Fast Lane - doesn't make sense

Question

Can anyone explain the advantages of Fast Lane because it doesn't make any sense to me? Either way you set it it amounts to 2.4GHz - either it's 5GHz from the router> 2.4GHz to the devices or 2.4GHz from the router> 5GHz to the devices.

How can that improve performance over maintaining seperate 2.4/5GHz channels and connecting your 5GHz device to only the 5GHz channel?

JohnDe · Answer

Thanks very much - your explanation was much clearer than support, that totally misunderstood the exact same question. So just to be clear, Fast Lane will always produce a wider faster bandwidth than basic, regardless of 2.4GHz or 5GHz connection? If so, which one is quicker with both all devices and router dual band.

Many thanks.

plemans · Answer

Again it depends. here's why.2.4ghz is able to broadcast further and through more materials than 5ghz. But it is significantly slower and more sensitive to interference.&nbsp;5ghz is much higher throughput but can't broadcast as far or through as much materials.&nbsp;so in certain instances going router------2.4ghz-----extender-----5ghz-----devices &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; might be faster because the extender is further away or has more materials blocking between router---extenderIn other instances, some prefer to go&nbsp; router-------5ghz-----extender-------2.4ghz-------devices. &nbsp; this might work better if for instances you've got a computer hardwired into the extender and want the faster connection to the router and are close enough for a good connection. And/or need the 2.4ghz to reach devices futher away. Take for instance putting a extender at the edge of your home but wanting to reach something outdoors (challenging becaue exteriors walls block more). &nbsp;&nbsp;That's why its always not a bad idea to try both modes.&nbsp;As well as try moving the extender around. Sometimes things in the walls (hvac for instance) can be blocking and a lateral move can actually help more than moving closer to the router. Sometimes even moving further can help if it removes that obstruction.&nbsp;Another thing is because 2.4ghz has less available channels and the extender running off the same channel the router does, trying different channels can reduce interference and let the 2.4ghz operate more effeciently.&nbsp;So there's lots of optimizing that can be done with extenders.&nbsp;

JohnDe · Answer

Just tested, defintely best as I have it now.Many thanks

plemans · Answer

the reason why is that when your a single radio (wireless chip/band) is having to receive and then retransmit dat, it cuts the bandwidth in half and increases latency. Reason why is it can't do both at the same time.

If you set 1 of the chips just for router--extender communication (fastlane) that chip isn't receiving and then turning around and rebroadcasting. Its able to pass it directly to the other band/chip in close to real time. the decreases the bandwidth and latency hit they take.

it still takes a little bit if one but its much less than standard extender mode.

Its also why the tri-band extenders work so well. they specifically setup with 1 of the 5ghz bands (higher throughput) for router----extender communication. and that enables the 2.4ghz and other 5ghz radio to communicate faster/lower latency.

JohnDe · Answer

I meant which Fast Lane Setting: Router&gt;2.4GHz&gt;Extender&gt;5GHz&gt;Devices, or the other way round.

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Fast Lane - doesn't make sense

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