Dual Band Router Advice

[Collider]

Hello,

I'm basically a noob when it comes to networking, so forgive me if I ask some obvious questions or redundant questions as I'm sure these items have come up in this forum.

I'm using a Linksys WMP600N wifi card in my desktop which supports 802.11n and want to make use of dual band feature since from what I've read you're supposed to get better bandwidth. The router that I currently have is the default wifi router you get with Verizon Fios which I seek to replace.

I'm looking for the following from a new device:
- better bandwidth (enough to handle multiple wifi devices simultaneously, my heaviest usage scenario I can think of: 2-3 PCs heavy downloading/streaming/etc)
- better signal strength (I sometimes only get 1 or 2 bars, depending on the location of the house phone, which I think is 2.4Ghz)
- ability stream some HD content
- connect with g devices such as my laptop or kindle (can a router run both g & n together ?)
- config options, I'd like to be able to do QoS

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[smakme7757]

Well i'll start by telling you not to buy a D-link DIR-855 Xtreme router or any D-link product. I've just thrown mine in the bin after two RMAs and both time receiving a refurbished model which was worst then the one i sent in!

What i will recommend is the ASUS RT-N16. I havn't received mine yet (it should have been here today, but i guess mail is slow nearing christmas), but it was recommended from a friend who uses it to stream HD video from his Desktop to his TV. It works extremely smoothly i was very impressed. Large file transfers seems to be extremely smooth at a very nice transfer rate.

After doing some reading of my own, the router seems to have the most ram and fastest processor of any router available on the market today (feel free to correct me). The only thing i was unable to find was if the router can have separate networks for the 2.4Ghz signal and a 5Ghz signal. As far as i can tell from the website it only support one network on the 2.4Ghz band.

<<That is in contrast to the crappy D-link which had the ability to run 3 networks at once. 2.4Ghz band/5Ghz band and a guest network. In fairness maybe having all those network running might have been causing stability issue, but if it's an advertised feature it should work!>>.

I'm not an expert by any means, but after having a play with the Asus i was just so impressed by its stability and transfer rates. It also has the ability to run torrents while the PC is off and act as a media server and all sorts of other fancy stuff. But i can't really comment on them until i get it and am able to have a play.

I also had a look through Asus troubleshooting forum and the feedback there was pretty positive which is always a good thing. Additionally it seems like a very active forum with members ready to give a helping hand. This was a big minus for D-links support which had a forum that was neither used nor moderated.

I know i'm giving D-link a hard time, but it's the only router i have owned so i have only had experience with them.

So check out the Asus RT-N16

Edit: It also support DD-WRT if your into the open source firmware stuff. Yes it is possible to have the network support both G and N devices. I actually think it's possible to have A/B/G/N enabled at the same time!

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Linksys 610
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124296

Asus RT N16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320038

 

[Collider]

The Asus router looks pretty sweet, and I like the fact that it has 2 USBs so I can hook up both my printer and a HDD - but its only single band 2.4Ghz.

Can someone explain the benefit of running a dual band router?

 

[smakme7757]

As far as i understand it you get less interference being on a different band as well as more channels to choose from. So essentially conflicts are less likely with your neighbors. I don't think it gives more speed...

 

[Emulex]

yeah unless your 610 is like 10 feet from you - expect to see a massive 65mbps maybe 130 on a slow night if you have alot of neighbors . lol.

(54mbit on G).

I have the WUSB600N and WRT600N - i'd suggest a DD-WRT compatible router with more than 64meg of ram. 128 is a good start.

 

[Collider]

Well here are some additional details about my current usage scenario:
- my current location does not have many competing neighboring wifi signals, on occasion inSSider will pick up 1 or 2 signals on 2.4Ghz frequency with mine being the strongest, non on the 5 Ghz
- most of the time I will have 60&#37;-70% signal strength but sometimes it will drop to 10-15% and get extremely slow
- I am on the 2nd floor with the access point being on the 1st floor roughly about 45 feet away

With all this said would there be any benefit for me going with dual band?

From what I've been able to gather (and please correct me if I'm wrong) the benefit of dual band comes in if the 2.4Ghz channel is clogged so there's more of a chance of 5Ghz being free. I'd like to know if this logic is correct.

I already have a dual band receiver in my desktop so I'd like to know if its possible to connect to 2 radios simultaneously and somehow double the throughput ?

 

[Emulex]

5ghz will reduce your signal by 50&#37; - so it will be useless. I had setup mine the same. 30-40% on a good day - sometimes 0-10% signal. not stable.

for 5ghz i'm afraid your floor/distance will render it useless. you can go wide however

 

[boomhower]

I have a Linsys 610 and absolutely love the damn thing. Had for well over a year and haven't had a moments issue from it. Heres how I have mine set-up:

5Ghz: for video streaming to the PS3 and 360. With a reasonable bitrate 1080P is not an issue at all.
2.4Ghz: General surfing/downloading.

Set-up works great. I can stream a movie on the 5Ghz band and download a movie at full bore on the 2.4Ghz with not disruption of either.

If I was buying now I would buy the Netgear 3700. It's not cheap(about what I paid for the 610 when it came out) but is top notch. Every review I have read on it absolutely raves. I am strongly considering upgrading even though I really don't need too. I have a gadget addiction problem.

