Different SSID for Different Bands

[Dan Nelson]

Do I need to use different SSID for different bands? Can someone walk me thru the pros/cons of doing that?

I currently have each of the bands on 1 SSID. Is that not a good practice? What I've found so far is - the devices that can use either band - tend to default to the 2.4GHz band. I'd like to move more devices to the 5GHz band.

I just bought an ASUS AX11000 router - so when I stand that up, I want to do the right thing. Do I configure each using the same name - for convenience? Or do I name each of the bands differently?

THANKS!!!
Dan

 

[OzarkEdge]

Do I need to use different SSID for different bands? Can someone walk me thru the pros/cons of doing that?

I currently have each of the bands on 1 SSID. Is that not a good practice? What I've found so far is - the devices that can use either band - tend to default to the 2.4GHz band. I'd like to move more devices to the 5GHz band.

I just bought an ASUS AX11000 router - so when I stand that up, I want to do the right thing. Do I configure each using the same name - for convenience? Or do I name each of the bands differently?

THANKS!!!
Dan

Wireless clients decide which band/SSID to connect to. You can manually steer them to the preferred band by defining separate SSIDs for each band and by selecting those SSIDs manually.

Some routers have a Smart Connect band steering feature that can encourage a wireless client to connect to the better connection/band/SSID when the bands have the same SSID.

The AX11000 likely has Smart Connect. So with this router, try using the same SSID for all bands. If it works for your clients, great. Otherwise, and when there is no router Smart Connect feature, use separate SSIDs for each band.

Separate SSIDs can also be used when you want to segment your wireless traffic... keep certain clients on certain bands.

OE

 

[Zonkd]

What I've found so far is - the devices that can use either band - tend to default to the 2.4GHz band. I'd like to move more devices to the 5GHz band.

Yes in that case I’d create seperate SSIDs rather than using the Smart Connect feature. My devices had the same problem defaulting to 2.4ghz despite very strong 5ghz signal.

 

[Grisu]

I prefer the same SSID, thou I do use the guest account for different SSID for smart home devices.

And why? Only to have more SSIDs around?
From AP they will have access to main router intranet same way like if they use main SSID.