Different SSIDs for 2.4ghz and 5ghz

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Different SSIDs for 2.4ghz and 5ghz

JStew

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 239555 23-Jul-2018 19:21

Hi all -

Been hunting around for a while now trying to find the answer to this question but not having much luck.

I’ve currently got a Fritz 7490 from 2degrees. I would like to have a SSID and password for 2.4ghz and a different SSID and password for 5ghz. The Fritz box gets close to this - you can have different SSIDs but you have to use the same password.

I know much more expensive wireless APs can do this, I’ve previously used some Cisco Meraki MR32s at an old workplace but there’s no way I want to spend that kind of money at home.

Can anyone recommend a few wireless routers that are capable of this and then I can look into the feathers? I’ve got fibre so no need for ADSL / VDSL support.

Thanks!

sbiddle

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Reply # 2061200 23-Jul-2018 19:24

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You could spin that around.. I've never seen any other router with that restriction so pretty much anything goes.

As the 7490 is a great router is there a reason why you'd want to replace that rather than simply buying a standalone access point for the wireless?

JStew

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Reply # 2061203 23-Jul-2018 19:27

Very good point. So keep the Fritz to manage the internet connection and 2.4ghz and then connect a separate AP to only do 5ghz?

sbiddle

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Reply # 2061208 23-Jul-2018 19:34

JStew: Very good point. So keep the Fritz to manage the internet connection and 2.4ghz and then connect a separate AP to only do 5ghz?

No. Use an AP for 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Everything is dual band these days.

JStew

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Reply # 2061211 23-Jul-2018 19:39

Ah right. But what I’m looking for then is an AP that will allow me to have a SSID and password only to serve 2.4 and then a completely different SSID and password for 5. Is that common with APs and it’s just the Fritz that doesn’t allow it?

sbiddle

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Reply # 2061242 23-Jul-2018 19:55

JStew: Ah right. But what I’m looking for then is an AP that will allow me to have a SSID and password only to serve 2.4 and then a completely different SSID and password for 5. Is that common with APs and it’s just the Fritz that doesn’t allow it?

I've never come across any device on the market with that limitation.

Most people would set these the same to try and get some form of band steering.

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Reply # 2061386 23-Jul-2018 21:25

JStew: Ah right. But what I’m looking for then is an AP that will allow me to have a SSID and password only to serve 2.4 and then a completely different SSID and password for 5. Is that common with APs and it’s just the Fritz that doesn’t allow it?

Definately not the norm. All my belkin, TPLink, Dlinks all allowed separate passwords on the 2.4 and 5Ghz SSID's.

dacraka

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Reply # 2061389 23-Jul-2018 21:28

May I ask what the reason is for why you want two SSIDs for the two different frequencies?

IcI

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Reply # 2061390 23-Jul-2018 21:33

Hi. I believe my Asus DSL-N66U could do two different passwords for the different SSID's. The manual just mentions to set the password and here is an image showing that 5GHz and 2.4GHz are on separate tabs (& I believe use different passwords).

I could power it up to confirm if you want?

mentalinc

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Reply # 2061418 24-Jul-2018 04:39

The Cambium cnPilot E400 can do this.

https://www.gowifi.co.nz/wireless/c000100w404a.html

Setting image

This is not as easy to setup as a standard router but not overly complex as it's all GUI based

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sbiddle

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Reply # 2061430 24-Jul-2018 07:13

dacraka:

May I ask what the reason is for why you want two SSIDs for the two different frequencies?

While I can't answer for the OP most routers will default to different SSIDs for 2.4GHz and 5GHz because they lack band steering.

If you give both networks the same name on your router and have no band steering you typically end up with many devices that will hang onto the 2.4GHz SSID since they're not being forced to 5GHz. Obviously in most environments 2.4GHz will deliver significantly worse performance than 5GHz.

Band steering will ensure you're on the most appropriate band by looking at RSSI and SNR and forcing you to 5GHz if that would deliver better performance, and while I wasn't aware you wouldn't set different passwords on the Fritzbox, they do support band steering.

eracode

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Reply # 2061443 24-Jul-2018 07:47

@JStew Welcome to geekzone!

Crowdie

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Reply # 2061897 24-Jul-2018 19:25

sbiddle:

If you give both networks the same name on your router and have no band steering you typically end up with many devices that will hang onto the 2.4GHz SSID since they're not being forced to 5GHz.

If your wireless source does not support band steering then make the 5 GHz radio transmit power 9 dBm higher than the 2.4 GHz radio. This will "encourage" dual band wireless clients to associate to the 5 GHz radio.

sbiddle:

Obviously in most environments 2.4GHz will deliver significantly worse performance than 5GHz.

Unless you are in the middle of a field in the middle of an island in the middle of a large ocean a 5 GHz radio will, all things being equal, out perform a 2.4 GHz radio.

sbiddle:

Band steering will ensure you're on the most appropriate band by looking at RSSI and SNR and forcing you to 5GHz if that would deliver better performance, and while I wasn't aware you wouldn't set different passwords on the Fritzbox, they do support band steering.

Band steering works pretty well with enterprise equipment and clients as they don't just use signal based values, such as RSSI and SNR, to determine the appropriate radio. However, consumer and SOHO grade equipment and clients are known to have issues with band steering so enabling it may cause more issues than it solves.

hio77

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Reply # 2061907 24-Jul-2018 19:42

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Crowdie:

sbiddle:

If you give both networks the same name on your router and have no band steering you typically end up with many devices that will hang onto the 2.4GHz SSID since they're not being forced to 5GHz.

If your wireless source does not support band steering then make the 5 GHz radio transmit power 9 dBm higher than the 2.4 GHz radio. This will "encourage" dual band wireless clients to associate to the 5 GHz radio.

sbiddle:

Obviously in most environments 2.4GHz will deliver significantly worse performance than 5GHz.

Unless you are in the middle of a field in the middle of an island in the middle of a large ocean a 5 GHz radio will, all things being equal, out perform a 2.4 GHz radio.

Your posts always amaze me, such hidden useful gems.

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