How to use RT-N66U with iOS devices with one SSID and dual band?

[tallytr]

I tried everything but my iOS devices often switch back and fourth between 2.4GHz and the 5GHz band due to the higher signal strength of the 2.4GHz. Speed is way faster on the 5GHz band, why is my iPhone 6 constantly going back to the 2.4GHz band?
I tried resetting network settings on iPhone. Same WEP 2 personal security setting on RT-N66U for both bands...
Win 7 notebook has no trouble staying connected to 5GHz band....
Anybody?
I'd love to be able to only use one SSID in our house...

 

[sfx2000]

Don't worry perhaps - the iDevice will work fine...

Worst case, reset network settings and set them up again...

 

[tallytr]

Don't worry perhaps - the iDevice will work fine...

Worst case, reset network settings and set them up again...

Not exactly helpful to be honest.
I'm wondering if this is RT-N66U specific?
My iPhone simply picks the strongest signal and connects to that band, but the signal is not static, moves up and down and next minute iPhone connects to 5GHz and so on, frustrating!

 

[sfx2000]

Not exactly helpful to be honest.
I'm wondering if this is RT-N66U specific?
My iPhone simply picks the strongest signal and connects to that band, but the signal is not static, moves up and down and next minute iPhone connects to 5GHz and so on, frustrating!

What I'm trying to say - Don't worry about it - it's picking the best service at the time...

 

[tallytr]

What I'm trying to say - Don't worry about it - it's picking the best service at the time...

I see what you mean but that's not the case in our house. Let's say I'm on a VOIP call the connections goes quite for lets say 15s when iPhone switches from 2.4GHz to 5GHz band and so on, there is no need to switch to the 2.4GHz band. Even if the 5GHz is not as strong it's still twice as fast.....

 

[samuel]

Not exactly helpful to be honest.
I'm wondering if this is RT-N66U specific?
My iPhone simply picks the strongest signal and connects to that band, but the signal is not static, moves up and down and next minute iPhone connects to 5GHz and so on, frustrating!

Cant help with your problem, I have same problem here. But I can report that its Not specific to your
N66u router. I have AC68u and AC68p and both have same problem.

 

[tallytr]

Cant help with your problem, I have same problem here. But I can report that its Not specific to your
N66u router. I have AC68u and AC68p and both have same problem.

That's helpful, also what Asus Chat Support told me. I read that Apple routers don't have that issue, you simply set one unified SSID for the router and Access Points (if you have any) and forget about the bands, that would be nice, having said that, 5GHz is really great, only when I'm outside the house at the barbecue the 2.4GHz band is strong, no 5Ghz there...
Somehow Android devices have a setting for preferred bands but no such a thing on iOS devices...

 

[TheManFromUncle]

tallytr, iPhones especially are great at picking the strongest signal between AP´s but suck at range. The only reason I recently purchased a Range Extender was because my wife uses an iPhone. I seriously doubt you have any other choice than using the bands separately. Well... aside from using Apple's own networking products.

 

[sfx2000]

I see what you mean but that's not the case in our house. Let's say I'm on a VOIP call the connections goes quite for lets say 15s when iPhone switches from 2.4GHz to 5GHz band and so on, there is no need to switch to the 2.4GHz band. Even if the 5GHz is not as strong it's still twice as fast..

How do you know it's flipping back and forth between bands during a VOIP call?

Keep in mind that since IOS7, iDevices use multi path TCP, and this can confuse the heck out of traffic maps unless they're updated...

 

[tallytr]

How do you know it's flipping back and forth between bands during a VOIP call?

Keep in mind that since IOS7, iDevices use multi path TCP, and this can confuse the heck out of traffic maps unless they're updated...

View attachment 5227

Checking Network Map while on the call > View List (Clients) showing By Device.
You can clearly see what is Wired, on 2.4GHz and what is connected to the 5GHz band. While on the call my iPhone switched between 2.4 and 5Ghz basically following the strongest RSSI signal, again, 5GHz is the best band and iPhone should stick to 5GHz. Apparently Android devices allow you to set preferred band. iOS not so...

