DFS, Netgear Downloader, and other Undocumented Features

Umrk
Tutor
Jun 05, 2018
Thank you for the informartive reply. This firmware update seems to have caused a lot of unexplainable issues that I am trying to work through. One of the more annoying is the inability to restore duel channel 5 ghz channels. I had combinded both into a single 5ghz channel which worked fine until this DFS restreiction sddenely appeared. It made using both channels as a single access point impossible because one of the channels violated this "DFS:" restriction. Another issue is the ossicillating speed of my connection, dropping to 5 mb/s then increasing to 97...its an annoying rollercoaster ride that doesn't seem to stop.

I will be immersing myself in the documentation you provided in hopes of discovering how I might resolve this.

Thanks again!

Umrk
- Umrk
  Tutor
  Jun 05, 2018
  And by the way, what is the benefit of this "Downloader" feature?
  - michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jun 05, 2018
    Torrents?
    
    A technology that dates back to slow internet and that no longer means much. To me at least.
- schumaku
  Guru - Experienced User
  Jun 06, 2018
  Umrk wrote:
  
  One of the more annoying is the inability to restore duel channel 5 ghz channels. I had combinded both into a single 5ghz channel which worked fine until this DFS restreiction sddenely appeared. It made using both channels as a single access point impossible because one of the channels violated this "DFS:" restriction.
  
  DFS is not a restiction, no violation - it's a behaviour required by regulatory requirements for using certain 5 GHz bands or channels. Before any activity can happen, the radio must check of there is certain activity (ie. radar), this takes either 60 seconds (US, EU) or up to 10 minutes (CN, AUS). And during operation, any kind of radar interference must lead to a dynamic channel change, too.
  
  I don't understand what you want to describe with "dual channel 5 GHz channels" or a "combinded both into a single 5ghz channel".
  
  FMI: https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/basics/wireless-basics/33082-smallnetbuilder-s-wi-fi-dynamic-frequency-selection-dfs-faq
  
  DFS does not restrict or interfere with the ability of configuring network names (ESSIDs). To use the same network name on both 5GHZ radios resp. all radios, you might have to use the SmartConnect feature. Anyway, there is no "logical" reason why some routers are prohibiting the configuration of the same network name by the way.

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DFS, Netgear Downloader, and other Undocumented Features