How to use dual-band mode?

[[deXter]]

Hi all,

I just bought an ASUS PCE-AC66 PCIe card to go along with my AC66U router.

Now the question is, how do I go about configuring it to connect using dual-band mode, so that I can get the full advertised 1750Mbps? At the moment, the ASUS utility shows my network as two separate networks (2.4 and 5GHz). Both have the same SSID, but it appears I can connect only to the one or the other.
When I connect to the 5Ghz I get connected at a speed around 450Mbps and on the 2.4Ghz channel, it connects around 100Mbps (but goes upto 350Mbps). Both the channels show full signal strength.

How is dual-band operation supposed to work? I couldn't find any option in the router's config page. I'm running Merlin's latest beta.

 

[RMerlin]

How is dual-band operation supposed to work? I couldn't find any option in the router's config page. I'm running Merlin's latest beta.

Dual band means the router can accept clients on both bands. It does not mean a client can connect to both bands at the same time - that is not possible.

 

[FrancoisC]

It'd be neat if it was possible

 

[[deXter]]

Dual band means the router can accept clients on both bands. It does not mean a client can connect to both bands at the same time - that is not possible.

Ah okay, thanks for the clarification; but how can I configure 802.11ac so that I can at least get 1300Mbps? The router only has options for Auto / Legacy / N.. and I don't see an "AC" option anywhere.

 

[RMerlin]

Ah okay, thanks for the clarification; but how can I configure 802.11ac so that I can at least get 1300Mbps? The router only has options for Auto / Legacy / N.. and I don't see an "AC" option anywhere.

Set it to "Auto", and make sure 5 GHz bandwidth is set to 20/40/80 or to 80 MHz.

 

[tikiman1]

While it can be argued that the 1750 speed advertised for the router is a combination of both bands operating at the same time on different connections, the same argument cannot be made for the Asus pce-ac66 adapter. The pce-ac66 adapter cannot connect both bands at the same time. It can only connect to one band at a time, either 1.3Gbps max on 5Ghz or 450mbps max on 2.4Ghz. Therefore the Wireless AC 1750 on the PCE-AC66 box is false advertising.