WiFi Help Needed

11/17/2012 | raybbr

[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.

[raybbr]

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. :)

[raybbr]

Pinging the tech gurus that I know...

[DuncanWaring]

Ping.

[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...

[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...

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

How does one measure interference?

[tje]

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.

[taxcontrol]

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

[Kirkwood]

Don’t worry about it.

[jessduntno]

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

[Little Bill]

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

Lasted three months, junk.

[raybbr]

What did you replace it with?

[jwsea55]

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.

[Little Bill]

Belkin 600N, duel band. Works well so far.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

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.

[ShadowAce]

[nevergore]

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...

[jwalsh07]

Look at SSID traffic using this little download.

[martin_fierro]

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

  I don't think so.

• 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?

  No, without extensive modifications you can only be connected through one network connection at a time. Find out which one has better throughput/stronger connection and shut the other one off.

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

  Nah. But two router mods that I found to be helpful (if you can do them on the Netgear) were:

  • Change your broadcast channel to one of the higher ones, like 9 - 11; and
  • Change the MTU setting from its usual default of 1500 to 1400.

[waynesa98]

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)

[PizzaDriver]

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