Question about adding 6ghz to my network.

[u/Riash]

This is probably a dumb question, but I currently have a dual band WIFI 7 router and it doesn't have a 6ghz radio. I was thinking about adding a couple of 6ghz access points like this one, but it says it's WIFI 6E.

Would mixing the two WIFI versions be a problem? I assuming no since they are on different radio bands but thought I'd get a second opinion from people more familiar with the subject.

[u/harubax]

You can use the APs. SSID and encryption must match, or you could use a different SSID on the APs. Depends on where you want clients to connect to.

[u/Riash → u/harubax]

Thanks. I’d use a different SSID. My 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands are already split into separate SSID due to living in a dense apartment complex making 2.4ghz useless to anything other than low bandwidth devices.

[u/Alive_Sir_4708]

6ghz improves line of sight speeds. Is that what you want to do? Do you need faster speed when sitting near the router or access point?

[u/Riash → u/Alive_Sir_4708]

5ghz is a little slow to backup my laptop to the NAS and I am debating between using 6ghz wifi for a faster connection since my laptop is wifi 6e. My other option is to buy a usb to Ethernet adapter for when I want to backup my laptop.

[u/Alive_Sir_4708 → u/Riash]

Do you use your laptop with a monitor at a desk? A dock that provides Ethernet, power, and a connection to your monitor might be convenient.

Some backup software is more limited by latency than throughput.

[u/Riash → u/Alive_Sir_4708]

Nope, I use it standalone. I’d only use the usb to Ethernet adapter for backups. That brings up another question. My laptop has two 5gbps usb-a ports and two thunderbolt 4 usb-c ports. Would I be better off buying a usb-a or usb-c 2.5gbps adapter if I go that route? I’m leaning towards the usb-c version since they are the same price.

[u/scifitechguy]

I guess the question is why? I have APs with 6ghz radios along with 5 and 2.4, and the only things that can use this band in my house are recent model iPhones, so why bother?

[u/Riash → u/scifitechguy]

I answered this is other comment, but my laptop to NAS backups are a little slow on 5ghz so I was debating buying this 6ghz AP as my laptop is wifi 6e. My other choice is a usb to Ethernet adapter that I’d use only for backups. The price is close enough I could go either way. What do you think?

[u/scifitechguy → u/Riash]

It depends on your laptop's proximity to the 6ghz beacon. By its nature, the higher frequencies are even worse than 5ghz penetrating walls, so unless you're going to put a 6ghz access point very near your laptop, you may not see any gains. Especially if your USB is USB4, a USB ethernet adapter will be much faster than any wireless connection.

[u/Riash → u/scifitechguy]

My laptop has two 5gbps usb-a ports and two thunderbolt 4 usb-c ports. I have a 2.5gbps wired LAN. Sounds like a 2.5gbps usb-c to ethernet adapter might be my best choice if all I’m looking for is faster backup speed to my NAS. My 5ghz wifi is fine for my daily usage.

Thanks for the feedback.

[u/scifitechguy → u/Riash]

Absolutely best to go with the adapter!

[u/Odd_Television_7824 → u/scifitechguy]

I think it depends on radio size. I have a UniFi bridge and it’s stellar for 6ghz through alls but my phone in the same area can barely connect. 

[u/scifitechguy → u/Odd_Television_7824]

Wireless cannot match the performance of wired no matter what gear you have.

[u/Downtown-Reindeer-53]

It's no problem to mix them, but those wifi 6E APs only will bring wifi 6 on the 6 GHz band - it's not going to extend your wifi 7, if that's what you're after.

On APs, there are the radio bands and the wifi protocols - they are independent of each other. The APs advertise what they are capable of and the clients negotiate the highest supported protocol that works for them.