Hi All. This is my first post, and I am new to the Samsung mobile ecosystem. I have written about this problem to Samsung Support as well, but they suggested me to only reset my network settings to find out if that solves the problem or not, and that didn't solve it. So I wanted to write here to get further insights about this problem I am facing. Here is the problem in detail below:
I got this brand new Samsung S23 Ultra handset last week from Singapore. Now I am in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where I use an enterprise-class wifi access point, “Ubiquiti Unifi U6-LR” at home and workplace to connect to high-speed Internet. If the 5Ghz wifi network is set to use any channels among the following 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, and 64, my new “Samsung S23 Ultra” cannot find or see the 5GHz WiFi SSID at all. I believe the 5GHz channels 36, 40, 44, & 48 (U-NII-1 band) are the broadest supported channels (Taiwan is the only Exception) for 5 GHz wifi networks worldwide. Besides my "S23 Ultra" can only find wifi networks and connect when the 5GHz wifi channels are set between 149 and 165 only, be the channel width 40MHz, 80MHz, or 160MHz. That's the actual problem I am facing.
Here I want to add that I have a second phone that I bought from Hong Kong, which is an iPhone 12 Pro Max (Version A2412, same for China and Hong Kong) running on the latest IOS, it can always find all the available 5G wifi channels (from 36 to 64, 100 to 144, 149 to 165) that my WiFi access point (UniFi U6-LR) supports. I believe it's always the Access Points' role to restrict which channel to broadcast or mute, even if it's a DFS channel. I was wondering how the handset could be able to decide which channels it will choose to join or ignore as long as it's available from the network providing hardware.
Even Apple follows this simple rule as we have found in all the other enterprise radio devices like Ubiquiti, Cambium, Mimosa, etc. My point of mentioning the iPhone as an example was to point out one thing: a mobile handset, in fact, is a mobile device and roams around the world if it needs to be and should connect to the available networks of the territory as much as its hardware is capable of connecting. The network-providing devices (i.e., cellular bts, wifi access points) will make sure of the territories governing laws of broadcasting.
So, the unusual problem I am facing I am assuming is due to some sort of software limitation put into the OS based on the territory it's being used, it may not be the hardware of my S23 Ultra.
I am a bit frustrated about this. I might be wrong or might be expecting something unusual, but if anyone can shade some light here, I would really appreciate the help.
I have the same problem with my S24 Ultra - and previously with S21 Ultra, S22 Ultra, Flip 5, A73. It seems that not all manufacturers impose this limitation. I've checked with several phones of my colleagues - Motorola and Samsung have the limitation imposed - they can't see the 5GHz SSID. But Apple, OnePlus, Huawei and RealMe see the 5GHz SSID just fine.
Its because of your sim registered with the bangla network which allows it only to use upper level channels of 5ghz band in Android phones. Apple phones are not restricted to any channels in 5ghz band so your ssid in wifi show 5ghz band.
For confirmation you put your s23 on airplane mode and restart it and 5ghz ssid will start to show in your wifi even if you use any channel.
Its not the phone problem but the SIM you're using is forcing it to use only upper channels.
Your any other devices like laptops, tvbox etc which don't have SIM connectivity will not face this issue on any 5ghz channels or bandwidth.
