Difference between 80Mhz and 20/40/80 Mhz

[neil0311]

Using Asuswrt-Merlin 376.48.1 on RT-AC68P. On the 5GHz wireless configuration options, the bandwidth can be set to 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz or what appears to be an auto setting of 20/40/80 MHz.

Is 20/40/80 an auto setting? Is there an advantage or penalty for using 80 or 20/40/80? Mine is set currently to 20/40/80, and it looks like N clients and AC clients work correctly. What's best practice?

 

[RMerlin]

Using Asuswrt-Merlin 376.48.1 on RT-AC68P. On the 5GHz wireless configuration options, the bandwidth can be set to 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz or what appears to be an auto setting of 20/40/80 MHz.

Is 20/40/80 an auto setting? Is there an advantage or penalty for using 80 or 20/40/80? Mine is set currently to 20/40/80, and it looks like N clients and AC clients work correctly. What's best practice?

Doesn't really matter on the 5 GHz band, due to the low amount of interference, so 80 MHz should be fine.

 

[amigohd]

Doesn't really matter on the 5 GHz band, due to the low amount of interference, so 80 MHz should be fine.

Just a hint for apple users:
Not using strict 80 GHz band for apple devices (such as my iPhone, iPads, MacBook Pro's) was my solution to solve wireless disconnects and connecting problems with my asus router.

 

[neil0311]

Doesn't really matter on the 5 GHz band, due to the low amount of interference, so 80 MHz should be fine.

Thanks. So the 20/40/80 setting is an "auto" that will step down bandwidth in response to interference or other conditions that prevent 80MHz?

 

[RMHC]

Thanks. So the 20/40/80 setting is an "auto" that will step down bandwidth in response to interference or other conditions that prevent 80MHz?

That's my understanding. I have tried it set to 20/40/80 and then when I look in the wireless log, I see that it has set itself to 80 MHz bandwidth. The wireless log reads exactly the same as if I set it to 80 only. And my AC devices connect at full speed either way.

I assume that, if there was another strong 5 GHz signal, it might only do 20 or 40.

This is analogous to how the settings work on 2.4 GHz. 20 forces 20 only. 40 forces 40. 20/40 uses 40 if there are few other signals but goes to 20 otherwise.