Wireless routers and wireless repeaters that make Wi-Fi networks available for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands at the same time (for example FRITZ!Box 7590, FRITZ!Repeater 2400) can use band steering to automatically steer wireless devices to the ideal Wi-Fi network. This way, band steering balances the load in the Wi-Fi network, which ensures fast and stable connections of all of the wireless devices in the home network.

Automatic steering to the optimal Wi-Fi network

Wireless devices that support connections to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks decide themselves which Wi-Fi network to connect to. Wireless devices do not always make the best choice, though. With band steering, routers and repeaters can determine which Wi-Fi network is more suitable for individual wireless devices and automatically steer them to the more suitable one.

For example, the FRITZ!Box uses band steering to improve the range of wireless devices when they are connected to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network and are on the edge of the range. The FRITZ!Box then initiates a switch to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network which has a greater range.

Characteristics of the Wi-Fi networks

The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi has a greater range because low frequencies can penetrate obstacles such as walls, metallic objects, or objects containing water more easily.

The 5 GHz Wi-Fi network offers more speed near a wireless router as it allows you to use a wider frequency spectrum, therefore allowing larger amounts of data to be transmitted in the same amount of time.

Requirements for band steering

Band steering is already enabled in the FRITZ!Box's factory settings. Together with AP steering, band steering forms the basis for Mesh Wi-Fi steering in the FRITZ! Mesh. However, band steering does not work if different names were configured in the FRITZ!Box for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. In this case you must optimize the Wi-Fi network of the FRITZ!Box.

In order for the wireless devices to be steered by the FRITZ!Box, the devices must support the wireless standards 802.11k and 802.11v:

• The FRITZ!Box can seamlessly steer wireless devices that support the wireless standards 802.11k and 802.11v to the ideal Wi-Fi network.
• The FRITZ!Box can only steer older wireless devices that do not support the wireless standards 802.11k and 802.11v to a different Wi-Fi network by briefly clearing the Wi-Fi connection.

  Note:The FRITZ!Box displays wireless devices that support the standards 802.11k and 802.11v under "Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi Network > Known Wireless Devices" ("Wireless > Radio Network > Known Wireless LAN Devices") with the properties "11k" und "11v".