5ghz wifi connection to RBR40

Guru - Experienced User

Sep 16, 2020

There are no technical or operational reasons for configuring different SSIDs (network names) for a network connecting to the same LAN or VLAN.

What you see offered on the computer are not different bands - just different names - historically applied with extensions like "_24G" and "_5G" or the like.it could be also Bob and Alice. This configuration style is a relict of the past.

Compare to the FM radio in your car. On your grandpa's FM radio you tuned to a frequency to hear a station. Driving a few miles, grandma had to change the frequency or scan until they was able to hear the same station again. Somewhere around 1990 the RDS System (Radio Data System) in Europe, respectively RBDS (Radio Broadcast Data System) was added to the transmitters and the receivers. Beyond the ability to dynamically switch to a station sending out traffic information, it contains the ability to transmit alternative frequencies for the same station. So your fathers RDS/RBDS radio was able to scan the alternate frequencies in the background and dynamically switch to the more appropriate transmitter (technically requiring a different frequency on FM to avoid interference) so mom and dad were able to listen the same station more or less seamlessly.

IEEE 802.11k has added a very similar feature like the RDS/RBDS alternate frequency feature - Radio Resource Management - around 2007, and the more mainstream version for mobile WiFi in 2012. It does gives the wireless client information on the other WiFi radios on air allowing to connect to the same network. Apple has the support in their devices since around the iPhone 4S. All decent wireless client adapters are supporting this nowadays. You can walk around doing VoIP calls or walk Youtube on the notebook and seamlessly roam between the access point radios, e.g. on your Orbi system. Your (newer) wireless client does take care of everything. If the 802.11n dual band Trendnet adapter does - I don't know - probably not. Time to consider a replacement.

Mstrbig
Master
Sep 17, 2020
killians913 wrote:
If they are just different names for the same device and not different bands, please help me understand why when I connect to the "5ghz" name vice the "2.4ghz" name and run a speedtest, I get a huge difference in speed??
The 2 networks are different with regard to 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz connections. Separating them has advantages and disadvantages. When separated you can choose which network you want to connect to which is good. But it can be bad if you force 5G on your device and you move to far away, you will lose a data connection. But if you have auto detect and both networks are combined, like on the Orbi and many other new routers, the 5G network will auto switch to 2.4Ghz to extend the distance before disconnect.
I have a love/hate going with both scenarios. For phones, tablets, laptops and any other moveable device, I prefer auto detect. For cameras, fixed PCs, printers, scanners, etc., I prefer being able to select the proper band based on signal strength and support.
- schumaku
  Guru - Experienced User
  Sep 18, 2020
  Mstrbig wrote:
  For cameras, fixed PCs, printers, scanners, etc., I prefer being able to select the proper band based on signal strength and support.
  That's exactly what network cables (or fibers for longer distances) are made for. Regardless of what the wireless network marketing people tell the customers. Our job to educate and helping them. With promoting wireless we're no help.
  
  Just finished the expansion work of the network wiring of our local ice hockey club venue (capacity 2500 guests) just for the media/press/streaming/reporter cabins - 1G & 10G fiber backhaul, GbE to the seats (some patch cables on backorder). Netgear GC728X with CommScope SYSTIMAX structured cabling (not my preferred system, part of it was already in place, and it's very easy to install). Worth every Dollar, every hour of effort.
  - schumaku
    Guru - Experienced User
    Sep 19, 2020
    Unfortunately Mstrbig reply got lost in the dust somewhere - I find it very challenging:
    
    ---
    Mstrbig wrote: "However there are those many times when cabling is an impossibility or costly, and you have to resort to strong WIFI for your network connection. That's when it may be important to be able to force 2.4 or 5G."
    
    Example: Outdoor cameras on the outside perimeters of property would be problematic and costly to run cable to each camera. So it would be advantageous to have good WIFI. And depending on the distance and using a 2.4/5G capable camera, it might be better to connect via 2.4G. If stronger WIFI distance is needed, like when installing cameras in existing parking lots, we would use Wireless Nano Beams, which is WIFI."
    ---
    
    If there would be a real market requirement, the wireless client and IoT makers would implement their devices accordingly. Obviously the makers of these dual band devices stronlgy believe in their products. Why ever, to my knowledge no common base OS and thir drivers are offering this. 8-)
    
    ---
    Mstrbig wrote: "My argument is, I still feel it would be advantageous, for Netgear to allow the option, to give separate names to 2.4 and 5Ghz WIFI, ...
    ---
    
    The only acceptable (easy to implement btw.) solution would be controls to adding additional SSIDs bridging to the very same backhaul and LAN. Selections could allow "by band: 2.4 GHz only or 5 GHz only or both", and "to selected router/satellite: 2.4 GHz only or 5 GHz only or both. Most wireless radio controllers allow at least four SSIDs. One would be for the primary, one for guest, so two would be free and available. Do you think this would be a proposal to bring up with Netgear?
    
    ---
    Mstrbig wrote: "
    ...like other competitors do on their mesh systems.
    ---
    
    A very weak argument ... "everybody is speeding here" ... "everyone is ignoring the red traffic light".
    
    Just because the competitors have - like all vendors - built their consumer routers that way for two decades? Major vendors like Google/Nest do not support this at all - granted, they are "new" in he router business. Orbi must be better than the others in my opinion.
    
    Regards,
    -Kurt
    
    PS. Sorry killians913 for the long of-topic posts!
schumaku
Guru - Experienced User
Sep 18, 2020
killians913 wrote:
If they are just different names for the same device and not different bands, ...
Thats not what I said. Both connect to the same network, your LAN; your other WLAN devices, and finally the Internet via the router.

killians913 wrote:
...please help me understand why when I connect to the "5ghz" name vice the "2.4ghz" name and run a speedtest, I get a huge difference in speed??
The speed you get on different links - being 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, MultiGig, 10G, a slow 4G WWAN, a faster 5G WWAN, an ADLS or VDSL2 link, Gigabit or 10G fiber Internet... the speed available does of course differs due ot the different technologies and bandwidth available.. It's still the same network on the LAN side.

Just like having a thin hose or a fat pipe connected to the same water supply.

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