What sets a dual band wireless adapter apart from a normal wireless adapter?

thesuperguy · Oct 20, 2013

I know what dual band routers are, but I'm starting to get curious what a dual band wireless adapter is. Does the adapter allow you to connect to both frequencies of a dual band router and use them simultaneously? And if so, why not just get a 5ghz band adapter and do all your networking tasks on the faster band while ignoring 2.4 altogether.

ex_bubblehead · Oct 20, 2013

Dual-band allows for full-duplex operation, one band handles the downstream, the other upstream. Single band is single-duplex only (roughly 1/2 the rated throughput). In addition, not all devices are capable of operating at 5GHz.

thesuperguy · Oct 20, 2013

But wouldn't performance be capped by the bandwidth before you would be able see a significant difference?

Pinhedd · Oct 20, 2013

thesuperguy :

Dual-band access points can support multiple wireless standards on separate frequency bands. This is particularly relevant to 802.11n which supports operation on both the 2.4Ghz band and the 5Ghz band.

A wireless access point that is tuned to 2.4Ghz will be able to fully support 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. However, the 2.4Ghz band is very noisy due to a large number of consumer electronics operating in this range (including microwave ovens). When 802.11n is used in the much cleaner 5Ghz band the performance is much better. The 5Ghz band is also used by 802.11ac and the much older 802.11a.

In summary, a dual band router allows for an 802.11 station (the computer) to negotiate an 802.11n connection in the 5Ghz band if its supported by both the access point and the station where it will be free from the interference that is endemic to the 2.4Ghz band.

Newer dual band routers also allow for 802.11ac on the 5Ghz band.

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What sets a dual band wireless adapter apart from a normal wireless adapter?

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