Single band or dual band? How to tell?

[Sunburn74]

Hi. I have belkin N150 wireless router first gen. Actually its my wife's but we've used it for about a year and I'm curious whether I should make a change
http://www.staples.com/Belkin-N150-Wireless-Router/product_927370?akamai-feo=off

In the device options, I can set the mode to allow wireless b,g, or N devices connect. However, it only broadcasts a single SSID.

How can I check if this device is allowing my wireless N devices to have maximum performance? How can I check if this is a dual band or a single band device?

Thanks.

 

[Ertaz]

Belkin N150 is 2.4GHz only

 

[JackMDS]

150N means Single band anf Lower End of N.

This means Dual Band and High End N600.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1F9M3SCKKW8CYG82SV0M

This is Dual Band with AC and further higher speed. AC1750
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=073YVXXH5X11ZWK0Y0WX

Get it? 150 vs 600 vs. 1750

 

[sdifox]

150N means Single band anf Lower End of N.

This means Dual Band and High End N600.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1F9M3SCKKW8CYG82SV0M

This is Dual Band with AC and further higher speed. AC1750
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=073YVXXH5X11ZWK0Y0WX

Get it? 150 vs 600 vs. 1750

Except 1750 is an aggregate of n and ac.

 

[Sunburn74]

I see. With routine use (net surfing, gaming, etc) do you see a real world benefit by switching to a dual band device?

Should I go for 600 vs 1750? And any specific models you can recommend?

Reason to switch for me: router signal is not great even just 2-3 rooms away, an the performance with routine websurfing is very choppy. I think a lot of it is wifi interference from many nearby devices.

Also do you guys have any you recommend for <110? Both TP-links look good, though trying to understand why I should pay for the 90 dollar device vs the 30 dollar device.

 

[sdifox]

Depends on your clients.

 

[Sunburn74]

Depends on your clients.

Can you elaborate?

 

[sdifox]

Can you elaborate?

wifi clients, your computer, tablets, phone, etc.

You could have AC3200 router but if your client is only G, it will only get G speed. Not only that, it will drop all your 2.4GHz client to G, unless you have a higher end multi antenna model that can drop just one antenna.

That Belkin should be put out to pasture or serve some secondary role.

try this first, set it to N mode only. If all your devices work, N only should be a lot better throughput.

So if you still have G devices, get a newer router, use the belkin as G access point and the new one for N and AC.