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Anyone been able to connect to a 5GHz WiFi network witht the Galaxy Nexus?
Forcing the "Wi-Fi Frequency band" setting to 5GHz only just results in an empty list of available networks, despite the phone being sat underneath a very decent enterprise-grade dual band AP (Ruckus 7363, Atheros chipsets). Have tried a bunch of different channels on the Ruckus AP (in both the 36-64 and 100-136 range) and switched between 20 and 40Mhz channel widths to no avail.
As far as I can tell, the Galaxy Nexus uses a BCM4330 chipset should have a 5GHz amp, would be ashame if there's no 5GHz antenna for it?!
Chris.
My bad. Think I was changing channels on the wrong AP when testing out 5GHz earlier.
The Galaxy Nexus does indeed support 5GHz, albeit on a limited number of channels (connecting at a 65MBps maximum datarate):
36
40
44
48
Just to finish up on this: After a bit of testing with an iPhone 4s (which also uses the same BCM4330 chipset and has no problems with any 5GHz channels), I'd guess that the GN's apparent limited support for 5GHz wifi is down to a software issue.
Basically the channels it supports are the ones that don't require DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) to be enabled on the AP, for use in the US (Europe apparently doesn't care about DFS).
I'd guess that the driver as is doesn't support interop with DFS (which I'd assume should be an AP-side function anyway) and rather than trust me that I'm in Europe, it just prevents those channels from being used.
Ashame, as it means 5GHz support is basically broken when it comes to using it with 'enterprise-grade' kit (not sure if consumer APs generally support DFS or not).
it should work with 5 Ghz WiFi
even the SGS2 works with 5 Ghz WiFi
at home i can connect using my 5 Ghz WiFi
chriscole said:
Just to finish up on this: After a bit of testing with an iPhone 4s (which also uses the same BCM4330 chipset and has no problems with any 5GHz channels), I'd guess that the GN's apparent limited support for 5GHz wifi is down to a software issue.
Basically the channels it supports are the ones that don't require DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) to be enabled on the AP, for use in the US (Europe apparently doesn't care about DFS).
I'd guess that the driver as is doesn't support interop with DFS (which I'd assume should be an AP-side function anyway) and rather than trust me that I'm in Europe, it just prevents those channels from being used.
Ashame, as it means 5GHz support is basically broken when it comes to using it with 'enterprise-grade' kit (not sure if consumer APs generally support DFS or not).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm...there's something odd going on with my GN with 5Ghz Wifi - I have a couple of Netgear routers 802.11N running on channels 36 and 44 and the GN connected no problems for the first few hours, but now it just won't grab an IP address. I've resorted to the G channels on 2.4Ghz, but have no idea why the handset suddenly won't pick up an IP on the 5Ghz even though I'm getting 'excellent' reception.
Any ideas? I've rebooted the phone and the network. The Mac and the iPad are the other devices on the 5Ghz and they're fine...
chriscole said:
I'd guess that the driver as is doesn't support interop with DFS (which I'd assume should be an AP-side function anyway) and rather than trust me that I'm in Europe, it just prevents those channels from being used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you check if it's not just your Regulatory domain settings that are wrong? I don't have a GN yet so I can't check but used to be under Advanced in Wifi settings.
chingf0rd said:
Hmmm...there's something odd going on with my GN with 5Ghz Wifi - I have a couple of Netgear routers 802.11N running on channels 36 and 44 and the GN connected no problems for the first few hours, but now it just won't grab an IP address. I've resorted to the G channels on 2.4Ghz, but have no idea why the handset suddenly won't pick up an IP on the 5Ghz even though I'm getting 'excellent' reception.
Any ideas? I've rebooted the phone and the network. The Mac and the iPad are the other devices on the 5Ghz and they're fine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works fine on my Netgear WNDR3700, weird.
animaleyes76 said:
Works fine on my Netgear WNDR3700, weird.
