Turn off WiFi on T-Mobile Home Gateway

Can anyone that has successfully done this AND had problems with the connections dropping sporadically answer this question:  Has using an external router reduced/eliminated the amount of disconnects?

We're at wits end with this disconnect problem.  It works for a day or 2 and then just drops (sometimes multiple times in a row)and doesn't know how to reconnect.  Seems like they can easily build logic to ping or heartbeat, but alas the Can seems too stupid to even recognize that it's no longer connected.  I've contacted customer support numerous times, but they unfortunately can't help and do know about this issue.  I'm not sure what causes these disconnections, since it easily reconnects after a reboot, but conjectured if I reduced the load on the Can by turning off the routing, that it might stay more stable.  Heeelp!

Thanks in advance

I wrote a simple Python script to automate the method described in the NaterTater video, above.

See here:
https://github.com/tnixon/kvd21-TMI-util

VJ.in.LA wrote:

Logging into the gateway and disabling "Enable SSID" and "Enable Broadcast" does not turn off the WiFi radios on the gateway, it simply hides the SSID.  If you key in the SSID and password on a device, it can still connect to the T-Mobile gateway's WiFi.  If it's not possible to turn off the WiFi radios on the gateway, that's a bit of an oversight on T-Mobile's part, I hope that's fixed in future firmware.  On the plus side, the gateway has a pretty good WiFi system, if you want to use it.

Not sure at least on the unit that I have you can. I have a Wifi scanner and believe me they are off there is nothing RF coming from the can.

Also clearly says disabled see the screenshot.

All of these steps just disable the ability to connect to the Wi-Fi network.  It does not turn off the Wi-Fi radios. I followed the steps and see the disable connection message for the 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz networks but if you go to the "Status" screen Wi-Fi is still listed as "online." This is disappointing because I have an existing mesh network so would like the radios turned off to avoid any possible signal interference. 

You can turn the transmit power down to 12% which I’ve done to limit it as much as possible.

sjoefl01 wrote:

I am having trouble with the wired connection not knowing my real location. That means without going through the wifi I get incorrect time, weather and any localized information. I think Tmobile knows this is the case. Be careful making a wired commitment to this box. If some body knows how to fix this please post it. My wired mesh has no idea where it is and changes location every time the T Mobile dice is powered off and back on.

I'm having loads of problems with ethernet connection. Half of my devices are wired, I think there is some sort of DNS problem. Some pages time out, then after 10-30 min all goes back to normal.

Hardware Version:

3TG00739AABB

Versión de software:

1.2101.00.1609

Confirmed with a rep that there is currently no way to turn off wifi on the KVD21. I wonder if I could exchange it for a trash can Nokian one.

Behold all my options!

Hey, everyone.

I just got my 5G Home Internet today and finished setting it up. I noticed that there is no advance settings on the new UI for 192.168.12.1 .

Is there anyway for get around to it? I need to turn off the gateway wifis so that I can use my regular router wifi instead

I am absolutely livid with this tmo taking away a CRITICAL feature that had been part of the service for quite some time.
I absolutely have to be able to use my mesh system to reach the edges of my property. The wifi in any single router or node has no chance. The wifi in this router is not very good to begin with. 

I spent a week looking through video reviews of this and EVERY SINGLE one pointed out that A) the wifi in the routers as provided is pretty poor (which it is), and B ) no problem you can turn it off and use your already existing far better wifi and mesh systems. 

So I guess this will be going back. I'm not sure why T-Mobile would want to mess with success and make liars out of all the youtubers that evangelized this system for them. 

I'm curious whether other people can replicate this, but it's true that if you disable the "Enable SSID" setting, the SSID will not be visible on the list of available WiFi networks, but at least on my unit the WiFi signal and the ability to connect to the gateway by WiFi is still there, even after rebooting the gateway with the new settings. I was able to login by manually adding the gateway SSID and password when connecting a device to WiFi.  I'd be curious to know if others see the same thing, and if so, whether anyone knows if there's a way to truly shut off the gateway's WiFi.