Libra Kobo Libra Colour can't see 5GHz networks

[Cootey]

I've gone through all the steps on this page (https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...r-Kobo-eReader) short of factory reseting my device. Before I do that next, is anybody else having issues with their Kobo Libra Colour seeing 5GHz networks? I've stood under the router. I've rebooted the routers. I've rebooted the Libra Colour. I've turned Wi-Fi on and off. I've deleted the 2.4 GHz network. Nothing I do shows the 5 GHz network in the list. I've also verified that the 5GHz network is running. My Mac and iPhone connect to it just fine, as does my Elipsa.

I have several neighbors with both 2.4 & 5 GHz networks broadcast in the open. I'm only seeing the 2.4 versions of their networks, too.

When I attempt to add the network manually, meticulously avoiding typos, the Libra Colour tells me "Unable to join (network name). Please try again." Anybody else bump into this issue? Did you find a fix?

[Aleron Ives]

I would enable developer mode and then try the advice in this article over telnet:

https://unix.stackexchange.com/quest...supports-5-ghz

The Libra 2 doesn't support 5 GHz, so it would be rather concerning if the Libra Colour doesn't either, despite the advertised specifications...

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

I would enable developer mode and then try the advice in this article over telnet:

https://unix.stackexchange.com/quest...supports-5-ghz

The Libra 2 doesn't support 5 GHz, so it would be rather concerning if the Libra Colour doesn't either, despite the advertised specifications...

I got NickelMenu installed, but telnet isn't working. In fact, NickelMenu has made things worse. Now the Libra Colour won't stay connected to WiFi, and can't remember the password anymore. So I'm removing it until I hear from others what tweaks they made to get things to work correctly.

That still leaves me with a Kobo that can't see 5GHz networks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cootey

I got NickelMenu installed, but telnet isn't working. In fact, NickelMenu has made things worse. Now the Libra Colour won't stay connected to WiFi, and can't remember the password anymore. So I'm removing it until I hear from others what tweaks they made to get things to work correctly.

That still leaves me with a Kobo that can't see 5GHz networks.

I can't see how NickelMenu would cause your LC to forget the network.

I just connected to my network and it connected to the 2.4Ghz part and not the 5Ghz.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I can't see how NickelMenu would cause your LC to forget the network.

I just connected to my network and it connected to the 2.4Ghz part and not the 5Ghz.

I’m just reporting what I observed. 🤷🏻*♂️

I’m both glad I’m not alone and disheartened that you connected to 2.4 instead of 5GHz. I hope this is fixable in a software update.

Can you see your 5GHz network in the WiFi list?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cootey

I’m just reporting what I observed. 🤷🏻*♂️

I’m both glad I’m not alone and disheartened that you connected to 2.4 instead of 5GHz. I hope this is fixable in a software update.

Can you see your 5GHz network in the WiFi list?

I have no idea if my 5Ghz is seen or not as I have the same SSID for both.

[Lys]

Originally Posted by Cootey

Can you see your 5GHz network in the WiFi list?

I just tried on my Libra Colour + using my smartphone as hotspot.

I started putting my phone as 5Ghz only -> LC couldn't see the network
I lowered my phone to 2.4-5 GHz -> LC could see the network
I switched my network to 5 GHz only -> LC kept the network in its list, but couldn't connect
I switched my network to 2.4-5GHz -> LC managed to connect

[ghira]

What 5GHz channel were you using? I think my Sage refused to use some channels which became legal in my country only in 2017 but it seems not to know this.

[Aleron Ives]

Originally Posted by Cootey

I got NickelMenu installed, but telnet isn't working.

NickelMenu is not related to the instructions I gave you. Search devmodeon in the LC's search box to enable developer mode, connect to your 2.4 GHz network, and use telnet on your PC to connect to your LC's IP address. You can find your IP address in the settings menu, and devmode also has a "force Wi-Fi on" setting to prevent Wi-Fi from turning off while you're testing things.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by Lys

I just tried on my Libra Colour + using my smartphone as hotspot.

