Is 5Ghz harder to implement than 2.4Ghz?

[VirtualLarry]

The reason I ask is, my prior R6100 AC1200 router had a flaky 5Ghz radio (internet radio would stop and buffer), and eventually the 5Ghz radio wouldn't even show up.

Now my new ESR1200 AC1200 router, has a similar issue. Internet radio buffers.

Don't have that problem with my Buffalo WHR-600D dual-band N600 router with DD-WRT. (However, both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz radios are set to 20Mhz channels.)

I'm thinking of digging my E2500 N600 dual-band router(s) w/Tomato out of retirement. Well, almost. They run hot (the reason they were shelved), and the 5Ghz on them is implemented by an internal USB bus, and not PCI-E or integrated, thus limiting 5Ghz to around 40Mbit/sec. Plus, they only have 10/100 ports.

 

[azazel1024]

No, 5GHz isn't harder to implement other than it having a shorter indoor range due to higher attenuation from physical obstructions.

Not sure why you'd limit 5GHz to 20MHz instead of 40MHz with 11n. Could just be bad luck with routers. It could be crappy routers. Or it could be that you are attempting to use 5GHz "too far" from the router.

 

[VirtualLarry]

No, 5GHz isn't harder to implement other than it having a shorter indoor range due to higher attenuation from physical obstructions.

Then why are so many of these AC routers having issues with their 5Ghz band dropping connections, and not the 2.4Ghz. It seems a bit counter-intuitive, the 5Ghz bands should be more clear, less interference.

Not sure why you'd limit 5GHz to 20MHz instead of 40MHz with 11n.

Because the DD-WRT factory default for that router is 20Mhz channels, and attempting to change them to 40Mhz, results in the 5Ghz radio disappearing entirely, until the router is hard-reset.

 

[cubby1223]

DD-WRT is not always stable. One router I put it on, had so many problems afterwards with wireless that weren't there before, like it shutting off for good after a very short time powering on. I had to install a much older version of DD-WRT to get it back working again.

 

[azazel1024]

Then why are so many of these AC routers having issues with their 5Ghz band dropping connections, and not the 2.4Ghz. It seems a bit counter-intuitive, the 5Ghz bands should be more clear, less interference.

Because the DD-WRT factory default for that router is 20Mhz channels, and attempting to change them to 40Mhz, results in the 5Ghz radio disappearing entirely, until the router is hard-reset.

Ahhh. I see.

Have you considered that you are having problems because you are running DD-WRT? In a lot of cases the 5GHz stuff is new enough that DD-WRT doesn't do it well on some routers (I mean 11ac 5GHz stuff).

I have several dual band routers and range extenders, 11n and 11ac and I haven't had any issues with 2.4 or 5GHz bands with throughput being less than expected or anything else like that. I don't run alt firmwares on them though.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

No, its actually a bit easier because you dont have as much interference. The downside is you need a higher density of AP because 5ghz doesnt penetrate solid objects as well as 2.4ghz

 

[boomhower]

Range is certainly going to suffer but otherwise no. I'm running an Asus router with DD-WRT and AC is rock solid, just need more devices that can take advantage of it.