Worked through Basic WiFi troubleshooting and your switches still won't come online? The cause is usually a router setting. Work through these in order.

1. Combined network names (band steering)

Deako switches use 2.4 GHz only. Many routers broadcast 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under one network name and push devices toward 5 GHz, sometimes by disconnecting them and briefly hiding the 2.4 GHz network. Deako switches honor that disconnect, so they can end up unable to rejoin.

Fix: give 2.4 GHz its own network name. Most routers can split the bands, often adding a suffix like -2.4G. Then connect your switches to that network.

If your router can't split bands, disable the steering feature. Vendor names vary: Smart Connect (ASUS), band steering, or a combined-SSID setting.

Also confirm the 2.4 GHz band is turned on at all. Some routers ship with it disabled.

When naming your 2.4 GHz network, don't include a trailing space. Network names ending in a space aren't supported.

AT&T customer? → Connecting Deako Switches to AT&T Dual-Band Wi-Fi Networks

2. Security type

• WPA2 works with all Deako switches. Recommended.
• WPA3-only blocks Gen 1 switches entirely. Many smart home products have the same limitation. Use WPA2 or WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode.
• WEP and open networks are not supported. WEP was retired industry-wide because it's no longer secure.

If your router locks the security setting (some ISP gateways do), contact your provider and ask for WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode.

3. Guest networks and captive portals

We recommend against guest networks. Guest networks carry fixed restrictions that vary by equipment and can interfere with switches communicating. They also typically prevent local integrations. Control4 and Home Assistant won't be able to reach your switches on most guest networks.

Captive portals don't work. A switch can't click through a sign-in or terms page. If joining the network on your phone shows one, pick a different network.

4. Channel

Deako switches support 2.4 GHz channels 1 to 11. Channels 12 and 13 aren't legal in the US and aren't supported.

5. Access point capacity

Access points have limitations to how many devices can connect, and a full AP refuses new connections. Verify your access point's specs and your actual client count aren't the problem.

6. Router security features

Features that filter traffic can let a switch join WiFi but block it from reaching Deako's servers. You'll see the switch in your router's device list, but it shows the crossed-out WiFi symbol in the app. Settings that may cause this:

• Intrusion prevention / deep packet inspection
• Threat protection (AiProtection, Trend Micro, Threat Prevention)
• DNS filtering or redirection
• New-device quarantine (blocks new devices until approved)

Temporarily disable these to test. If one is responsible, add an exception for your switches. Switches appear in your router as deako-<serial number>.

7. Changed your router or provider?

Your switches keep looking for the old network. → My switches went offline after changing my router, ISP, or Wi-Fi password

Still stuck?

Email support@deako.com with:

• Router and access point make and model, including anything upstream like a separate wired router or ISP gateway
• Security type, and whether 2.4 GHz has its own network name
• Whether the switch appears in your router's device list
• Which switches are affected, and whether any work

Those four answers usually let us pinpoint the cause on the first reply.