Orbi: We really need separate SSID for 2.4 Ghz and 5Ghz or speed is limited to less than 200 Mbps

I AGREE, it would be GREAT to have two SSIDs for 2ghz and 5ghz.

My experience is that every device I have that supports 2.4 and 5 connects to 5 every time without issue.  I have a mix of apple and android products plus game consoles, tvs, amazon echos, etc...  I had the same concern initially in that I wanted to be able to force a connection, but I haven't seen any problems with this at all over 3 months of use.  I have the orbi router and 2 satellites in 6500sf.  I agree that just the router alone would be more than sufficient, router plus one satellite is likely overkill, and three devices in 1200sf is likely cooking you veerrrrryyyy slloooowwwwllly.  Interested to hear back whether just running the router with no satellite makes a difference.:robotwink:

The preference for separate SSIDs is not a speed issue for me.  I would prefer to force my iPhone on 2.4 ghz full time due to the longer range.  I rely entirely on WiFi calling, so 2.4 ghz is better used for me when I'm outside my house.  There is simply no reason to not allow such.  Ditto for wired backhaul.  Eero, Velop, etc. have wired backhaul, why not Orbi?

---

ChuckieCheese wrote:

I feel like I am going in circle with you and the solution is still simple: have separate SSID.

---

You feel like this because you don't have the training to understand how radio communication works.  That's fine, but it means your assumptions about how things work are not accurate, and your expectations are therefore unrealistic.

I'm not debating whether two SSIDs are needed. I'm trying to help you solve your specific issue, in a manner that will work. At the moment two SSIDs is not an available option, so it's irrelevant to solving your issue.  Also, for technical reasons that you don't yet understand, having two SSIDs will not solve WiFI interference problems.

This discussion might help you understand interference and why two SSIDs won't solve it:

http://superuser.com/questions/474280/considerations-about-using-multiple-wireless-access-points-with-the-same-channel

Please try my suggestion of operating with just the router (satellites OFF) and let us know what you find. You may find that Orbi is not the right solution for you.

---

st_shaw wrote:

 

I'm not debating whether two SSIDs are needed. I'm trying to help you solve your specific issue, in a manner that will work. At the moment two SSIDs is not an available option, so it's irrelevant to solving your issue.  

 

---

Having 2 separate SSID will solve my specific issue, as I described in my previous comments. I see you quoted superuser.com, which I also lurk often. Here's the information on 2 separate SSID:

http://superuser.com/questions/362366/does-it-make-sense-to-keep-different-ssids-for-2-4ghz-and-5ghz-wireless-networks

Quote from top comment:

if you keep the SSIDs different, it means that you can prioritise 5GHz over 2.4GHz by adding both to your Wi-Fi connections, and saying that one is better than the other.

---

st_shaw wrote:
 

Please try my suggestion of operating with just the router (satellites OFF) and let us know what you find. You may find that Orbi is not the right solution for you.

 

---

I did it just now and result:

- MacBook connect 5Ghz

- After about 30 minutes, it switch to 2.4 Ghz and stayed there

- Rebooted MacBook and this time it connect directly to 2.4 Ghz and stay there

Testing condition:

- All Macbooks I have

- Distance is from 10 feet from the router and then 25 feet

I am going back to Costco to exchange and test again.

My statement still stand: having separate SSID allows prioritization of 5Ghz network if the user choose to do so.

ChuckieCheese  We are not disagreeing.  However, I don't think you have understood my point yet.  Let me try to explain better...

Yes, separate SSIDs will allow your 5 GHz devices to connect to 5 GHz only.  We agree on that!

What I'm saying is this... If the 5 GHz band in your apartment is suffering from collissions and interference and not working well, then your 5 GHz devices will still perform poorly when connected to the 5 GHz SSID.

Thanks for reporting your results.  Based on your test, it appears you either have bad Orbi hardware, or you have problems with the 5 GHz band in your apartment from other interference sources.  This could be from your neighbors' WiFi systems, wireless speakers, etc.

Have you scanned for nearby access points using WiFi scanning software on your MacBook?  You need to make sure your Orbi is set to an unused 5 GHz channel.

---

st_shaw wrote:

ChuckieCheese  We are not disagreeing.  However, I don't think you have understood my point yet.  Let me try to explain better...

 

Yes, separate SSIDs will allow your 5 GHz devices to connect to 5 GHz only.  We agree on that!

 

What I'm saying is this... If the 5 GHz band in your apartment is suffering from collissions and interference and not working well, then your 5 GHz devices will still perform poorly when connected to the 5 GHz SSID.

 

Thanks for reporting your results.  Based on your test, it appears you either have bad Orbi hardware, or you have problems with the 5 GHz band in your apartment from other interference sources.  This could be from your neighbors' WiFi systems, wireless speakers, etc.

