however that did not work either. One step forward, two steps back! My CE smart switches worked before I switched to Bell, that is the change, however CE is referring me to Bell and Bell cannot help.

[BellPatricia]

Hi there @Frenchguy,
Thanks for getting back to us.
Can you clarify what happens when you try to connect your CE smart switches (e.g. do you get an error message)? You can also try performing a factory reset on your equipment to see if that helps resolve this.
Let us know how everything is going,
- Patricia

[Frenchguy]

Nothing happens when I try and connect. It times out every time. I have hard booted the plus/switches and even swapped the modem. The second modem accepted my TP-link plugs with full home wi-fi but CE will not work even when I disable the 5 ghz

[Lastangryman]

As I said in my original post - the only things that will work with the Bell 4000 Hub ( Giga Hub - whatever they want to call it ) is the TP-Link products. There are no 'error messages' to be found, no extra modems to be connected or played with and no settings to be messed with. Plain and simple - TP-Link stuff works with this thing - NONE OF THE OTHER STUFF WILL. I had tech people from Lenovo trying to figure out how stuff was working before this 4000 Hub thing and not after. FOR WEEKS THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT and just decided to refund all my money for all of their product.

[MP09]

How can I switch the router to 2.4ghz instead of the 5ghz.  Many connected devices bicycle trainers, smart door bells only connect to 2.4ghz.  Thanks

[Vanadiel]

You can split them up in 2 different bands, and give each a different name so you know which one is what. Once you split them you will have to reconnect all your devices as the SSID will have changed, and password if you decide to split those also up.

Login->Manage Wifi->Advanced Settings->Uncheck "Keep a common network name (SSID) and password for both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands (recommended)."

Changes settings, channel and transmit power as needed

[Shoey]

What are the TP products that you have? My CE plugs cannot get configured with the 4000.

[Lastangryman]

It is right in my postings - from Amazon 

Kasa Smart Plug Mini by TP-Link (HS103P2) - Smart Home WiFi Outlet Works with Alexa, Echo and Google Home, No Hub Required, Remote Control, 2.4GHz WiFi Required, 15 Amp, UL Certified, 2-Pack, White

[Filch]

Can someone give me a heads up on what I need to do to seperate my home automation traffic from my phone, computer traffic? I have a giga hub and two pods on  3 GB fibre feed. I understand that I may not be able to use the pods if I do this. But would just like to get an overview of how this can be done ... especially from those who might have already done this.

[Vanadiel]

You would need to use VLAN to separate networks. As far as I am aware the HH4000 does not support VLAN.

You could put a level 2 switch behind the HH that supports VLAN. It would need to be a "managed" switch and you would need to configure the VLAN's based on how and what traffic you want to separate.