If you look in your Meraki Dashboard you will see the following options for an SSID.

Your options are Dual Band, Only 5Ghz,  or Dual Band with Steering.    What no 2.4Ghz only??

In some challenging wireless environments, specifically those where you do not have 100% coverage, and especially those with a lot of concrete, leaded glass and other RF challenges – 5Ghz can be problematic.  Some devices just love to hold on to 5Ghz connections even if the 2.4Ghz signal is better.    We do not always have control of our clients as well, especially in a guest world.

To help in these challenging environments, I have found that disabling 5Ghz outright keeps clients on 2.4Ghz and then they do not roam around as much and signal penetration is better.

There are many reasons why you might want to force users on to 2.4Ghz.

• You want to band segregate users groups –   Voice or Corporate users on 5Ghz, and Guests on 2.4Ghz
• You have challenges in the 5Ghz world, due to co-existence with another network, interference or environment.
• You are integrating with an existing network and want band parity
• You are in a region where 5Ghz can not be used

Well, there is a solution!    As with many things in the Meraki world — this CAN be enabled in your dashboard, but only Meraki support can do it.   Simply do what you do all the time,  open a case and ask for 2.4Ghz to be enabled in your dashboard.

There it is!  2.4Ghz band Only is now an available option.  The questions is — why do I need to keep asking for really basic things by calling support.