NicholasDM
New Around Here
I was hoping I could get some users with experience using 5GHz N networks to weigh in on my options here for a very crowded 2.4GHz neighborhood. Range is of little concern to me with this particular deployment as my primary concern is maximizing bandwidth to my media PC downstairs which is basically directly below the wireless router. 20' max. I would love to wire it with GigE, but this home is still a rental for the moment.
There are no fewer than 11 2.4GHz networks broadcasting with usable signals, and 3 of these are thanks to a city WiFi router on the light pole right outside of my house. It has 3 discrete radios servicing the neighborhood. Having city-wide wifi is neat, but clutters the channels badly and is constantly channel-hopping. There is only one 5GHz network that very occasionally shows up when I walk around surveying with my Galaxy Nexus, and the signal is so weak it comes and goes like a whisper.
I have an RT-N66U running the latest firmware. Broadcasting to a couple of 2.4GHz N devices, and my media PC and Xbox 360 one floor below; almost directly below. The media PC is seeing terrible throughput. If I see 3MB/s reliably, it's a good day. Usually it's around or less than 1.5MB/s. I've tried tweaking settings. I've tried other channels. Nothing improves.
Really, all devices are seeing dismal throughput. I've tried both a 802.11G bridge running DD-WRT down there and today I tried a 2.4GHz 802.11n PCI-E adapter, which improved throughput slightly but it's not reliable throughput. Sometimes it's 7-8MB/s, then degrades to 3 or 4. Other times it's 1.5-2 or lower. I tried putting my Galaxy Nexus on 5GHz today and webpages load noticeably faster, which got me thinking about the 5GHz bands.
Are my thoughts that the 2.4GHz in my neighborhood is so cluttered as to yield this terrible throughput to all my devices? Would a 5GHz adapter on my media PC be a viable solution to bump and maintain reliable throughput?
Can you recommend an inexpensive, good quality 5Ghz adapter?
Thanks in advance.
There are no fewer than 11 2.4GHz networks broadcasting with usable signals, and 3 of these are thanks to a city WiFi router on the light pole right outside of my house. It has 3 discrete radios servicing the neighborhood. Having city-wide wifi is neat, but clutters the channels badly and is constantly channel-hopping. There is only one 5GHz network that very occasionally shows up when I walk around surveying with my Galaxy Nexus, and the signal is so weak it comes and goes like a whisper.
I have an RT-N66U running the latest firmware. Broadcasting to a couple of 2.4GHz N devices, and my media PC and Xbox 360 one floor below; almost directly below. The media PC is seeing terrible throughput. If I see 3MB/s reliably, it's a good day. Usually it's around or less than 1.5MB/s. I've tried tweaking settings. I've tried other channels. Nothing improves.
Really, all devices are seeing dismal throughput. I've tried both a 802.11G bridge running DD-WRT down there and today I tried a 2.4GHz 802.11n PCI-E adapter, which improved throughput slightly but it's not reliable throughput. Sometimes it's 7-8MB/s, then degrades to 3 or 4. Other times it's 1.5-2 or lower. I tried putting my Galaxy Nexus on 5GHz today and webpages load noticeably faster, which got me thinking about the 5GHz bands.
Are my thoughts that the 2.4GHz in my neighborhood is so cluttered as to yield this terrible throughput to all my devices? Would a 5GHz adapter on my media PC be a viable solution to bump and maintain reliable throughput?
Can you recommend an inexpensive, good quality 5Ghz adapter?
Thanks in advance.
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