Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:57 Post subject: Odd issue with Fire TV 4K vs 4K Max
Hello,
I recently got rid of the last device I have that uses 5 GHz 802.11n, so I changed the wireless network mode from "AC/N Mixed" to "AC Only."
I have 4 Fire TV sticks, 2 4K Fire TV sticks released in 2018 and 2 4K Max Fire TV sticks released in 2021. The 2018 4K models support up to WiFi 5 (Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO dual-antenna). The 2021 4k models support up to WiFi 6 (Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2x2 MIMO dual-antenna).
The odd thing is that when I switch to "AC Only" the 2018 4K Fire TV sticks can't connect, but if I switch back to "AC/N Mixed" they connect just fine, and the Status>Wireless tab of DD-WRT says that they are connected at a transfer rate of 866M and using VHT80SGI. The newer 2021 4K Max sticks connect just fine when using "AC Only" and also have a transfer rate of 866M and use VHT80SGI.
Why won't the 2018 4K Fire TV sticks connect with "AC Only" when, in fact, they are using 802.11ac when I select "AC/N Mixed"?
Joined: 15 Aug 2016 Posts: 223 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:13 Post subject:
My suggestion would be to try the 'AC Only' option with 5GHz channel set only between the 36-48 range. And see how you go.
Apparently, some similar TV sticks support 5GHz but only between the 36-48 range. _________________ Life is a journey; travel alone makes it less enjoyable and lonely.
Using "AC Only" with a lower channel still does not work. Also, moving from VHT80 to Wide HT40 makes no difference.
For me, this is more of a mystery than an issue that has any practical effect. "AC/N Mixed" and "AC Only" have similar performance with my devices using AC.
Interestingly, my Ring doorbell connects at 5GHz with "AC Only" but the Status tab says the connection is only HT40SGI. The older Fire TV sticks connect at 866M VHT80SGI, but only with "AC/N Mixed."
Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 11563 Location: Wherever the wind blows- North America
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 13:42 Post subject:
Just a confirmation....I get the same thing...with AC Only...no connection. I see the MAC flash on the dd status page but then it goes away and on my 4K Firestick I get Connection Error for the status. Change it back to AC/N and it connects right up. I run on channel 36.
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 764 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 16:12 Post subject:
I can confirm the same. I never noticed the FireTV 4K was connecting to the WRT1900AC on the other side of the house rather than the R7800 right next to it. For what it's worth, I'm on channel 100 VHT80. Seems to be specific to Atheros as the WRT1900AC (Marvell) is also AC-only. _________________ __________________________
Netgear R7800
DD-WRT v3.0 STD
Linksys WRT1900AC
DD-WRT v3.0 STD
Last year I moved from a R7000 to a R7800 and I reviewed that thread and the Wiki, but it is good to review both again. After I removed my last 5GHz 802.11n device, I just changed the setting to "AC Only" to see if there would be any performance improvement without going back and looking at the thread and Wiki.
Regarding the recommendation to use AC/N-Mixed, the Wiki provides the following rational:
Mixed or AC/N-Mixed is the recommended setting for most people as your clients' NICs are able to use either (V)HT20, (V)HT40, & VHT80 "properly" with this setting.
The fact that the word "properly" is in quotes is interesting. I wonder if the author was aware of any 802.11ac clients (like the 4K Fire TV stick) that require the Network Mode to be set to AC/N Mixed to be able to negotiate the channel width?
In any event, thanks for all the answers. I will keep the settings aligned with the Wiki and thread.
Last (outdated probably) knowledge I have is to use any Mixed mode because other modes werent working correctly so nothing to blame to the clients. _________________ R6400v2 (boardID:30) - Kong 36480 running since 03/09/18 - (AP - DNSMasq - AdBlocking - QoS) R7800 - BS 31924 running since 05/26/17 - (AP - OpenVPN Client - DNSMasq - AdBlocking - QoS) R7000 - BS 30771 running since 12/16/16 - (AP - NAS - FTP - SMB - OpenVPN Server - Transmission - DDNS - DNSMasq - AdBlocking - QoS) R6250 - BS 29193 running since 03/20/16 - (AP - NAS - FTP - SMB - DNSMasq - AdBlocking)
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 764 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 20:43 Post subject:
Xeon2k8 wrote:
Last (outdated probably) knowledge I have is to use any Mixed mode because other modes werent working correctly so nothing to blame to the clients.
Some client machines did work correctly. My work laptop and my personal laptop (Intel AC9260 and Intel AX200 chipsets, respectively) were able to connect to the R7800 in AC-Only mode without issue. Various models of the FireTV, an Echo Dot, and my wife's laptop (amusingly, an Atheros QCA61x4 chipset) would not connect until I switched it to AC/N mixed. You would think the Atheros card would have the best compatiblity with the router.
I will say that I notice no performance difference between the AC-Only and AC/N modes, but my internet is 400/400, so I'm not pushing limits. I can max it out, though. _________________ __________________________
Netgear R7800
DD-WRT v3.0 STD
Linksys WRT1900AC
DD-WRT v3.0 STD