432

Assign a device to a specific eero

I was recently going through my connected device list and noticed I have some of my devices connected to an eero which isn't the closest one to it.  Wouldn't it make more sense to bind a device to a specific eero?  For example, my Ring doorbell is maybe 10 - 15 feet from the closest eero but it is connected to one upstairs and further away.  Not sure if that would cause a QoS kind of issue but for stationary devices I don't see them moving from one eero to another (Nest products, Amazon Echo, Ring doorbell, etc.)

384 replies

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    • jtrain73
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    +1 for this feature request.  We recently moved to a new house with 4 floors (finished basement to attic).  We put the main unit on the 2nd floor, and another unit on each floor in different places in the house. I have a device on the attic level that is ignoring the eero in the same room and connecting to the basement eero.  This is nuts.  Of course that device doesn't work well.  I'm going to remove eeros and try to go with two units in hopes of making things work better.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE add this feature, it is so needed.  I'm starting to shop for a new system already.

    • SonosInSeattle
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    +1

    • jamescmtaylor
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Adding my +1. Periodically one or two of my Sonos speakers will connect to a different Eero than the others which are configured as a surround-sound system. Unfortunately, this seems to prevent the speakers from consistently working with Sonos' app. I've contacted Sonos and Eero's support teams multiple times about this and it turns out that the only way for me to temporarily resolve the issue is to unplug each Sonos speaker and Eero and reconnect them. It's not the end of the world, but it's also not ideal. It would be nice if I could just assign the speakers to the eero in my living room.

    • PhoenixRevived
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Come on, Eero - let's get this fixed already! How many more user testimonials do you need to make it a priority?

    • RobN0569
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I recently purchased 2 3-pack eero Pros for my 3,000 sqft home. It's overkill, but that's me. I find this product to be absolutely amazing and am recommending it to my family, friends, and console gamer buddies. Initially, I had the same issue with strange connections to distant eero units and was trying to figure out how to assign devices to specific eero. Was there an update overnight? This morning, my devices are hoping around to the most appropriate eero locations. That make me very happy! 

      • jamescmtaylor
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      RobN0569 You may just be lucky there. This morning I noticed that one of my Sonos speakers decided to connect to a different Eero again. I can assure you that I didn’t move the speaker. I’m not sure what causes this to happen, but being able to assign devices to specific Eeros would resolve the issues this can create, so I hope that this is in the roadmap.

      If someone from Eero is monitoring these forums, it would be nice if he or she could comment on this. 

      • RobN0569
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      jamescmtaylor Yes, I suppose I was lucky. Unfortunately, my luck ran out quickly. My static units that never move have jumped to different eeros since my earlier message this morning. I am hoping eero techs are working on an upgrade. For me, the lack of assigning devices to a specific eero is my only concern/complaint, so far...

      • jamescmtaylor
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      RobN0569 I couldn’t agree more. Fingers crossed :) 

    • mgarski
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    +1 yes please - I have stationary devices that seem to move to beacons that are further away when there is one just steps away.

    • seam108
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    This seems like a very popular request. I too would like to see this so my ring.com camera will connect to the appropriate beacon rather than the eero in the house. I have 3 eero systems at 3 different vacation rentals and they are great but the ring.com cameras outside seem to want to connect to the furthest away eero and it drives me nuts especially when the video surveillance is important.

    • Tela
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm going to add to this request. My specific use case is for security equipment (Ring & IP cameras), Rokus and Sonos, all of which are stationary. I'll add also that Eero is not perfect at choosing which station to connect to, and it's helpful to be able to override. Ideally, the feature would let me override, until Eero found a better connection. I'm guessing that this is data that Eero could use to get smarter about optimizing which device to connect to.

      • Drew
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Hi, Tela – Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience, and welcome to the Community forum!

      We definitely appreciate your thoughts and your interest in this functionality, and I'd like to assure you that it's something we're still looking at. I just wanted to take this opportunity to mention that the eeros actually don't decide which devices connect to which access point – it's entirely up to your devices to decide which eeros to connect to, and when to switch between eeros (in the case of non-stationary devices). If the main issue you're having is with stationary devices, then simply rebooting the devices or re-setting up their WiFi will almost always help them connect to the strongest, closest eero. If you continue to have any questions or concerns, we definitely encourage you to give us a call at 877-659-2347 or email support@eero.com and we can help you make sure your eeros are placed as optimally as possible to give the best signal to your devices!

      Thanks once more for your valuable thoughts, and for being a valuable new part of our Community!

