Galaxy Watch and 5ghz WiFi-can it connect?

[DaveA2711]

Since getting my Galaxy Watch just over a week ago, I have noticed that is doesn't find 5ghz Wifi - is this normal?

 

[Greymire]

Since getting my Galaxy Watch just over a week ago, I have noticed that is doesn't find 5ghz Wifi - is this normal?

Completely normal for watches. Keep in mind 5ghz wifi is a lot shorter coverage area than other wifi. It is faster but in some homes will have spotty coverage. I thing watches do not support it (a few do I think) because a watch doesn't need super fast connection so the go with cost versus practicality.

 

[Greymire]

Interesting side note, thus very thing had some Fitbit Ionic users flipping out. One guy even swore it was going back because his router us only 5g. I doubt that was true. Just funny to see same questions popping up in the Galaxy Watch forum.

 

[arunma]

Yeah, the Galaxy Watch doesn't support 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Don't feel bad though, I just found out the other day that my wife's Apple Watch Series 4 doesn't either. It's slightly lame, yeah, but like Greymire said, a smartwatch doesn't need the speed bump of a 5 GHz network. After all a 2.4 GHz connection should support speeds of up to 60-70 Mbps anyway. Even when streaming Spotify, that's been enough for me.

 

[DaveA2711]

Thanks for all the replies - For some reason Samsung Support is unable (or unwilling...) to give an answer!

 

[jgreg02]

I suspect the 5G radio would use more power which would be a reason to not put it on the watch.

 

[kikbxr1969]

It's more than just lame. It means the remote connection will not work unless your phone is on the same 2.4 ghz wifi. Kinda stupid actually. (Not limiting my phone's speed on my home network just to have the remote connection on my watch. Which means, I have to keep my phone in bluetooth range to have a connection)

 

[swebb]

There's no need for 5ghz. Watches don't transfer large amounts of data that benefit from 5ghz band. Besides, wifi connection is meant to be a backup for your bluetooth.

It's more than just lame. It means the remote connection will not work unless your phone is on the same 2.4 ghz wifi.

Not understanding this, as you would have the same wifi connection requirements for the 5ghz band as the 2.4 ghz band on your router. Now if your talking cellular LTE, there is a version of the GW that supports LTE.

 

[kikbxr1969]

Not understanding this, as you would have the same wifi connection requirements for the 5ghz band as the 2.4 ghz band on your router. Now if your talking cellular LTE, there is a version of the GW that supports LTE.

It means, that if you have differing names for each of your bands (2.4 vs 5 ghz), and the watch cannot connect to your 5ghz network, then you have to use the 2.4 ghz network in order to be on the same wifi network. I have reasons for separating the networks and having to use two different names. Using the same name for both networks causes connection problems for many devices that can only use 2.4 (ecobee thermostat for one).

It's a but ridiculous that in 2020, a "top end" device such as a Galaxy Watch doesn't have 5 ghz capability.

And yes, I am aware that it's supposed to be a backup for bluetooth. That is EXACTLY what I was hoping it would be. That way, I can leave my phone on the charger upstairs and still be connected and get notifications downstairs on my watch when I am out of bluetooth range. It just doesn't work unless I switch my phone over to the 2.4 ghz band.

 

[me just saying]

It means, that if you have differing names for each of your bands (2.4 vs 5 ghz), and the watch cannot connect to your 5ghz network, then you have to use the 2.4 ghz network in order to be on the same wifi network. I have reasons for separating the networks and having to use two different names. Using the same name for both networks causes connection problems for many devices that can only use 2.4 (ecobee thermostat for one).

It's a but ridiculous that in 2020, a "top end" device such as a Galaxy Watch doesn't have 5 ghz capability.

