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

[tallytr]

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...

It is if you are covering a larger area, I have one access point added to the router so 4 different SSID's. I want to use one SSID but that's not possible due to iOS not being reliably able to determine 5GHz as the best band, no problem with notebook computers in our house so it's somehow iOS specific...

 

[sfx2000]

It is if you are covering a larger area, I have one access point added to the router so 4 different SSID's. I want to use one SSID but that's not possible due to iOS not being reliably able to determine 5GHz as the best band, no problem with notebook computers in our house so it's somehow iOS specific...

I would respectfully disagree - in my experience across a multitude of networks, iDevices get along just fine...

 

[tallytr]

I would respectfully disagree - in my experience across a multitude of networks, iDevices get along just fine...

What router do you have?

 

[sfx2000]

What router do you have?

Aruba and Cisco on the enterprise level - Linksys, Netgear, Asus, and Apple in the Small Biz, Home level...

Perhaps your situation is unique - every network is a snowflake after all...

 

[tallytr]

Aruba and Cisco on the enterprise level - Linksys, Netgear, Asus, and Apple in the Small Biz, Home level...

Perhaps your situation is unique - every network is a snowflake after all...

I see.
Check out this video, it's from an Android user explaining network band prioritize...
In this case the guy is using 2 different SSID's.

 

[sfx2000]

Check out this video, should help you better I stand my issue. It's from an Android user explaining network band prioritize...
In this case the guy is using 2 different SSID's.

Seriously - you can do what you want - I tried to help, but you seem to want to go your own way, and that's ok... be happy, be fine, enjoy your network...

 

[TheManFromUncle]

I see.
Check out this video, it's from an Android user explaining network band prioritize...
In this case the guy is using 2 different SSID's.

That's not possible on an iPhone though. Apple is not as... willing to make things... user changeable as most Android products are. I remember Cisco lauded iPhone 5's ability to switch AP's quickly when it came out. The switching isn't as seamless on an Android product as it is on iPhone's. If I were you and I were to create a network with mostly Apple products, I would purchase an AirPort Extreme and an Express as AP or Range Extender, as I do believe sfx2000 has been recommending.

 

[Klueless]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Ran into the same problem with the Asus RT-N66R (aka N66U) that I bought in November. iPADs, iPhones and even Windows Desktop PCs that don't move around. Finally bit the bullet and used a different SSID for each radio and just put the core machines where I thought they should go.

Then I set up one of the guest thingies to use a single SSID for both radios. That's for my mobile devices.

It's a hack but it's good enough that I don't obsess about it anymore.

 

[tallytr]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Ran into the same problem with the Asus RT-N66R (aka N66U) that I bought in November. iPADs, iPhones and even Windows Desktop PCs that don't move around. Finally bit the bullet and used a different SSID for each radio and just put the core machines where I thought they should go.

Then I set up one of the guest thingies to use a single SSID for both radios. That's for my mobile devices.

It's a hack but it's good enough that I don't obsess about it anymore.

Help me understand how the single guest network SSID for both radios help IOS devices connect to the "best" radio and not switch between them (at least that's the case in our house where iOS devices usually prefer 2.4GHz with the stronger RSSI), thanks.

 

[Klueless]

Help me understand how the single guest network SSID for both radios help IOS devices connect to the "best" radio and not switch between them (at least that's the case in our house where iOS devices usually prefer 2.4GHz with the stronger RSSI), thanks.

It didn't and it doesn't

My first point was I'm seeing the same problem with Windows PCs that are pretty much locked to one location. I thought it a new data point that iOS users would be interested in. It's not just them

I placed our new RT-N66U in a work environment. We have 11 Windows PCs (that all stay in one place), 4 printers, 2 servers, about 10 BYODs (employees who Bring Your Own Device, e.g.; smart phones, iPADs, etc.) and another dozen miscellaneous customers and visitors who connect with whatever they have.

When I had one SSID for company owned machines the Desktops that were only 15 feet away from the router but kept connecting to the 2.4Ghz radio rather than the 5. I really wanted them on a separate collision domain from everyone else for performance reasons (e.g., talking to our local servers)

Worse, the desktops in bldg. 2 sometimes connected on the 5Ghz radio and their performance was crap!

(It was almost like my router was purposefully messing with me!)

So I swallowed my pride, set a different SSID for each radio, put each business device where I thought they should go and everything is running great.

Then, under Guest, I set a SSID called BYOD for both radios (hey, I can't micro-manage everything) and they get what they get.

