@rtw07 

 

When enabling the smart connect the router has total control, there currently is not a way to override it.

 

If you use a Wi-Fi analyzer do you see the 5GH-2 network when smart connect is enabled?

 

@Tony i have the same issue with the same router i just bought. latest firmware in pic. my 2 TV's connect to 2.4ghz and they are 5g capable. there should be a way to force what type of band to use either by changing the icons or another field. 

@rtw07 

 

There is, TURN OFF Smart Connect and manually connect to the desired band (as they have different SSID's).

I would suspect that the extra band is reserved by Smat Connect for AC and AX devices so they would have a priority network. Be interesting if someone could verify. Also looking at the specification page's WiFi Reception Sensitivity, it does not show 'N' on the two 5GHz bands or at least it is not listed. https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-ax11000/#specifications

@ArcherC8 

ArcherC8 wrote

I would suspect that the extra band is reserved by Smat Connect for AC and AX devices so they would have a priority network. Be interesting if someone could verify.

 

The above screen capture is a partial. It does show 5 devices on the 5-1 band though. Don't know how many on the 2.4Ghz though.

 

Why none on the 5-2 is puzzling to say the least, unless it isn't shown as it shows on the next sroll down?

 

What is also not known is what each of those devices are capable of?

 

I believe that TP-Links Smart Connect does do 'load balancing' so you'd expect even distribution of devices over the 3 bands, assuming that is possible with the mix of devices and what time and state of the SSID connections at time of trying to connect.

 

Smart Connect isn't for everyone. If you know  how to manage your devices, don't use Smart Connect. At times it can get you into a situation you wouldn't want to be in. Especially when it starts mixing 802.11 speed devices on the same band.

 

Some links to look at, https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2595/

 

Here is sort of explains more, it has to do with 'effeciency', and what I think it means is where the device is, what is the best band to connect to. 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands are not the same 'power' at distance which might put a device on the band you wouldn't want it on.

 

This one is interesting, https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/stories/detail/193

 

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Smart Connect relies on an advanced algorithm that not only automatically determines which band is best for each device, but also constantly monitors the overall status of frequency resource. If a client is not busy, the Smart Connect reassigns it to ensure other clients can occupy more bandwidth on that band.

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If true, then they have implemented DYNAMIC Load Leveling as well.  Any device could land on any band possibly?

 

This link also says it is doing Dynamic Load Leveling, https://www.tp-link.com/us/solution/smart-connect/

 

So depending when you look at the connections, they could be different?

 

Still, the best way, assign the devices you want to which band you want manually.