“5 GHz only” back on for no reason

[hgb]

Hi,
Overall very happy of the WiFi connectivity of my new WiiM Amp Pro (where the regular WiiM Amp was simply not useable in my crowded environment).
Noticed that in network settings the “5 GHz only” toggle goes back on regularly for no reason.
Has anyone also experienced that? Not major but probably something that can be fixed in an update?
Many thanks

 

[Sven1888]

I have the same problem. I think the Amp Pro restarts from time to time. Because then my current playlist is gone and 5Ghz is activated again.

 

[hgb]

I have the same problem. I think the Amp Pro restarts from time to time. Because then my current playlist is gone and 5Ghz is activated again.

seems like a minor but tangible issue. Have you opened a ticket re that already?

 

[Aquaman]

seems like a minor but tangible issue. Have you opened a ticket re that already?

I got the FW up update form my Ultra this morning. Upon checking the '5Hz only' setting I saw that it was switched back ON. I had previously disabled it.
This is really not nice and I consider this a major intrusion into my setup.
I have opened a ticket.

I am planning to create a new setup with two WiiM Sound lites. 5GHz is very weak to not available in this place, but 2.4 GHz is going strong and is absolutely sufficient. With the current behaviour of WiiM devices switching '5GHz only' back on by themselves this will make the new setup practically useless.

 

[hgb]

I got the FW up update form my Ultra this morning. Upon checking the '5Hz only' setting I saw that it was switched back ON. I had previously disabled it.
This is really not nice and I consider this a major intrusion into my setup.
I have opened a ticket.

I am planning to create a new setup with two WiiM Sound lites. 5GHz is very weak to not available in this place, but 2.4 GHz is going strong and is absolutely sufficient. With the current behaviour of WiiM devices switching '5GHz only' back on by themselves this will make the new setup practically useless.

Fully agree it is a flaw that is a hurdle in several set-ups. Many thanks for having opened a ticket and keep us posted. Would be great it is fixed

 

[Aquaman]

Fully agree it is a flaw that is a hurdle in several set-ups. Many thanks for having opened a ticket and keep us posted. Would be great it is fixed

I did a bit more testing.

Scenario 1

• '5 GHz only' set to OFF but WiiM still on 5GHz
• Then disabled the 5GHz band in the router --> WiiM looses connection. It may come back on 2.4GHz by itself or it may not, I have seen both.
• Reboot the WiiM. It comes back on 2.4 GHz and the '5GHz only' is still OFF.

So that's semi-ok. It should automatically switch over to 2.4GHz when the 5GHz connection is lost.

Scenario 2

• '5 GHz only' set to OFF but WiiM still on 5GHz
• Reboot the WiiM. It comes back on 5GHz. The '5GHz only' is now ON.

That's not ok.

 

[hgb]

I did a bit more testing.

Scenario 1

• '5 GHz only' set to OFF but WiiM still on 5GHz
• Then disabled the 5GHz band in the router --> WiiM looses connection. It may come back on 2.4GHz by itself or it may not, I have seen both.
• Reboot the WiiM. It comes back on 2.4 GHz and the '5GHz only' is still OFF.

So that's semi-ok. It should automatically switch over to 2.4GHz when the 5GHz connection is lost.

Scenario 2

• '5 GHz only' set to OFF but WiiM still on 5GHz
• Reboot the WiiM. It comes back on 5GHz. The '5GHz only' is now ON.

That's not ok.

Many thanks. Sven loosing playlists not ok neither

 

[Aquaman]

Got a reply to my ticket.

Hi,
This is a known issue. After restarting the device, it defaults to 5G-only mode. For now, please set different SSIDs for your router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, then connect your WiiM device to the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. This will prevent the device from connecting to the 5GHz network.



Best regards,
WiiM Support(Ethan)

So let's hope for a future improvement.

 

[hgb]

Got a reply to my ticket.

Hi,
This is a known issue. After restarting the device, it defaults to 5G-only mode. For now, please set different SSIDs for your router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, then connect your WiiM device to the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. This will prevent the device from connecting to the 5GHz network.



Best regards,
WiiM Support(Ethan)

So let's hope for a future improvement.

Many thanks. At least they are aware even if no sign they are actually working on this but that is positive

 

[Aquaman]

This issue is really becoming annoying.
I have now set up my new WiiM Sound in my bedroom on the first floor. The distance to my wifi access point is no more than just four metres, admittedly with a ceiling in between as the AP is located on high cupboard on the ground floor just below my bedroom.
The signal strength is only - 81db, thus weak … because it is on 5GHz.

