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Re:Wi-Fi Alliance Brings Wi-Fi 6 into 6 GHz by ineedasername on Monday January 06, 2020 @07:09PM (#21975125)
Unfortunately, 2.4ghz is still pretty much the only option for something like a smart lightbulb or smart plug. For the printer though, it seems like either the printer software or my router is smart enough to talk to it even though my PC is on the 5ghz SSID. But the same can't be said of the bulbs and plugs. I had to return a bunch and swap for Amazon echo smart plugs, which are also only 2.4ghz, but the echo itself is smart enough to work with them even though it too is on the 5ghz said.
Re:Wi-Fi Alliance Brings Wi-Fi 6 into 6 GHz by TheCoelacanth on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @08:23AM (#21979652)
Wouldn't something like Zigbee or Z-Wave better for a lightbulb or plug?
Re:Wi-Fi Alliance Brings Wi-Fi 6 into 6 GHz by duelingjello on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @09:26AM (#21980147)
Possibly from a “BETAMAX” features point-of-view, but it’s not as pervasive as WiFi (“VHS”).

My front door lock is Zigbee only because a WiFi camera is its WiFi-to-Zigbee bridge. Everything else is WiFi.

Maybe in the future smart home stuff will convert over, but then it means one company or another will have to sell a bridge and be the gatekeeper. Perhaps the home/ISP-provided access points should include Z-Wave / Zigbee that is open to provision and configure from FAANG’s and smart home products?