Simultaneous dual-band questions

[whitewarrior11]

Hello guys,

I have some questions regarding dual-band networking. These questions may seem a bit idiot but anyway..

If I have a simultaneous dual-band router broadcasting two separate wireless networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz as I understand), can I also have, on the same computer, two different adapters getting signals from the two different networks? Or does having only one dual-band N adapter is sufficient (getting a signal from only the 5 GHz network )?

What I understand from dual-band is that it was basically a way to assure some kind of backward compatibility to older devices with newer wireless-N devices for example. Am I right?

 

[spidey07]

The purpose of dual band is for higher performance as it can use more "channels". Basically it gives the highway more lanes so to speak.

It is also to provide full backward compatibility with 802.11g/b (2.4) and 802.11a (5 Ghz). I highly doubt you would use one to connect to one access point and the other radio to connect to another, doesn't make any sense.

 

[acole1]

As per this link (http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wireless80211/f/dual-band-wireless.htm):

"Some newer 802.11n Wi-Fi routers also allow simultaneous dual band communication with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz clients. By supplying separate network bandwidth for each of the two types of links, these routers provide maximum flexibility in setting up a home network. For example, older 802.11b/g clients can be set to run on the 2.4 GHz side of a simultaneous dual-band router without impacting the performance of 802.11n clients running at 5 GHz."

Hopefully that clear it up a bit.

Dual band gives "backwards compatibility." Simultaneous dual band allows some devices to use the backwards compatibility, and, at the same time, some to use the newer faster N technology.