RT-AC86U Problems with Smart Connect

[StavrosWTF]

So it seems like there is a problem with my Smart connect feature on my RT-AC86U. Every time I enable it, all of my devices are connected to 2.4GHz. Even if I disable it and try to get into the 5GHz channel, it doesn't let me in. I have found a fix to it by changing the Control Channel from Auto to 36 (My 5GHz works perfectly after that) but I can't change that option when I am using Smart Connect.

I think this probably has to do with me buying this router from the US and being in Europe and Europe restricts some control channels and my router on Auto uses a control channel that I can't access due to my region. That's my guess.

Any insights on how to change the control channel while using Smart Connect?

 

[Gar]

Not using Smart connect and manually configuring seems to work best for me, same with channel selection and bandwidth.

 

[StavrosWTF]

Not using Smart connect and manually configuring seems to work best for me, same with channel selection and bandwidth.

I am not sure but is it a way to steer between bands (2.4GHz and 5GHz) without smart connect?

 

[Gar]

Device should choose one on its own assuming same ID for both bands. If you want a particular device to use a specific band use a different ID for each band and steer that device to that ID.

 

[StavrosWTF]

Device should choose one on its own assuming same ID for both bands. If you want a particular device to use a specific band use a different ID for each band and steer that device to that ID.

But if there are 2 bands under the same ID, isn't it common that most devices turn to the 2.4GHz because of better signal? I want to achieve the opposite: Having the 5GHz for my devices for demanding tasks (gaming, downloading, video streaming) and having the 2.4GHz for smooth messaging and browsing. Is that possible somehow?

 

[Gar]

Assign the demanding tasks the 5g ssid and give the other stuff a different, 2.4g id.

 

[StavrosWTF]

Assign the demanding tasks the 5g ssid and give the other stuff a different, 2.4g id.

I don't think it's practical for me to change internet connections whenever I want to change my tasks. Because let's say I am using the PC for gaming and then I stop and get to browsing or something. I hope you can understand what I am trying to achieve.

 

[Grisu]

US will always use ch. 149+ on default, so with smart connect too as it will reset wifi, in EU 149+ is forbidden, thats your problem!
Some devices should connect anyway on high channels, most not.

forget about smart connect or you could try to SSH to router and change channel to 36u with command (you have to search for proper variables, have a look which are changing after you set/change manual channel and you will find it).
Think I tried it and works but cant remember clearly, but all lost on reboot. Maybe you could solve this with a script, I never used scripts so you have to search on your own.

 

[StavrosWTF]

US will always use ch. 149+ on default, so with smart connect too as it will reset wifi, in EU 149+ is forbidden, thats your problem!
Some devices should connect anyway on high channels, most not.

forget about smart connect or you could try to SSH to router and change channel to 36u with command (you have to search for proper variables, have a look which are changing after you set/change manual channel and you will find it).
Think I tried it and works but cant remember clearly, but all lost on reboot. Maybe you could solve this with a script, I never used scripts so you have to search on your own.

Yeah that's what I was saying to, I figured it out when I checked in on Wikipedia.
So do you have any links I could use to work on SSH so that I can do it myself? I don't know how to access the files and check what values change.

 

[Grisu]

ssh (easy done now with win10_1809 powershell without any other tools) to node and something like this could do it (untested!)

login and enter these commands, maybe it changes 5G channel then
nvram set wl1_chanspec= 36/80
nvram commit
service restart_wireless

possible values for EU: 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 100 104 108 112 116 132 136 140 40u 48u 56u 64u 104u 112u 136u 36l 44l 52l 60l 100l 108l 132l 36/80 52/80 100/80 40/80 56/80 104/80 44/80 60/80 108/80 48/80 64/80 112/80

 

[StavrosWTF]

ssh (easy done now with win10_1809 powershell without any other tools) to node and something like this could do it (untested!)

login and enter these commands, maybe it changes 5G channel then
nvram set wl1_chanspec= 36/80
nvram commit
service restart_wireless

possible values for EU: 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 100 104 108 112 116 132 136 140 40u 48u 56u 64u 104u 112u 136u 36l 44l 52l 60l 100l 108l 132l 36/80 52/80 100/80 40/80 56/80 104/80 44/80 60/80 108/80 48/80 64/80 112/80

Ok cool. It seems like for my router, those commands work:
wl1_chanspec= 36/80
nvram commit
service restart_wireless

 

[Matthew Patrick]

Ok cool. It seems like for my router, those commands work:
wl1_chanspec= 36/80
nvram commit
service restart_wireless

With smart connect enabled? So you managed to change the channel with smart connect enabled?

 

[Matthew Patrick]

ssh (easy done now with win10_1809 powershell without any other tools) to node and something like this could do it (untested!)

login and enter these commands, maybe it changes 5G channel then
nvram set wl1_chanspec= 36/80
nvram commit
service restart_wireless

possible values for EU: 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 100 104 108 112 116 132 136 140 40u 48u 56u 64u 104u 112u 136u 36l 44l 52l 60l 100l 108l 132l 36/80 52/80 100/80 40/80 56/80 104/80 44/80 60/80 108/80 48/80 64/80 112/80

How did you get the possible values? Im trying to find for my country. Thanks.

 

[maxbraketorque]

But if there are 2 bands under the same ID, isn't it common that most devices turn to the 2.4GHz because of better signal? I want to achieve the opposite: Having the 5GHz for my devices for demanding tasks (gaming, downloading, video streaming) and having the 2.4GHz for smooth messaging and browsing. Is that possible somehow?

Do you actually notice a difference in browsing and messaging speed when someone is gaming? I'm curious because if your bandwidth bottleneck is the speed of your internet connection (either speed or latency), then dividing the tasks among the two bands won't make a difference. And if your internet connection is fast, then I'd be surprised if the 5 GHz channel alone couldn't accommodate your needs all by itself.

I don't think it's practical for me to change internet connections whenever I want to change my tasks. Because let's say I am using the PC for gaming and then I stop and get to browsing or something. I hope you can understand what I am trying to achieve.

Smart Connect is not nearly smart enough to do this. And has been mentioned by others many times, its the client device has primary control of wifi station selection. If you really want this approach of using the 2.4 GHz band for lower priority stuff, isn't it easy-peasy to manually switch bands from the PC? W7, W10, and MacOS all have a quick access means to change wifi source. You'd just need to give the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands different names.

 

[Grisu]

How did you get the possible values? Im trying to find for my country. Thanks.

Got them from an RT-AC86U with something like 'nvram get wl1_chansps' will show possible values depending on region (on 68U it has been handled differently).

 

[Matthew Patrick]

Got them from an RT-AC86U with something like 'nvram get wl1_chansps' will show possible values depending on region (on 68U it has been handled differently).

Anyways updates. Yeah it works fine. So basically on services-start I killed acsd (the auto channel daemon thingy) then set using nvram the bandwidth and the channel (not just channel like 149/80 . But the bandwidth flag too since I've tried using only the channel 149/80 and it sometimes goes back to 20mhz even tho we don't have any other AP near with 5GHz) then I restarted the wireless. Then wait about 5 seconds and kill the acsd again just to make sure (because I've one time where it revives after the wireless service restart?) And then that's it. Smart connect works fine with static channels