@starmanj 

The way the Mesh system works is the device will be connected to the band is appropiate, and this is ongoing. So when you initially connect it will likely be the 2.4GHz as your device just connected, and has not been doing any activity.

When the phone starts to perform various tasks or features like streaming video or downloading a big file. The Deco unit will see the client device needs more speed so it will then move it to the 5GHz band.

That is permitting the 5GHz signal will benefit the user and they are not too far away or else the 2.4GHz signal is all that can reach the device at the moment.

If you only want to connect to the 5GHz, you can enable the guest network, and disable the 2.4Ghz.

@starmanj 

This does not help me. I don't use mesh, I use ethernet backhaul. And no, the M5 never switches me to 5ghz "on demand" (where did you get that info?), even when under strong streaming demand. And no, I can't disable 2.4ghz and put it on guest network, my smart home devices need to communicate with each other (which guest network prevents).

Does TP-Link have any network specialists? I guess this is a "feature" request, but it's pretty basic!

@starmanj 

If you use the Ethernet backhaul or Wi-Fi it is still a mesh network regardless.

Yes, this can be forwarded as a feature request.

@Tony 

Right but reply implied mesh via WiFi. 

Anyway important feature...

@Tony has this feature been made available? I too would like to assign devices to 5G vs 2G. For example, my xbox (that doesn't move) I would like to see a setting somewhere that I can set this to 5G only. Even after setting it to "high priorty" it still stays on 2G and lags. 

@Tony 

I was wondering when will this feature going to be available.  I still can't figure out why my firestick keep switching to 2.4 GHZ even if the deco device it is connected is just besides it.  Normally what I will do is disable 2.4GHZ and then let firestick connect to 5 GHZ.  Since I still have a lot of other devices using 2.4GHZ, I have to enable it again.  Firestick would normally work for a few days on 5GHZ and then for unknown reason connect back to 2.4GHZ.  I think I have other devices that behave the same but the firestick is very noticeable.  If I used 2.4GHZ, the video quality is not good and can notice the buffering.   It would really be a good feature if there's an option for the deco to force the device to use 5GHZ or make 5GHZ the prefered connection.  

@Tony can u please talk to the software team and make it possible to assign bands to certain devices connected to the router. my internet speed drops from 230mbps to 18mbps when my computer connects to the 2.4ghz band. I sit 3 feet from my router there is no reason my computer should be connected to 2.4ghz. I as well as a lot of other people cant turn 2.4 off because some devices like Roku will not connect to 5ghz. I would like to keep smart connect on, but prioritize what devices connect to what band. please make this possible!!!! i am begging you!

@starmanj 

I would also request that the technical team provide the option to assign  5ghz band to certain clients as required in a future update. I'm sure so many folks would benefit from this, myself included. Perhaps this could be achieved by an option to create different names for the 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands to differentiate them.

Thanks.

@starmanj This is easy to accomplish. Go into your iPhone wireless settings and find the 2.4ghz SSID that your iPhone wants to connect to and click on "Forget this network". Then your iPhone will always connect to your 5ghz SSID. This is the same for any IOS device.

So whilst I agree that it would be good for TP Link to give the option to split the 2.4ghz and 5ghz SSIDs in the settings, in your case there's a workaround.

Hope this helps.