 

Have you scanned for nearby access points using WiFi scanning software on your MacBook?  You need to make sure your Orbi is set to an unused 5 GHz channel.

 

---

IMO the OP will have to find a solution outside Orbi. As I totally agree that his issue is wifi interference, its clear that separate SSIDs is what he wants. I know before I went with a single SSID I was always trying to roam on the 5G band and got lousy results. Then I decided it didn't matter what band I was on, hence the single SSID. Now I don't even look to see what band my devices are on AS long as I get full bandwidth.

I resetted the Orbi and did further testing:

Test condition:

- ALL Orbi units (satellites and routers) ON

- Location of Orbi units are the same as before

- Macs placed in its regular location to mimic real world usage (locationv varies between 5 feets to 20 feets in the next room). Does not apply to iPhone / iPads since they will be moving around.

Result:

1. Turn on MacBooks: connected to 5Ghz and stay connected

2. Put in sleep mode, wake up MacBooks: stay connected to 5Ghz

3. Did a large file test (3 GB) and stay connected to 5Ghz

4. Turn off MacBook and repeat step 1: connected to 5Ghz

Did this every hours for 4 hours. Some when I use the MacBook as usual (XCode, Word, Safari, etc.). Same result 90% of the time.

The ONLY odd thing (10%): the MacBooks occassionally switched to 2.4Ghz automatically, even when the MacBook was not moved (e.g. stay on my desk). It was connected to 5Ghz then switch to 2.4Ghz and then WILL stay in 2.4 Ghz until I turned-off-turned-on the Wifi. No pattern here.. just switch by itself.

Since it does connect 90% to 5Ghz, I wold say this solve 90% of my problem. 100% will requires 100% 5Ghz connection with 5Ghz-specific SSID, which goes back to my 1st post.

I will get an Amplifi to do comparison with the Orbi, since Amplifi support separate SSID and see which one (Orbi / Amplifi) will work best for me.

Sounds like an improvement.

As I explained earlier, Macbooks will hold whatever connection they have (2.4 GHZ or 5 GHz) until the RSSI signal drops below -75 dB.  OSX devices do not roam automatically like the iPhones and iPads.

So, if your Macbooks occassionally dropped the 5 GHz and picked up 2.4 GHz this means the 5 GHz connection was bad temporarily, due to interference.

If you are in an apartment, then it's likely your neighbors have WiFI and their signal is reaching you. At my house on 1/2 acre, I can see four or five other WiFi devices.  Did you scan channels with software on your Macbook to see if your neighbors are using the same 5 GHz channel as your Orbi? You can use the built-in Wireless Diagnostics, but other software is better.  You need to make sure your Orbi is using a 5 GHz channel that's not being used.

---

st_shaw wrote:
 

So, if your Macbooks occassionally dropped the 5 GHz and picked up 2.4 GHz this means the 5 GHz connection was bad temporarily, due to interference.

 

If you are in an apartment, then it's likely your neighbors have WiFI and their signal is reaching you. At my house on 1/2 acre, I can see four or five other WiFi devices.  Did you scan channels with software on your Macbook to see if your neighbors are using the same 5 GHz channel as your Orbi? 

---

Yes, I selected Channel 40 (see screenshot) as this is the best one. Even though it shows "3" in Channel 4, when I hover my mouse, it shows all my Orbi units (a router and 2 satellite). Other channel are used by neighbor's wifi.

Since I posted the last time, haven't had any intermittent switch to 2.4Ghz (finger crossed).

My speed is hovering around 290-350 Mbps on 5Ghz. Not sure if this is typical, but anyway I can get it close to 800 Mbps (see screenshot for Orbin configuration)? I am only 10 feet away from the router and surrounded by satellites on my left and right side.

I hope you realize that even with separate SSIDs for 2.4 and 5G does not guarantee a better network. I understand your concern with some of your devices dropping 5G and connecting to 2.4G. But when you test the AmpliFi with separate SSIDs be sure you test bandwidth as well. If in fact you have radio interference, your MCS Index will swing up and down more than normal. And it will affect the bandwidth. So staying connected to the 5G may not give you any better efficiency.

---

whsbuss-1 wrote:

I hope you realize that even with separate SSIDs for 2.4 and 5G does not guarantee a better network. 

---

For me, it does as the objective is to consistently connect to 5 Ghz to obtain higher speed that it is possible with 2.4 Ghz only.

---

ChuckieCheese wrote:

---

whsbuss-1 wrote:

I hope you realize that even with separate SSIDs for 2.4 and 5G does not guarantee a better network. 

---

For me, it does as the objective is to consistently connect to 5 Ghz to obtain higher speed that it is possible with 2.4 Ghz only.

---

Not to be-labor the point, but higher connectivity speed (5G potential for 160mHz bandwidth) still does not guarantee you will realize it. Hope you find something that works for you (finished commenting on this).