Hey @Möbius .
Sorry to hear you're having this issue. There's a lot of ways this can go so it is going to be a lengthy answer to try to cover all bases.
It is more than likely with the devices and not the Nest Wifi Pro. This article (How Nest Wifi and Google Wifi 2.4, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands work ) goes in detail about how the bands work on the device. In short, the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands are broadcast, each with varying ranges per established protocols. Devices that want to connect to your network scan for their network band(s) to see if any are available and connect once found and authenticated; if they do not see their network, they will not connect or will disconnect if already connected. Ranges for each band are the maximum and can be affected by interference, and that interference can fluctuate throughout the day. Devices can lack updated or current firmware/software/hardware that is needed to connect to more recent or advanced units too. In other words, the device decides the connection not the router, unless you have advanced settings like schedules set.
Here's a few things to try:
- Check to make sure all of the devices having issues have the most recent firmware. If all of the devices are the same brand, you might need to check their support page or contact their Support. If it is a variety of brands, it's likely something else but it still should be verified.
- Make sure the devices are not using MAC randomization or other setting that could cause a disconnect.
- Check Network Settings and look under Family Wi-Fi if you have it set up for scheduling, restrictions, etc. that could cause a conflict.
- Check in Advanced Settings to see if WPA3 is enabled. Some 2.4GHz devices, especially less recent ones, have trouble connecting to or staying connected to networks using the security protocol, even if they are supposed to be compatible. Several companies made devices once the new protocol was announced but when technology development was in its infancy; technology has gotten a lot better since.
- Check Advanced Settings to see if IPv6 is enabled. This is for the same reasons as WPA3.
- See if your ISP refreshes their WAN IP daily and when. As your ISP refreshes the WAN IP, your WAN port IP will change as well and some devices may not instantaneously accept the new one and will disconnect from the "new" network. Some older devices and lower cost ones go through a front end process to validate the new IP connection instead of doing it in the background.
- Check Advanced Settings to see if 6GHz is enabled. While there is no overlap in the bands, some devices "see" the 6GHz band and can't react to it properly which can cause some disconnects until it sorts itself out.
- Set a static IP for the devices. If your ISP doesn't do an IP refresh, set a static IP for the devices in Advanced Settings. Your devices may be requesting a new IP address daily which results in the disconnects; they come back up after a network reboot since they are essentially connecting again after something like a power outage. It repeats daily since the process does.
- The devices could have initially connected to a further away point before you got the full network up so they have a weak connection. In the Google Home app, check to see what router/point they are connecting to. If the device doesn't have the ability to check for a stronger point connection, it will always connect to the same one even if the signal is weak. Powering off the devices, rebooting the network, and powering the devices back on after the network is full back up should force devices to connect to the nearest point.
- The 2.4GHz devices could be at the edge of the 2.4GHz range. You can test after verifying the above by moving one of them closer to the connected point to see if the behavior continues. If it does, then try it with a second device of a different brand if you have one behaving the same. If the issue resolves at a closer distance, you'll need to move it to compensate for interference, move points, or add a point(s). My advice is that more overlap internally between points is better than less.
I think the above covers all of what I can think of. I have the Nest Wifi Pro with anywhere from 40-50 devices connected at any given time and a large portion of them are 2.4GHz connected to the internet but I have not had any of the issues you are describing. I have the router upstairs and one point on the opposite side of the house downstairs in an 1800+sq/ft house.
Let me know if any of these resolve it or you still have issues. If you see anything new or not reported yet occur during the troubleshooting, please advise as well as it could point to the cause and resolution.
