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Can I run 802.11n on 5ghz on a 802.11ac router

davidst95

Hi, I'm looking at buy new routers.    Can I run my older laptops at 802.11n on the 5ghz channel along with 802.11ac?   Thanks.

 

David

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802.11N can operate on both the 5GHZ frequency range or the 2.4 range (this is called mixed mode when on 2.4) 

Most AC routers support running either frequency. 

 

Realistically the AC routers are "All inclusive" you pretty much can not go wrong with them it will support whatever you have you just may be over-paying if you cant fully utilize those features.

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Hi, I'm looking at buy new routers.    Can I run my older laptops at 802.11n on the 5ghz channel along with 802.11ac?   Thanks.

 

David

Wireless AC is backwards compatible (Or can be, depending on how you configured your router, but by default it is).

 

What that means is that the legacy 5 GHz wireless standards can all connect to your AC router. That includes 802.11a 5 GHz, and 802.11n 5 GHz.

 

However, please note that when a single 5 GHz Wireless N device connects to the 5 GHz AC network, the entire 5 GHz AC network will drop down to Wireless N speeds. (Unless this has been fixed in recent years? If so, please provide source).

 

But the TL;DR is Yes. Yes it will work.

 

Edit: Errr. you never actually specified if your older laptops were running 5 GHz Wireless N wifi cards, or 2.4 GHz Wireless N wifi cards.

 

In any case, basically every Wireless AC Router has a 2.4 GHz Wireless N radio in it as well. Wireless AC ONLY operates at 5 GHz.

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