Why can’t I find my 5GHz existing network (SSID) when I try to install my extender?

If your router is set to a DFS channel you may encounter an issue where the extender cannot see your router network name (SSID) and therefore it is not displayed in the list of available networks to extend. See image example below.

Symptoms:

• Unable to detect router’s 5GHz network (SSID) during initial setup.

• Extender sometimes loses connection to the 5GHz band.

• Intermittent connection of the extender to the 5GHz band of the WiFi router.

  Resolution:

1. Check if the router is DFS certified (i.e. Airport Extreme, Telekom Speedport 724V, WNDR3700v4, WNDR4300, etc.). Only some dual band routers support DFS.
2. If the router is DFS certified, log in to your router and find the 5GHz band or 5GHz frequency section.
3. Check if the WiFi channel frequency is set to “Auto” or to a DFS channel.
   
   Note: DFS channels include channel ranges of 52-64 and 100-140. 
4. If the router is set to “Auto” or a DFS channel, change the channel selection to channels 36-48 or 149-165 (note that some countries do not support WiFi channels 149-165) and click “Apply” button to change the setting.
   
   
5. After changing the router's channel to a non-DFS channel, return to your extender setup again or refresh the network list and you should now be able to see your 5GHz router network name (SSID) in the list of available existing networks you can extend.