January 15, 2024

Many devices state they are only compatible with 2.4 GHz networks, or they may prevent you from connecting them if your mobile is connected on 5 GHz. These tend to be IoT devices that require you to use their app to set up the WiFi connection for the devices.

Most of these devices will connect to AK-Fi without issue. However, sometimes they can't join your AK-Fi network because of their simplified WiFi implementation. 

With the recent app update, IoT Onboarding Mode is now available to address this issue.

1. From the People screen, tap on Devices.
2. Find your mobile phone and open its detail screen. It should be identifiable as the phone with an asterisk.
   • Must be on the same WiFi network and it must be running the AK-Fi 2.0 App.
3. Tap on the IoT onboarding mode. A new screen should pop up explaining the feature.
4. Tap on Enable. Your mobile phone will now be kicked off the network and should reconnect to your network on 2.4 GHz.
5. Complete the onboarding process using the device manufacturer's instructions.
6. You can exit the onboarding screen and let it time out in 1 hour, or select Disable to set the IoT device back to normal routing.

Option #2

A Twin network can be set up as a workaround using a Windows computer, an Android phone, or an old wireless router. This allows the device to learn the AK-Fi network information and to later automatically connect to AK-Fi. On this workaround, you will need to create a Twin network using the "Mobile Hotspot" option of an Android device or a Windows computer, or creating it directly from a WiFi router. This means that you will need to use the exact same SSID (Network name) and password, and then configure this "Hotspot" only on 2.4GHz.

Configure the Twin Network

Windows Computer Mobile Hotspot Configuration

1. Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot.
2. Go to the "Edit" button.
3. On the "Network name" you should add the same name as the one being used for the AK-Fi network.
4. On the "Network password" you should add the same password as the one being used for the Home zone.
5. "Network band" should be set to 2.4GHz and then click "Save".
6. Turn on the Mobile Hotspot.

Android Mobile Hotspot Configuration

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. On this menu you should look for the Hotspot option. If you don’t find Hotspot, at the bottom, tap Edit or the Pencil icon and drag Hotspot into your Quick Settings.
3. Long press over the Hotspot icon to access the settings.
4. Once on the Hotspot & Tethering menu, you should access the "WiFi hotspot" section.
5. From this menu, you should edit hotspot information using the exact same name as the one being used for the AK-Fi network then add the same password as the one being used for the Home zone.
6. Click on Advanced.
7. From the advanced menu, you should make sure that the AP Band has been set to 2.4 GHz. 
8. Turn on the Hotspot.

WiFi Router Configuration

IMPORTANT: This configuration will vary depending on the model and brand of the router. You can check the router manufacturer manual for further information on how to perform the configuration. 

1. Access your router GUI (Graphic User Interface), usually done by typing the IP address of the router on a web browser.
2. Configure the SSID (network name) using the exact same name as the one being used for the AK-Fi Network then add the same password as the one being used for the Home zone.
3. Go to the WiFi or Wireless section and disable the 5 GHz frequency leaving only enabled the 2.4 GHz frequency. 
4. Make sure the network is now up.

A. Once the Twin network is up and running, go to the AK-Fi app, the main menu, then the Access menu. Here you will need to add one extra character to the network name (usually adding a number 1 after the network name is good enough). Then click Done. NOTE: Once you save the changes this will cause that all the devices connected to the AK-Fi network will disconnect from it and then automatically connect to the Twin network that was previously created. 
B. Confirm that the phone with the IoT device app installed on it has successfully connected to the Twin network. 
C. Proceed with the onboarding of the IoT device. 
D. Once the IoT device has been successfully configured, the next step will be to go back to the AK-Fi app and then change the network name back to how it was before the change. Then click Done.
E. Proceed to turn off the Hotspot and that will cause that the devices will automatically disconnect from the Twin network and then connect back to the AK-Fi network including the IoT device that was just configured.