How do I setup the 2.4 network on my Google WiFi mesh?

[bradto36]

I only setup the 5.0 network when I setup my Google WiFi mesh. How do I setup the 2.4 network?

[MichaelP]

Hello @bradto36 

Google WiFi uses a single network name for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. So, you have both already set up automatically. This allows devices that support both bands to "hand off" between them more easily.

[Juzdu]

And to be more specific, you can't do anything to change the way Google wifi handles 2.4/5ghz, they're not configurable separately and you can't turn either one off.

[OldGuy57]

If you cant force 2.4, how do I connect my 20 Google devices that cannot communicate with my one day old Nest Wifi system?  Almost every device I own will not communicate. It appears that it may only be devices from Google that are a little older, and perhaps are attempting to connect to 2.4ghz. It would be nice if I was wrong, but I have already been through a lot of forum and support pages, and all of the resets, device removals and "use a different phone/tablet/etc, do not make a difference.

I would like to make this work, as my PC connected and the speed is good on wired connections. Some wireless items work, most dont. HELP ???

[Juzdu]

That's not quite right. It's not that it doesn't have 2.4ghz, it does, so any 2.4ghz only device should connect just fine, using the exact same wifi name and password as any other device.  You just can't configure 5ghz and 2.4ghz separately.  If most of your wifi devices don't connect you've got bigger problems, it won't be related to not being able to separately configure 2.4ghz on your brand new Nest Wifi.

Try this...set up your Nest Wifi's guest network, with a different name to your normal one, and see if any devices that won't connect to your main wifi will connect to guest.  Just as a workaround.

Can you give an example of a wireless device that won't connect?  And give more info on what you're seeing...does it see the wifi but give an error connecting, or not see the wifi at all?  Does it connect but have no internet?  Need more detail....

[Juzdu]

Also, given you've got a house full of Google I'm hoping you have an android phone.  If so, download "Wifi Monitor" from Alexander Kozyukov in Google Play.  Go to "Networks" and you should see a drop-down for your Nest wifi, expanding it should show your router and all your points, with both their 2.4 & 5ghz channels (i.e. if you have a router and 2 points you should see 6 access points in that list, as long as they're all within range of your phone).  2.4ghz will have low numbers (e.g. 1-11), 5ghz high numbers (e.g. CH: 149).  If you can see them, and the boxes on the right showing dBm are green then your network should be good to go.

[Gashead]

A good example is the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro. Despite its flagship status it will only see 2.4ghz networks and completely fails to find my Nest network.

[Juzdu]

Seems you're not alone, others having wifi issues with the fenix 6x unrelated to Nest wifi.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/db9w1k/fenix_6x_sapphire_and_wifi_not_working_correctly/

Out of interest did you try creating a guest network on the nest wifi and connecting to that?

[Gashead]

Yes and it can't find that one either!

[Jeff]

Hey, Gashead.

First, I wanted to see if you ever managed to get this connected. If not, I have a bit of a workaround for you to try. Given that your device requires a 2.4GHz band to connect, you can try connecting to your network at the outer edges of its range. Since 2.4GHz travels farther than 5GHz, usually only the 2.4GHz band will be active at that distance. Try setting your device up at that range and see if it will connect. Once they have connected successfully, devices will generally have no issue reconnecting or staying connected to the network, despite some setup difficulty.

If you can give this a try, let me know if it works out for you.

Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, ClarkeyMatt.
I just wanted to check in real fast to see if you saw my reply and to find out if you still needed any help on this. If you're still needing assistance, please just let me know and I'll be happy to continue helping.
Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, everyone.
Just one quick final check in here since activity has slowed down. We'll be locking the thread in the next 24 hours, but if you still need help, I would be happy to keep it open. If there's more we can do, just let me know.
Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, everyone.
As we haven't had any activity here recently I'm going to go ahead and close the thread. If you have more to add, feel free to start a new discussion.
Thanks