Broad Categories of Consumer Wireless Routers and Points to Note

Wireless Router / Home Wireless Router

A:Home Network/Office Network

The Internet can be used from the connected device and devices connected to the wireless router can be able to connect to each other.

B:Guest Network

The Internet can be used from the connected device. However, devices connected to the wireless router may not be able to connect to each other.

When using a wireless router / home wireless router, take care that a connection is not established to a network name (SSID) for a guest or an SSID for a game. The Internet can be used from the connected device with either of the SSIDs. However, devices connected to the wireless router may not be able to connect to each other.

Also, there are some wireless router models that can use not only 2.4 GH and 5 GHz but also 6 GHz. Canon printers can use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (depending on the printer model or destination, there are some models that only support 2.4 GHz).

Mobile Wireless Router

A mobile wireless router has a unique setting called a privacy separator function. This function blocks data between devices connected to the mobile wireless router. An isolation function, network isolation function, and AP isolation function are similar functions. Normally, a mobile wireless router has this function turned on.

In the illustration below, both a computer and printer are connected to the mobile wireless router, but data cannot be sent from the computer or a smartphone to the printer when this function is on. Refer to the manual of the mobile wireless router, and then make sure you change the setting to OFF.

Mesh Wireless Router

Mesh Wi-Fi is made up of multiple wireless routers. A mesh wireless router has a function that enables coverage of a wider area to allow you to comfortably use a wireless device wherever you go in your home. A single network name (SSID) is shared, so even if the computer/smartphone/tablet is moved, the wireless router is switched automatically without disconnecting the wireless connection. This enables covering a wider area without changing the settings of the connected devices.

The printer does not have a function to follow instructions to switch a mesh wireless router connection, but setting the power of the printer to offline enables connecting to the wireless router with the strongest signal out the ones with the same SSID.

The function to use the same network name (SSID) between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (may include 6 GHz) and connect automatically to the frequency band which is the easiest to connect to is called the band steering function. This function can often be found on mesh wireless routers.

• Problem:

  Communications between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (or 6 GHz) may be blocked inside the wireless router even though the SSID is the same.

  If, for example, a computer is connected to 5 GHz (or 6 GHz) and a printer is connected to 2.4 GHz when this happens, printing from the computer to the printer will not be possible.

• Solution:

  Check that the computer or smartphone and printer have the same SSID, and the connected frequency band is 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

  • Check the SSID and Encryption Key of the Wireless Router Connected to Your Computer or Smartphone

  Print the Network Configuration Page with the printer, and check item 3-2-3. If the frequency band differs, turn off the band steering function to enable the printer and computer/smartphone/tablet to connect with the same frequency band properly. When the band steering function is turned off, the wireless router uses separate SSIDs, one for 2.4 GHz and one for 5 GHz. Then, connect the printer and computer/smartphone/tablet to the SSID of the same frequency band.

  Printers of some models and destinations can only connect to the 2.4 GHz wireless frequency band. When connected from a computer/smartphone/tablet to a wireless router with 5 GHz, the problem may be solved by switching the connection frequency to 2.4 GHz.