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WiFi Help Needed
11/17/2012 | raybbr

Posted on 11/17/2012 1:00:04 PM PST by raybbr

I have been using a Motorola 3360 ADSL modem for over a year. Well, not the same one. Last Thursday, the third one in the last year crapped out on me. (I needed one right away because my wife is job hunting and we can't wait for delivery. )

I decided not to go with another Motorola. I went to Staples and found that they have two available in the store. One is a Netgear 600N single channel and the other, which I purchased, is a Netgear Model: DGND3700-100NAS, which is a dual channel modem. It has both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz channels.

I asked the guy at the store how I would be able to use both channels on my laptops and WII. I got that "Gee, I wish he hadn't asked me that" look.

I had $50 dollars in credit and, reading the box, decided more would be better. As in more bandwidth.

I got home and was set up in less than hour.

Now comes the good part. None of my laptops have a 5.0GHz adapter and I found out the WII doesn't either.

The IT guy at work lent me his USB adapter. It only picks up 2.4GHz.

Here are the questions:

Can the router be configured to run both channels at 2.4GHz?

My laptop with the USB adapter is showing that I am picking up my network twice. Does that mean I am connected through both the USB adapter and the internal adapter at the same time getting massive flow to my router?

I have checked my Device Manager on all the laptops and have found that none of them have a 5.0GHz option under the internal adapter.

Do you think it's worth it to get another adapter capable of 5.0GHz?

I know I could call Netgear but all the reviews regarding them means a call to India or Malaysia with hours of aggravation. Tech FReepers are far more intelligent anyway.

Thanks for help in advance.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: wifi
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I was logged in but the moose in my shower ate the cheese off the top of my sister's picture and it fell onto the log-off button. :)
1 posted on 11/17/2012 1:00:11 PM PST by raybbr
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To: ShadowAce; Ernest_at_the_Beach; cynwoody

Pinging the tech gurus that I know...


2 posted on 11/17/2012 1:04:23 PM PST by raybbr (People who still support Obama are either a Marxist or a moron.)
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To: Noumenon; hiredhand

Ping.


3 posted on 11/17/2012 1:05:29 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: raybbr

Grab whichever frequency has the least interference....speeds should be about the same...in fact, the wireless modem should broadcast in both freqs simultaneously...


4 posted on 11/17/2012 1:06:39 PM PST by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
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To: nevergore
Grab whichever frequency has the least interference....speeds should be about the same...in fact, the wireless modem should broadcast in both freqs simultaneously...

It does. It's just that my laptops don't have the 5.0GHz adapter.

How does one measure interference?

5 posted on 11/17/2012 1:11:05 PM PST by raybbr (People who still support Obama are either a Marxist or a moron.)
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To: raybbr

My AP is a dual radio and I run both 5GHz and 2.4Ghz. Almost everything I have has 5GHZ, but I can’t really see a difference (except the microwave doesn’t screw up the airport for the kitchen stereo)...

But keep in mind, they are two discrete networks and must be setup individually.


6 posted on 11/17/2012 1:11:55 PM PST by tje
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To: raybbr

I assume you are talking about an 802.11n (MIMO) router. It is my understanding that in practical application, due to the number of 2.5 channels in use, that the only way to get dual channels and the higher bandwidth is to go to either 2.5 + 5 or 5 + 5.

The wiki is very good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11


7 posted on 11/17/2012 1:12:16 PM PST by taxcontrol
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To: raybbr

Don’t worry about it.


8 posted on 11/17/2012 1:21:22 PM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: raybbr

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405996,00.asp


9 posted on 11/17/2012 1:26:06 PM PST by jessduntno ("Socialism only works...in Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they have it." - RR)
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To: raybbr

Netgear Model: DGND3700-100NAS, which is a dual channel modem. It has both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz channels.

Lasted three months, junk.


10 posted on 11/17/2012 1:29:28 PM PST by Little Bill (A)
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To: Little Bill

What did you replace it with?


11 posted on 11/17/2012 1:38:06 PM PST by raybbr (People who still support Obama are either a Marxist or a moron.)
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To: raybbr
I have used a lot of Linksys E2500/N600 router, about $80. Haven't had any failures with the things in 2 years or so. I have had pretty good luck with router bridging across the Windows and Apple platform, which seems to be a problem with many other routers maintaining a connection with Apple products, particularly the iPad. "The signal is generally pretty strong".

The wizard setup sucks...I always do manual setup. Not sure if you know how but it is the better alternative if you do. If not, that is your alternative.

Since your laptop doesn't have 5 ghz, you are not cabable of receiving on that frequency. Your laptop and router will automatically find a frequency that works, assuming you haven't disabled any of them. Good luck.

12 posted on 11/17/2012 1:57:59 PM PST by jwsea55
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To: raybbr
Belkin 600N, duel band. Works well so far.
13 posted on 11/17/2012 2:11:41 PM PST by Little Bill (A)
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To: raybbr
Why do you need to use both channels if none of your devices supports 5GHz?

2.4 GHz is a longer wavelength and has a longer effective range than 5GHz.

5 GHz is mainly supported by some game boxes and phones.

If all your PCs are connecting at 2.4GHz, there is absolutely no need to get a new adapters so they can connect at 5GHz.

14 posted on 11/17/2012 2:16:50 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the psychopath.)
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To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; Salo; JosephW; Only1choice____Freedom; amigatec; stylin_geek; ...

15 posted on 11/17/2012 2:30:33 PM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: raybbr

With a spectrum analyzer...not something you would do....just run your laptops on their existing 2.4GHz WiFi card....

Why do you want to use the other frequency? Usually it is because of interference issues.

For example, a leaky microwave in the kitchen will interfere with 2.4GHz.....

I have a desktop in my kitchen that whenever the Microwave is on can’t stream video...


16 posted on 11/17/2012 2:57:40 PM PST by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
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To: raybbr
Look at SSID traffic using this little download.
17 posted on 11/17/2012 3:00:01 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: raybbr

18 posted on 11/17/2012 3:19:07 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: raybbr

Basically the router has 2 radio transceivers operating on 2 very different frequencies that have different up and down sides. You can’t get a 2.4ghz to operate on a 5.2ghtz. What you can do is get an a/b/g/n dongle and plug it in to what ever device you want to run on the 5.2ghtz channel. My laptop 6y/o has a built in b/g, and i put a a/b/g in the card slot to get both channel. Upgrading the wifi in laptops or desktops is easy and under $50. (a dyi deal for sure)


19 posted on 11/17/2012 3:36:54 PM PST by waynesa98
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To: Little Bill

Me too! a Belkin 600 DB has been serving here for almost 2 years.


20 posted on 11/17/2012 5:02:47 PM PST by PizzaDriver ( on)
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