2.4GHz smart plugs with multiband mesh system

[Snooky]

I bought some GNCC smart plugs to control our lights. They only work with 2.4GHz wifi. I have a Deco mesh system which offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz simultaneously. I've checked using Android Wifi Analyzer that there's a Wifi signal on both bands, but the smart plugs refuse to appear in the Smart Life app (which GNCC recommend for this product).

Any thoughts why that might be and what could be done to fix it, apart from turning off the 5GHz on my mesh network, which I'm not going to do? It's my first foray into the smart plug world and so far, so unimpressive

[woody1]

Have you tried turning off the 5GHz, just as an experiment?

[ladymuck]

^^ this. You need to rule this out in order to figure out next steps

[courtg9000]

Ok I had something similarish with my plugs, lightbulbs and a few other bits in my house the other week when the lovely BT sent me a new router (2.4 and 5Ghz).
5Ghz not supported was the error message.
My solution when asked for the network and adding the devices to the new network was reset the devices so they forget the network and then to add a hidden network and give it the exact same network id and password as the BT router and it worked!!!!!
Not saying that it will work for you but it might be worth a shot.
I hope you get it resolved soon.

[WTFH]

If your phone is connected to the 5Ghz network, then the 2.4Ghz devices might not be visible to it.
Try changing the names of your networks, so you have one called e.g. Snooky5 and the other Snooky2.4.
Connect the devices to Snooky2.4, then get your phone to also connect to that network. Then see if the app will pick up the devices.
Yes, it’s a similar answer to those above suggesting you try turning off 5Ghz as an experiment, and yes it’s a bit of faff, but I’m assuming you’re not planning to spend every waking minute trying to change the timings that turn plugs off an on from your phone, in which case you only need to switch your phone network over for the times when you want to make the changes, or are trying to show off to your friends.

[The Spartan]

I bought some GNCC smart plugs to control our lights. They only work with 2.4GHz wifi. I have a Deco mesh system which offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz simultaneously. I've checked using Android Wifi Analyzer that there's a Wifi signal on both bands, but the smart plugs refuse to appear in the Smart Life app (which GNCC recommend for this product).

Any thoughts why that might be and what could be done to fix it, apart from turning off the 5GHz on my mesh network, which I'm not going to do? It's my first foray into the smart plug world and so far, so unimpressive

In the Deco app click on the more icon and turn on the IoT network it's a better way to create a dedicated wireless network and you can restrict to the 2.4ghz band which the majority of smart plugs/lights etc run on.

[Snooky]

In the Deco app click on the more icon and turn on the IoT network it's a better way to create a dedicated wireless network and you can restrict to the 2.4ghz band which the majority of smart plugs/lights etc run on.

This sounds interesting, I had no idea that option existed. I've now enabled IoT and it's created a new, 2.4GHz only, wifi network. But the smart plugs still won't appear on the SmartLife app. Is this something you've done before and, if so, do you have any tips or links to useful guides? I'll message TP-Link to see if they have any ideas, but they'll probably take ages to respond.

I feel like the initial part of the setup should be via Bluetooth, so getting the plugs to appear in the app shouldn't actually be dependent on Wifi at all.

[The Spartan]

This sounds interesting, I had no idea that option existed. I've now enabled IoT and it's created a new, 2.4GHz only, wifi network. But the smart plugs still won't appear on the SmartLife app. Is this something you've done before and, if so, do you have any tips or links to useful guides? I'll message TP-Link to see if they have any ideas, but they'll probably take ages to respond.

I feel like the initial part of the setup should be via Bluetooth, so getting the plugs to appear in the app shouldn't actually be dependent on Wifi at all.

I did have this initial problem with Meross/Calex smart plugs, but there was an option to connect to the plug WiFi directly and configure the plug that way. Could it be possible that you have a faulty set of plugs? I also recommend the TP-Link P110's they're really easy to pair and full of features including energy monitoring.