Dual Band Router question

roderz88

roderz88

roderz88

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Joined
7 Oct 2010
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Evening all!

I am considering getting a new router. I have an N standard network card on my PC and also in my Xbox 360. However, some people in my home still use G standard devcies, including me since my mobile's wifi is G standard.

Ive been thinking of getting a dual band router, however, if I did this, would I get better wireless performance on the 5GHz radio ? I know that the actual range of 5GHz is shorted than 2.4. Id say there is about 10-15 meters from my PC and the router since my rooom is upstairs and the router is downstairs.

Another question is that is it possible to have the N standard devices use the 5GHz radio and have the G standard devcies running on 2.4GHz?

Thanks in advance!
 
When you look at the routers, make sure it specifically says simultaneous dual band. Some routers are dual band but you have to pick one or the other, better routers let you run the router as both 2.4GHz access point (which you could use for N, but may as well just use that for your G clients), and also a 5GHz access point at the same time (which you would use for your N clients only).

The actual range of 5 GHz compared to 2.4 GHz shouldn't be an issue, as although it can't penetrate materials as well the regulations on use of the 5 GHz frequency allows for much higher power output and it's a less congested frequency so you shouldn't have as much interference as 2.4 GHz.
 
It works simultaneously. Also it's not 2.4GHz = 'g' and 5Ghz = 'n'. The N spec'd devices need to have 5Ghz support to use the 5Ghz band. The 2.4Ghz band does support all g/n devices. (Apologies if you know this, it's not clear from your posts)

For me the 5Ghz connection is pants compared to 2.4Ghz. It won't even max out my 60Mb broadband and I am only 1 room away from the router. And it's a quality router/receiver as well. I'm at the point where I'm thinking I'm maybe missing the point of 5Ghz wireless, it's that bad.
 
5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz very much depends on each individual case. I know when I did my degree project on an analysis of 802.11n that in a relatively quiet area (in terms of nearby 2.4 GHz access points and their signal strengths) that 5 GHz showed only a few more Mb/s than 2.4 GHz, less packet loss but interestingly the jitter was a little higher. When I tried the same test in an area with a more crowded 2.4 GHz set of channels 5 GHz was still the same but 2.4 GHz showed a lot more loss, a lot more jitter and a lot less bandwidth.
 
MilanoChris said:
If you're seeing better performance on the 2.4GHz over 5GHz then it's most likely a configuration issue.
Click to expand...

I'm also not seeing the benefits of 5Ghz, but granted I do have a lot of options to go tweaking, but inssider shows me as the only 5Ghz network around here, so surely any channel would/should be good?
 
The only experience I have is that 5GHz works a mile better in my flat than 2.4GHz, and it does at my mates as well. I'd have thought the same would apply in most circumstances, especially when there aren't any other 5GHz networks around, hence I'm thinking a config issue or problem with the client/driver setup etc.
 
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tigerstyle said:
I'm also not seeing the benefits of 5Ghz, but granted I do have a lot of options to go tweaking, but inssider shows me as the only 5Ghz network around here, so surely any channel would/should be good?
Click to expand...

Don't forget 802.11n also allows for 40Mhz channel widths, so it may be worth checking if that is enabled or disabled as that can effect bandwidth.
 
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