5GHz won't load on new Gen5 router
I upgraded yesterday to Gen5 and the HT2000w modem/router. My computers and other devices -- a MacBook Pro, iMac, two iPhones, and two Kindle Fires -- do not see the 5GHz and guest networks. When I reboot the router, then my MacBook does see and can log into the 5GHz network. I then moved 5GHz to the top of the preferences in my network settings. But when I let the computer go idle and then come back a short while later, it's off the list of networks that my computer sees (I didn't test this yet on all the other devices, but it really only matters for this computer, which sits near the router and could best take advantage of what I am told is a faster wifi). It does still see and can use the 2.4GHz network and the extender I connected to that network. But, even there, it has logged me out and I have to "join" it all over again.
When I called tech support, I had to explain what a MacBook Pro is. It went downhill from there. Bottom line: the diagnosis was that my devices are incompatible with this frequency. Which seems obviously wrong. On my Gen4 router, I connected via 5GHz. I've never had a problem with my computer "forgetting" a network or not seeing it at all (I still haven't seen the guest network on any of the devices).
Help!
Right now the only fix for the missing 5Ghz band is to reboot the modem, I am sure Hughes is busy working on a fix to keep that from happening.
Unless there is a specific reason that you need to use the 5Ghz radio, the 2.4Ghz radio is fine, and it's the one most people would be better off using. You don't need a new laptop.
The 5Ghz radio was designed to help in situations where there is interference with the 2.4Ghz frequency, like may occur in apartment complexes and such. It can also transmit data at higher speeds, but the speeds of Hughesnet don't approach anything near where the 5Ghz frequency would be of an advantage in that aspect. 2.4Ghz can transmit up to about 450Mbps, whereas 5Ghz can transmit up to about 1300Mbps. Hughesnet Gen5 tops out at about 50Mbps. When it comes to range, the 2.4Ghz is much better, and is better at transmitting through walls and such. 5Ghz doesn't do this well.
As to why the 5Ghz radio isn't showing up in your options for connection...you got me. It doesn't show up on my laptop or notebook, either, and both can handle 5Ghz signals.
It's possible that your Asus (and my laptop and notebook) automatically defaults to the 2.4Ghz frequency and only shows this when both are available, though this is only a guess and it could very well be wrong. I'm not terribly versed on Wi-Fi, but read about the differences between the two frequencies and why to use one over the other.
