Vodafone Router 2.4 GHz Settings

[jaizan]

I've recently noticed some problems with my Vodafone router. After rebooting, some of my ESP devices take hours to reconnect. This was previously reliable.

I have the Wifi split into two different 2.4 GHz SSIDs, #1 & #2 and one 5 GHz SSID. (A long standing arrangement)

Everything on 2.4 GHz SSID #1 reconnects after a reboot. This includes 5 recently acquired TAPO plugs and a couple of phones.
The 4 ESP devices are on SSID #2 and were not reconnecting for hours after a router reboot. I tried rebooting the ESP devices as well. Eventually, after I turned SSID #2 off and on again, the ESP devices immediately reconnected. I've seen this several times recently.

How should I solve this problem ?

I'm tempted to either:
1 Change the Vodafone router to just one 2.4 GHz SSID
OR
2 Move all the Tapo plugs onto a different router, which I also have connected to the Vodafone router. I've been doing that for years. Using different 2.4 GHz channels.

Or any better ideas ?

Note:
1 All 4 ESP devices have been reliably connecting to the Vodafone router for 18 months
2 The same devices have been reliably connecting to a SKY router for 2 years before. (Except for the one furthest away, which could drop occasionally)
3 The same devices reliably connected to a BT router for 2 years before that.
4 The ESP devices did not reliably connect to an Asus AX router. I followed many troubleshooting steps. When I contacted Asus UK, they immediately advised me to return the Asus router. Which I did. I do not want to discuss that further, as it is already solved by getting rid of the Asus router. I'm just including the information for completeness.
5 Two of the 4 ESP devices are right next to the router, so signal strength is not an issue.

 

[Ripshod]

Use a different router. My experience of the Vodafone routers showed me just how TERRIBLE they really are.

 

[jaizan]

Use a different router. My experience of the Vodafone routers showed me just how TERRIBLE they really are.

I'm shortly going on a long holiday. I don't have time to select, configure & test another router. What I do want is my 2.4 GHz devices working when I am away.
I already tried a well reviewed Asus AX router & that was far worse for 2.4 GHz connectivity. Even after trying every idea I could find on the internet. When I contacted Asus, the first thing they said was to return it. They didn't even try to propose a fix or troubleshoot, which tells me something. So that discussion is closed.

The ISP routers have all been better for the 2.4 GHz devices. Even the Vodafone has been good until recently. For 18 months, the Vodafone router has been far better than the Asus AX router ever was, at least on the 2.4 GHz band.
I MUST have the 2.4 GHz devices working most of the time when away. For now, I don't care about 5 GHz, as I won't be using it at that time.

I'm after thoughts based on the two ideas in post 1.

 

[Ripshod]

What devices are we talking about. I've never had issues on 2.4GHz bands with all my esp32 based devices and various appliances.
The sad fact is the vodafone router's are great when they're new, but then vodafone pushes broken firmware updates with no option to disable. Sounds like that's what's happened.

 

[jaizan]

What devices are we talking about. I've never had issues on 2.4GHz bands with all my esp32 based devices and various appliances.
The sad fact is the vodafone router's are great when they're new, but then vodafone pushes broken firmware updates with no option to disable. Sounds like that's what's happened.

I have ESP8266 devices, which connect to Thingspeak every 3 minutes.
These worked reliably on BT, EE and even the Vodafone router until recently.
The Asus AX router was a disaster. You don't have to look far on the internet to find other people with reports of Asus AX routers dropping 2.4 GHz connections, often intermittently. Intermittent problems are the worst type, due to the time taken to prove if something works or not. So I'm certainly not going back to an Asus AX router in the near future. If their technical people tell me to return it without even suggesting any troubleshooting ideas, it suggests they know there can be issues as well.

The Vodafone firmware theory is interesting. I certainly haven't manually updated it. A screenshot or other record of the firmware level from 6 months ago would be handy so I can check if it has been changed without me knowing.

 

[Ripshod]

A screenshot or other record of the firmware level from 6 months ago would be handy

Unfortunately I don't have any screenshots available. I've been with vodafone just about 5 years, 4½ of those I've been using various asus routers.