SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz bands

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz bands - advice please

jonathan18

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#178974 21-Aug-2015 11:08

Hi there,

I've read on the net totally contradictory advice regarding the SSIDs for 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless networks: some recommend naming these networks with the same SSID, others recommend using different SSIDs. The argument for the latter is often devices aren't smart enough to connect to the strongest signal it picks up at the time, and aren't always able to be easily told which networks to give priority to when connecting.

I'm interested to hear users' views as to which is the best option?

While we currently only have 5GHz at one end of the house, with the imminent replacement of the other router we should have it available in most rooms so I'll now be in a position to make the most of it, so would like to know whether I should retain separate SSIDs for 2.4 and 5 GHz or simply have the same SSID on both routers and for both frequencies.

Also, are there any apps (iOS and Android) that provide a decent level of control over which router/frequency to connect to? As it is, I note our Android devices and iPad can be fairly dumb holding onto one connection even when the device is moved to the other end of the house and there's a much stronger signal it could switch to.

Thanks in advance.

Inphinity

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#1371441 21-Aug-2015 11:11

I use different SSIDs to simplify identifying issues or performance problems. Easy to tell which a device is connected to, what the comparative signal is like, and to switch between.

timmmay

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#1371454 21-Aug-2015 11:23

I use different, saves weird problems.

sidkumar

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#1371494 21-Aug-2015 11:40

I use different ones as well (TP Archer C9). I also use an extender in High speed mode (TP WRE200) with extender connecting to the router in 5GHz and clients connecting to RE in 2.4.

My router placement did not allow to reach 5GHz anywhere useful but extender in high speed does a fairly decent job.

Jase2985

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#1371496 21-Aug-2015 11:44

ditto i use different the 5ghz one just has a -fast on the end to identify it

macuser

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#1371498 21-Aug-2015 11:47

I use a different SSID for each bands, with -5G denoting 5G wifi

eXDee

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#1371571 21-Aug-2015 13:13

¿por qué no los dos?

Virtual SSIDs do the trick here, many high end devices and custom firmwares support multiple SSIDs. If you're lucky, you can separate them by radio too.

2.4ghz Radio:
-HomeNetwork

5ghz Radio:
-HomeNetwork
-HomeNetwork-5Ghz

For devices that i know will hop back to a 2.4ghz connection regardless or seemingly pick at random, i choose the 5Ghz Named SSID.
Everything else gets on the regular one, and it means they simply go with with whatever it considers best.

I avoid relying on 2.4 where possible, so i want to get as many devices using 5ghz when they can. However especially with mobile devices on fringe coverage, you have no choice but to use 2.4, so i want that available too.

Of course the best possible solution is to run enterprise gear at home with band steering, but not too many have that privilege (i wish)

sbiddle

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#1371972 22-Aug-2015 11:32

I still wish Android and iOS supported such basic functionality as hierarchal SSID lists like Windows had had for 15+ years.

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raytaylor

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#1372933 24-Aug-2015 11:10

Seperate SSID's

homenetwork-2ghz
homenetwork-5ghz

On both routers at each end of the house, use the same SSID and paasword encryption scheme - that way you can roam between them without issue if they are on different channels.

Ray Taylor

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sbiddle

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#1372956 24-Aug-2015 11:47

Different SSID's aren't without problems either.At home I have my own DIY Mikrotik (RB912) dual band AC AP.

I get 2.4GHz coverage in my backyard but no 5GHz coverage.

If I use unique SSID's then I need to load both into my phone as if I only load the 5GHz one I'll have no WiFi outside. Once I load both in I'm back to square one and the initial problem still remains - with two unique SSID's and no hierarchal SSID ranking there is no way to force a device onto 5GHz when inside, and 2.4GHz outside.

Band steering is the only solution, but an AP has to support this as their is no native band steering in the 802.11 standards.

jonathan18

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#1373054 24-Aug-2015 13:21

sbiddle: Different SSID's aren't without problems either.At home I have my own DIY Mikrotik (RB912) dual band AC AP.

I get 2.4GHz coverage in my backyard but no 5GHz coverage.

If I use unique SSID's then I need to load both into my phone as if I only load the 5GHz one I'll have no WiFi outside. Once I load both in I'm back to square one and the initial problem still remains - with two unique SSID's and no hierarchal SSID ranking there is no way to force a device onto 5GHz when inside, and 2.4GHz outside.

Band steering is the only solution, but an AP has to support this as their is no native band steering in the 802.11 standards.

I have exactly this issue since I enabled 5GHz on the two devices (and have set it up as generally agreed on this thread, with different SSIDs for the the different frequencies); 5GHz coverage in the house is generally ok, but is poor in the separate HT. Ideally I'd like any device to switch automatically over to the 2.4GHz band when in 5GHz gets weak (eg the HT/outside), which I assume it would do if I had just the one SSID for both bands in both locations.

Sbiddle - so how do you have yours set up?

richms

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#1373066 24-Aug-2015 13:46

Why not just sort your 5GHz coverage out?

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#1373073 24-Aug-2015 13:51

jonathan18:
sbiddle: Different SSID's aren't without problems either.At home I have my own DIY Mikrotik (RB912) dual band AC AP.

I get 2.4GHz coverage in my backyard but no 5GHz coverage.

If I use unique SSID's then I need to load both into my phone as if I only load the 5GHz one I'll have no WiFi outside. Once I load both in I'm back to square one and the initial problem still remains - with two unique SSID's and no hierarchal SSID ranking there is no way to force a device onto 5GHz when inside, and 2.4GHz outside.

Band steering is the only solution, but an AP has to support this as their is no native band steering in the 802.11 standards.

I have exactly this issue since I enabled 5GHz on the two devices (and have set it up as generally agreed on this thread, with different SSIDs for the the different frequencies); 5GHz coverage in the house is generally ok, but is poor in the separate HT. Ideally I'd like any device to switch automatically over to the 2.4GHz band when in 5GHz gets weak (eg the HT/outside), which I assume it would do if I had just the one SSID for both bands in both locations.

Sbiddle - so how do you have yours set up?

I have both of mine on the same SSID. As the AP is in my roof the signal strength is good indoors and a number of devices will end up on 5GHz. I'm not too worried if they're not anyway - I don't have any real need for the speed and my home setup is really just a test environment anyway!

It'll be interesting to see if Mikrotik deliver any form of band steering once they launch their dual band devices.