Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800

Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800

Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
3 weeks ago - last edited a week ago
Tags: #iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Pro M4
Model: Archer GE800  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.3.2 Build 20250929 rel.49558

Hi,

 

Why is Smart Connect applicable only to 2.4 & 5 GHz? Why does setting up Smart Connect require me to set up separately 6GHz network with its password and combined 2.4 & 5 GHz network while your description of the functionality states that it combines ALL bands under the same name?

 

I am struggling to use Wi-Fi 6E 6GHz band on iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Pro 11" M4 and Mac Studio M4.  All three on the latest software versions with Archer GE800 on the latest firmware fail to detect a 6GHz band. 
 

Apple suggested using one network name for all 3 three bands 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz but you have a weird disjointed realization of Smart Connect with the combined name only applicable to 2.4/5 GHz bands and 6 GHz existing separately and since the latter is not visible I cannot add it to the mix.  
 

The bottom line: I don't know who to blame but I can't use Wi-Fi 6E 6GHz on three separate modern supporting devices in the regime of 3 separate network names and in the regime Smart Connect (2.4 & 5 GHz) + 6 GHz. 
 

 

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#1
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1 Accepted Solution
Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800-Solution
3 weeks ago - last edited a week ago

  @Joseph-TP 

 

Hi,

 

thanks fir your reply.  I already have a separate name for the 6 GHz band and it is enabled and visible. All the devices I mentioned support Wi-Fi 6E and are up to date. 
 

i thought MLO network is only for Wi-Fi 7 clients.  I don't have any Wi-Fi 7 clients.  Is there any sense in enabling it then?

 

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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
3 weeks ago - last edited 3 weeks ago

Hello @VadK ,

Welcome to our community.

 

Smart Connect is designed to simplify network access by automatically steering devices between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, using a single Wi-Fi name and password. This helps balance network load and optimize performance. However, due to current technical and regulatory limitations, Smart Connect typically does not include the 6GHz band. The 6GHz band (Wi-Fi 6E) often requires a separate SSID and password for security and compatibility reasons, which is why you need to set up the 6GHz network separately.

If your devices are not detecting the 6GHz band, please try:

1. Open the Tether app and navigate to Tools > Wireless Settings. Make sure the 6GHz network is enabled and not hidden.
2. Confirm that your client device (such as your phone or computer) supports 6GHz Wi-Fi. Also, please make sure that both the device drivers and the operating system are up to date.
3. Make sure both your router and client device are being used in a country or region where Wi-Fi 6E/7 operation is permitted. If the router and client device were purchased in different countries, Wi-Fi 6E operation may not be available.
4. For more information, please refer to: What if my device failed to detect the 6 GHz Wi-Fi Band?

 

 

It is recommended that you enable the MLO network on the Archer GE800 for  Wi-Fi 7 clients. If all your devices are WiFi 6E devices, you can only connect to the 6GHz band for now.

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience If you found the post or response helpful, please click Helpful. If an answer solves your problem, click "Recommended Solution" so that others can benefit from it.
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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800-Solution
3 weeks ago - last edited a week ago

  @Joseph-TP 

 

Hi,

 

thanks fir your reply.  I already have a separate name for the 6 GHz band and it is enabled and visible. All the devices I mentioned support Wi-Fi 6E and are up to date. 
 

i thought MLO network is only for Wi-Fi 7 clients.  I don't have any Wi-Fi 7 clients.  Is there any sense in enabling it then?

 

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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
2 weeks ago

  @VadK 

 

I will share my experience on using MLO on the BE805 : 

 

So I also have a WiFi 7 router [ BE805 ] and I also do turn on the MLO SSID with the 2.4,5 & 6GHz bands. The only device that supports WiFi 7 in my house is my S24 Ultra. MLO can be unstable as it would disconnect my internet and having it to restart. Firmware update was released and it didn't happen again but even when I can connect to the MLO SSID. It would suddenly disconnect after a few hours and push me back to the standalone 5 or 6GHz SSID. In WiFiMan, it would sometimes show 2.4, 5 or 2.4, 5 & 6GHz and my device would connect to 2 bands. So I would turn the MLO SSID off if I were you. On Windows 25H2/24H2, you can only connect to 2 bands despite being on  2.4, 5 & 6GHz. 

