Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz

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Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz

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Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2020-11-03 15:30:34 - last edited 2021-04-19 09:33:56
Model: EAP225  
Hardware Version: V3
Firmware Version: 2.20.1

I have three chromebooks (different models, two on the latest OS release stable channel, one on the latest release beta channel) that cannot connect to the 2.4G band on my home network. When I try to connect to the 2.4G, I get an error message "Out of range". The SSID is clearly in range and with excellent signal, all other devices can connect and maintain a strong connection. I tested by shuting down the router and APs and using an old netgear router, the chromebooks successfully connected to the netgear's 2.4G wifi.

 

Network setup:

TLR600VPN router

2 EAP 225 V3 2.20.1

1 EAP 225 Outdoors V1 1.20,0

OC200 controller

 

 

 

I'd really appreciate any input on how to fix this.

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#1
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1 Accepted Solution
Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz-Solution
2021-04-19 09:33:49 - last edited 2021-06-03 02:51:00

Hi all,

 

For the issue that Chromebooks(or devices with Ubuntu Mate system) cannot connect to the 2.4GHz band on EAP225-Outdoor v1 (or EAP225 v3), the R&D team has made a beta firmware to fix the issue after multiple investigations. If you happen to suffer from such issue, please follow the link below to download the beta firmware.

 

For EAP225 V3 (EU/US):

https://static.tp-link.com/beta/2021/202103/20210316/EAP225v3_5.0.1_[20210315-rel37995]_up_beta.zip

For EAP225-Outdoor v1 (EU/US):

https://static.tp-link.com/beta/2021/202104/20210419/EAP225-OUTDOORv1_5.0.1_[20210315-rel37995]_up_beta.zip

 

Update: 

The official firmware 5.0.3 for the EU/US version has been released, which has fixed the issue mentioned above.

Please visit the local TP-Link official website to download the firmware and check the detailed firmware release notes.

 

Direct download:

EAP225(EU)_V3_5.0.3 Build 20210316

EAP225-Outdoor(EU)_V1_5.0.3 Build 20210316

EAP225(US)_V3_5.0.3 Build 20210316

EAP225-Outdoor(US)_V1_5.0.3 Build 20210316

 

For the Canada version, you could follow the link below to download the beta firmware to fix the issue.

https://static.tp-link.com/beta/2021/202106/20210602/EAP225v3_ca_5.0.3_[20210601-rel52867]_up_signed.zip

https://static.tp-link.com/beta/2021/202105/20210531/EAP225-OUTDOORv1_ca_5.0.3_[20210524-rel55675]_up_signed.zip

 

>> Omada EAP Firmware Trial Available Here << *Try filtering posts on each forum by Label of [Early Access]*
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#12
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2020-11-04 17:12:06

Wlecome @rodegg,

 

Hmmm, doing a quick google search, that seems to be a very common problem with Chromebooks -- regardless of the networking equipment used.  I don't actually have a Chromebook to test with. But all of my linux / android / kindle devices work fine (as does Windows, iOS, etc.).

 

Is this a new setup?

 

Things to try:

1) delete the SSID from the device and re-add

2) create a new, different SSID and try that

3) It sounds like you have band steering turned off -- which is good.  Separate SSID's per radio 2.4 & 5.8

4) Make sure to use 20MHz only on 2.4GHz

5) Make sure to use 2.4GHz channels 1, 6, or 11.

6) Check you WPA settings.  Maybe these devices don't support one of the WPA types the TP-Link equipment (configured in SDN/OC-200) is offering?

For example, they may not support WPA3.

 

I take it these Chromebooks don't have 5.8GHz support?

 

-Jonathan

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#2
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2020-11-04 17:48:45

@JSchnee21 Thanks for your input Jonathan. I've tried most of the things you suggested without luck. One of the APs was using channel 3 so I changed that but again it did not make a difference.

 

I did google this and also saw this is a common issue. Before setting up Omada, I had a tplink deco mesh system and they would not connect either. At this point I'm close to giving up.

