RT-AC3200 noob questions.

[dikkiedirk]

Just have this router a couple of days and made the observation that 5GHz-1 is much weaker than 5 GHz 2. The Windows 10 icon shows viewer bars an ViStumbler and Xirrus WiFi analyzer show also a weaker signal.
Is this because it uses a different channel?

Is it currently advisable to use Smart Connect?
The router is on the latest 9529 firmware, does Merlin fw have many improvements over this?

 

[pete y testing]

Just have this router a couple of days and made the observation that 5GHz-1 is much weaker than 5 GHz 2.

thats because the power setting is lower on the 5 gig lower band due to regulation regarding transmission levels

Is this because it uses a different channel?

only the upper channels used by the 5 gig 2 can run at the higher power

Is it currently advisable to use Smart Connect?

it works but most of us have disabled it and just run 3 separately named ssid

The router is on the latest 9529 firmware, does Merlin fw have many improvements over this?

apart from the usual merlin improvements and add one etc you would have to ask him

 

[L&LD]

thats because the power setting is lower on the 5 gig lower band due to regulation regarding transmission levels
only the upper channels used by the 5 gig 2 can run at the higher power

I don't think that is true anymore (for a long time, actually).

I regularly set 5GHz channels to the 40 range and get great performance from them for customers.

 

[pete y testing]

I don't think that is true anymore (for a long time, actually).

certainly is in most parts of the world outside the usa where the fcc has changed the regs

 

[L&LD]

I'm not in the usa.

 

[odiovidio]

I believe the 5ghz-1 antennae are internal while the 5ghz-2 antennae are external.

 

[pete y testing]

I believe the 5ghz-1 antennae are internal while the 5ghz-2 antennae are external.

i dont thinik thats right

its 1 set of 3 antennas doing both 2.4 and 5 gig and the other 3 antennas doing 5 gig

 

[dikkiedirk]

I don't think that is true anymore (for a long time, actually).

I regularly set 5GHz channels to the 40 range and get great performance from them for customers.

Seems to be true in Europe. I am in the Netherlands.

 

[dikkiedirk]

thats because the power setting is lower on the 5 gig lower band due to regulation regarding transmission levels


only the upper channels used by the 5 gig 2 can run at the higher power


it works but most of us have disabled it and just run 3 separately named ssid



apart from the usual merlin improvements and add one etc you would have to ask him

Gonna stay with the stock fw for a while, it is doing pretty well at the moment. Just need a better AC adapter in my laptop. Any suggestions to replace Intel?

 

[pete y testing]

I regularly set 5GHz channels to the 40 range and get great performance from them for customers.

see the images below

certainly a difference between low and high 5 gig

 

[L&LD]

see the images below

certainly a difference between low and high 5 gig

I have no trust in inssider or indicated signal strength. What throughput (and range) and consistency and lowest latency do they each have? That is all that counts.

 

[pete y testing]

see

• wireless AC device coverage comparison
• https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2384995

its easier to point you to my testing , there are 3 devices using lower 5 gig channels

in every case at each distance the lower 5 gig transmissions are lower in throughput and seeing as we are comparing the high and low channels the power level is the only difference