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Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)

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Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)

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Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2020-05-07 09:40:31 - last edited 2021-03-22 12:46:38
Model: Archer C6  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: Archer C6(US)_V2_191112

So, I just recently picked up an Archer C6 v2, and a RE305 v3.

Both are on the latest firmware that's available.

 

Issue 1)

They connect to each other just fine @ 2.4 GHz, but just do not want to sync at 5 GHz at all. The RE305 cannot see the 5 GHz SSID, period.

 

After fiddling around a little bit, I found that the root cause is that the C6 router defaults to channel 149 @ 5 GHz, and the RE305 just does not connect to anything in that channel range. It seems to prefer the 36 - 48 band.

 

I changed the 5 GHz channel to 36 on the Archer C6, and the moment I do that, the RE305 connects at 5 GHz, and seems happy to be a part of the OneMesh extended network.

 

But, by doing this, I lose the 'Smart Connect' or Band streering function, as I need to disable 'Smart connect' in order to manually change the channel to 36.

 

1a) I would much prefer to have Smart connect on, and have the RE305 connect at 5 GHz as well. I'm not sure if it's just a case of enabling the RE305 firmware to use the 149+ channel band, or defaulting the Archer C6 firmware to pick a lower channel by default.

 

1b) Either way, I think the Archer C6 firmware needs to be fixed to allow manual changes to the 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz settings, and still allow us to enable Smart Connect using those manual changes without defaulting everything back to auto to moment you toggle Smart connect. I found a wierd way to work around this temporarily by leaving smart connect off on the Archer C6 with 5 GHz channel set to 36 so the RE305 connects, and then use the Tether app to enable smart connect back on the Archer C6, this seems to leave Smart connect on with the 5 GHz channel still at 36. But I'm not sure if this will stick all the time, or especially stick after a reboot, so this is just temporary in any case.

 

Issue 2)

Forget the RE305 for a moment. Assume everything on the Archer C6 is on defaults, smart connect is on, 5 GHz channel is on 149 by default. My Oneplus 7 pro is connected to the router at 5GHz at a speed of 866 Mbps within a 3 ft distance. Everything works well for a while, but after an hour or two of use, the internet just stops working on the Oneplus 7 pro. Wifi is still connected at 866 Mbps, but you just can't access internet at all. If you switch off Wifi and back on, you can browse again for a while, but it eventually goes back to the same issue. 

 

Now, after changing the 5GHz channel to 36, I no longer have those issues. It is consistently connected at the same speed of 866 Mbps, and internet continues to work for over a day now.

 

Would appreciate it if this could be escalated to the firmware team(s). 

Request other forum members to chime in with their thoughts and suggestions as well.

 

Cheers.

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1 Accepted Solution
Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)-Solution
2021-03-22 12:46:12 - last edited 2021-03-22 12:46:38

@gr33nhorn Hi everyone, 

 

For this issue, it is recommended to disable Smart Connect on router, and set up a Band 1 channel on tp-link  router with Onemesh feature enabled.

This issue is related to the Wifi band that Range extender supports rather than a firmware problem.

With " Smart Connect" enabled, router will merge 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz band to the same SSIDs, and automatically choose a relatively idle channel , so 5Ghz channel could be on Band4.  However tp-link Range Extenders (EU) version supports : Band1/2/3 on 5Ghz to accord with the results of the CE certification as listed below: 

 

RE (EU) version 5Ghz Band :

 

V Band1:36-48   (36,40,44,48 )；
V Band2:52-64   (DFS) ; 
V Band3:100-140 (DFS);
X Band4:149-165 (149,153,158,161,165);

 

So if router happen to use a Band4 channel, RE will not able to detect its 5Ghz. Here are some suggestions for  this issue: 

1. Keep One mesh On if you want to use this feature.   Please disable Smart Connect on router, but keep 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz the same SSID ( clients could still roam between 2 bands automatically) [recommended ]
2. If you do not want to disable it, please try multiple reboots on router, and see router will change to Band1 channel, and RE could find it. 