 

[sfx2000]

Well, it might hand down - it's actually a "weighted/scored" calculation based not just on RSSI, but likely, once it hands down, it should stay there for a bit...

If you see a single iDevice on both bands, it's because of mTCP, and just because it's there, doesn't mean it is using it.

in VOIP, most voice codecs are pretty low rate, not much about about 20 Kbit, including both data and control signaling..

 

[tallytr]

Well, it might hand down - it's actually a "weighted/scored" calculation based not just on RSSI, but likely, once it hands down, it should stay there for a bit...

If you see a single iDevice on both bands, it's because of mTCP, and just because it's there, doesn't mean it is using it.

in VOIP, most voice codecs are pretty low rate, not much about about 20 Kbit, including both data and control signaling..

Thanks. When checking signal strength using inSSIDer freeware my signals on the 2 bands fluctuate, meaning they are switching positions, one instant the 2.4GHz is on top (strongest RSSI), then
the 5GHz, is that normal that way?
I guess if the signal where more static (stable) the iOS device would stay connected longer without switching bands?
I lowered Tx power adjustment for the 2.4GHz to 50% but didn't have an impact on the RSSI?? And this is not really what I want (degrade 2.4GHz band)....tricky...

 

[sfx2000]

You didn't mention if you were running different SSID's or common - one thing you can try perhaps, and I'm not sure this is available in your firmware, play around with the multicast rate - setting it a bit higher, let's say 11Mbps, can help out here, as that is a scoring factor that the iOS devices use for better service rescans on a multiple AP/Band common SSID configuration...

 

[tallytr]

I've tried one SSID for both bands and both router and Access Point initially but that's not working, that's why I've posted here.
Multicast settings are available for both bands. 2.4GHz and 5GHz, how exactly would you change the Auto default? Thanks a lot.

 

[sfx2000]

Apparently Android devices allow you to set preferred band.

Hmmm... did a quick check on a Samsung Galaxy S4 (SCH-R970C), out of my toolkit - Android 4.4.2, HW version R970C.02, and I'm not seeing the option you mention for a preferred band when connecting to WiFi.

The GS4 is a single stream 11ac/11n dual band client...

Which android does offer this option?

 

[tallytr]

Looks to me most people here are using separate SSID's for dual band or do not bother or are using devices other than iOS?

 

[sfx2000]

I've tried one SSID for both bands and both router and Access Point initially but that's not working, that's why I've posted here.
Multicast settings are available for both bands. 2.4GHz and 5GHz, how exactly would you change the Auto default? Thanks a lot.

Set it to OFDM12 and see how it goes...

 

[tallytr]

Hmmm... did a quick check on a Samsung Galaxy S4 (SCH-R970C), out of my toolkit - Android 4.4.2, HW version R970C.02, and I'm not seeing the option you mention for a preferred band when connecting to WiFi.

The GS4 is a single stream 11ac/11n dual band client...

Which android does offer this option?

I think Asus support mentioned it.
I hope future iOS firmware or RT-N66U firmware will offer a solution to using one common SSID and by doing so always using the best (fastest) band...

 

[sfx2000]

Looks to me most people here are using separate SSID's for dual band or do not bother or are using devices other than iOS?

There's also an article on the main site that suggests that common SSID is the right way to go...

On the other hand - can split the SSID's, and it'll camp on 5Ghz, and get marginal performance before it goes out of service and discovers 2.4G SSID...

Not much worry - not a big problem at the end of the day...

 

[sfx2000]

I think Asus support mentioned it.
I hope future iOS firmware or RT-N66U firmware will offer a solution to using one common SSID and by doing so always using the best (fastest) band..

I would suggest that Apple isn't very worried about Asus...