LabQuest 2 and LabQuest 3 have a 2.4 GHz radio and cannot identify or connect to a 5 GHz-only network.

If your phone or computer can identify networks that the LabQuest cannot see, those networks are probably 5 GHz-only. By default, nearly all Wi-Fi access points support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so the 2.4 GHz was likely disabled on this network.

We do not have a way to add 5 GHz to an existing LabQuest. However, a simple network configuration change can be made. Most access points can be configured to have separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks that are joined together. This is a fairly simple way to have your laptops, Chromebook, iPad, etc., connect to the same network name that is broadcasting on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. As this involves a change in the wireless access point setting, in most schools the IT department will need to make the change.

In order to get the most out of the school’s investment in LabQuest devices, we recommend enabling 2.4 GHz on the access points in the science labs. Our technical support staff can assist your school IT department in locating a configuration that supports science teachers’s needs, while meeting the school’s requirement for network performance, security, and connectivity.

See also:
FAQs for IT professionals at schools
For an explanation of what the LabQuest does on a school WiFi network that is different than personal electronic devices, see this explanation of how LabQuest uses WiFi in the classroom: