As is the case with most home routers today, my router supports a "5G" network as well as a standard one. Should the SSID be the same for both, or should I two different ones? Does it typically matter? Naturally, I think that I'd want to use the 5G network, but will a computer make such a selection automatically?

(This is a general hardware question, not just Linux.)

Different. There may be a point where it will make better sense to choose one band over the other: overload of clients, 5G does work better with streaming, high bandwidth traffic, signal may be better for either in different areas, ...

Depends on the capability of your router. Many now use band steering which will automatically try to connect first to the 5G side and if it is to "full" will connect as 2.4G. In this case both must have the same SSID. If you do have or want band steering then yes use different SSIDs.

Um... does "5G" refer to 5GHz Wifi here, or something else?

Hi,

My broadband Linksys and Asus wireless routers do identify SSID for each as 2.4 and 5G with a 'RouterName_5G' with the 2.4 just as 'RouterName' to distinguish each. So yes, your broadband wireless router SSID identity should be different for each wireless routers band. Many manufactures have default SSID for their wireless router bands which you can modify as admin to suit your needs. You can set the SSID to not broadcast if that suits you. Just be aware that sniffing and tools to get information available can be had to discover networks. Insure that you have all security methods available to your network. Why invite anyone?
Hope this helps!
Have fun and enjoy.

I have both of the SSIDs on my home router set the same and just let the devices connect to which ever one the client decides on.
Very handy when moving around the house, or going into the backyard. As bandwidth changes it just reconnects to the new strong signal.

I'm speaking of a capability of a home router, not cellular or anything like that.

"Band steering" sounds like the capability that I sort-of expect wireless clients to have – that they would automatically seek out the faster of the two signal options or the stronger. (I assume that the two radio frequency bands are distinct.)

@michaelk: I assume that you intended to say "if you do not want band steering ..." Correct?

Of course as soon as I got this router I completely ignored (and turned-off) its "easy setup" features, and configured the thing the way that I wanted after updating the firmware. I just wasn't quite sure about this.

Oops.. correct I meant if you do not.

5 GHz has a shorter range then 2.4 GHz which is one reason that it is nice to have it switch as uteck posted.
Since 5 GHz band has wider bandwidth channels and better technology it should faster then 2.4 but there are lots of factors that can affect wireless speed.

Hey sundialsvcs,

Lots of answers here already re: different or same SSID. I use different ones, but it's more a question of preference for me. My routers don't support the technology described by michaelk.

As to whether to use 5 GHz or 2.4 Ghz band ... In my case, 2 factors determine :

• I have a few very old devices that don't support 5 GHz - they only connect to the 2.4 GHz band.
  
  
• Although at closer range, my 5 GHz band generally offers slightly better performance, at longer range (out in the back yard, for example), the 2.4 GHz band has a stronger signal. So I connect to one or the other depending on range.

Cheers,

Rick

I name them differently to make it clear to me which to choose.

@jefro, I guess my basic question is whether I can expect "typical devices" to do the choosing for me automagically. If they are told to connect to network "XYZ," and they can detect two in-range networks with that name on two different bands, will they typically choose among them to suit themselves, with no further intervention from me?

MAYBE.
Depends upon the device and the OS/drivers & config done by the user.

Sometimes using the same name will cause an unstable connection, sometimes it won't. Signal strength is a factor as already noted. The hardware device at each end and software is also a factor.

If it works then good. If not then you will have to troubleshoot and adjust accordingly.

Personally I use different SSIDs.

Yes. "So, what do most OSes and mobile devices actually do, in such a situation?" Let's assume that the situation is not "broken," but I wonder if it's as fast and as reliable as it might be.

For example, let's assume that the two devices are thirty feet away. Which alternative is it (no matter what "it" is ...) most likely to choose? And, will it choose? (If so, how?)

Hi,

I use the Broadband address in
to insure that I get the desired device.

You can easily find the address via cli as root or privileges/path;for your cell/device. As root you can scan nearby cells. Read 'man iwlist' for more information

Of course you can go to the Broadband router admin page if you have the rights to do so. I do have a secure key that is provided to the users of my network. No one but me has router admin rights.
BTW, I am a Slackware64 user.
Hope this helps.

I don't think most will auto connect unless you set it to. If both are set to connect when available then my wild guess would tend to be 2.4G choice.