>>Landscape Mode - Tapo App for Pad. >>Smart Action 2.0 Explore and meet the next level home automation. >>How to position my TP-Link camera for optimal performance.
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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2020-05-07 11:02:21
For issue 2, If other devices still have speed than I would suspect the OnePlus. If all devices slow it may be the OnePlus or some other device making it slow down. See https://www.cnet.com/how-to/home-networking-explained-part-1-heres-the-url-for-you/ for more info. Strange that 36 works but 149 does not. You may want to try a different band width although I do not know if Home Connect will allow.
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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2020-05-08 18:35:54

@Kryptonite 

 

I have not seen those findings, but I can see what I can find for you.

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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2020-06-29 11:07:06

 

@Kryptonite I have seen the exact same issue with Archer A6 and RE205. I'm using 2 RE205 extenders with the Archer A6 v2 as the main router. When I enable Smart Connect, I cannot choose the 5Ghz channel and the main router Archer A6 defaults to 149 which RE205 extenders cannnot see at all. Without Smart Connect, the RE205 extenders can see if 5Ghz network only if the channels are 36/40/44/48. But then as you said I can't use Smart Connect.

 

I will try your solution to turn on Smart Connect from the Tether mobile applicatiom after manually selecting the channels. Did the setting stay after reboot for you? Thanks in advance for your reply and help.

 

I'm considering getting a Archer C6 instead of the Archer A6. Is there a fix or workaround for this in the latest firmware for Archer C6 from TP-Link?

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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2020-06-29 11:08:40

@Tony Is there a fix or workaround for this in the latest firmware for Archer C6 from TP-Link? Either we should be allowed to select the 5Ghz channel while enabling Smart connect or the extenders RE205/RE305 should support the other 5Ghz channels.

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#5
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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2021-02-28 10:07:24

I am facing the same issue with a RE305V3 and an A6V3. I hope this gets solved soon! 

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#6
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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2021-03-01 19:09:35

@gr33nhorn 

 

For the RE305 v3 firmware was released on 1/14/2021 with various fixes. Has the extender been updated to that latest release and are you still seeing the same issues?

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#7
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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2021-03-02 00:06:34

I am running 1.1.4 Build 20201202 Rel. 42413 on the RE305 and 1.0.5 Build 20201117 rel.41066(5553) on the Archer A6. The update pages show the are no upgrades available. 

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#8
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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2021-03-02 23:51:33

@gr33nhorn 

 

I would recommend reaching out to support to see if there may be any potential firmware that may help.

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#10
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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)
2021-03-03 03:09:44

I will sit  on it for now - i tried changing the router channel manually, and found out that  my wifi signal while using the repeater dropped. 

 

looks  like the lack of 5ghz from the  router is allowing it to work similar to high speed mode (which is otherwise not  possible in mesh)

speeds look the same both ways. so i guess i'll keep things the way they are for now

 

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Re:Archer C6 v2 does not connect to RE305 v3 @ 5 GHz (OneMesh or otherwise)-Solution
2021-03-22 12:46:12 - last edited 2021-03-22 12:46:38

@gr33nhorn Hi everyone, 

 

For this issue, it is recommended to disable Smart Connect on router, and set up a Band 1 channel on tp-link  router with Onemesh feature enabled.

This issue is related to the Wifi band that Range extender supports rather than a firmware problem.

With " Smart Connect" enabled, router will merge 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz band to the same SSIDs, and automatically choose a relatively idle channel , so 5Ghz channel could be on Band4.  However tp-link Range Extenders (EU) version supports : Band1/2/3 on 5Ghz to accord with the results of the CE certification as listed below: 

 

RE (EU) version 5Ghz Band :

 

V Band1:36-48   (36,40,44,48 )；
V Band2:52-64   (DFS) ; 
V Band3:100-140 (DFS);
X Band4:149-165 (149,153,158,161,165);

 

So if router happen to use a Band4 channel, RE will not able to detect its 5Ghz. Here are some suggestions for  this issue: 

1. Keep One mesh On if you want to use this feature.   Please disable Smart Connect on router, but keep 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz the same SSID ( clients could still roam between 2 bands automatically) [recommended ]
2. If you do not want to disable it, please try multiple reboots on router, and see router will change to Band1 channel, and RE could find it. 

>>Landscape Mode - Tapo App for Pad. >>Smart Action 2.0 Explore and meet the next level home automation. >>How to position my TP-Link camera for optimal performance.
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