Bruce, thanks for the reply. the solution of getting my own router is the only solution i can find so far. but i will dig around some more before spending the money.
thanks for the link. i had used a suggestion from tom's guides for the android app wifianalyzer to scan. all the other networks using channel 157 (where i am) are the same model router and a bunch are the cox wifi. (i opted out of that before it went live.), so im sure cox locks these routers to a specific channel - maybe to help support?
i found an article about seperate network names on 2.4 and 5ghz here https://www.cox.com/residential/support/using-a-single-wifi-network-name-and-password.html the part that got my attention is here
Historically, it was recommended that dual band routers broadcast different WiFi network names (SSIDs) and passwords for each band. This meant that you had to choose which network to connect to, and knowing which would provide the best connection and performance was guesswork. That’s now changed with the band steering feature on your gateway.
So after work i'll split the networks and see if it opens the option for channel band selection. will post results later
Band-steering in this case would depend on your connectivity "habits." Band-steering would be optimum if you habitually roam about the house with a mobile device. Sure 1 network or only 2.4..
If a device is basically immobile and has a line-of-sight with the router, config for 5 GHz. If a device is immobile in an upstairs, across the house bedroom, config on 2.4. Even if mobile with anything, go 2.4.
