Forum Discussion
Gateway is NOT dual band, plug and play.
Gateway advertised as dual band, plug and play. Only one 5G network available. How is this dual band?
INSTRUCCIONES
You can have several Wi-Fi networks on the gateway. You want to leave the default network alone (2.4 & 5 GHz; WPA2/WPA3 and AES security) and add a second, dedicated 2.4 GHz network. This second network is for devices that can’t connect to the default network.
Add the second network with the + sign at the bottom of the Network tab in the T-Mobile Internet app on your phone. For this new network, set the band to 2.4 GHz and set the WPA version to WPA/WPA2. (The encryption will automatically change to "TKIP & AES") Try connecting your device to this second network. Use the default network for your other devices, as much as possible. Note that WPA/WPA2 (on the second network) is less secure, so I recommend setting this network to be Hidden. You can Hide it after you get your devices connected to it.
Here are the T-Mobile support instructions for how to add the second network with the app.
Android How to create additional Wi-Fi networks | App T-Mobile Internet | Android | Asistencia de T-Mobile
iOS How to create additional Wi-Fi networks | App T-Mobile Internet | iOS | Asistencia de T-Mobile
Main instructions
The gateways son dual-band, by default. The Wi-Fi network as configured broadcasts in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
The fact that your phone is not 5G capable is irrelevant. "5G" is not the same thing as "5 GHz". If your phone's Wi-Fi is turned on, it can connect to the Wi-Fi signal that your gateway broadcasts in your home.
If you’re having trouble, please give us more information, and we’ll try to help.
You need to create the second band.
So like I said, NOT dual band plug and play. They tell me that I am the only one in the world with a non 5g phone that will NOT connect to the 5g ONLY, plug and play Gateway.
Which gateway? Tmobile has a few different ones.
Desk top PC connection to cricket hot spot via wifi, no problem. Desktop PC to t-mobile dual band, plug and play via wifi, not seen. ZTE avid phone connection to cricket hot spot via wifi no problem. ZTE avid phone connection to t-mobile dual band plug and play gateway via wifi, seen but will not connect. No error messages. Amazon fire, a true dual band wifi device, connection via wifi to cricket hot spot, no problem Lists the hot spot as a 2.4g device. Amazon fire, a true duel band device, connection to t-mobile gateway, no problem. List the gateway as a 5g device. 802.11 designations are hardware specific.
So you have two devices that won't connect? The ZTE phone, and the PC? Are they older (particularly the PC)?
I will assume the problem is with the security setting of the existing Wi-Fi network on your gateway. This is a common problem here in the forum. The default network, which broadcasts in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, supports WPA2 and WPA3 security and AES encryption mode. WPA3 is the highest level currently available, but many devices don't support it. So WPA2 is there also. However, many of us have older devices that won't support WPA2 and/or AES encryption. So, we need another network that can support WPA and TKIP encryption.
Don't change your default network, because it is the "best" and several of your devices are connected. My next post will be detailed instructions on making a second network.
INSTRUCCIONES
You can have several Wi-Fi networks on the gateway. You want to leave the default network alone (2.4 & 5 GHz; WPA2/WPA3 and AES security) and add a second, dedicated 2.4 GHz network. This second network is for devices that can’t connect to the default network.
Add the second network with the + sign at the bottom of the Network tab in the T-Mobile Internet app on your phone. For this new network, set the band to 2.4 GHz and set the WPA version to WPA/WPA2. (The encryption will automatically change to "TKIP & AES") Try connecting your device to this second network. Use the default network for your other devices, as much as possible. Note that WPA/WPA2 (on the second network) is less secure, so I recommend setting this network to be Hidden. You can Hide it after you get your devices connected to it.
Here are the T-Mobile support instructions for how to add the second network with the app.
Android How to create additional Wi-Fi networks | App T-Mobile Internet | Android | Asistencia de T-Mobile
iOS How to create additional Wi-Fi networks | App T-Mobile Internet | iOS | Asistencia de T-Mobile
Main instructions
So you missed the part where my zte avid will see the t-mobile gateway but will not connect, no error messages.
