Vodafone Gigabox - Unable to change WiFi channel (SuperWiFi)

cork_south · 22-08-2021 8:57pm #1

Vodafone have updated their Android Gigabox App with a new feature called "Super-Wifi".

In the app you cannot change the WiFi channel, it's a dumbed down app with very little options and no expert mode.

If you try to change the channel via the web UI on browser (192.168.1.1) the page briefly loads up the channel change option (for like half a second) and then hides the drop down and says "Super Wi-Fi is running your Wi-Fi settings. Please use the Super Wi-Fi tile in the Vodafone Broadband App to manage your settings."

The "Super-Wifi tile in the app is just a tile for buying and configuring WiFi extenders which I don't want to do.

This leads users on an infinite loop of going from app to web interface to try to change the WiFi channel.

Can anyone tell me how to change the WiFi channel on the updated modem (version info & error screenshot below)?

Vodafone Gigabox

cork_south · 23-08-2021 8:38am

For anyone else out there with the same issue, just called Vodafone support and incredibly it's by design you cannot change the WiFi channel post router firmware update.

Instead you can pay extra per month to rent out "Vodafone Super WiFi" plugs!

Note this affects other areas of the router config like MAC address filtering, it's all locked down.

Vodafone don't want to let you configure your router and instead want you to fork out a fiver a month for their SuperWiFi plugs.

I have a lot of neighbours using the same default WiFi channel and it causes interference\drops.

In the past I simply changed the WiFi to a less busy channel and it worked around the random network drops. Now I cannot do this anymore.

butwhynot · 23-08-2021 3:18pm

If you have an android phone you can install an older version of the Gigabox App (4.4.1 or older).

It will let you split the SSIDs and change the Wifi bands, but it doesn't let you pick a band higher than 48.

cork_south · 23-08-2021 5:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117793727#Comment_117793727

Thx a mil, v 4.4.1 of the app did the trick.

It's removed the Super Wi-Fi rubbish and has allowed me to select channels again.

SnuggyBear · 26-08-2021 8:24am

Anyone have a link to the app?

cork_south · 27-08-2021 7:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117804869#Comment_117804869

https://apktada.com/app/com.vodafone.gigabox

kodi · 02-09-2021 11:56am

OMG. Thank you so much for this. The old app works!

wishbone · 02-09-2021 2:25pm

Thanks for that suggestion! I had lost my 5G SSID by accidentally (out of curiosity) selecting to turn on SuperWifi. I tried a factory reset but no good. I found my old iPhone and unbelievably it allowed me to split the band, so now I have the two again! Thanks so much for the suggestion, I would never have thought of it. Other options are not available on my newer iphone ie Channel Selection but at least I've the two SSIDs again - saves me reconfiguring some connected devices.

Wishbone.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117793727#Comment_117793727

td2008 · 07-09-2021 11:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117812631#Comment_117812631

nevermind, see it now!

septicsac · 14-09-2021 3:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117793727#Comment_117793727

Brilliant advice, they turned their so called superwifi on to try improve mine, then told me it could not be turned off and proceeded with the sales pitch, they are some shower of c##ts.Back to normal now, but leaving them the minute the contract expires, I detest this type of sneaky underhand methods of squeezing money out of customers.

kodi · 19-09-2021 10:27pm

No, don't leave them the minute the contract expires. You have give them 30 day notice now and switching to i.e. Pure takes at least 2 weeks, EIR said they can switch the same day - which is not true and they recommending giving them a shout about a month before your contract ends - however they are also allowing to cover part of your cancellation fee (up to 200€), but I never tested that.

I would also recommend to start looking for aftermarket router. Most of the default ISPs are locked tight.

zarker · 21-09-2021 7:26pm

uff. Am hitting the same issue. My Sonos speakers aren't working due to interference from neighbours. When that happens, I simply switch the chanel, but now of course I can't do that! Very frustrating.

Yggr of Asgard · 21-09-2021 9:38pm

I got myself a sonos boost a while ago as I was not getting reliable performance on wifi and have not looked back.

