Dual band network adaptor setting

bazzabear · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:33

Hi All

I'm hoping for a little advice. I just got one of these:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/tp-l...wireless-dual-band-usb-adaptor-nw-151-tp.html

I've so far installed only the driver, not the utility (in the past with network adapters, I've found that having the bespoke utility just results in it causing issues conflicting with the built in windows networking software).

Anyway, looking at the set-up page for my router, it says that the computer, via this adapter, is connected only using 2.4GHz. The details of it gave me to believe that it would actually use both bands at the same time.

So I guess my questions are:

Is there a way to get it to use 5GHz, or even both, using the windows software (W10)?
Would I be better off installing the TP-Link utility?
Is there any genuine advantage anyway to using a different (or both) channel?

Thanks for any advice!

neodude · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:39

I'm assuming that your router also has 5GHz?

bazzabear · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:41

That's right. (Good idea to check though!

)

neodude · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:42

Not sure how it works with your setup but on my router the 5GHz network shows as a completely separate SSID.

bazzabear · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:43

I do see in the advanced properties for the network adapter, a drop down for "wireless mode". Currently set to 'auto', but has options for 802.11 ac - which I believe is 5GHz?

Also has an option for 802.11 a/n/ac - does that mean it uses both?

Don't want to mess with it until I've heard back from someone with more knowledge than me though!

neodude · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:46

You cant use both bands simultaneously. But you do want to be using the 5GHz band if you can. Like I said in my previous post, on my router the 5GHz band shows as a separate SSID. Are you connecting to the correct one?

bazzabear · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:55

neodude said:
Not sure how it works with your setup but on my router the 5GHz network shows as a completely separate SSID.

Hadn't thought of that - but had a look, and I can only see one entry.

My iPhone seems to be using the 5GHz with no settings required to be changed by me.

bazzabear · 9 Sep 2016 at 17:58

I do see now on the router settings that I can have it treat the 5GHz as a different SSID if I want. I might try that later to see if it gives any clues.