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Click to collapse
It's very strange (I've got older DNDR3300 and WNDR3300 in the house) - it can see the SSIDs for 5Ghz, but just won't allocate me an IP address...I've looked at the wifi diagnostics through the *#*#info#*#* and there's nothing I can really do. I'm taking the thing back to '3' tomorrow.
chingf0rd said:
It's very strange (I've got older DNDR3300 and WNDR3300 in the house) - it can see the SSIDs for 5Ghz, but just won't allocate me an IP address...I've looked at the wifi diagnostics through the *#*#info#*#* and there's nothing I can really do. I'm taking the thing back to '3' tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tried allocating it an ip address manually in the router, basically forcing dhcp to allocate a specific one? Did you try connecting with no encryption as well (def worth a go)
animaleyes76 said:
have you tried allocating it an ip address manually in the router, basically forcing dhcp to allocate a specific one? Did you try connecting with no encryption as well (def worth a go)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup - did all that. turned off encryption, added guest networks, turned off DHCP and entered manual IPs. The GN picks up the G and obtains the IP address no problem, but it just won't with the N...
chingf0rd said:
Yup - did all that. turned off encryption, added guest networks, turned off DHCP and entered manual IPs. The GN picks up the G and obtains the IP address no problem, but it just won't with the N...
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Click to collapse
Bummer. assumed you would have had done all that..
Just to add to the body of knowledge surrounding this. I have an Airport Extreme (Gen2), which had a recent firmware upgrade. This set it's automatic channel selection to use channel 100 - which my GN could not see. It took a downgrade from 7.6 to 7.4.2 for it to use channel 36 - and now I'm happy and connected. (I have other b/g APs in the house, but its nice to be on the fastest!)
clotheyes said:
Just to add to the body of knowledge surrounding this. I have an Airport Extreme (Gen2), which had a recent firmware upgrade. This set it's automatic channel selection to use channel 100 - which my GN could not see. It took a downgrade from 7.6 to 7.4.2 for it to use channel 36 - and now I'm happy and connected. (I have other b/g APs in the house, but its nice to be on the fastest!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was it a case that the GN could not see your network at all before?
I mean, my GN can 'see' the N networks, it just won't grab an IP - it just says 'Saved, secured WPA2 etc...' and will not obtain an IP.
I'm gonna replace the handset soon anyway with the volume 2g problem.
For reference: The 5Ghz spectrum isn't required to use N-based routing. It'll give you a bit more distance and speed, but not very much (think in the range of an extra ~10%). It's a misconception that 5Ghz is the only way to use the N-band.
As far as distance goes, that shouldn't really matter for your phone unless you're on the absolute fringe of the range. As for speed, you'll absolutely never notice a difference using a phone. The only time you'd notice a difference in speed is when transferring large files from computer to computer (or if your data connection is upwards of 25Mbps, but this wouldn't matter for the phone, either).
OK, if this is just for reference, we'd best get it right ;-) All slightly off topic, but it goes someway to explaining why having the GN support for all the 5GHz channels would be useful.
Signal propagation at 5GHz is generally worse than at 2.4GHz. All other things being equal (xmit power, antenna gains, interference, etc) a 5GHz signal will actually have less range than a 2.4GHz one.
The 2.4GHz/5GHz issue isn't so much about range or relative throughput in the best case scenario. It's about the worst case scenario - what happens to your speed when there's interference.
The 2.4GHz band has three, useful, non-overlapping 20MHz channels (1,6 and 11). 5GHz has around 19 non overlapping 40MHz channels (of which the Galaxy Nexus supports a measly four) *and* a scheme for dynamically avoiding interference on-the-fly (DFS).
This translates into significantly more stable performance on 5GHz compared to a congested 2.4GHz band (as it is in most built up urban areas - eg I see about 30APs broadcasting on 2.4Ghz now from my home in central London).
TLDR; If you live in a field - 2.4GHz is fine. If you live in a city, 5GHz is the future.
I'd suggest the following for a good bit of background on WiFi, along with some useful benchmarks showing just why most domestic APs/Wifi routers are crap in any case:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wi-fi-performance,2985.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/571-wi-fi-beamforming-networking.html
Setting my Linksys 610 DDWrt router to channel 36 with a channel width of 40MHZ did the trick. Thanks!
chriscole said:
The 2.4GHz band has three, useful, non-overlapping 20MHz channels (1,6 and 11). 5GHz has around 19 non overlapping 40MHz channels (of which the Galaxy Nexus supports a measly four) *and* a scheme for dynamically avoiding interference on-the-fly (DFS).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone know if the "measly four" is a mistake by the firmware, a regulatory thing or just a hardware limitation?
My router performs best at channel 161 (it's a DD-WRT firmware thing) which means I can't see it on my phone, but I'm fine to access it on both my netbook and laptop.
Just want to thank the OP for this truly excellent thread. I also uncovered that the GN can also connect to the UNII-3 and the 5.8 ISM bands (channels 149-165), which are also non-DFS.
