why is my glas thermostat disconnecting from wifi constantly? i have to keep re-adding it.

Diagnosis

The Johnson Controls GLAS Smart Thermostat utilizes a WiFi chipset that is highly sensitive to "band steering," a feature found in most modern mesh systems and dual-band routers. When your 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands share the same SSID (network name), the router attempts to push the device toward the faster 5GHz band. However, the GLAS radio is optimized for the 2.4GHz range due to its superior wall penetration and stability for low-bandwidth IoT devices. When the router forces a handoff to 5GHz, the GLAS loses the handshake, drops the connection, and eventually enters a "disconnected" state that requires a manual re-pairing process.

Furthermore, this issue is often exacerbated by DHCP lease expiration or aggressive "Smart Connect" settings on routers like Eero, Google Nest WiFi, or Orbi. If the device is located at the edge of your signal range, the GLAS may experience "flapping," where it rapidly switches between bands, causing the internal network stack to crash and disconnect entirely. You can confirm this by checking your router's connected devices list; if you see the GLAS appearing and disappearing or switching between 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, band steering is the culprit.

How to Fix It

To resolve this permanently, you must isolate the 2.4GHz frequency to ensure the GLAS maintains a locked, stable connection. Follow these precise steps:

1. Access your router's administrative interface by entering the gateway IP address (typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a web browser and logging in with your admin credentials.
2. Navigate to the Wireless Settings or Advanced WiFi tab.
3. Locate the setting labeled "Smart Connect," "Band Steering," or "Single SSID." Toggle this setting to OFF or Disabled.
4. You will now see separate fields for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Rename the 5GHz band by adding a suffix. For example, if your network is "HomeWiFi," change the 5GHz SSID to "HomeWiFi_5G" and leave the 2.4GHz SSID as "HomeWiFi."
5. Save the settings and allow the router to reboot (this typically takes 2-3 minutes).
6. On the GLAS thermostat interface, go to Settings > Network > WiFi.
7. Select the dedicated 2.4GHz network ("HomeWiFi") and enter your password. The device should now lock onto this frequency and stop disconnecting.

If That Didn't Work

• Assign a Static IP Address: Log back into your router and find the "DHCP Reservations" or "Static IP" section. Locate the GLAS thermostat via its MAC address and assign it a permanent IP address. This prevents the device from disconnecting during a DHCP lease renewal, which is a common cause of intermittent drops on GLAS units.
• Adjust WiFi Channel Width: In your router's 2.4GHz settings, change the "Channel Width" from "Auto" or "40MHz" to a strict 20MHz. Many IoT devices struggle with wider channels, and forcing 20MHz increases the signal-to-noise ratio and stability for the GLAS radio.
• Change the WiFi Channel: If you live in a crowded area, interference from neighboring routers can cause drops. Manually set your 2.4GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11 instead of using "Auto." These are the only non-overlapping channels and provide the cleanest signal.
• Disable WPA3 Encryption: Some versions of the GLAS hardware struggle with the newer WPA3 security protocol. In your router's security settings, ensure the 2.4GHz band is set to WPA2-PSK (AES). If it is set to "WPA2/WPA3 Mixed," the GLAS may intermittently drop the connection during the security handshake.

Heads Up

• Signal Strength: Ensure the GLAS is not mounted directly against a metal stud or mirrored wall, as this can create a "Faraday cage" effect, weakening the signal and triggering the disconnects.
• Firmware Updates: Periodically check the GLAS settings menu for firmware updates. Johnson Controls frequently releases patches specifically to improve WiFi stability and radio handshaking.
• Power Cycling: If the device becomes unresponsive during the fix, perform a hard reboot by removing the thermostat faceplate from the wall bracket for 30 seconds and then snapping it back into place.
• Avoid Mesh Overload: If using a mesh system, try to place a satellite node within 20 feet of the thermostat to ensure the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) remains above -65dBm.