How to convert WiFi 5GHz to 2.4 GHz

[67Dino]

We’ve just bought a Smiirl device for work (an analogue counter that displays the number of Instagram followers you have).

However, it will only connect to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and the one in the building is 5GHz.

Is there a device you can get that picks up 5Ghz and sends it out as 2.4GHz? Any advice much appreciated.

[silentbrown]

67Dino said:

We’ve just bought a Smiirl device for work (an analogue counter that displays the number of Instagram followers you have).

However, it will only connect to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and the one in the building is 5GHz.

Is there a device you can get that picks up 5Ghz and sends it out as 2.4GHz? Any advice much appreciated.

Can't you just enable 2.4GHz on your Wifi router/access points? It's unusual to just have 5, as the range is very poor by comparison.

[67Dino]

silentbrown said:

67Dino said:

We’ve just bought a Smiirl device for work (an analogue counter that displays the number of Instagram followers you have).

However, it will only connect to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and the one in the building is 5GHz.

Is there a device you can get that picks up 5Ghz and sends it out as 2.4GHz? Any advice much appreciated.

Can't you just enable 2.4GHz on your Wifi router/access points? It's unusual to just have 5, as the range is very poor by comparison.

Thanks Silentbrown. It’s a shared office so could ask them if we can change it for everyone, but may not be popular (I gather it may affect access speed?). So was just looking if we could create a little local solution just for our Smiirl device.

[jfdi]

Many WiFi routers will allow both 5GHz and 2.4GHz at the same time. It's just a matter of turning both options on in the settings.

[Ham_and_Jam]

If not possible to get a 2.4ghz from the office router. It’s Probably easier to use a hot spot from a mobile phone, or a mifi device.

The data usage will be tiny.

[megaphone]

Or just set-up a separate WIFI access point with your own SSID.

[Baldchap]

megaphone said:

Or just set-up a separate WIFI access point with your own SSID.

This is the way. Plug it into a network socket in the office and leave it on your desk.

[silentbrown]

Baldchap said:

megaphone said:

Or just set-up a separate WIFI access point with your own SSID.

This is the way. Plug it into a network socket in the office and leave it on your desk.

The Smiiri has ethernet on it. I assume OP has no network sockets otherwise he'd just use it directly.

[67Dino]

Thanks PH, several helpful suggestions there:

- I didn’t realise you could run 2.4 and 5 GHz simultaneously, that’s definitely an option
- I haven’t looked at the Smiirl, didn’t occur to me it might have an Ethernet connection. Not sure if we have a socket in the office either but can check.
- like the idea of setting up a little Wi-Fi or Hotspot just for this, could be quite a cheap solution too.

Thank you.

[babelfish]

67Dino said:

- I haven’t looked at the Smiirl, didn’t occur to me it might have an Ethernet connection. Not sure if we have a socket in the office either but can check.

https://www.smiirl.com/en/counter/instagram/5D said:

It's Wi-Fi or Ethernet connected.

[Sheepshanks]

67Dino said:

Is there a device you can get that picks up 5Ghz and sends it out as 2.4GHz? Any advice much appreciated.

If you get stuck then I believe this https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Extender-Repeater... will do what you’re asking. I used one for a while.

[somouk]

How do you know it is 5Ghz only?

Most networks will steer you on to the fastest band for your device so it may be broadcasting 2.4 and 5 already.

[Ham_and_Jam]

somouk said:

How do you know it is 5Ghz only?

Most networks will steer you on to the fastest band for your device so it may be broadcasting 2.4 and 5 already.

I’m guessing that his device which is 2.4Ghz only isn’t picking up any network SSIDs.

[Sheepshanks]

Ham_and_Jam said:

somouk said:

How do you know it is 5Ghz only?

Most networks will steer you on to the fastest band for your device so it may be broadcasting 2.4 and 5 already.

I’m guessing that his device which is 2.4Ghz only isn’t picking up any network SSIDs.

It's true though - it'd be a bit odd to only be 5Ghz, be pretty amazing to get 5Ghz coverage throught a building.

Maybe it's business / enterprise set-up, but I think consumer stuff has to have 2.4Ghz to be called "wifi". Could be someone has turned off the 2,4Ghz radio but hard to imagine why.

[buggalugs]

If it’s a multi tenant type building the 2.4 spectrum gets absolutely hammered, that’s one possible reason for 5 only.

[67Dino]

Very helpful, thanks all. I’ve got a spare Wi-Fi extender somewhere so will try that.

[67Dino]

buggalugs said:

If it’s a multi tenant type building the 2.4 spectrum gets absolutely hammered, that’s one possible reason for 5 only.

Yes, it’s one of those places that has lots of firms in their own rooms but in the same building. We have so many people working at home we manage quite nicely on about a quarter of the desks I’d have needed for an office historically. Saving me a fortune!

[shopper150]

Slightly off topic and a bit of a thread hijack (apologies OP!)

How do you go about choosing the best channels for 2.4 and 5Ghz ? Is it really just trial and error?

[surveyor]

It's often a bit awkward to get routers to play this game. The usual way is to switch off the 5 GHz unit it's connected once, then you can switch it back on. I suspect you will struggle to negotiate that though.

[biggiles]

Some of the cheaper-end smart devices (or cheaper chipsets) refuse to work if they see BOTH 2.4GHz and 5GHz wifi. You might be running into that. Easier to use ethernet, or try setting up a local SSID with just 2.4 GHz.