R8000/R8500 Smart Connect vs. Manual Assignment

[nosnhojm]

Just wondering what everyone here uses: Smart Connect vs. separate SSIDs for the 5GHz radios?

If using separate SSIDs, what is your approach to partitioning your devices (e.g., what devices do you assign to 5GHz-1 vs. 5GHz-2)?

And lastly, am I correct in my assumption that the 5GHz-2 radio is the internal antennas? The GUI doesn't explicitly declare which is which.

Thanks!

 

[nosnhojm]

This Netgear page seems to contradict my assumption; says 5GHz band 2 is for the "faster" connections...which I think would imply it is the external antennas.

 

[NETGEAR Guy]

5G-1 uses the active external antennas and 5G-2 uses the internal antennas. Since 5G-1 uses the active antennas, it provides a benefit to weaker signal devices, so assigned for slow speed devices. 5G-2 is assigned for high speed devices.

Smart Connect behaviour depends on the RSSI, number of clients balanced between both 5G radios, client speed capability (11n/11ac, 1x1, 2x2, 3x3) and any specific client behaviour (ie., not willing to be steered).