If you have multiple speakers and bars it's worth the investment, especially if you have local content.

lowrisk · 04-02-2022 3:38pm

Hey, my friend had the same issue with his Vodafone gigabox but I found a easy way to enable split wifi.

you right click next to broadcast SSID and click "inspect element" (that's for a Mac/Safari but it's about the same for chrome and etc..)

you will see something like "h3-content split_ssid no-padding-bottom" style="Display: disabled;"

change "disabled" to "Enable" and then split wifi should be enable again (until you refresh the page)

John Dough · 18-02-2022 5:23pm

Does anyone know if you can turn off the 5ghz wi fi signal on the gigabox as it is blocking some of my devices on 2 4ghz. Tnx

John Dough · 25-02-2022 9:07pm

I sorted it with old software.

frenchie091 · 11-03-2022 11:50am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582004#Comment_118582004

Just wondering if you've had any more joy with poking around in the web page to try to enable some of the settings hidden by the superwifi setting? Poking around the developer console I see there's a javascript object called super_wifi_mode wth value "Active". Maybe could use the console to turn this to Inactive or something and trigger a reload somehow without retrieving settings from the server again? I'm not a frontend dev so not sure how to do this, or if it's even possible.

tscul32 · 16-03-2022 10:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118693903#Comment_118693903

Hi

Having same issue here in the office. Moved to Vodafone in December and had a load of meross smart plugs set up. Didn't touch them and they continued working with the new router. One disconnected last week and won't reconnect. I brought a plug in from home to see if it was the router or plug and same issue. Used the above suggestions and installed gigabox 4.4.1. Have selected split and it now seems to have both 2.4 and 5 ghz. Should I be able to turn off the 5ghz and how or should I be selecting specific channels? Plug still won't connect, meross network won't connect to the internet. Have everything restarted since splitting the wifi.

I'm not really up on this stuff so if anyone could give any advice I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

lowrisk · 16-03-2022 7:29pm

Sorry I don’t have Vodafone myself, I was just doing that for a friend last time, try to play around with the page, I’m not a dev myself but I often unlock a lot of stuff and button by charging « false » with « true » or « hidden » with « displayed » or « enable »

anyway sorry I couldn’t be more helpfully

tscul32 · 16-03-2022 9:32pm

Thanks. Used to be a dev myself but quite a few years ago now and not in this area.

DaveyDave · 26-04-2022 12:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582004#Comment_118582004

You absolute legend, this worked no problem. Such a stupid issue to have, my house alarm WiFi is tied to our old Virgin media details and I can't change it without getting the engineer back out to change it, simple solution is to rename the 2.4Ghz network and password. Our Roomba 960 can only use 2.4GHz. Got a new Vodafone box today when starting a new contract he had to switch out all the gear we had from the previous year. I have to return the old gear to a shop myself because they don't even supply a free post label!

This is up there with having to get Virgin to enable IPv4. Realistically most people won't be messing around with this stuff. Next thing you know they'll disable port forwarding...

Nint3ndo64Eire · 01-05-2022 3:36pm

Hey everyone,

I'm having major issues with my 2.4 devices being cut off as I'm not able to split the signals. The older app APK trick doesn't seem to work now so I've no way to split it anymore. This is very frustrating, anyone know a way round this? Much appreciated!

zarker · 02-05-2022 1:38pm

I had the same problem. I've added an old router to my network with only 2.4ghz enabled to get my Sonos to work.

Eventually, I replaced Gigabox with my own Assus router and now everything works well. Not sure why Vodafone app disables the ability to choose channel. Nice to see that this can be switched on with a HTML hack.

pedro.prado · 30-07-2022 10:19pm

Hey, I just found out a cleaner hack:

If you factory reset the router, upon login it will warn you that you're using the default WiFi password and you should change it. This message has a "change" button which you can press to go straight to the page to change the WiFi pass.

Turns out, that page where you're taken DOES have split enabled for some reason! So you just enable it there and configure normally.

BTW, I decided to factory reset after both bands did not work after updating the password, for some reason...