 

So yeah, in my opinion, MLO is unstable and not as good as hyped. Sounded good on paper but in real world usage, not so much. Maybe with WiFi 8 etc, it will get better.

 

VadK wrote

  @Joseph-TP 

 

Hi,

 

thanks fir your reply.  I already have a separate name for the 6 GHz band and it is enabled and visible. All the devices I mentioned support Wi-Fi 6E and are up to date. 
 

i thought MLO network is only for Wi-Fi 7 clients.  I don't have any Wi-Fi 7 clients.  Is there any sense in enabling it then?

 

 

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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
2 weeks ago

  @VadK 

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with MLO network and Samsung S24.  I thought about using it and even adjed chatGPT about it but decided against it for now. Indeed maybe Wi-Fi 8 will fix it.  For I am struggling to see and connect to 6 GHz network on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPad Pro 11" M4 when Location Services is ON for Networking & wireless in Privacy & Security settings.  But when I turn this setting OFF in a bit both start seeing this frequency. Apple support denies there are regional restrictions or blocks and even mean "this is expected behavior".  It's very frustrating! 

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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
2 weeks ago

Hello @VadK ,

As far as I know, on iPhones, If you turn off Location Services for Wi-Fi networking or Bluetooth, your iPhone will still use GPS, cellular, and other apps to determine your location.

For more details, you can click here.

 

 

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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
2 weeks ago

Hello @xg4ll ,

Thank you for sharing your experience of using the MLO Network.

 

If you only have one WiFi 7 device to verify MLO connectivity, I am afraid that we will not be able to determine if the MLO Network connection is unstable directly. If possible, please test as many other Wi-Fi 7 devices as you can.

Also, if all devices are currently running stably, you can continue with the current settings.

 

Best Regards.

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience If you found the post or response helpful, please click Helpful. If an answer solves your problem, click "Recommended Solution" so that others can benefit from it.
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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
2 weeks ago

  @Joseph-TP I had an RE655BE that was hooked up via LAN and was converted to an AP mode. I was able to turn the MLO on and get my PC with a BE9300 WiFi 7 PCI-E Card and get it to work with the RE655BE MLO however it was using the 2.4 w 5 or 2.4 w 6. Windows 11 doesn't support the usage of 3 bands for MLO. There wasn't any random disconnects or whatsoever.

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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
a week ago

Hello @xg4ll ,

Thanks for getting back.

 

May I know the firmware and hardware version of your router? 

What was the previous firmware version you mentioned? Was it 1.3.0? Have you tried downgrading for comparison?

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience If you found the post or response helpful, please click Helpful. If an answer solves your problem, click "Recommended Solution" so that others can benefit from it.
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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
a week ago

  @Joseph-TP 

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for your questions.  My hardware version is 1.6 and the firmware is the latest version 1.3.2 Build 20250929 rel.49558.  I have observed this same behavior for all past firmwares over a year so it's not dependent on firmware quirks in my view. 

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Re:Disjointed realization of Smart Connect on Archer GE800
a week ago

@VadK 

Thanks for your reply.

 

We've also received feedback from other users that they need to disable Location Services for Wi-Fi networking or Bluetooth on their iPhones to detect 6GHz. Indeed, this isn't due to a router firmware limitation.

However, disabling this option shouldn't significantly affect other applications on iPhones, as I mentioned in my previous reply.

Joseph-TP wrote

Hello @VadK ,

As far as I know, on iPhones, If you turn off Location Services for Wi-Fi networking or Bluetooth, your iPhone will still use GPS, cellular, and other apps to determine your location.

For more details, you can click here.

 

 

 

Of course, we appreciate your feedback and understanding, and we will continue to strive to improve our service and product quality.

 

Best Regards~heart

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience If you found the post or response helpful, please click Helpful. If an answer solves your problem, click "Recommended Solution" so that others can benefit from it.
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