5GHz WiFi - anyone using it?

wolvers

wolvers

wolvers

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Just looking at getting a new router, current one has started crashing etc, and was wondering if anyone here is using 5GHz WiFi and what their thoughts are on it?

It doesn't appear to be any faster but possibly a longer range (although not by much) and more reliable due to less interference from lots of other WiFi signals (most will be 2.4GHz)?
 
5ghz will have a shorter range than 2.4ghz. However, it can be much faster, up to 450mbps. I use a pair of e4200 as WAP's to cover 5ghz for my laptops and 2.4ghz for mobile devices (plus a 7800n as a gateway)
 
Same as above, use an e4200 which dues simu dual banding. Laptop sits on 5ghz and the iphones/ipads/ps3 in the house sit on the 2.4ghz ... Laptop gets about 216mb where it usually sits (thick walls)
 
lay-z-boy said:
5ghz will have a shorter range than 2.4ghz. However, it can be much faster, up to 450mbps. I use a pair of e4200 as WAP's to cover 5ghz for my laptops and 2.4ghz for mobile devices (plus a 7800n as a gateway)
Click to expand...

5 GHz will actully have greater range, this is due to EU regulations that allow a greater power output than on the 2.4 GHz frequencies.

Overall 5 GHz should perform noticbly better than 2.4 GHz, and my uni project that I litterly finished last weak was on this very subject. 5 GHz is newer so has fewer people on the spectrum to cause interference, not that that woudl be as much of an issue as there is a much greater number of non-overlapping channels. This greater number of non-overlapping channels is also what makes 40 MHz channel width viable as studies have shown that although 40 MHz channel width can be anabled on 2.4 GHz instead of 20 MHz (which is the 802.11n default, and the only 802.11g option) there is simply too much noise in most home environments for it to be useful.

Less noise from other users, greater allowed power output, 40 MHz channel width, it all adds up and 5 GHz should provide a noticible performance increase, and for my uni project using 2 linksys E3000s it did, and was not only faster but more stable with less loss and jitter.

Be aware though that although its part of the 802.11n specification its not a requirement, and so although lots of 802.11n routers support it there are some 802.11n devices that are 2.4 GHz only such as some phones. My advice is so always use 5 GHz if possible, if not try and use a simultanious dual band router such as an E3000 to allow for 5 GHz devices to use 5 GHz and all other devices will still have a 2.4 GHz network to connect to.
 
Thanks for the replies. :)

Every review of 5ghz stuff I've seen so far, bar one, has had results showing that it's only better over greater distances when it's got line of sight, and the speed increase is quite small (5%ish).

Anyway, I've picked up a router that does 2.4GHz and 5GHz simultaneously so I'm well future proofed. :)
 
Sorry to hijack here;

My powerline adaptors have just dropped from just over 100mbit/s down to around 30mbit/s. I can't fathom why, I guess my neighbour has a new fridge, or telly, or well, I don't know - but it's ruined my HTPC -> Server link.

2.4ghz is quite congested around where I am, and whenever I put my HomeHub3 into 2.4ghz 40mhz mode, it backs off back to single channel mode almost straight away.

I need to go approx 6ft (through the stairs) to get from HTPC > Server. What kit would you advise for this? The NIC would have to be USB, and if were replacing the HH3 then I'd need a router that does pppoe (I have FTTC) and has gigabit ports (for the server uplink).
 
What kit are you using?

I don't care about the range, as I said it only needs to go 6ft and through some stairs!
 
I have an app on my phone that shows me the channels in use, there are none that I can use in dual channel mode that don't overlap. As soon as the HH3 picks up any overlap (there is one network that shows up very faint) then it backs off.

Thanks Al Vallario.
 
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