HTH

wingnut · 09-08-2022 5:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119005700#Comment_119005700

I switch between Voda and Eir every year their routers are trash. Better off buy a decent router , I needed decent parental controls find the TP link archers very good. One router covers the house and the UI is very fast!.

kaltz · 10-08-2022 7:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119450904#Comment_119450904

Which model are you using? I'm with Vodafone and the router is crap and the "Super Wifi" keeps disconnecting from the router. Losing the will to live trying to sort it at this stage

zarker · 11-08-2022 8:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119450904#Comment_119450904

I eventually did the same. I bought an ASUS RT-AX86S and replaced vodafone's router. Thread here with details for anyone interested: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058241308/vodafone-gigabox-set-to-bridge-mode-and-eliminate-double-nat#latest

clarecoco · 24-08-2022 2:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119002312#Comment_119002312

I can feel your pain! I just changed to Vodafone and have a Smartwares wifi camera with an outside light. It can only be set up on 2.5ghz like most smart devices. Because of router change to Vodafone to set-up again it needs 2.4ghz wifi and not 5.0ghz. I tried all those things mentioned in this thread. I searched the Internet and a UK Vodafone user gave me a steer.

I finally was able to set it up by simply going to the end of the Router wifi range. (Apparently 2.4ghz band offers coverage at a longer range but transmits data at slower speeds). I needed to be on 2.4ghz which you will be on at the outer limits of your Vodafone wifi range - for set up.

So I went to furthest part of the house where I have coverage. I then did the set up of the 2.4ghz device. It did set it up!

Once the set up process is gone through and I was able to insert the wifi settings - all now works well. My wifi device is now up and running and after the set up process (on the 2.5ghz coverage area) the wifi connection works perfectly using the normal broadband wifi signal broadcast by the Vodafone router.

scorn · 30-08-2022 6:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119450904#Comment_119450904

Hi - I'm in the same boat where I was with Pure and a FritzBox with dual ssids. I have a lot of 2.4 devices for home auto, and think that because I switch providers (now to Vodafone - with the restricted Gigabox) I should invest in my own wifi router.

@wingnut please let me know which TP link you'd recommend at the moment - my knowledge is limited. I see you have TP Link and I have a TP Link mesh system installed so think that's the way for me. TIA

31-08-2022 9:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119544225#Comment_119544225

You can (if you have access) change dual SSID's on Fritzbox to a single SSID

dam099 · 31-08-2022 9:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119544225#Comment_119544225

What TP Link mesh system do you have? If its in Access Point mode you may be able to switch to Router mode and use the main unit as a router.

DaveyDave · 01-09-2022 9:29pm

I see the WiFi channel setting is also removed from the router configuration, anyone know a way around this? Ridiculous that they have removed these from expert settings.

Yggr of Asgard · 02-09-2022 8:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119557089#Comment_119557089

The old Android App is your best bet, just ensure you never update it.

Running version 4.4.1 and have full controll, ever so often my config is overwritten remotly but it's a quick restore and all is back to how I want it.

DaveyDave · 03-09-2022 11:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119558139#Comment_119558139

Ah that seems to have done the trick, nice one! Considering most people don't even know how to log into a router, and the fact you have to enable expert settings to see this stuff it's silly that they removed so many options, likely to save themselves the hassle of a few customer calls.

jack in the box · 22-09-2022 9:31pm

Anyone have a link to the 4.4.1 APK app,if that option still works?

dunnerc · 26-09-2022 5:52pm

As above anyone have a link to the APK 4.4.1 ?

septicsac · 02-10-2022 2:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119652872#Comment_119652872

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119668052#Comment_119668052

Post No.6 on first page

dunnerc · 02-10-2022 4:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119691125#Comment_119691125

Unfortunately that link brings you to Vodafone Gigabox 4.5.7.1 APK

septicsac · 03-10-2022 1:28am

https://apkfun.com/down_My-Vodafone-1.26133879.html

Quick google got this, but haven't tried it myself

e.a · 07-11-2022 11:33pm

The HTML solution works for me!

gerryp2000 · 22-11-2022 1:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119694444#Comment_119694444

I'm having the same Super Wifi issue... I uninstalled myvodafone app and re-started the phone, then tried to install v4.4.1 and immediately the phone popped up with a message to "update to the latest version or cancel" ... very frustrating, I've 3 months of my contract left with vodafone and then I'm off to another isp....

septicsac · 22-11-2022 2:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119906940#Comment_119906940

I used to get those messages, but just declined the updates, turned them off and eventually left vodafone at the earliest opportunity, funnily enough when I was leaving they had all the time and will in the world to resolve the issue.

gerryp2000 · 22-11-2022 3:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907185#Comment_119907185

Unfortunately the options I get are to install or cancel, choosing cancel stops the installation ...buggered.... by the by.. I've just installed the app onto my PC - into Bluestacks 5 and will see if I can get in that way when I get home later🤞

gerryp2000 · 26-11-2022 10:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582004#Comment_118582004

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119907285#Comment_119907285

The App wouldn't install via bluestacks

gerryp2000 · 26-11-2022 10:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582004#Comment_118582004

So I managed to do this, but is it possible to turn off 5ghz completely ??

OcocO · 11-02-2023 1:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117890740#Comment_117890740

💯 This! These are my precise thoughts too. I got it working by finding the 4.4.1 version on apkpure and resetting my repeater. Automatic WPS setup then worked and devices now connect with no problem

DaveyDave · 11-02-2023 1:56pm

Last week my router disabled 2.4GHz by itself for some reason and renamed the 5GHz network to add '5Ghz' to the end of the WiFi name. Thought my internet was down as my Nest and house alarm were showing lost connections but I was able to use the 5GHz with the TV, although it was spotty.

Had to use the old android app to split 2.4GHz again. My house alarm is tied to my old Virgin login so I have to change the Vodafone name and password to that.

I think it's time to shop around for a router. The fact Vodafone don't want you having 2.4GHz is absolutely ridiculous when they're charging the same price for the service. My house alarm, Nest doorbell, Roomba and car charger are all on 2.4GHz.

It also reset my ports so I couldn't access my Plex media server or CCTV remotely! If I was at work I'd lose access to everything.

jcn50 · 25-05-2023 4:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119668052#Comment_119668052

Sorry to bump this old post, I wanted to give the link to the APK here, as the HTML Inspect Element didn't work for me:

http://tinyurl.com/47jprwm4

Enjoy~~

budgemook · 11-06-2023 11:09pm

Eventually got an old device (Wii U) back working by installing v4.4.1 of the app and splitting WIFI. I don't see the 5GHZ option showing up anymore though, it's like I've just switched the router over to 2.4GHZ only. In the app when I go to 5GHZ settings it just says that the network is turned off. Will try figure that out tomorrow!

EDIT

I had indeed switched to router to 2.4GHZ only. When editing the javascript as per hack on previous page, I enabled a dropdown that allows this and selected 2GHZ. I could not find an element that allowed me to split the signal so the app was the only way I could do that. Note, I don't have the signal split anymore but the WiiU is still connected after the initial setup.

Fingleberries · 06-07-2023 3:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582004#Comment_118582004

You, it cannot be understated, are a legend.

That was such a stupid move from Vodafone to hide that switch.

Using the Dev Tools from the Browser (F12) it now displays

Changing that from none to Enable brought back the switch and you can manage your own network properly again.

You have to do the steps again if you reload the page, but the same steps will enable the switch again. For me, it's much better than downloading an old copy of the App APK.

jj880 · 22-08-2023 1:23pm

Just got gigabox today and had it running for PCVR with Quest 2.

Its pretty good until you want to move any distance from the router and they automatically kick you down to 2.4 with no option to split SSID.

I found this bizarre until reading this thread. No doubt there are people ringing Vodafone getting flogged the extender. Very low carry on.

Vodafone Gigabox - Unable to change WiFi channel (SuperWiFi)

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