Would you like the default SSID be the same for 2GHz and 5GHz, or different for each band?
Same SSID, eg. “MikroTik”
Different SSID, eg. “MikroTik-2GHz” and “MikroTik-5GHz”
0voters
As we near the release of our first dual band home routers, what do you prefer? Should the user be able to choose the band he wants to use (when scanning from his laptop)? Or maybe the end user should not be confused with such options, and let the Device OS decide?
For example MacOS chooses the best band automatically, 2GHz or 5GHz, depending on signal quality and other factors. End user might not know the difference between “gigagertz”, so maybe one SSID is easier for home user.
Of course, you will be able to change each SSID (or set them both to same) in Quickset, when you set the password and other things
To clarify, when the laptop is scanning for networks, should he see two SSIDs or one SSID?
For example: configuring both radios with the same SSID and wireless profile, and putting them in the same bridge so the device will choose its best option, or configure them with different profiles maybe in separate networks to offer different kind of services…
[EDIT] I didn’t realize that Normis already wrote that it’s possible to customize the setup. My post is useless
Please do not stick these configuration possibilities to quickset only. Let the administrator freely setup every possible thing how he wants. For home Ap mode in quickset the same ssid and password would be more practical for home users.
This is just a poll for how they tune the default configuration. Of course you can do whatever you want after that.
I’m not using QuickSet at all, but maybe for someone who buys a device like this for the first time will be better to see 2 ssids. Otherwise .. hey I bought a dual ap, why I have only one
I don’t expect that the band steering will be implemented. I guess it will be just device with two independent radios, nothing that we cannot have now if we add more cards to one board. I hope that at least both radios will be dual band to be able to switch them to whatever combination we need and at least one of them will be 3x3 mimo ac. I am really looking forward such device.
I’d like to see band steering done in the device through some sort of access list rules. This would allow you to set the steering based on signal strength etc
That’s the idea, but you may not want to blindly kick them off if the signal on the other frequency is worse again.
The AP needs to know if a connecting device is dual-band. This could already be done by with a script that builds a list of MAC address of connecting devices that if at any stage they register to the 5ghz radio add them to a list, then perhaps exclude that list from connecting to the 2.4ghz radio when their signal strength is ABOVE a certain level because if they have a good signal, then the 5ghz radio should be OK. If the signal is a bit weak, then don’t limit the connectivity options as 2.4ghz may provide better range. Sure, deny authentication with a very poor signal but perhaps don’t also deny forwarding.
The problem with this is if you have a lot of clients - how big will that database of MAC addresses get?
I thought that there is already protocol that instruct the client to use 5g if it is capable of it and connects via 2.4g. This could be implemented in ros. But finally the client decides where to connect on its own. Ap can just do not allow client to connect or kick it out. So there are not so many options…
I would like to have 2 ssid-s, because I can easily connect directly to the band I need (as a user). I think it removes the confusion during telephone support sessions (which is where a “default” configuration should help - which network is your laptop connected to? - Mikrotik-2.4G! - try to connect to Mikrotik5G - Works? -yes - you have interference, stick to 5G).
In a same ssid scenario, you don’t have the possibility to do that, because you don’t know where the laptop/phone is connected.
Another scenario would be to distribute load across radios - tv in 5G, phone in 2G, laptop in 5G etc. With same ssid - you need some advanced knowledge to be able to tell the difference between bands if you have the same SSID.
Of course everybody is free to use whatever setting suits one, but if a user is aware that he needs a different configuration on the router, that already means he knows how to probably change the settings to suit its needs, or at least knows how to use google to find that out.
Some multi-band user devices (such as android phones) don’t readily show you what spectrum the discovered SSID(s) are on. By default I think it should be different SSIDs, it covers more bases and minimizes confusion to some people that way. Then if user wants of course she should be able to change and make both the same.
perhaps as a default and based on above comments, present the two bands as two radios in the quick set, but provide a tick box for band steering that puts them on the one ssid with whatever steering method applied.
Consideration, but take advantage of these products for the home to upgrade the quick page and make sure that from here you can for example open and close the TCP / UDP ports of the firewall in an easy or a little wizard (type router tp-link ) to set up the Internet connection in no time even if you are inexperienced RouterOS?
A lot of friends have given the RB951 if they are perfect, but if they have to open the doors for example for eMule or torrent or ftp call me. If the mode of use is set to “home AP” the quick page these shortcuts easy to use.
