Can not see 5Ghz WiFi SSID if access point channel number is set between 36 and 64 on S23 Ultra

[malikyusuf]

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.

Thank you very much.

Regards, Malik

[bluezombiehead]

Is your WiFi router you're connecting to happen to have WiFi 6? Because a number of S23 Ultras are having WiFi issues especially connecting to WiFi 6 networks

[Amir_13]

You just need to update and find solution , Samsung know you but you need to discover it  same like Malaysia ISP everyday technician check  for a million population they can't handle you ,just contact your ISP to  reset WPA 3 downgrade WPA 2 test and try gain WPA 3 ,not all router support WPA 3 option just select, Samsung guna tplink as network partner ,if use Huawei ,you have much trouble.

[malikyusuf]

Hi,

Yes, my access point supports WiFi 6 standards, and my S23 Ultra connects with the IEEE 802.11ax standard as my icon shows 6 over it while using the 5GHz high bands. Here is a screenshot for clarity.

 

Thanks 

[malikyusuf]

I assume this problem may be unnoticed by most users. Recently I discovered a tweaking solution to this problem and could reproduce the problem each time I wanted. The solution is to put the handset in Flight mode, restart the handset, turn on the wifi first, and then switch off the Flight mode. This way the handset can find/see and join all the available 5GHz wifi channels (from 36 to 64, 100 to 144, 149 to 165). Then if the wifi is switched off and switched on again, or the handset comes from outside, the handset cannot find the 5GHz wifi SSID if it's not using the U-NII-3 frequency bands (Channel 149 to 161) only. Now it has to follow the restart procedure once again to connect.

So apparently it seems this issue is a logical baring of the handset from connecting to the 5GHz WiFi network if the WiFi Access Point is not broadcasting any particular channels, even if the handset's hardware can connect to that. And this limitation is put into effect once the handset recognizes the geographic location through the connecting cellular network/carrier.

Now due to the limited support of 5GHz channels (147 to 161), it's very difficult to maintain a reliable WiFi connection to the Internet. This problem is not found in most other manufacturers' handsets, so I am severely affected by this limitation at my workplace and at home. Not sure what to do now.

[Netronics_Dre]

Hey @malikyusuf I want to share my frustration as well. I'm also new to the Samsung ecosystem and I just recently started to notice this issue. I recently completed a network upgrade for a client, while using my Samsung S23Ultra I realized I couldn't see all the 5GHz. I first thought it was AP but a friend of mine mention some time ago he had the same issue. Now we have started to play around to find out what was going on and we also have come to the conclusion that the Samsung devices do not perform well or at all in the low channel ranges. I am testing with the Samsung S23U, Dell XPS and the new iPad. 

[malikyusuf]

Hi Netronics_Dre,

Sorry to hear about your experience. I think its quite some time I've been spending with my handset while traveling to the following countries "Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, India, Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia" and I have found that it can see/view all the available 5GHz bands when I checked using my wifi analyzer on my Samsung S23 Ultra handset within those countries.

So my finding is that when I am in my Country Bangladesh, my handset explicitly prevents me from finding any 5GHz bands other than the channels (149, 153, 157, 161, and 165) among the U-NII-3 band only. I am not sure why Samsung is doing this only when the handset is being used within Bangladesh, whereas all my friends and colleagues' iPhone is fully capable of seeing or joining any channels from the U-NII-1, U-NII-2A, and U-NII-2C bands in Bangladesh.

I would suggest you may check yourself if Samsung treats your country of residence the same way it treats its handsets within Bangladesh.

👍

In MalaysiaIn ThailandIn SingaporeIn VietnamIn VietnamIn Cambodia

[mujju76]

Hi 

I have been facing the exact same problem since the last 4 generations of samsung phones. Note 20, S21ulta, S 22 ultra and now S24 ultra. Haven't found the solution as yet. I am from Pakistan and this whole restart fiasco works as u mentioned. While traveling everything is fine. 

So frustrating. I use a deco from tp link and that does not allow to change channels. So I am stuck since long.  

[Nishaun]

I have the very same problem on s23 plus, and deco s4 mesh wifi so cant change channels. Im in Jamaica btw, but when i travel to the usa there are no issues.

I also noticed that in the secure table settings -

" wifi_ap_chip_support5g_baseon_country"

"true"

From my understanding of that line, the phone only sees certain channels on 5ghz wifi. I dont know if i am correct but I believe this is the limitation in the phone's sofware.

 

[Nishaun]

**From my understanding of that line, the phone only sees certain channels on 5ghz wifi based on the country's regulations i think but at the same time it doesn't affect iphones.