Also, under guest, I set a 2nd SSID called Guest (for customers and visitors) for both radios (and they also get what they get).

In your case I might set a SSID for each radio and a Guest (Asus has a check box that will give you access to all your local stuff) SSID that covers both radios. Use the Guest and if/when you're not happy with the result simply reconnect to the SSID with the radio that you think best meets your needs at the moment.

(Or vice-versa.)

Hopefully your router and iDevices are right at least most of the time

It's not perfect but it both got me by and appeased my OCD ... for now.

 

[tallytr]

Ok, thanks a lot for the explanation.
In my case I'm ok with the separate SSID's, I did however invest in the RT-AC68U just to reward myself for that "dual band same SSID" thing I'd assume same issues with AC router or will the 5GHz signal be stronger than 2.4GHz, I doubt it...
Otherwise I totally like the RT-N66U.

 

[sfx2000]

I did however invest in the RT-AC68U just to reward myself for that "dual band same SSID" thing

Put yourself in the not so bright WLAN professional camp - dual SSID's on a Single AP means that the device will camp on that SSID, even when the backstop 2.4GHz radio provides better coverage...

I get a feeling you've been baiting this conversation just to "drop the mic"...

Ok... you did - doesn't make you right...

Done with this convo...

 

[tallytr]

Put yourself in the not so bright WLAN professional camp - dual SSID's on a Single AP means that the device will camp on that SSID, even when the backstop 2.4GHz radio provides better coverage...

I get a feeling you've been baiting this conversation just to "drop the mic"...

Ok... you did - doesn't make you right...

Done with this convo...

I posted the question, I was looking for a real solution to dual band same SSID so I can set and forget. No real solution that would help my issues were offered so far.
This is not about who is wrong or right in my case, it's about a solution, in my case the only solution is to set SSID for 5GHz and connect to it, that works great, you right, I won't be able to roam automatically to 2.4Ghz band outside the house but that's OK for me since I rather have a great 5GHz connection all the time in the house instead of iPad and iPhone going to 2.4Ghz, then to 5Ghz... Sorry, that's a long sentence

 

[Klueless]

I did however invest in the RT-AC68U

So, out of curiosity, did you try your new router with a single SSID for both radios? Did it work the way you/we would hope?

Besides the AC thing was there anything about your new router that jumps out over your old one?

(I'm asking because I bought the N66U for our shop and am pondering whether to buy the same for the other two shops or move up to the AC68U?)

 

[dlandiss]

I won't be able to roam automatically to 2.4Ghz band outside the house

Actually, with SSIDs like "bach" and "bach_5G" devices -- Apple included -- seem to roam well as long as the password for both has been entered.

Our issue with Apple devices is that they do not roam aggressively enough. That is, they tend to hang on to a weak signal too long before giving it up for stronger one.

 

[TheManFromUncle]

Actually, with SSIDs like "bach" and "bach_5G" devices -- Apple included -- seem to roam well as long as the password for both has been entered.

Our issue with Apple devices is that they do not roam aggressively enough. That is, they tend to hang on to a weak signal too long before giving it up for stronger one.

In my experience Apple devices roam the best. They are not good at maintaining speeds or distance but great at roaming. At least their phones. With iPad's, at least the Air's, distance and speed is not so much of an issue.

 

[TheManFromUncle]

So tallytr, to what end did you bring this conversation?

 

[dlandiss]

In my experience Apple devices roam the best.

I wish! We see iPads reporting 3 bars of WiFi signal strength when they can barely maintain the connection, but still do not roam to a stronger router whose password is already in their memory.

 

[TheManFromUncle]

I wish! We see iPads reporting 3 bars of WiFi signal strength when they can barely maintain the connection, but still do not roam to a stronger router whose password is already in their memory.

Interesting. In my apartment Apple devices easily roam to the strongest extender without any hiccups. My mother's apartment has other, more interesting challenges that I will have to address at some point. I will have to do a thread about that at some point.

 

[tallytr]

So tallytr, to what end did you bring this conversation?

Got the AC68U router and separated the 2.4GHz band from the 5GHz band via SSID. Yes, the Apple devices, we have around 6 have no trouble switching between bands (same SSID, same security and passwords), only, they are doing that all the time with the mobile device sitting on my table and they are selecting the wrong band. Most often 2.4Ghz (stronger RSSI) over 5GHz, only if the iOS device is really close to the router the 5GHz band is selected.
Now with the AC router the 5GHz signal is that strong and speed is fantastic, no reason for me to make it roam between the bands and losing VOIP for a couple seconds when the band switching occurs.