Question On a dual band router, 2.4 and 5 Ghz, are both bands on same logical network?

[IronWing]

I have a dual band router that I've been running in 2.4Ghz only. I now have a sufficent number of devices that support 5Ghz that I am considering turning it on. Some of my devices only support 2.4Ghz. If I connect some devices at 2.4 and some at 5Ghz will they see each as being on the same local network? The router is an ActionTec C3000A (CenturyLink version). Do I have to do anything special like use the same SSID for both bands? On this router, the feature set is repeated for each band. For example the MAC filter is specific to each band.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Normally, in a simultaneous dual-band router, both RF bands, are still combined (along with wired!) into the same logical LAN IP subnet. So you should have no fears about enabling the 5Ghz band on your router too.

As far as different SSIDs go, some routers now offer "band steering", which generally requires that the SSIDs be the same between bands, and the router can "steer" the client to the faster band. If your router doesn't offer that, or you just want old-school control over your client devices, then just add a "24" and "50" to the names of the SSIDs that you make, so that you can tell them apart.

Edit: This may be a moot point, with 802.11ax ("Wifi 6") routers, as I think that it may be possible for clients to use BOTH 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands at the same time, for greater bandwidth. Not quite sure about that. But that would imply that both bands are using the same SSID then.

 

[JackMDS]

As long as all devices are connected to the same IP subnet (wire and or Wireless), and thier OS is set correctly to share they will see one the other.

Eg. Device connected to 192.168.1.x will see each other if one is connected to 102.168.2.x would not be seen.

Wireless per-se is just mean of conduit it is not the "Network".

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