The number of Wi-Fi and internet-connected devices in the average home is growing fast. It’s no longer just your phone and PC, but your TV, fridge, smart hubs, gaming consoles, and tablets all want a slice of your router’s bandwidth. And once you start adding PSA Centrii smart home security devices to the mix, your router might start to struggle.
The smart features of the PSA Centrii range are fantastic, but they do come with one catch: connectivity demands. If your router isn’t up to scratch, you might run into connection issues, latency bugs, or an overall slowdown in internet speed.
Upgrade Your Router
Most people stick with the basic router provided by their internet service provider (ISP), but those are usually the cheapest models available, just good enough to get you online. In many cases, they’re only built to handle 5 to 10 devices. These days, the average household has more than 20!
Upgrading your router is a simple and effective way to futureproof your setup. We’re not going to list every router under the sun, but this PC Mag guide is a great place to start. At the very least, consider replacing the stock ISP model.
2.4GHz vs 5GHz – What’s the Difference?
A common issue we see with PSA Centrii products involves routers that use both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands. These numbers refer to the bandwidth your devices connect to.
Most routers support both bands, but some smart devices, can only connect to 2.4GHz.
Modern routers often choose the band automatically based on signal strength or speed. Unfortunately, this “smart switching” can prevent 2.4GHz-only devices from connecting.
Understanding the Bands
2.4GHz
This is the older and more widely supported band. It doesn’t carry data as fast as 5GHz, but it has better range and signal penetration through walls.
5GHz
Don’t confuse 5GHz Wi-Fi with 5G mobile networks, they’re completely different. 5GHz Wi-Fi is faster and supports higher data rates, but has a shorter range. Many smart devices don’t support 5GHz yet, which is why 2.4GHz compatibility is still essential.
NBN Australia have a great article on home Wi-Fi optimisation here
How to Fix 2.4GHz Connection Problems
If your smart device can’t connect to a dual-band router, the solution is to separate the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. That way, you can choose which band each device connects to.
Here’s how to do it:
- Log in to your router’s admin panel.
- On a computer, open your web browser and enter 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in the address bar
- This will open your router’s login screen.
- You’ll find the login details on the router itself or in the user manual. If not, contact your ISP.
- Access the Wi-Fi settings.
- Look for settings related to “Wireless,” “Wi-Fi,” or “Network.”
- Find the option to separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.
- You might need to check your router’s manual or search online for model-specific steps.
- Once separated, rename the two networks (e.g., “HomeWiFi_2.4” and “HomeWiFi_5”) and set separate passwords.
Once done, your device will detect both networks. When setting up a smart device like a PSA Centrii SensorGuard, make sure to connect it to the 2.4GHz network.
Here is a great video that covers this problem and a general solution in great detail.
Final Tip
Still stuck? Reach out to your ISP for help or search your router’s model number online for a step-by-step guide. Every router is a little different, but with a bit of digging, you’ll be connected in no time.
