"AC Only" option for 5ghz

[axel77]

I currently only use my 5ghz band for networking bridges throughout the house. Any other device I might use is also AC capable. Is there a reason that there is no "AC Only" wireless mode under 5ghz?

 

[Ford Prefect]

....according to this http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r28455327-Wireless-AC-Networking-Questions you should set the 5Ghz bandwidth to 80MHz for Full AC only.
But as stated in the other thread, it will depend on the client also, if these will/can get any benefit out of this.

Also, since you are using that band for bridging, bandwidth is effectively cut in half already, so IMHO there is not much to gain in your situation.

 

[Grump]

I'm on 80mhz only and N clients that don't support 80mhz can still connect.

 

[Ford Prefect]

I don't know...maybe then, this setting doesn't work that way and "only" enables AC capable clients to fully utilize the band. A N-device can connect but can't use it fully.
Then, if you want to restrict access on 5GHz to AC clients only, direct your non-ac clients towards the 2.4GHz band.

What's the benefit of that usecase for you?

 

[doubleroll]

Same here I have it set at 80MHz and N clients still connect.

 

[axel77]

Thanks for the link, it's not a full answer but I think it means that AC is just an extension of N, and that there's no need for AC only(?)...or that AC is just multiple N streams. Correct?

Like the others, forcing 80mhz still lets other devices connect. I was really hoping that AC Only would address why I am getting 5MB/s max transfer speeds from my server (AC1300 bridge #1) to my desktop (AC1300 bridge #2). Both computers are only 1 room/20ft away from the AC66u and there is zero neighbor interference on 5Ghz. Even with the bandwidth cut in half this is not expected.

 

[KGB7]

Thanks for the link, it's not a full answer but I think it means that AC is just an extension of N, and that there's no need for AC only(?)...or that AC is just multiple N streams. Correct?

Like the others, forcing 80mhz still lets other devices connect. I was really hoping that AC Only would address why I am getting 5MB/s max transfer speeds from my server (AC1300 bridge #1) to my desktop (AC1300 bridge #2). Both computers are only 1 room/20ft away from the AC66u and there is zero neighbor interference on 5Ghz. Even with the bandwidth cut in half this is not expected.

Try using channels above 150 and not Auto.

But you should be getting far more then 5MB/s. As i get 14MB/s on 2.4ghz when my both routers are bridged on 5ghz band. I dont have a 5ghz client to test the speed.

Also try these settings. Make sure to power cycle both routers after saving settings.

 

[axel77]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm running the latest Merlin build and it does not have the two separate "Universal" and "802.11AC Beamforming" options, only "Explicit Beamforming" (which is enabled). With your settings my transfer speed for a 500MB rar file hit 5.3MB/s. Ugh, it almost seems like there is an arbitrary cap somewhere.

Not that it should make much of a difference, but your setup is different than mine where the bridges are not routers themselves, but 3x WesternDigital My Net AC Bridge (AC1300 equivalent), where the router is centrally located between them.

This is extremely frustrating, I'm getting near the same performance on the networking side as my old wireless-g setup.

Any thoughts or directions to find the hangup?

 

[KGB7]

If you going through 3 WiFi bridges, then you won't get full or even half full speed. The more WiFi bridges used to repeat the signal, the lower speeds you will get.

What sppeds do you get when you connect directly to the main Asus router over WiFi??

I'm not familiar with WD bridge so I can't comment on its performance. For all we know it simple can't deliver the speeds do to poor design or bad firmware.

 

[axel77]

The data route is not going through all three bridges, just two. There is a bridge in the office, the living room/media center, and master bedroom. The server is in the living room, and where I'm getting the 5MB/s rate is from my office computer and the server. If I hook up an external HD to the router, my office (single bridge) max rate is ~26MB/s, averages around 22MB/s.

The server is working double-duty as the NAS and media center (xbmc, etc), looks like I'm going to have to separate the two, build a new media center, and put the server with the router.

Oh well, only money