      Kindly,
      Drew, eero Community Team

      • diejoh
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Drew - We appreciate that Eero is looking into this, but I don’t understand how this problem can be blamed on all the other varying devices. This problem is happening with many devices from many different manufacturers, and only when using an Eero mesh system. We don’t read about this happening with other mesh systems. I’ve used other wireless access points where firmware updates announce fixes to these sorts of problems. A device on the network just wants to connect to the nearest strongest signal and doesn’t care. With Eero, the nearest strongest signal is there, but it’s as though the total opposite of “band steering” is happening, so instead of directing clients to 5GHz, Eero directs the clients to 2.4GHz. But what’s even more strange is that we all seem to notice the devices want to connect to the gateway Eero even though it may be at the opposite end of the home, and at 2.4GHz, even if it must bypass multiple other Eeros. This really looks like an Eero problem. 

      • mzman
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      diejoh Just want to add that although I'd like this functionality, my experience isn't like this. My devices don't seem to favor one Eero or another, and don't prefer the gateway.

      My Ring devices are the worst, as they pick an Eero and then never try for a stronger signal. 

      I can completely see how this is the device's fault, at least in my experience. That said, a clever way to work around dumb client devices would be much appreciated from the Eero team. 

      • diejoh
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      mzman - true, I've also seen this happen as well. It's not always connecting to the gateway Eero, but it's not the closest Eero. In fact, right now my Nest Hello is connected to the 2nd closest Eero at 2.4GHz, when it could have a 5GHz connection mere feet away with less obstructions. 

      • Tela
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      diejoh 

      • Happy6069
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      diejoh .....one of the things about other systems like Velops is that they allow you to set up separate 2.4gHz and 5.0gHz networks.......then you can set up Nest Hello to the 2.4gHz network and all is good.....I know because I had that system......but I had continuous drop out and never got the range I get with the eero pro.......as long as my door bell connects and works, I do not mind but......I would like control over it or find a place in the house that it will consistently connect to 2.4gHz

    • ifermon
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    From a strictly technical perspective, the devices pick the access point, not the other way around. That said, there is a *LOT* that the APs can do to influence this, up to and including refusing a connection. So in practice the APs can strongly influence which AP is used by a device.

      • diejoh
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      ifermon - you're right, and a device is understood to be "dumb" and just connect to the first thing it sees. But the Eero, being a "system," is responsible for being smart enough to steer devices onto the strongest connection and to 5GHz. Eero is blaming the devices that don't care and saying the devices should somehow be smart enough to do all of that themselves. It's ridiculous.

      This functionality shouldn't be something we want to manually manage - it should be automatic in the background. 

      • seam108
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      diejoh 

    • seam108
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    The eero system since it’s one mesh system should have the ability to assign a device to a particular AP.  In other words it should be smart enough to “Block it from other eeros or beacons if you “assign” a device to a particular especially since you can’t tell a device where to connect.   Eero come on help please!!!

    • trevororiordan
    • 4 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I also would like to see this happen.  Although my technical expertise on networking is very small, I do notice that when I bring my iPad upstairs, it insists on staying connected to the basement two floors away, and the signal according to the eero app is weak.

     

    I reboot the iPad, and it connects... but to the eero on the main floor (again, when there's a beacon on the top floor not 10 feet away).  

     

    Why the basement has 3 connected devices (2 of which are two floors away), the main floor eero has 20 connected, and the upstairs has zero... I guess I don't understand why the system wouldn't spread things out more?... especially when the signal strength is weak?

      • Gadget Enthusiast
      • imjoey
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      trevororiordan yeah I have also been seeing that same issue. My iPhone or another device will connect to a eero that’s much further away then the one it’s closest to. Doesn’t make a lot of sense. I think the Eero’s at the least need/should hand off any device to the closest unit. 

      • Drew
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Thanks so much for sharing your concerns, imjoey and trevororiordan – and welcome to the Community, Trevor! Without rehashing too much of what's already been said in this thread, I just want to take this opportunity to thank you both for sharing your feedback and experience with us. While it's ultimately up to devices to decide both what access point to connect to and when to roam between eeros, rest assured this is something we're actively exploring so we can continue to make the eero experience seamless and satisfying. 

      In the meantime, we hope you'll continue to reach out to support at 877-659-2347 so we can offer whatever assistance possible for the specifics of your home network. Thanks again so much for being valuable Community members, and enjoy your weekend!

      Kindly,
      Drew, eero Community Team

      • trevororiordan
      • 4 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Drew Thanks so much for writing back!  Appreciate the response.  

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