 

[Collider]

5ghz will reduce your signal by 50% - so it will be useless. I had setup mine the same. 30-40% on a good day - sometimes 0-10% signal. not stable.

for 5ghz i'm afraid your floor/distance will render it useless. you can go wide however

Why would you say that 5Ghz would reduce the signal even further? Is 5Ghz not meant to go up just sideways or something?

 

[smakme7757]

I might also add in here that i got myself an Asus RT-N16 and it's the fastest router i've ever owned.

File transfers from my Lan connected desktop to my Wireless N (144Mbps) connected laptop gets an average of 8MBps

File transfer over Lan to Lan is about 60MBps average

File transfers from a HDD connected to the routers USB port is about 6MBps

The signal strength in my house is exeptional and i am able to stream full 1080p Bluray movies from the desktop to the laptop without any glitching or slowdown as well as being able to skip through the move as smoothly as if it was on the laptops HDD.

The only thing i didn't like about the router was its dumbed down interface and the fact that ShieldsUp! port test crashes the router forcing it offline for a few seconds. So security wise its a poor choice, but if you don't care it's a very fast and stable router!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Well i'll start by telling you not to buy a D-link DIR-855 Xtreme router or any D-link product. I've just thrown mine in the bin after two RMAs and both time receiving a refurbished model which was worst then the one i sent in!

I don't have the 855, but I have the DIR-655 (and a DAP-1522 bridge) and it is an awesome router. Before that, I had the DI-624 G router and never had issues either. If I were going dual band, I'd certainly consider D-Link. I think the DIR-665 is the dual band equivalent but someone here told me you can't use both radios simulataneously, which I presume you can on the 855.

 

[smakme7757]

I don't have the 855, but I have the DIR-655 (and a DAP-1522 bridge) and it is an awesome router. Before that, I had the DI-624 G router and never had issues either. If I were going dual band, I'd certainly consider D-Link. I think the DIR-665 is the dual band equivalent but someone here told me you can't use both radios simulataneously, which I presume you can on the 855.

I don't disagree for a second that there are people with D-link routers who think they are fantastic, my father in law has a DIR-635 and it works extremely well for him.

The DIR-855 can have both a 2.4Ghz and a 5Ghz network enabled at the same time as well as a guest network - It is feature packed and the logs and information as well ass the customization is top notch, i'll give it that much.

But after owning 3 DIR-855s (paid for the 1st one and got two 'new' ones through RMA) with all 3 being extremely unreliable and border line not working i can't recommend D-link to anyone. The DIR-855 is the top of the range in the D-link lineup and i was burned 3 times by 3 pieces of shocking hardware. The damage is done and that's how companies loose customers!

 

[Eug]

I've never owned a modern D-Link router, but my Gigabit D-Link switches work fine, FWIW.

I have a Linsys 610 and absolutely love the damn thing. Had for well over a year and haven't had a moments issue from it. Heres how I have mine set-up:

5Ghz: for video streaming to the PS3 and 360. With a reasonable bitrate 1080P is not an issue at all.
2.4Ghz: General surfing/downloading.

Set-up works great. I can stream a movie on the 5Ghz band and download a movie at full bore on the 2.4Ghz with not disruption of either.

If I was buying now I would buy the Netgear 3700. It's not cheap(about what I paid for the 610 when it came out) but is top notch. Every review I have read on it absolutely raves. I am strongly considering upgrading even though I really don't need too. I have a gadget addiction problem.

Yeah, I'm looking at the Asus and Netgear people are suggesting too, but I'm waiting for it to drop in price more up here Kanuckistan. The Netgear goes for CAD$130, but I'd like to see in more in the $75 range, and then I'd buy a few of them (big house with several 802.11n-capable laptops).

However, I will say that "with a reasonable bitrate" I have been able to stream 1080p in some rooms over el-cheapo 802.11g refurb routers too.

 

[Collider]

The signal strength in my house is exeptional and i am able to stream full 1080p Bluray movies from the desktop to the laptop without any glitching or slowdown as well as being able to skip through the move as smoothly as if it was on the laptops HDD.
!

Can you describe your environment (house/apt layout) a little? Number of floors, distance and signal strength as you move away from the AP. Thanks.

 

[smakme7757]

Can you describe your environment (house/apt layout) a little? Number of floors, distance and signal strength as you move away from the AP. Thanks.

It's a 3 story house mostly built of wood and concrete. I get between 95&#37; and 100% signal strength on the 1st floor where the router is located and at its worst jumping between 60-70% when on the 3rd floor in the corner furthest from the router.

I have not tested the signal strength outside at the moment as the tempature is -18c so i'd prefer to stay inside at the moment .

 

[Emulex]

higher the frequency the more power it takes to travel through objects.
why that old 900mhz analog phone can go 1 mile down the road and keep on talking but your DECT will go maybe 1/3 the distance

 

[Collider]

higher the frequency the more power it takes to travel through objects.
why that old 900mhz analog phone can go 1 mile down the road and keep on talking but your DECT will go maybe 1/3 the distance

Thanks a lot for clearing that up - was not aware that 5Ghz suffer from reduced range.That definitely helps.

So far I've narrowed it down to either ASUS RT-N16 or NETGEAR WNDR37AV which is dual radio and should also be able run DD-WRT. After doing a little reading about DD-WRT I'm definitely interested in learning more about it and want to be able to install it on the router.

 

[Emulex]

the amount of ram is key. you want 128meg (wrt610n); 64 will do if you aren't doing much torrenting. (wrt600n)

dd-wrt leaks ram all over so less ram will be the suck.