I power it off (as well as my TV there) when I‘m not in my bedroom so it will go back to ‚5GHz only‘ automatically every time I turn the power back on.

It could easily have a fair or even good signal strength if it was on 2.4GHz.

Assigning different SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz is out of the question. Nor am I willing to install an additional access point in my bedroom or nearby. All other devices have no problem with either 2.4GHz or they have better antennas for even 5GHz.

Please, @WiiM Team , get this fixed!!

 

[harkpabst]

Assigning different SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz is out of the question.

Why is it out of question? Personally I would recommend it as best practice.

 

[Aquaman]

Why is it out of question? Personally I would recommend it as best practice.

When I wrote that different SSIDs were out of the question I was still running one SSID across several access points and wifi bands across the whole house. So all devices were logged on to this one SSID.
The general idea was that I could switch off some APs for most of the time and would still have fair wifi coverage in most places and for occasional use and devices would log on to whatever they could find with the known SSID.

Since then I have reconsidered my network approach and replaced two APs with low energy wall plugs (Fritz Repeater 1700). The two together draw less current than just one of the old routers (configured as APs) I had installed previously, so I keep them connected permenantly (at least one of them).
Now each AP has its own SSID. Further, on the main AP in the livingroom the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands have their own SSIDs now. The WiiMs are now running on 2.4 GHz permanently.

Sometimes I change my mind ...

 

[hgb]

Why is it out of question? Personally I would recommend it as best practice.

Very happy for Aquaman the degraded solution (assigning distinct SSIDs for distinct bands) worked but there are several situations where that "random reset to forced 5Ghz only" behavior is a pain. Sven loosing playlists is an example.
Dynamic WiFi band steering is a very useful option offered by many routers now that enhances connectivity of many devices in crowded environments, not only WiiM devices. Forbidding WiiM users to benefit from that helpful innovation just because they should assign distinct SSIDs for each band to mitigate WiiM (minor, and maybe very complex to fix, appreciating that) flaw is not necessarily perceived a best practice by everyone

 

[Aquaman]

Very happy for Aquaman the degraded solution (assigning distinct SSIDs for distinct bands) worked but there are several situations where that "random reset to forced 5Ghz only" behavior is a pain. Sven loosing playlists is an example.
Dynamic WiFi band steering is a very useful option offered by many routers now that enhances connectivity of many devices in crowded environments, not only WiiM devices. Forbidding WiiM users to benefit from that helpful innovation just because they should assign distinct SSIDs for each band to mitigate WiiM (minor, and maybe very complex to fix, appreciating that) flaw is not necessarily perceived a best practice by everyone

Thanks for jumping in. Your comments basically reflect my former approach.
But it also had its downsides.
Some devices (including iPhones and iPads) would not always automatically switch from a poor signal (5GHz) to a good signal (2.4GHz) even though it was available. I only had very limited influence on what they would connect to.
Now I can actively 'command' them to do the right thing .

 

[hgb]

Thanks for jumping in. Your comments basically reflect my former approach.
But it also had its downsides.
Some devices (including iPhones and iPads) would not always automatically switch from a poor signal (5GHz) to a good signal (2.4GHz) even though it was available. I only had very limited influence on what they would connect to.
Now I can actively 'command' them to do the right thing .

Would propose to agree that "assigning different SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz" is "best power user approach" rather than "best practice" per say then. Get your point and it is very valid but that "random reset to forced 5Ghz only" behavior of WiiM devices is a bug / a flaw no matter what. Has not been there by design (told by WiiM own interface) so it is not WiiM intended behavior and has negative consequences on several users

 

[Aquaman]

… but that "random reset to forced 5Ghz only" behavior of WiiM devices is a bug / a flaw no matter what. Has not been there by design (told by WiiM own interface) so it is not WiiM intended behavior and has negative consequences on several users

Agreed!!!

 

[harkpabst]

Would propose to agree that "assigning different SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz" is "best power user approach" rather than "best practice" per say then. Get your point and it is very valid but that "random reset to forced 5Ghz only" behavior of WiiM devices is a bug / a flaw no matter what. Has not been there by design (told by WiiM own interface) so it is not WiiM intended behavior and has negative consequences on several users

We can agree on that.

I never said that you should assign distinct SSIDs to different Wi-Fi frequency bands because WiiM devices work better that way. My post was unrelated to the fact that this toggle switch getting enabled automatically must be considered more of a bug than a feature. I just don't see the benefit of assigning the same SSID to all frequency bands in general. For the casual non-tech-savvy user the only disadvantage is that the Wi-Fi password(s) need to be entered once per frequency band. From then on switching between the bands is transparent.

A mesh network on the other hand can provide real value.