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.
my tail is still sore from the RCDD exam this morning.
Oh Noe!!!
You turned the internet off?
There was also a helpful suggestion of changing your WIFI card. Most laptops that is easy, but not all of them. Google for laptop's manual to see where it is located and what it will take to get it out. Definitely take in your existing card with you since they are not all the same. Sounded like you might be on a budget and not sure you are going to recieve that much performance gain for the dollars you would shell out.
If you’re looking for the N600 speed offered by the router you’ll have to get one of the N600 client adapters for your laptop. Plugging in multiple adapters, or using your built-in plus a USB external, won’t hack it.
There may be a third-party program out there that can bind your two adapters to act as one but I don’t know of any off hand.
I highly doubt it. Unless it's very unusual, it has two radios, one for 2.4 and one for 5, and neither can operate in the other band.
If your access is OK using the 2.4 ghz network, I wouldn't worry. However, if you are experiencing interference and can't fix it by switching channels in the 2.4 band, then I would go to the 5 ghz band.
I have two networks, one on 2.4 and one on 5. They are served by separate access points. I started out with only 2.4 and had problems with cordless phone interference. So, since my Mac already had 5 ghz capability, I bought an Apple Airport and switched over to that. Problem solved. I've since replaced the cordless phone with a $20 DECT phone that works fine and doesn't bother WiFi. Now I operate both networks, since I do have some devices that are only 2.4 capable, and all are working OK.
Oh man... I hate to just NOT answer, so I’ll be honest and just tell you that my “WiFi Kung-Fu” is weak. This week, I’ll try to ask around work and see if anybody has one of these NetGear WAPs and see if I can get a decent answer for ya. :-)
Yes, I kind of understood the basics. Thanks for the link it helped explain more.
Thanks for the link. Some helpful info there....
A router is in simple terms just a radio and needs certain receivers to receive different channels same as a tv to change channels your actually changing frequencies.
You have a 2 channel router that transmits at two different frequencies so you need receiver’s that receives two different frequencies...
I think he is confusing frequency and bandwidth. You don’t “get more flow” from using a 5 ghz device instead of a 2.4 ghz device... they are just different ranges.
Your bandwidth and upload / download is determined by your ISP and the equipment between you and the nearest switch.
True. I don’t think I have ever seen anything over 100 mbs out of a home router. Bandwidth is one of the most misunderstood words there is, if I got 1000 mbs cable but someone is only uploading at 56 k that’s what I get on my end LMAO!
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