Dual band N networking question

[spidey]

I am looking at a dual band N router to upgrade the network and support the dual band WGA600N but have a simple question. If I get a dual band and set it to 5Ghz will my 802.11b and 802.11g devices still work or will they only work in 2.4gHz mode? Trying to decide if a dual band is enough or need simultaneous dual band. I am thinking I will be only streaming one HD program at a time across the network.

[Stuart Sweet]

This is really a general purpose networking question and I am moving it to the Tech Talk forum.

[dennisj00]

I am looking at a dual band N router to upgrade the network and support the dual band WGA600N but have a simple question. If I get a dual band and set it to 5Ghz will my 802.11b and 802.11g devices still work or will they only work in 2.4gHz mode? Trying to decide if a dual band is enough or need simultaneous dual band. I am thinking I will be only streaming one HD program at a time across the network.


802.11 B and G will only work on 2.4 Ghz. I have the WRT600N set to N only on the 5ghz band and likewise in the WGA600N wireless adapter.

I have the 2.4 band set to my old SSID in mixed mode for B and G devices.

[MIAMI1683]

Set the 2.4 band to "mixed" as dennisj00 said. Then all will be ok. Keep in mind that with anything besides "n" on the network it will slow down that band.

[spidey]

802.11 B and G will only work on 2.4 Ghz. I have the WRT600N set to N only on the 5ghz band and likewise in the WGA600N wireless adapter.

I have the 2.4 band set to my old SSID in mixed mode for B and G devices.

So you end up setting up 2 SSID one for the old 2.4Ghz and one for the 5ghz ? I am comparing dual band and simultaneous dual band routers and found some dual bands for under 80$.

[dennisj00]

Yes, and I had trouble getting the WGA600n to find the N SSID (and the WPA2 encryption) in the auto config of the HR2x, so I programmed it manually to force it to N only.

[hasan]

Yes, and I had trouble getting the WGA600n to find the N SSID (and the WPA2 encryption) in the auto config of the HR2x, so I programmed it manually to force it to N only.

I assume the wGA600N can be manually configured via a web page? I thought I saw something about using 192.168.1.250 ...is that the proper address, or what did you use to manually configure the WGA600N to "N" only?

[dennisj00]

Yep, the 1.250 address (reset to defaults if necessary). Also, set a username/ password . . that seems to keep it from being reset by a HR2x configuration.

This was the only way I got it to recognize N only and my WPA2 encryption. It may be different now.

[hasan]

Yep, the 1.250 address (reset to defaults if necessary). Also, set a username/ password . . that seems to keep it from being reset by a HR2x configuration.

This was the only way I got it to recognize N only and my WPA2 encryption. It may be different now.

Thanks...I'm running with no security for now. I want to get the basic things working before doing security. I'm out in the middle of nowhere, so security for wireless is not much of an issue (at the moment).

Supposedly the 600N will look for an "N" connect and use it automagically...but I'm not "confident" this will take place.

I should receive a new router today...I'm not happy with the WRT160N...it locks up on it's own every 10 or 12 hours...and the problem is well described in user reviews. No cure.

I got the D-Link 825 Extreme N, which had 329 reviews, overwhelmingly positive. I should have it installed this evening if all goes well. I'm going to set its 5 gig section to N only and hope the 600N will use it "automagically" as claimed. If it doesn't, I'll bring the 600N downstairs and configure it manually, then take it back upstairs.

Thanks for the tip!