Connecting to wifi

[Tim Cullis]

Thanks for the tip. I also read the link you provided.

I have a Netgear Orbi RBR50 router situated at the front of the house near the road, and a satellite in the kitchen area at the back. The Orbi system is designed with the two devices utilising the same SSIDs, enabling devices to automatically hop between the router and the satellite as they are moved around the house.

The system broadcasts both a primary WiFi SSID and a Guest WiFi SSID on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. By design, there is no ability to restrict frequencies to particular networks.

The only thing which is 'fixed' in our setup is that all our home devices are on the primary SSID. The guest SSID is only there so that visitors can gain Internet access without being able to access our devices which are on the primary network.

So far, so good, however... when sitting in my MY23 XC90, despite being able to see both networks on my iPhone and on my Macbook, the XC90 cannot see the primary SSID, it can only see the guest SSID.

(As an aside, when the XC90 connects to the guest network, it does so on the 2.4GHz frequency.)

I saw the same behaviour when parked up elsewhere, I could see someone's primary and guest network on my iPhone, but the XC90 could only see the guest network. Right now, when sitting in the XC90 my iPhone can see eleven wifi networks, but the car can only see my guest network and one other.

And to add insult to injury, when I now connect to the guest network a message comes up saying it can't provide Internet access. And then I was invited by the XC90 to subscribe to T-Mobile's Hotspot Drive system!

[Lexman8]

Have you tried disabling the guest network and/or 5GHz? If it then connects it may remember that connection after you've re-enabled those settings.

From Volvo:

It is only possible to connect to the following types of network:

Frequency — 2.4 or 5 GHz*.
Standards — 802.11 a/b/g/n.
Security type — WPA2-AES-CCMP

*5GHz isn't available in all markets

[Tim Cullis]

Thanks for the suggestions. This is what I did.

Disabled the guest SSID.
Disabled the guest network completely.
Disabled the primary 5GHz SSID.
Reduced transmit power on primary 5GHz to 25%.

Security on all channels/frequencies is WPA2-PSK (AES)
The result should be that all new logins move to primary 2.4GHz channel.

XC90 result: still can't see the primary network

I'm taking the car into the Volvo dealer tomorrow morning to see what they can do.

[Lexman8]

Having re-read your original post I see that the SOS light is flashing red sometimes. The SOS and on-call systems do not use Wi-Fi. For safety and security reasons they have independent connections to Volvo's servers.

As your having problems with various comms there could be an issue with the main comms board which handles all internal and external comms. A replacement comms board is expensive (~£1,500) but should be covered by the Select warranty if you have one.