Is it possible to force wireless client to prefer 5Hhz than 2.4 Hhz?

[Steve Zhou]

Hi experts,

As titled, is it possible? Let's say there is a dual-band (5G & 2.4G) AP in a room, how does wireless NIC choose which SSID to associate with? There must be a criterion before connecting with a SSID.

thanks!

[Saurav Lodh]

Its is not like client wireless card will choose b/w 2.4 and 5Ghz, actually it all depends on the wireless standard, the antenna supports. If the radio is operating on
802.11a which has 2.4Ghz operational frequency, similarly
802.11b> 2.4 Ghz
802.11g> 2.4Ghz
802.11n> 2.4/5 MIMO
802.11ac> 5Ghz,

Then if the Client Card supports( made to work)) on the same standard the AP radio is currently using, client can scan and connect to it.

[SebastianLimke84]

Hi!

In the preferences of my NIC, I can choose a prefered radio (like you can see in (german)attachment).
 

[George Stefanick]

The problem with letting the client decide is that each client will do their own thing. Best just to have a 5ghz wlan and call it a day. If you need 2.4ghz then have a 2.4 only network ..

[Steve Zhou]

Do you know that does Mac computer support this option?

[George Stefanick]

No, not a standard. Vendors on clients and infrastructure vendors tune this, but in the end I find it to be problematic. 

[Stephen Rodriguez · Accepted solution]

There are different criteria based on who's chipset, have you tweaked the defaults, what driver version etc.

We can't "force" a client to prefer anything, what AP and band the client joins is purely the clients choice.

However, if you have dual band clients you can enable Band Select under the WLAN. 

Band select will suppress probe responses on the 2.4GHz radio, if the AP is hearing probe request on the 5GHz radio.

The only way to "force" that is to go into the driver settings of the WNIC and set it to be 5GHz preferred there. but do remember that is not just for work that is for ALL wireless.

HTH,

Steve

[Steve Zhou]

Is Band Select is 802.11 standard feature, or is it a vendor-specific feature?