BinkXDA said:
Just want to thank the OP for this truly excellent thread. I also uncovered that the GN can also connect to the UNII-3 and the 5.8 ISM bands (channels 149-165), which are also non-DFS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seconded, I must have missed this post originally. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my GN connected to my Linksys E3000 running DD-WRT on channel 161 (40 MHz width).
chriscole said:
My bad. Think I was changing channels on the wrong AP when testing out 5GHz earlier.
The Galaxy Nexus does indeed support 5GHz, albeit on a limited number of channels (connecting at a 65MBps maximum datarate):
36
40
44
48
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Click to collapse
Thank you very much. Simple, concise, worked perfectly. Cheers mate.
802.11n includes a number of "optional" features, so how much of it does the Galaxy Nexus actually implement?
My Wifi router supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously with different SSIDs, but the Galaxy Nexus only ever sees the SSID of the 2.4GHz AP. So I suppose it does not support 802.11n in the 5GHz band?
Also, even when standing right next to the router, it showed only a 65Mbps connection. Shouldn't that go to at least 150Mbps? And actually higher if MIMO is supported?
If the Galaxy Nexus' "802.11n" doesn't support anything better than 2.4GHz band with 65Mbps, it's a fake - 802.11g does 2.4GHz/54Mbps, so the "802.11n"-support boils down to be effectively nothing.
Has anyone managed to get better Wifi results with the Galaxy Nexus?
i think the gnexus is only supposed to support 2.4ghz band if i remember correctly. i get the same, 65mbps. all is good though i get great speeds and more distance. if 5ghz is in the hardware then software doesn't support it yet.
It does support 5ghz. Go to settings and then press wifi. Press the menu on the bottom right and select advanced. Then, wifi frequency band.
Weird... My WNDR3700 running DD-WRT is setup for 2.4 and 5GHz... My MacBook Pro is connected to the 5GHz SSID, but that is not displaying on my available wireless networks on my GNex...
The wifi settings are set to "auto", but even when set to only use 5GHz, it still doens't list it.
I'm connected to my 5GHz network right now so yes it does support it.
SomEngangVar said:
I'm connected to my 5GHz network right now so yes it does support it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm connected to my 5Ghz network as well, however I'm only seeing 65 Mbps connection speed. Are you seeing a better speed?
Wi-fi performance for file transfers have been pretty abismal. Using the app andFTP and the sftp protocol I can only get about 1300kbps download speeds.
I get a weak WiFi signal on both spectrums compared to my DInc, DX, & DX2.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
My Galaxy Nexus connects to my 5ghz just fine. One problem though, the phone shows signal of my 5ghz lower than the 2.4ghz in the same spot and I'm meters away from my router.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
I have a Cisco E4200 Wireless N Router downstairs, which provides great speed with my Galaxy Nexus. My bedroom is at the other corner of the house, and the signal has poor penetration there. Our house also has poor 3G/4G reception, and in fact, we have to use the Network Extender to get call reliability. So I need to get a better Wireless signal up there.
So, I just bought and installed the Netgear AV200 Powerline Wireless N Extender - the 'base' unit connects to the router downstairs via ethernet, and plugs into a wall socket. The Wireless adapter plugs into a socket in our bedroom, and is able to access the network via powerlines, and generates a strong Wireless N signal.
The problem relates to SSID, signal stength, etc.
Initially, I set up the Netgear adapter to use the same SSID and passphrase as the Cisco Router. Using WiFi analyzer, I can see this signal and it's strong. But my GNexus doesn't connect to it, but remains connected to the 2.4GHz signal coming from downstairs, even though it is much weaker.
I then created a different SSID for the Netgear Wireless Adapter, and a corresponding new WiFi connection on my phone, and it connects fine and gets great signal. But it doesn't seem to want to switch from the weaker downstairs signal, to the stronger upstairs signal, when I go upstairs. I have to manually switch.
So:
Is there any way to configure things to use the same SSID, and have my phone seamlessly switch between the 2 signals, using whichever is the strongest? Why isn't working to begin with?
Or, is there someway to configure the phone so that it readily switches to whichever SSID has the strongest signal?
If this needs to be posted elsewhere, please suggest where.
Thanks.
I cannot speak to the capabilities of Linksys by Cisco gear, but what I can tell is how we combat this issue in a "WiFi dense" area such as stadiums or hospitals. On all of Cisco's enterprise level products, you have the ability to disconnect any client that drops below a certain speed/signal (thus pushing to a closer AP with better signal). So, it a large, WiFi dense area, we would push all clients off an AP that were connecting at say, less than 24Mbit/s in a G environment.
