The Big Lebowski
New Around Here
Hey guys what's up. I just got a dual band a/b/g/n/ac router. I got it because my last router was 2.4GHz only, and there's way too many competing networks at my new apartment. It's to the point that a 2.4GHz network is just not going to be an option for me. Now wires are not my style, but I know they're better, so I'm going to accept them for my game consoles. But I do need wireless for my portable devices, so 5GHz looks like my only option for them. If any of that sounds confusing or just plain wrong so far, tell me what. I'm coming here for advice not to show off my (lack of) networking aptitude.
Testmy.net says my 25/5 connection is true to its name when I plug in my laptop at the modem, and when I plug it in at the router. But over wireless? It goes down to an average of maybe 6/2, but it varies wildly and drops the connection frequently. I've tried out two brand new routers now, and I get the same results. InSSIDer reports way too many 2.4GHz frequencies in the neighborhood, so I guess that's gotta be my problem.
Trouble is, most of my devices aren't 5GHz compatible. Nice to figure that one out after I spend $130 on the dual band router. So I have some network upgrading in my near future. One goal is to use the external hard drive I have as a shared drive for my other devices to access media from and make backups to. But my concern is this whole dual band thing.
If I have, say, my smartphones on the 5GHz band/network, my laptops and printer on the 2.4GHz band/network, my Xbox 360 and Wii U wired to the router, and my external hard drive plugged into the router's USB 3.0 port, are they all going to talk to each other and play nice? Or can things on the 2.4GHz band/network only talk to other things on the 2.4GHz band/network, etc.?
Sooner than later I need to upgrade the wireless cards in my laptops, but I wanna know they'll still print and so on if they're not on the same band/network as the printer.
I'm saying band/network because at least with my router you do actually set up separate networks for the two separate bands. You can make them the same SSID and key if you want, or you can make them different. On first impression I think I'd rather make them different, but let me hear your thoughts. My logic is if I can force my 5GHz compatible devices to use only the 5GHz band/network, then they'll get away from all the chatter on the 2.4GHz band in my neighborhood and see improved speed. Confusing? Just plain wrong? Let me know.
Much obliged,
The Dude
Testmy.net says my 25/5 connection is true to its name when I plug in my laptop at the modem, and when I plug it in at the router. But over wireless? It goes down to an average of maybe 6/2, but it varies wildly and drops the connection frequently. I've tried out two brand new routers now, and I get the same results. InSSIDer reports way too many 2.4GHz frequencies in the neighborhood, so I guess that's gotta be my problem.
Trouble is, most of my devices aren't 5GHz compatible. Nice to figure that one out after I spend $130 on the dual band router. So I have some network upgrading in my near future. One goal is to use the external hard drive I have as a shared drive for my other devices to access media from and make backups to. But my concern is this whole dual band thing.
If I have, say, my smartphones on the 5GHz band/network, my laptops and printer on the 2.4GHz band/network, my Xbox 360 and Wii U wired to the router, and my external hard drive plugged into the router's USB 3.0 port, are they all going to talk to each other and play nice? Or can things on the 2.4GHz band/network only talk to other things on the 2.4GHz band/network, etc.?
Sooner than later I need to upgrade the wireless cards in my laptops, but I wanna know they'll still print and so on if they're not on the same band/network as the printer.
I'm saying band/network because at least with my router you do actually set up separate networks for the two separate bands. You can make them the same SSID and key if you want, or you can make them different. On first impression I think I'd rather make them different, but let me hear your thoughts. My logic is if I can force my 5GHz compatible devices to use only the 5GHz band/network, then they'll get away from all the chatter on the 2.4GHz band in my neighborhood and see improved speed. Confusing? Just plain wrong? Let me know.
Much obliged,
The Dude