And yes, I am aware that it's supposed to be a backup for bluetooth. That is EXACTLY what I was hoping it would be. That way, I can leave my phone on the charger upstairs and still be connected and get notifications downstairs on my watch when I am out of bluetooth range. It just doesn't work unless I switch my phone over to the 2.4 ghz band.

you do not need your phone to connect to wifi. You do not have to be on the same wifi network as the phone in order to connect. 5GHz networks was not made for distance connections. That is why a lot of devices don't support it. So it is NOT ridiculous. sounds like you do not have the correct network settings on your watch. you can select where you want to connect on the watch.

 

[swebb]

It's a but ridiculous that in 2020, a "top end" device such as a Galaxy Watch doesn't have 5 ghz capability.

Does any watch have 5ghz capability? Did a quick search and found that even the Apple watch doesn't support it, so I have doubts that any watch does.

5ghz is totally unnecessary for 99.99% of the population and would only add cost.

 

[swebb]

It just doesn't work unless I switch my phone over to the 2.4 ghz band.

Don't know if I'm misunderstanding your issue. I have the same 2.4ghz and 5ghz setup as you. Different names for each band (which is highly recommended btw). I often have my phone on 5ghz band and have no issues with watch connecting on 2.4ghz. The watch wifi is not dependent on your phone wifi connection.

 

[kikbxr1969]

Don't know if I'm misunderstanding your issue. I have the same 2.4ghz and 5ghz setup as you. Different names for each band (which is highly recommended btw). I often have my phone on 5ghz band and have no issues with watch connecting on 2.4ghz. The watch wifi is not dependent on your phone wifi connection.

It will connect to wifi. It just will not remotely connect to my phone unless I have it on the same named network.

 

[impo1106]

IT guy here:
YAh, I also like separating 5Ghz from 2.4 (that is, they each have a separate names when scanning and connecting to home WiFi). Here's what you are all experiencing:
Your router (responsible for WiFi handeling) can be configured in all kinds of ways; in these case,
Kikbxr1969's router is the issue (nothing else) and is setup with at least 2 separate networks (in a sense, the kind of thing a coffee shop owner does with their guest WiFi so that a guest can't talk to his till-machine) OR it's 5Ghz, or 2.4Ghz, bands are set in "guest mode" (again, within the router's settings; and in coffee shop e.g. it is so that one guest's cannot "talk" to another Guest). The proper word is "subnet" or in the later case, Guest mode can use the same subnet only it will restrict ANY communication between all clients on the subnet in question... And so,
Swebb's router sounds like it is setup in a way where, regardless of whether a device connects to the router via 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz, or perhaps even ethernet cable, each device, once connected, can "talk" to everything else connected (their on the same subnet and without a "guest mode" enabled). ...of course, devices outside of the routers network (i.e. internet) can't talk to anything - this is the whole point of the router (i.e. NAT, network address translation device).
Hope this helps guys! don't blame the Engineers,... although as an I.T. guy, I do that lots too. it's fun to point fingers, haha.

 

[impo1106]

It will connect to wifi. It just will not remotely connect to my phone unless I have it on the same named network.

Hey Kikbxr1969, See my reply to this thread (below i'd imagine) If your still having the issue you can try to nip it with my wonderous knowledge.

 

[kikbxr1969]

Hey Kikbxr1969, See my reply to this thread (below i'd imagine) If your still having the issue you can try to nip it with my wonderous knowledge.

Kikbxr1969's router is the issue (nothing else) and is setup with at least 2 separate networks (in a sense, the kind of thing a coffee shop owner does with their guest WiFi so that a guest can't talk to his till-machine) OR it's 5Ghz, or 2.4Ghz, bands are set in "guest mode" (again, within the router's settings; and in coffee shop e.g. it is so that one guest's cannot "talk" to another Guest)

Well, for someone with "in depth knowledge," you made one of the worst troubleshooting mistakes known.... that is assuming. I don't and never have run guest networks and have turned them off on all routers I have ever had. Not sure what the problem was. But, I solved it by leaving the Samsung eco system for watches. It wasn't really an issue most of the time. The issue was not just "a" router. It was three different ones - Asus, Liksys, and Firewalla. I have always only had one subnet, so that wasn't the issue.