New Chromecast Audio won't work on 5gHz network

[NickBNZ]

Just picked up a new, unused Chromecast Audio. On first use it did a firmware update to 1.56.281627.

Set up with an Android app works fine (even hear the tone thru the speaker) right until the end. Once the process is finished the Chromecast Audio can never be found again in the Home app. Have tried saying yes to every option, factory reboot several times etc.

I was doing this with phone connected to my home 5gHz wifi network. I checked the router and it was on channel 36.

Just for interest I switched the phone to my 2.4mHz wifi network and then reset the Chromecast Audio up again from scratch. This time it CAN be found and works ok. So it suggests the 5gHz is to blame. The web and even the Chromecast Audio box says that it should be 5gHz compatible.  So how can I get it to be seen and work correctly on 5gHz? Any ideas appreciated.

[Byteguy · Accepted solution]

Chromecast Audios definitely work with 5GHz.  I have a few that are attached to mine (and a few attached to my 2.4GHz also).

Your best bet is to wait to see if it settles down after the update.   Or, try moving it closer to your router since 5GHz is faster but not as reliable over a distance.  If that doesn't work, running it on 2.4GHz is totally acceptable.  Chromecast Audio devices do not require anywhere near the same amount of data transfer speeds as the Chromecast video devices do.  They work very well on 2.4GHz and then you don't have some of the distance and interference problems that you can get with using the 5GHz band.

Congratulations on finding a new Audio.  They haven't been made in over 2 years.

[Jeran]

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran
 

[Jeran]

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help? If not, I'll go ahead and lock up this thread in 24 hours.

Just checking up,
Jeran
 

[NickBNZ]

Thank you. The device is now working correctly. It did indeed 'settle down', as was suggested above, which I didn't believe. One day I forgot to switch my phone to the 2.4GHz network before casting and low and behold, the cast option was there and it worked fine. 

[Jeran]

Awesome, I'm glad to hear that your Chromecast Audio is working again! In that case, I'll go ahead and lock up the thread. If you run into any more issues in the future, please feel free to start a new thread.

Thank you for your help, Byteguy!

Best regards,

Jeran