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Learn about enhanced Wi-Fi networking

Our newest internet equipment has dual radios and band steering. Learn how to use these features to make your Wi-Fi network better.

Band steering

Looking to get faster Wi-Fi® speed and solve connection and coverage problems? Our All-Fi Hub™ and newest Wi-Fi gateways (BGW210, BGW320, and Pace 5268) are equipped with dual radio bands and band steering technology to help you overcome these issues.

When your Wi-Fi gateway or All-Fi Hub has band steering, it automatically guides your wireless devices to the best radio band. For example, if a newer 5GHz device connects to a 2.4GHz signal, it might not get the best performance. Some of your older devices won’t work on a 5GHz signal. Since your devices don’t know which radio band to connect to, our newest equipment steers your devices to the right radio band.

It’s like adding a fast lane for your Wi-Fi devices. Newer devices can connect to the 5GHz radio and not get stuck behind slower 2.4GHz devices. And, if a 5GHz device reaches the outer coverage boundaries of its signal, the gateway steers it to the 2.4GHz signal to keep its connection.

Radio bands

  • 2.4GHz: Has 11 channels, can travel farther distances, and is the slower band. It’s most compatible with older Wi-Fi devices. These radio bands are more susceptible to interference.
  • 5GHz: Has 25 channels and a shorter reach, but it’s the faster band. It’s most compatible with newer Wi-Fi devices.

Set up your Wi-Fi for band steering

For band steering to work, make sure the two radios on your gateway or hub have the same Wi-Fi network name and password. This is the default setting on your Wi-Fi gateway.

If you changed the network names or passwords, change them back so both radios have matching Wi-Fi info. Here’s how:
  1. Sign in to Smart Home Manager or open the Smart Home Manager app.
  2. Select Tools. 
  3. Choose Network Notifications. If you have different network names for each radio, you’ll get a Different Network Names notification. To combine your network names, select Choose One and pick the network name you want to keep.
Don't have the Smart Home Manager app? You can get all your network connections info right at your fingertips. Or, download the app from the Apple App store or Google Play store.
Last updated: April 5, 2023

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