I started putting my phone as 5Ghz only -> LC couldn't see the network
I lowered my phone to 2.4-5 GHz -> LC could see the network
I switched my network to 5 GHz only -> LC kept the network in its list, but couldn't connect
I switched my network to 2.4-5GHz -> LC managed to connect

Well done! That was thorough troubleshooting. Thanks for corroborating the problem.

A few moments ago, I couldn't connect to any WiFi networks. I rebooted the networks, and cold cycled my Kobo Libra Colour twice. Then suddenly I *could* see the 5GHz network and connect to it. This is after 30 hours of trying and failing. Also, even with Nickelmenu removed, I have seen the WiFi routine forget my password at least once. So perhaps correlation, not causation was at fault, but there is a spotty issue with WiFi regardless.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

NickelMenu is not related to the instructions I gave you. Search devmodeon in the LC's search box to enable developer mode, connect to your 2.4 GHz network, and use telnet on your PC to connect to your LC's IP address. You can find your IP address in the settings menu, and devmode also has a "force Wi-Fi on" setting to prevent Wi-Fi from turning off while you're testing things.

I routinely FTP into my Kobos from my iPhone to grab screenshots, etc. Telnet, too. Enabling dev mode is one of my first actions when getting a new Kobo. Just letting you know my skill level.

This is where I'm confused with what you're telling me. I've always used Nickelmenu to enable Telnet (and FTP) in order to connect to my readers. Telnet won't work otherwise. It gives me errors like the following when I just tried it:

>telnet 10.0.1.46
Trying 10.0.1.46...
telnet: connect to address 10.0.1.46: Connection refused
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host

If you know better, please teach!

Update: You mentioned in another thread that you have your Kobo in sideloaded mode. Do you think that's the difference between your telnet experience and mine?

[Aleron Ives]

Oh, I see. Yes, it's possible to enable telnet via NickelMenu, but it's not required. Enabling developer mode by performing a search for the keyword devmodeon automatically enables telnet, as well as enabling the secret developer options page in the settings menu. Since NickelMenu isn't working, you'll have to enable telnet this way, not via NickelMenu. Search the keyword devmodeoff to turn developer mode off again when you're done, which will also close telnet access.

I've never enabled telnet via NickelMenu before, which is why I was confused as to why you had brought it up. I've always used developer mode for that purpose. Go figure!

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

Oh, I see. Yes, it's possible to enable telnet via NickelMenu, but it's not required. Enabling developer mode by performing a search for the keyword devmodeon automatically enables telnet, as well as enabling the secret developer options page in the settings menu. Since NickelMenu isn't working, you'll have to enable telnet this way, not via NickelMenu. Search the keyword devmodeoff to turn developer mode off again when you're done, which will also close telnet access.

I've never enabled telnet via NickelMenu before, which is why I was confused as to why you had brought it up. I've always used developer mode for that purpose. Go figure!

As I stated, I know how to enable dev mode and turning it on doesn't enable Telnet access. The results I gave you were *with* dev mode on. So you've done something else to enable telnet. I cannot telnet into my Kobo without using that Nickelmenu hack. That's why I wondered if sideloaded mode was responsible.

[Cootey]

Well, whatever the reason why I can't telnet without Nickelmenu is, I've reinstalled Nickelmenu and have telnet access to the Kobo again. The problem is that I don't know the password for root. It appears that they've changed it from " ", which always struck me as a tad lazy anyway. Anybody know the new login so I can check on the wifi card stats as originally suggested?

[Rid]

Originally Posted by Lys

I just tried on my Libra Colour + using my smartphone as hotspot.

I switched my network to 5 GHz only -> LC kept the network in its list, but couldn't connect
I switched my network to 2.4-5GHz -> LC managed to connect

I have had problems like this before - not ereader related and it chose the older protocol because it worked. Doesn't "I switched my network to 2.4-5GHz" just mean, the device auto selected the network that worked?? Which was probably not 5GHZ, even though the dialogue said it was?

Edit;
Oh and I have had to set the frequency manually on other devices as well because it did not work, even though the manufacture specs said it could. They cut costs every place they can...