Using 1 AP vs 2

[balforth]

So I just got the ASUS RT-N66U and I'm loving it. I currently have the 5GHz radio a dedicated N network and the 2.4ghz radio a dedicated G network.

I have a stack of old routers (Cisco E4200v1, Buffalo high power 802.11g, asus something or other...). Would I get any better performance by shutting off the G network on the RT-N66U and using one of my other routers? Does this matter in any way? There's hardly anything that uses the G network at all, besides the PS3 (which doesn't see very much action these days), our printer, and an IP security video camera.

 

[balforth]

Sorry, should have read the sticky before I posted.

If the N router has two radios, you will see the slowdown only when mixed clients are associated with the same radio. If N clients are associated with one radio and legacy clients are associated to the other radio, you won't see reduced performance.

 

[Mark Uhde]

Yup, that's it exactly, though I dont see why you'd disable 802.11n on the 2.4 GHz radio. They're two totally separate AP's inside. Many 802.11n devices are 2.4 GHz-only. May as well leave 802.11n enabled. Also, at a distance, 2.4 GHz will perform better (stronger signal).

 

[sfx2000]

Leave the 2.4GHz radio in b/g/n mode - newer radios are much better about mixed mode operation...

WPA2/WMM enabled are important though... needed for 802.11n performance.

 

[Mark Uhde]

Leave the 2.4GHz radio in b/g/n mode - newer radios are much better about mixed mode operation...

WPA2/WMM enabled are important though... needed for 802.11n performance.

802.11n rates will also work on an open (unencrypted) network.

 

[sfx2000]

802.11n rates will also work on an open (unencrypted) network.

Indeed it will - it won't be HT if WEP/WPA though... and still need to keep WMM enabled...

 

[balforth]

I left it at G because all of my N capable devices are 5ghz, but 3 of my devices (ps3, old ipod touch, and ip cam) are only G. So having the 5ghz N and 2.4ghz G works perfect for me.

 

[Mark Uhde]

I left it at G because all of my N capable devices are 5ghz, but 3 of my devices (ps3, old ipod touch, and ip cam) are only G. So having the 5ghz N and 2.4ghz G works perfect for me.

Still no reason not to put it in mixed mode, in case you get an iPhone, a new iPod touch, or any one of the zillions of Windows laptops that are 2.4-GHz only 802.11n

 

[balforth]

I thought mixed mode yielded worse performance -- that if possible, you should try to run a single mode on one radio?

 

[Mark Uhde]

I thought mixed mode yielded worse performance -- that if possible, you should try to run a single mode on one radio?

It yields worse performance than the higher mode. 802.11b/g/n mixed mode will be slower than 802.11n mode. But it'll be faster (as long as there's at least one n device) than b/g mode.

The biggest thing is both g and n (OFDM) have to slow down a lot for 802.11b clients. The issue may be this, many devices have these modes:

802.11b/g/n mixed
802.11b/g mixed
802.11b only
802.11g only
802.11n only

Notice the lack of a g/n mixed mode? For these devices, it maybe better to run g-only than b/g/n mixed mode. It really depends on your client mix. But if you have g/n mixed mode or if you're running in b/g mixed now, enabling n can only help you.