Netgear R7000 configuration - 289/600/1300Mbps mode?

Hi,

I have a new R7000 and while configuring I noticed you can reduce the maximum speed for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz:
2.4GHz: 54 Mbps - 289 Mbps - 600 Mbps
5 GHz: 289 Mbps - 600 Mbps - 1300 Mbps

Why would one reduce the maximum speed? Doesn't the link down-train anyway if the maximum can't be reached?
Would reducing improve the range? (range is very important to me)


Thanks!

This is NETGEAR's way of combining settings other manufacturers usually separate, i.e. 20/40 bandwidth and 802.11 modes.

54 is 802.11abg mode. 289 is 11abgn 20 MHz bandwidth, 600 is 40 MHz abgn with non-standard support for 256 QAM modulation.

These settings are used to mainly control channel bandwidth for 2.4 GHz. 40 MHz bandwidth eats up channels and provides higher bandwidth with strong to medium signals only. It tends to reduce range a bit.

Thanks Tim!

How about 5GHz? What's the purpose there?
289Mbps = 20MHz?
600Mbps = 40MHz?
1300Mbps = 40MHz + 256QAM?

dries.driessens said:

Thanks Tim!

How about 5GHz? What's the purpose there?
289Mbps = 20MHz?
600Mbps = 40MHz?
1300Mbps = 40MHz + 256QAM?

Click to expand...

The last one is 80MHz. channel width:

1300Mbps = 80MHz (wireless-ac) + 256QAM

dries.driessens said:

Thanks Tim!

How about 5GHz? What's the purpose there?
289Mbps = 20MHz?
600Mbps = 40MHz?
1300Mbps = 40MHz + 256QAM?

Click to expand...

RogerSC's answer is correct.

RogerSC said:

The last one is 80MHz. channel width:

1300Mbps = 80MHz (wireless-ac) + 256QAM

Click to expand...

So which of these three 5Ghz will have the best wireless coverage? 289 vs 600 vs 1300Mbps? Or it doesn't matter range wise? My R7000 upon upgrading to the newest firmware (V1.0.5.48_1.1.79) had 5Ghz 289Mbps set by default, is there any reason why Netgear would not use a top speed by default?

setting 80MHz by default IMO is kind of silly because most people still dont have AC devices, and if they do have AC devices, 40MHz AC @200mbit per link will be good enough for 90% of scenario's

and theoretically it should slightly improve range

i also just wanted to note that the 600 and 289 speeds are also using 256QAM to get those speeds

600 is basically the equivalent to 450N 5GHz @40MHz 64QAM

but its 600AC @40MHz 256QAM for ac devices

20MHz without 256QAM /N would give you a max of 216.7mbps

keep in mind that

600/450
289/217
are 3x3

1x1 will respectively be 200/150 and 72/96( not 100% on that number)
and 2x2 400/300 and 144/192

so since its an AC router, if your gonna use 80MHz at all, you need to have AC, and IF you have AC, you will honestly probably not even need the 80MHz for the higher link rates and smaller channels will help minorly improve range

i do not agree with 20MHz AC mode being default however i do agree with 40MHz AC mode being default

its within the AC spec that in order to be certified they have to be able to change the size of the AC channel dynamically on a packet per packet basis, this means that if interference is detected when in 80MHz or 40MHz mode the radio will step down to 40MHz or 20MHz if required in order to avoid interference with neighboring networks

so in theory if implemented properly and in a slightly different fashion it is very realistic to have a 80MHz auto mode, however have the radio sitting at 20MHz when no clients connected, then pop upto 40MHz or 80MHz when clients that support those bandwidths connected

this could be a huge saver in the future, imagine how many wifi networks are up and interfering but not in use at the same time, even tho congestion is not as bad when neighboring networks are not in use this could imrpove congestion in dense apartments and townhomes etc when in 5 years everyone and there grandma has a 5GHz ap (or TWO!) from there ISP likely configured incorrectly..

i just wanted to correct myself on a few things posted above

i stated link rates that 1X1 N turbo qam will bring ontop of the 64QAM link rate

however i wanted to note something here

there is 3/4 and 5/6 coding just like with 64QAM and others

however 5/6 coding for 256QAM requires 3 or more antennas transmitting and recieving

so where i said 72/96 and 144/192

the correct info is 72/86.7

and 144/173.3

this is ONLY the case for 20MHz channels, 40MHz and 80MHz channels at 256QAM have no problem doing 5/6 on 1x1 or 2x2 links.

http://mcsindex.com/