Situation
- Bowers & Wilkins Formation speaker keeps failing to complete setup after selecting SSID.
- Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller keeps failing to complete setup after selecting SSID.
Background
- The SSID you are trying to use is able to connect other devices.
- The client device you are trying to connect is able to see the SSID (with enough Wi-Fi signal strength)
Assessment
- Make sure password is correct – Obvious
- Make sure there is enough Wi-Fi strength
No magic number here but you’d like to have probably at least couple bars, and ideally >-60dBm or so in the area.
Remember not all client devices can talk back in the same loudness. So if you were using hub device for setup like iPhone, it may catch Wi-Fi signal with solid 4 bars but your client IoT device may see less Wi-Fi signal even at the same location.
If above two seem to be not an issue then, try following.
3. Turn Band-steering off.
Settings > WiFi > SSID > Advanced Configuration > Manual
Band-steering is conceptually great technology. It tries to force compatible device to 5 GHz band when the SSID is allowing both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connection. The issue is it isn’t as smart as we hope.
For my case, B&W Formation speaker immediately solved the issue by turning this option off.
4. Create/choose dedicated 2.4 GHz SSID
Now this is more of testing than the solution in my opinion, but if nothing else solves the issue, then you can try this. This ensures the SSID is purely 2.4 GHz and many IoT devices uses that band.
One potential benefit for this is you can play around with the SSID network setup. For example, choose Security Protocol to older version e.g. WPA2 and see how it works.
Resolution
- Ensure enough Wi-Fi signal
- Turn off Band steering
- Create/choose dedicated 2.4 GHz SSID