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#3
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-03-03 03:20:26

@rodegg 

 

Same boat, and the updated firmware didn't solve the problem. 

 

I have the same hardware as you, as well. EAP225 and EAP225-outdoor. 

I tried the 1.5 firmware on the 225outdoor, but that didn't help. Currently rolling back. Way back. 

 

I have no problem with the Chromebooks when using the old Omada Controller 3.2.x. 

But I have the same issue when using the new SDN 4.4 controller and also the OC200 hardware controller. 

 

(btw, I ditched the OC200 because I couldn't manage the device on a VLAN other than 1. Or at least that was the conclusion of tech support.) 

 

But there's definitely something no working right when it comes to chromebooks and the new controller versions regardless of what hardware they are run on. 

OC200, 2x SG-TL3428, T1500G-10MPS, 3x EAP225, Firewalla Gold (replaced ER-605)
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#4
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-03-03 03:27:54
I gave up. I moved the kids chromebooks so they get a usable 5ghz signal. Tplink 2.4ghz just does not work with chrome os.
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#5
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-03-03 03:35:20

@rodegg 

 

I'm about to do the same. 

 

2.4 works fine on the previous 225-outdoor firmware (EAP225-Outdoor(US)_V1_1.20.0 Build 20200422) which is strange since they are both "fully adapted" to the new SDN controller. 

 

 

OC200, 2x SG-TL3428, T1500G-10MPS, 3x EAP225, Firewalla Gold (replaced ER-605)
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#6
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-03-03 22:41:13

@rodegg, @CoKro 

 

I am not running into this issue, but I am very interested.  Has anyone gotten a packet capture of this?

 

At first blush, I would guess that it is a legacy situation where the Chromebooks require some old 802.11b artifact to be enabled, and the new TP-Link stuff doesn't do it by default anymore.  That could at least explain why 5GHz would work and 2.4GHz wouldn't.  No 802.11b on 5GHz.

 

Just a thought.  I would love to see a PCAP.

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#7
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-03-11 19:15:51

@Questionmark  I don't know what a packet capture is. I'd be interested in learning.

 

I just turned on a chromebook that has not been turned on in months and had Chrome OS 79.0.3945. The chromebook successfully connected to a 2.4Ghz wifi. As soon as I updated Chrome OS to the current version, it was no longer able to connect.

 

 

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#8
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-03-15 13:28:13

@rodegg & @Questionmark 

 

Customer Support finally replicated the issue and sent me a beta firmware to try out. 

 

It is called "EAP225-OUTDOORv1_5.0.1_[20210315-rel37995]_up_beta." Not sure if they have posted it anywhere, but it is something you could request from them if you wanted to try it out. 

 

I'm going to install it and see what happens. 

OC200, 2x SG-TL3428, T1500G-10MPS, 3x EAP225, Firewalla Gold (replaced ER-605)
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#9
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-03-15 14:34:19

Hi @CoKro,

 

Thank you for keeping us up to date.  Many people have had issues with Chromebooks and TP-Link (and other MFG) Wifi hardware.  

 

I'll be very interested to find out the root cause of the issue.

 

Thanks,

Jonathan

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#10
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Re:Chromebooks cannot connect to 2.4Ghz
2021-04-17 07:44:25

@JSchnee21 

 

Hi there, I have the same issue with an Archer C60. It works fine with most of devices, from older to newer but not with my brand new Samsung Chromebook. The laptop connects to the 5Ghz signal, but no way to establish a connection to the 2,4ghz signal. Tried many things and suggestions, without success.

 

However, the Chromebook connects fine to other 2,4 WiFi nets, such as the hotspot from my phone and to the netgear very old range extender I have.

 

The only way to make a 2,4 connection directly to the Tp Link router, was to activate the guest wifi net without any authentication. Only in that case it worked. Clearly, this is something I do not want to do, but maybe it is of help to know, just to understand better why this issue is happening and possibly to solve it.

 

 

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