Better of each worlds: Establishing Wi-Fi for iOS on 2.4 and 5GHz – Ars Technica

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Iljitsch van Beijnum – Nov 9, 2012 5:05 pm UTC
For some time, it appeared that Wi-Fi was turning into a sufferer of its personal success. In lots of cities, there are quite a few energetic Wi-Fi networks on these preciously few non-overlapping channels—that is along with microwaves, bluetooth, cordless telephones, and child displays, which all share the two.4GHz band.
However since about 2007, Apple has additionally constructed assist for 802.11n Wi-Fi on the 5GHz band into its computer systems and Airport line of Wi-Fi base stations. Now, the iPhone 5 and the most recent iPod contact even have that assist. (The iPad has had it since day one.) So, how do you arrange a Wi-Fi community that makes essentially the most of this confluence of Wi-Fi bands?
To begin with, it is vital to understand that the 2 bands are created very otherwise. The two.4GHz band suffers from lack of non-overlapping channels and interference from different units. However the decrease frequencies go by partitions and flooring moderately properly. The 5GHz band alternatively, has a a lot bigger variety of channels—they usually do not overlap—however the increased frequencies have diminished vary, even in open air. Along with this, Apple solely helps utilizing two channels as a single, double-speed vast channel within the 5GHz band. If all else is equal, 5GHz is twice as quick as 2.4GHz.
Older base stations, resembling the primary and second generations of Apple’s Airport Excessive (launched in 2007), assist both 2.4GHz or 5GHz operation, however not each on the identical time. When you have a type of, you need to select. In a small condominium with skinny partitions, 5GHz has sufficient attain, and you may profit from the additional pace and diminished interference. Particularly while you let the bottom station choose the channel, as a result of that means, extra channels can be found. However in a giant home away from interfering neighbors, 2.4GHz offers you higher protection additional away from the bottom station. You may additionally want 2.4GHz for compatibility with older units that do not assist 5GHz operation.
However luckily, with newer Wi-Fi base stations, it is now not essential to make that selection: they assist simultaneous twin band, working in each the two.4 and 5GHz bands on the identical time. There are two methods to do that: having a separate 2.4 and 5GHz networks, or having one community that spans each bands. Within the first case, you inform the bottom station you need a totally different title (aka SSID) for the 5GHz band. This implies you’ll be able to manually choose the two.4GHz community or the 5GHz community as wanted. The draw back is that should you be a part of the 5GHz community, after which transfer away from the bottom station, you will stay related to the 5GHz community and get spotty efficiency at distances that 2.4GHz handles simply effective.
For most individuals, the only option is to arrange a community that does each 2.4GHz and 5GHz as a single community. That is what Apple’s Airport Utility units up for you should you do not inform it to make use of a separate 5GHz title. The profit to that is {that a} single twin band community permits wi-fi units that assist each bands to change to the band that has one of the best sign dynamically.
The iPhone 5 helps 72Mbps at 2.4 GHz, however 150Mbps at 5GHz. Most of Apple’s computer systems have two antennas, to allow them to do 144Mbps at 2.4GHz and 300Mbps at 5GHz. My iPhone 5 shortly jumps from 5GHz to 2.4GHz once I stroll down the steps, however once I return to the lounge, it sometimes takes a couple of minutes for it to change again to 5GHz. And typically units or computer systems get caught on the two.4GHz band simply while you need to switch some large information.
Issues get extra attention-grabbing if in case you have a number of base stations. If you happen to give every of those their very own settings, wi-fi units will attempt to cling on so long as they will earlier than switching to a distinct one, and after they change, all ongoing communication will get interrupted. But it surely does not need to be that means. You possibly can have your individual multi-base-station Wi-Fi community with seamless roaming, similar to a campus or enterprise community, however utilizing common base stations resembling Apple’s Airport Extremes or Airport Expresses. (I did not take a look at with non-Apple gear, nevertheless it ought to work the identical means.)
Seamless roaming between base stations occurs when 4 issues are the identical between these base stations: the community title (SSID), the safety settings, the DHCP server, and the router. That is simply completed by hooking up the second base station to a LAN port of the primary base station and setting the second up with the identical community title and the identical WPA2 password. Then, inform the second base station that it ought to function in “bridge mode,” quite than carry out NAT or DHCP.
It is also attainable to arrange a second base station as a wi-fi community extender to get extra attain with out placing in further Ethernet wiring, however that requires further wi-fi hops for every packet, so it reduces pace. Within the wi-fi extender configuration, the second base station must be on the identical channel as the primary one. But when the second base station has a wired connection, it ought to have its personal channel for finest efficiency.
Do not forget that you could set up the Airport Utility for iOS in your iPhone, iPod contact, or iPad, which helps you to reconfigure your Airport base stations in addition to monitor sign power, connection pace, and the usage of 2.4 vs 5GHz for all of their wi-fi purchasers, together with iOS units. Do not choose a base station too quick, although, as a result of then the listing of wi-fi purchasers is probably not proven.
Bonus tip: if you wish to see what different Wi-Fi networks are energetic in your space, use the next command in your Mac:
I did some pace testing with an iPhone 5 and a fourth technology Airport Excessive base station. In regular Internet searching or e-mailing, there did not appear to be a pace distinction. On 2.4GHz, iTunes Wi-Fi sync topped out at 2.8 megabytes per second, whereas on 5GHz, this was about 50 p.c quicker at 4.3MB/s. Nevertheless, I used to be capable of switch a file from the Air Sharing app utilizing the Finder at at least 10MB/s at 5GHz. The Speedtest app confirmed that the iPhone was capable of saturate my 60Mbps Web connection at 5GHz, however barely greater than half that at 2.4GHz.
However, I discover that when utilizing a 5GHz-only community, dropping Wi-Fi connections and issues reestablishing a connection are far more widespread. Within the twin band configuration, points with 5GHz aren’t a problem, as a result of the wi-fi system merely falls again to 2.4GHz. Life is nice with twin Wi-Fi bands.
Replace: this story initially mentioned 5GHz assist was new in current iPads, whereas in truth it was already current within the unique iPad.
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