So, as soon as I preordered my 6 Plus, I upgraded my wireless router to a new flagship 802.11ac model. Problem is, there's no way to prioritize wireless networks on the iPhone. And since the 5GHz AC signal range is shorter than the 2.4GHz N range, my iPhone always eventually moves from the AC network to the N network because the N signal is stronger. I was really hoping to take advantage of the AC speeds, but unless you're in the same room with the router (rarely for me), iPhone prefers the 2.4GHz band.
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Don't bother with wireless AC
- Thread starter Patrick G
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What router?
On my Asus AC66U, set X for 2.4GHz and Y to 5GHz. Only have Y setup on the 6+ so it always only connect to Y.
I have one. They are the best. Signal is better than any other router I've used (mostly high-end Netgear models). I get AC even though I'm on second floor, opposite end of house from where the router is. Depends on the size of your house. If you got a mansion, then obviously the signal won't be 100% everywhere.
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I think the point is to name them differently and only setup the AC one on your iPhone. That way it can't connect to any other network SSID.
Best router I've ever owned. Range is great for me; I live on a five acre hobby farm and the signal has a great radius within my property.
Don't let your iPhone know the password to the 2.4ghz network and it won't be able to join it. There is a chance, and you'll need to test in your own situation, that you might get faster speeds from the 5ghz with less signal.
I definitely disagree with the OP. My iPhone 6+ has been on my AC router's 5ghz band for 3 days without problems. Granted my house isn't enormous (standard 2 story) but it works just fine.
I definitely disagree with the OP. My iPhone 6+ has been on my AC router's 5ghz band for 3 days without problems. Granted my house isn't enormous (standard 2 story) but it works just fine.
Linksys WRT1900AC
Setting up only the 5GHz band on the phone is an option, but not sure if I'm ready to do that yet. I like having the other band as an automatic backup/failover.
That is usually a feature of the wireless access point and not the end device. The Cisco Meraki MR Wireless Access Points have a feature called Dual band operation with Band Steering. Band Steering detects clients capable of 5 GHz operation and steers them to that frequency, while leaving 2.4 GHz available for legacy clients. I ordered my iPhone 6+ on release day at 5am PDT from Apple online store and am not scheduled to receive it until October 20. When I do receive it I can test it on the Meraki MR34 wireless access points at work and the one I have at home.
Well that's an odd rationale to make a blatant recommendation for EVERYONE over
The subject line won't accommodate a fully-qualified recommendation. ;-)
I agree with op. I love in a small one story home and the 5ghz network is basically line of sight. If I can't see the router then I don't have any signal. The higher frequencies are terrible at penetrating walls. This isn't necessarily an AC thing though
This is so situational and router dependent. I have an R7000 Nighthawk on my second floor and it makes it through 3 walls and the upstairs floor to my downstairs rooms with 3-4 bars signal all day long. Smallnetbuilder is an excellent resource to see which routers are better performers, and perhaps where your own router falls on the list.
Out of curiosity, what were you hoping to do to take advantage of the AC speeds? Unless you're connecting to something on your own local network and transferring a crap ton of data then you're probably not going to see any speed difference between AC and N (or even G, for that matter). If you're just using it for internet access then your internet connection is the bottleneck, not your wireless connection.
1. Noticeably faster web browsing (my internet connection is not always the bottleneck)
2. LAN video streaming
My iPhone pulls 120mbps down via speedtest.net anywhere in my house on the 5ghz band with my asus AC56R router. Couldn't be happier.
Some of the faster broadband/DSL packages will saturate 802.11G and single band N. Mine saturates dual band N and with Apple's AirPort Extreme AC, my ISP is no longer the bottleneck.
Same here. And I get better signal on 5Ghz with the 6 than I did with the 5S.
I agree it is. And I am definitely aware my router is not the best, not even close (AirPort Extreme), possibly towards the worst of the AC routers-- performance wise
I use separate names between my 2.4 and 5ghz bands... The only thing on my 2.4 is my nest thermostat.
Come back when you're using a Airport Extreme before you make threads called "Don't bother with wireless AC". What a joke.
