Airport Extreme; to use or not to use separate SSID for 5GHz

[halfmonkey]

I have a question about the set up on the tower AE. So in the wireless set up, you can check a box to create a separate SSID for 5GHz band I've been reading differing opinions from internet searches so I thought I would pose the question here. I understand the 5GHz is faster than 2.4GHz band but it has much shorter reach. I've read that people suggest not creating a separate SSID because either the device or the tower AE will automatically connect to the faster band. For my example, I have 2 iphone5's and 2 ipad2's along with other various wireless clients.

For the Iph5 and ip2, would it truly connect to the faster band if the SSID was the same? Previously, I didn't give this any thought but my tower AE recently died and I replaced it and in going through the menu noticed that I could give it a separate SSID. Is it the AE that decides which band the device will connect to or the device that decides? I'd imagine that if distance wasn't a concern, you'd always want to connect to the fastest and therefore the 5GHz band, I should crate a separate 5GHz SSID and just have the iphone5 and ipad2 connect to that and only that band correct?

I guess if at some point in the future, I find that the 5GHz is reaching where I need it to, I can always add an Airport Express or another Airport Extreme to extend the network. I would do extend it with a hard wire to the opposite end of the house and extend my network that way. I guess I wouldn't be too worried about the 2.4GHz being extended since it already has a much farther reach but I would definitely want to extend the 5GHz.

Is there anything I need to know in extending the 5GHz band if I create a separate 5GHz SSID in the main Airport Extreme?

 

[chscag]

The choice to use separate SSIDs will depend on your individual setup. However, even if both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands have the same SSID, your device is going to connect to the one with the stronger signal which in all likelyhood will be the 2.4 GHz one. The 5 GHz band is better to use when you're in a crowded network area (living in a condo or apt building) because of the availability of channels and much less interference.

 

[RadDave]

@ halfmonkey - boy, you are really trying to 'overthink' this issue - let your router do its job - I'm sure that you've been reading up on all of the Wi-Fi GHz issues of speed vs. range which unfortunately have an inverse relationship - as already stated by Chscag, the stronger signal over distance will be supplied by the 2.4 GHz band (see the first image below - from the web) - also, there are apps that can help you analyze your home network - I use several but Wi-Fi Explorer is the one I prefer - see the second screen capture from my MBPro (I've blanked out my SSID) - I'm using an older AP Extreme router that broadcasts 4 networks - 2 personal & 2 guest, each w/ 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz frequencies (which you already know) - at the moment, I'm in the den (two rooms away from the router) and am on the 2.4 GHz frequency (highlighted in blue) which has 78% signal strength in that location; my 5 GHz personal broadcast signal is only 50% - I also use this app and walk around the house (and into my computer room where the router is located) to assess the signal strength, so another useful feature. Dave

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