Wi-Fi issues with 5 GHz

We are all accustomed to difficulties with access to Wi-Fi when out in public, but we expect not to encounter problems in your home. Photograph: Frank Baron to the guardian

I have a Linksys WAG320N router wirelessly connected to a Linksys WMP600N PCI adapter on my desktop PC. Both are dual-band using the 802 .11n standard. Many of my neighbours use the 2.4 GHz band, so I decided to move to the 5 GHz band, as no neighbouring user. The problem is that the signal from my router (below) for my desktop (upstairs) are so weak that I sometimes lose connection. I can't move the equipment and prefer to remain wireless rather than resorting to HomePlugs. I've searched for 5 GHz 802 .11n range extenders and high-gain antennas, and found none. Do you have any suggestions?
Neil Richmond

It is true that 802 .11n version of Wi-fi you can use either the usual 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band, or both, and there are reasons why you might want to try the 5 GHz (as already used by 802 .11A). The main reason is that there are so many other devices using the 2.4 GHz – including your neighbours computers and things like microwave ovens – that you have a very slow Wi-Fi connection. Another reason is that you have switched to a internet very fast service and your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection is a bottleneck. You may notice good if, for example, you tried to stream HD videos.

If you do not have a problem, so I would generally not recommended to use 5 GHz. If you have a problem, I would recommend using Linksys WAG320N router in most cases, because it not only has one radio, not two. In other words, you can run it on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, but not both at the same time. Most Wi-Fi devices – such as laptops, internet radios and digital picture frames – only operates at 2.4 GHz. Probably need you Wi-Fi devices, because if you use a WAG320N at 5 GHz to connect to your desktop PC, they do not work.

But the 5 GHz are technically faster, this may not appear in the real-world performance. 5 GHz signal can have about half the range of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, or less. Worse, 5 GHz have more problems with penetrating solid objects such as walls and floors, as you have found. Wi-Fi ' range extenders "seems only to work at 2.4 GHz, so there can't be much you can do this, although you might get better performance from another router.

I have not tried a WAG320N me and it got generally positive reviews. However, PC Advisor speed measured at between 27Mbp and 52Mbps on 10 meters and said: "Subjectively, we found 5 GHz operation of Cisco Linksys WAG320N to give a very slow internet connections feel in 10 m distance". IT added: "Cisco specifications … suggest that Linksys WAG320N on ' 270Mbps» has half the reception sensitivity than by ' 130Mbps '; which in itself is only a quarter of its sensitivity by ' 54 Mbps ' operation. "

Instead of buying another 11n router, I suggest you either install an Ethernet cable or change your mind HomePlug on your system. You say, you can't move the router or the desktop, so there is no real reason to use Wi-Fi. A good quality Ethernet cable will far outperforms the Wi-Fi in your situation, and be more reliable. If you live in an area where Wi-Fi spectrum is really overcrowded, it will also help your neighbors.

If you cannot install a cable, then I think you should try a couple of HomePlug adaptor. These plug into sockets and send your internet service over Parliament's grid system of electricity cables. In my experience, using a little old Solwise HomePlug 85Mbps Turbo units, this system works very well. Many companies now offer 200Mbps versions, such as the Netgear XAVB2501 Powerline AV + 200. Some have launched 500Mbps units, such as the Solwise 500AV and Netgear Powerline AV 500. AV models are "optimized for high definition streaming media".

The main arguments against HomePlug use concern radio interference and the Radio Society of Great Britain has been campaign against the use of PLT (Powerline telecommunications). RSGP says that the Home Powerline devices have the same failing: "Radio spectrum pollution which cause significant interference to radio reception in the area of the device." I can say is that I used them had any noticeable effect on the radio reception in my house.

With Wi-Fi and other data communications systems, the actual data transfer (including overheads) is never going to match the quoted "link rate", and it can be much lower. For example, you can get 22Mbps from a 54 Mbps Wi-Fi connection. I expect you to have at least two occasions, from 200Mbps AV HomePlugs, although it depends to some extent on the quality of your fire mains cabling. Again, I have not tried this myself, but I expect a few 200Mbps AV HomePlugs to handle the speed of an "up to 40 meg" broadband connection such as BT infinity.

You can also buy HomePlugs with built-in Wi-Fi, so that you could use a HomePlug underneath to give a Wi-Fi signal on top. A device such as the Solwise HomePlug Wireless N Extender 9 PL-200AV-PEW-N) should make it possible to get a good Wi-Fi networks upstairs, although probably spec not at 2.4 GHz – says. This would help you, of course, but other readers may find it useful.

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