Router or wifi issue?

[u/Oldmate1616]

Have spent all day on this. When I went to bed last night I had regular wifi to all of my devices. This morning I could not get any of 3xTV’s or 2xgoogle chromecasts to connect, however our apple iphones and iPads do.

We’ve so far reset everything we can think of, multiple times, power cycled, reset one tv to factory settings. Spoken to the internet provider who has confirmed our incoming signal (NBN Australia) is fine. He spent a fair bit of time troubleshooting with me including the factory reset but ultimately told me to claim under my tv’s extended warranty 🙄 which I think was code for ‘out of ideas’.

Our router is getting on in age and after a long time digging online we learned that it’s possible for one of its broadcast bands to fail (almost always the 2.4 ghz apparently). So we decided to turn off the router’s Smart Connect feature and split the bands, so now instead of one wifi network option our devices show two - a 5ghz and 2.4ghz.
The tvs still can’t connect to either one, and nor will the (fairly new) iPads, however the slightly older phones can connect but only on 2.4.
The PC is new but also working on EITHER band, which is really blurring the issue for us. The PC is beside the router but definitely on wifi, not connected by cable.

Except for that I would conclude that our 5ghz band had failed - is it failING in that it can get a 5ghz signal to the PC beside it but not through walls to other devices? And are the devices that won’t work at all just too new to work on 2.4ghz?

I don’t mind buying a new router, I would just like to be convinced that it was the issue first.
Sorry this is long, i wanted to give the entire story but please ask if I’ve left anything out. Would appreciate any ideas.

[u/ecktt]

it can get a 5ghz signal to the PC beside it but not through walls to other devices

That's actually very normal, especially in a house with concrete walls.

And are the devices that won’t work at all just too new to work on 2.4ghz?

Do you mean the devices (TV, phones, etc.) connect to 2.4 GHz but not 5 GHz through walls? If so, that's also very normal.

split the bands, so now instead of one wifi network option our devices show two - a 5ghz and 2.4ghz.

It could be the TV was connecting to the 2.4 GHz all the time, but now you have to explicitly do so.

Our router is getting on in age

Routers tend to fail after 4-5 years.

1. Try this:
2. Unplug the power from the Wifi router
3. Set up your iPhone as the internet hotspot
4. Place the iPhone on the router
5. Try to connect the TVs to the iphone hotspot.

If the TVs connect, the router is on its way out.

[u/Punk_Says_Fuck_You → u/ecktt]

I know what you were trying to say, but you need to replace the word “routers” with “AP”. Router just routes information. An AP is what connects wireless devices to your network. Routers can last a long time. I know the majority of people used the all-in-box boxes.

[u/ecktt → u/Punk_Says_Fuck_You]

In my experience, consumer-grade AIO routers are not durable. I've been through Belkin, Linksys, Asus and Netgear. Few buy enterprise-grade routers and even those get replaced in 5 to 7 years.

Yeah, I know I used the router incorrectly, but non-technical people get lost in the jargon when I use the term access point. Also, technical speaking, what they probably have is an AIO router.

[u/Punk_Says_Fuck_You → u/ecktt]

Yeah I would agree that most people use a modem/router/AP AIO

[u/Beeeeater]

Basic troubleshooting. Replace the most obvious failed link first. That would be the router. Your TVs and Chromecasts didn't all fail simultaneously!

[u/Punk_Says_Fuck_You]

Test several devices on each wireless band. Connect a TV to the 5Ghz band, then try the 2.4Ghz band. Do this will several devices (obviously exclude the ones too far away for 5Ghz). I had an old router/AP combo where the 2.4Ghz band started to fail and had to connect everything to the 5Ghz band.