You can try to see if your Linksys product supports that but I doubt it. Maybe a 3rd party firmware is available for your Linksys like DD-WRT that can offer that capability.
The downside to WiFi is, once a client connects, it holds on for dear life.
Thanks for the reply frogskins.
I looked through all the Cisco Router's settings and don't see anything that would enable what you're suggesting.
With a little more observation, it does appear that, with different SSID's at present, my phone will eventually switch to the stronger signal on its own, but it takes a while. As you said, it seems to want to "hold on" but eventually comes to its senses!
Any other thoughts on this, or how to use the same SSID, and have it switch seamlessly? With the same SSID, WiFi Analyzer showed both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands from the Cisco Router, and also the slightly different (2.6 GHz?) band from the Netgear adapter, all with the same SSID, but my phone didn't seem to be using or accessing the Netgear band, even though the signal was dramatically stronger.
Thanks.
G products should all fall within one of the 11 channels allocated within the 2.4GHz range. N products can do either 2.4 and 5Ghz. You should definitely not see anything in the 2.6 range on Wifi Analyzer.
Another thing you could consider is: does the Linksys support external antennas? By using higher gain dipoles or even directional antennas you can boost signal coverage in distant areas of a house or office without using the wireless extender. Lastly, usually products from the same manufacturer work best, ie Linksys AP and Linksys extender. Even though 802.11n is a standard now, interoperability is still an issue.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Having the same SSID in different devices isnt going to make the phone switch from one to the other. You need to set up one device as an "extender" of the other, if you have already done this, then disregard this post and there is nothing you can easily do to fix your problem as you are running two different networks.
I know for my apple wireless routers, one unit is the base and my second and third units just grab the main signal and extend its reach.
bpowder1966 said:
Having the same SSID in different devices isnt going to make the phone switch from one to the other. You need to set up one device as an "extender" of the other, if you have already done this, then disregard this post and there is nothing you can easily do to fix your problem as you are running two different networks.
I know for my apple wireless routers, one unit is the base and my second and third units just grab the main signal and extend its reach.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I configured the Netgear Wireless adapter with the same SSID and passphrase as my Linksys E4200 Router.
Is there some other step, on other device, so that the Netgear device is seen as an "extender"?
Also - someone else suggested that the two devices with the same SSID and passphrase must be on separate channels in order for this to work - is that correct?
DLCPhoto said:
Also - someone else suggested that the two devices with the same SSID and passphrase must be on separate channels in order for this to work - is that correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is 100% correct. Even though most WiFi AP's allow you to select channels 1-11, the only channels that do not overlap at all are 1,6 and 11. To prevent the signal from one device degrading the signal from another, they should be on separate, non-overlapping channels. This goes for any wifi signals you are possible picking up from neighbors, etc too. Run WiFi Analyzer and see what channels would be best to use.
And my apologies, I mis-read your original post. I thought you said the Netgear was an extender, not just another AP. If it is not an extender, then we have other issues to deal with.
frogskins said:
That is 100% correct. Even though most WiFi AP's allow you to select channels 1-11, the only channels that do not overlap at all are 1,6 and 11. To prevent the signal from one device degrading the signal from another, they should be on separate, non-overlapping channels. This goes for any wifi signals you are possible picking up from neighbors, etc too. Run WiFi Analyzer and see what channels would be best to use.
And my apologies, I mis-read your original post. I thought you said the Netgear was an extender, not just another AP. If it is not an extender, then we have other issues to deal with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again.
Regarding the frequencies, WiFi Analyzer shows my Linksys Router as using Channel 11 at 2462 MHz. The Netgear Adapter is shown as using Channel 1 at 2412 MHz. I knew I saw a "6" in there somewhere
The Linksys Router is set to use Channel 11, the Netgear Adapter is set to "Auto" but can be changed to a specific channel if desired.
As for whether the Netgear Adapter is an "extender" or "just another AP" I'll have to confess ignorance. Here's a link to Netgear's page on this:
http://www.netgear.com/home/products/powerline-and-coax/work-and-play/XAVNB2001.aspx
So currently, I have different SSID's for each device, and my phone will switch to the stronger signal eventually, but it seems to take at least 2 to 3 or so minutes to do this.
It makes me wonder that even if I can successfully configure both to the same SSID, if it will switch any faster than this.
