SSID(s) for Dual Band Router

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Earbanean

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#169834 27-Mar-2015 13:19

I've got a dual band router and have set up two different SSIDs. I then connect various devices to the band I think is best. ie. for range, speed etc.

Is that the best way to do this? Or can you set them to the same SSID and have the clients 'decide' which one to connect to at any particular time?

Dynamic

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#1269028 27-Mar-2015 13:44

That's what I do and so likely would anyone geeky enough to be interested in that sort of thing. A company with employees that should not have to make those sorts of choices (i.e. it should just work) would do it differently.

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xbmcnut

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#1274198 31-Mar-2015 12:13

It's what I do as most devices will default to the 2.4Ghz band due to the better range. In order to get my streaming devices (Apple TV, Raspberry Pi) to stay on the 5Ghz band, I create a SSID with the suffix 'Fast'. This ensures they always stay there.

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eXDee

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#1274226 31-Mar-2015 12:21

Having them the same SSID would just simplify new devices (eg visitors) connecting to the network their device deems best. Some devices are getting better at preferring 5ghz. But many still have poor selection, and need band steering (enterprise networks only most of the time) to nudge them onto the right band.

So if you're happy with your current setup, that works fine.

I've considered doing a dual SSID setup like:
NetworkName - 5ghz and 2.4ghz
NetworkName5 - 5ghz only, for when i want to force a device.

This will probably only work on more advanced firmwares like Tomato for example though.

macuser

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#1274231 31-Mar-2015 12:25

I create a 5G that does exclusively AC, seems to help those AC devices select the right data rate.

Jase2985

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#1274238 31-Mar-2015 12:26

eXDee:

So if you're happy with your current setup, that works fine.

I've considered doing a dual SSID setup like:
NetworkName - 5ghz and 2.4ghz
NetworkName5 - 5ghz only, for when i want to force a device.

thats what i was thinking of too,

have one for 2.4 and 5ghz for guests and phones tablets etc
then have a seperate 5ghz network for laptop and media streaming.

Earbanean

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#1274360 31-Mar-2015 13:40

Hmmm, good ideas, although I'm not sure I can set that up, as I'm using Gargoyle firmware. I love Gargoyle for the QoS, but I think it can only have one 2.4 and one 5.0 band (with the same or different SSIDs).

I'll have alook at it this evening and see if one 2.5/5.0 and one 5.0 is possible.

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timmmay

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#1274383 31-Mar-2015 13:56

I have them separate, that way I can make sure my device locks onto the frequency I want. 2.4GHz is congested around my house but is possibly stronger signal than 5GHz.

kierangio

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#1280860 11-Apr-2015 07:45

If you have one SSID for both bands meaning the same SSID for each band your wireless speeds will increase if it supports AC networking. The reason being is because N put out 300MBPS so if you're router says AC 1900 and you have two different ssids one for 2.4 and a different one for 5GHz the AC will only spread out 1600 MN.

kierangio

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#1280861 11-Apr-2015 07:45

eXDee

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#1281069 11-Apr-2015 13:20

kierangio: If you have one SSID for both bands meaning the same SSID for each band your wireless speeds will increase if it supports AC networking. The reason being is because N put out 300MBPS so if you're router says AC 1900 and you have two different ssids one for 2.4 and a different one for 5GHz the AC will only spread out 1600 MBPS

This doesn't make sense.

AC1900 is a marketing term to summarise a PHY rate of 300mbps in the 2.4ghz channel (802.11n 2x2 40mhz) and 1600mbps in the 5ghz channel (802.11ac 3x3 80mhz).

Making them the same SSID or not does not make a difference to speed, unless you had a dual radio device which can do similtaneous dual band (very uncommon in a client). If you did you'd need some software or something proprietary in the driver/hardware to load balance across both networks. And even then due to most load balancing algorithms, you wouldn't be able to achieve that speed with a single packet flow.

sbiddle

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#1281119 11-Apr-2015 15:45

Creating different SSIDs is a good approach because most hardware won't do band steering. If hardware supports band steering then a single SSID is the best approach.

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SATTV

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#1281171 11-Apr-2015 18:26

Personally I set up 2 SSID's

Apple devices had issues a few years back if there was only one SSID, I don't know if they have resolved this but I have carried on doing this.
The only exception would be an apple airport as apple play nicely with apple.

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minimoke

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#1281200 11-Apr-2015 19:28

I've uncovered a few bits and pieces and set this up today,

First router in chain running Gargoyle and 2.4 on Channel 11. SSID = "name", It also has a guest network so thats "Name-Guest"

This router is then wired to another router with gargoyle. 2.4 is set on Channel 6 (neighbors are on Channel 1). SSID = "name", Guest SIDD = "Name-Guest" and on the 5g its "Name-5G" and Name-5gGuest"

So essentially same SSID and password. Guest has a different password - but its the same for 2.4 and 5g

Seems to work

richms

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#1281244 11-Apr-2015 21:49

I have both richms and richms-5 on 5GHz, so that if I am on a 2.4Ghz one because I am a long way away, it will sometimes move to the 5Ghz one when I am in the house, but if I just turn wifi on, then it will go the the -5 one as prefered so no chance of getting 2.4 unless it gets weak because I move.

Contemplating getting some more AC AP's, but IMO the unifi AC one runs far too hot to be good, back of it gets too hot to touch comfortably sometimes so I am not keen on mounting them to a cieling and have them sitting vertically on a shelf to help with the cooling.

Might bust out the drill and add some speed holes to the cases once they have outlasted the warranty period.

Richard rich.ms