20/40/80 is the width of the channel you choose, in MHz.
Use 20MHz as a rule.
If you have a user device that supports 40MHz (few do) and NEEDS that extra high speed potential-only, choose 40, in the 5GHz band.
Wider channel, if user device compatible, brings the disadvantage of needed stronger signals.
Wouldn't devices like my xbox one, or Dish Hopper, which use wireless, benefit from the 40MHz over the 20MHz?
No. First, they probably support only 20MHz and probably not 5GHz.Wouldn't devices like my xbox one, or Dish Hopper, which use wireless, benefit from the 40MHz over the 20MHz?
What is the difference between 20 and 40?
Channel width is either 20Mhz or 40Mhz for 802.11 2.4Ghz b/g/n and 20Mhz,40Mhz,80Mhz,or 160Mhz for 802.11 for 5Ghz a/n/ac.
40Mhz is two 20Mhz channels bonded together to create a higher bandwidth. However it will often select a overlapping channel as the secondary channel it bonds to, creating interference with other 2.4Ghz devices and networks.
For 2.4Ghz I recommend a 20Mhz channel width if you live in a congested area and only use 40Mhz when you don't have any neighbors that are close or a lot of other non 802.11 based 2.4Ghz interference.
5Ghz you can pretty much leave at 40Mhz for non .ac devices and 80 or 160Mhz for .ac devices. The range isn't as long so you don't have to worry about neighbors so much.
No. First, they probably support only 20MHz and probably not 5GHz.
Second, they don't need all of 20, much less 40MHz channel capacity.
First, for handheld devices, it would be the access device with a good, or best, signal strength. If each access device (access point or the one WiFi router) has a unique SSID, the user can choose, since most client / user devices don't make optimal choices.Thanks for the insightful replies. One final question. Having both 5 and 2.4 ssid when does one choose which to use. I would assume I always want to be using and connecting to the 5ghz.
Does it basically come down to if my device isn't streaming media or transferring large files (ie. iphone/ipad) then stick to the 2.4GHZ ssid? For streaming media and moving large files, always connect to the 5GHz (Ie. laptop, media streaming device, xbox one).
Thanks for the insightful replies. One final question. Having both 5 and 2.4 ssid when does one choose which to use. I would assume I always want to be using and connecting to the 5ghz.
Does it basically come down to if my device isn't streaming media or transferring large files (ie. iphone/ipad) then stick to the 2.4GHZ ssid? For streaming media and moving large files, always connect to the 5GHz (Ie. laptop, media streaming device, xbox one).
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