Basically, I'd just like to configure things so that my phone quickly and seamlessly switches to the strongest available signal. Any thoughts on the best way to do this, or is it just going to take the phone a few minutes to switch to the better signal?
I've been playing around with WiFi - stock Verizon GN, 4.0.2. Cisco/Linksys E4200 DualBand Router.
Using WiFi Analyzer, my GN sees both 2.4GHz and 5GHZ bands, with the 2.4GHz band being slightly stronger (-46 dBm vs -15 dBm, for example). When WiFi Band Selection is set to Auto, it will connect to 2.4GHz every time. If I change it to 5GHz Band only, it will readily connect to that band.
Using Speedtest.net, I get Download speed of around 6mbps with 2.4GHz, if I force it to use the 5GHz band, I'll get over 30mbps. This was tested 3 times, semi-randomizing the sequence.
The range of 5GHz is obviously less, so it would not be practical to leave it on the 5GHz band only, as I'll need the 2.4GHz elsewhere in my home.
For what it's worth, I'm using Channel 11 on 2.4GHz and Channel 161 on 5GHz. I saw a few threads where only certain 5GHz channels are supported for connection, and those didn't include 161, but mine will connect fine. It's just that it'll go for 2.4GHz when given a choice, and a slight differential in excellent signal strenth.
Is this just the nature of the beast? Anything I can do to have it "prefer" the faster 5GHz band, while allowing it to connect to 2.4GHz when needed?
Hello again
Typically when dealing with 2.4Ghz vs 5Ghz, you would assign different SSID's to each. That way you can control which network you associate with. As you already stated, you understand that 2.4Ghz has a greater range than the 5Ghz network.
As we discussed before in the other thread, wifi likes to hold on. However, it will show a preference to 2.4Ghz bands when signal strengths differ.
frogskins said:
Hello again
Typically when dealing with 2.4Ghz vs 5Ghz, you would assign different SSID's to each. That way you can control which network you associate with. As you already stated, you understand that 2.4Ghz has a greater range than the 5Ghz network.
As we discussed before in the other thread, wifi likes to hold on. However, it will show a preference to 2.4Ghz bands when signal strengths differ.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very interesting, thanks for the information! I also have the same router and when I return home tonight, I will assign a different SSID to the different bands.
Thanks!
i have two names for my WiFi at home: sausage fingers (2.4) and because racecar (5) lol
frogskins said:
Hello again
Typically when dealing with 2.4Ghz vs 5Ghz, you would assign different SSID's to each. That way you can control which network you associate with. As you already stated, you understand that 2.4Ghz has a greater range than the 5Ghz network.
As we discussed before in the other thread, wifi likes to hold on. However, it will show a preference to 2.4Ghz bands when signal strengths differ.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny running into you here!
I can play around with using different SSID's, but I'm guessing my GN will still choose the 2.4GHz if given the choice, since its signal is a bit stronger. If that's the case, then I'd have to manually have it connect to the 5GHz band anyway, little different from my current situation.
Too bad the WiFi settings don't allow us to prioritize our connection preferences.
Thanks again.
Please ignore this post.
I have a similar experience
sent from my googletron
Just to provide some follow-up here, I was able to more or less improve the situation.
On my Linksys E4200 Router, I changed the SSID on the 5GHz band, and removed the SSID oif the 2.4GHz band on my GNexus. So downstairs, it will automatically see the 5GHz band, and will connect to that, providing superior throughput.
I have the Netgear Wireless Adapter upstairs also on a different SSID (this is a 2.4GHz band), and when I go up there, the 5GHz signal is pretty weak, and so my GNexus switches to this fairly quickly. Not immediately, but pretty quick.
When I return downstairs, same thing - it will switch to the 5GHz signal reasonably quickly, especially if I sit down at my Computer, which is just underneath the Linksys router.
Hope this might be of help to somebody.
simple question does the phone support 5ghz band, im asking because the area i live in is quite crowded on 2.4ghz band.In CM10.2 i can see there is a 5ghz option on wifi settings but there are no 802.11ac routers so i cant test it out
Levent2101 said:
simple question does the phone support 5ghz band, im asking because the area i live in is quite crowded on 2.4ghz band.In CM10.2 i can see there is a 5ghz option on wifi settings but there are no 802.11ac routers so i cant test it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SoC is capable on 2.4/5GHz on 802.11a/b/g/n but not ac.
5GHz can work on 802.11a/n... It not a 11ac exclusive band, it being around for awhile.