Wireless network conundrum

[nst68]

I’ve bought some Wifi controlled electric wall heaters (not Alexa etc compatible), but I can’t connect them to my Netgear Orbi network.

Think the issue is that the heaters are 2.4 only and the Orbi doesn’t do separate 2.4 and 5 SSIDs, just a single one.

What’s the best way to get a separate 2.4 network?

I was thinking of getting a cheap access point and plugging this in to the Orbi, creating a different SSID, but then would all my devices which will be on the Orbi’s SSID be able to talk to the heaters?

Thanks.

 

[nst68]

Most IoT devices will only connect via 2.4Ghz.

Is there really not an option to split the ssid? There might be an option to split it, before the option to create it. If there's no option, then I don't see a way around it, new router time?

There’s no option on the admin gui, looks like it can be done by connecting via telnet

Don’t want to get a new router, this one cost over £300

 

[nst68]

Have you got an old router? One your ISP supplied for example?

Disconnect current router
Connect old ISP router, set 2.4GHz wifi with same SSID and password
Connect heaters
Disconnect old ISP router
Connect current router

I had to do something similar with my AC units as they needed WAP to connect and my unifi nanoHD AP did not support it.

I've got an old TP-Link access point I can use.
Will follow the above and turn off/on the wireless on the Orbi instead.

 

[nst68]

Update

In the end I bought a cheap TP-Link travel router that just does 2.4Ghz.

I set it up with the same SSID and password as the Orbi and got the heaters to connect to it, I could control them from the app

Went back to using the Orbi and the heaters now won't connect to the wifi

I've managed to get the email address of the people who support the app, will see if they have any ideas, otherwise I'll have to split the networks via telnet.

 

[nst68]

Ahhhhhhhh, one heater is now connected to the Wifi, but the other isn't

 

[nst68]

Do you have the option of returning the heaters? They sound like they just have a straight-up garbage Wi-Fi implementation that is never going to stop giving you problems.

It's something I'm going to look in to

 

[nst68]

Update

I eventually went the telnet route to split the networks and both heaters connected to the 2.4 straight away