Qute and range extender

Posted by: JSH on 13 November 2016

Help/reassurance please!

I connect my Qute by wire to a TP Link RE1750 Range Extender.  This is dual band 2.4 and 5GHz.  I do so because if I wirelessly connect to the router (BT Homehub6) , the microwave in the kitchen (between the router ad the Qute) cuts it out intermittently when it is on. A wired Cat6 connection is not possible at the moment

The Extender has the same network name as the router and broadcasts on both 2.4 and 5Ghz.  This seems to work fine with no breakouts.  The Extender web page shows it is connected to the wired client using the 5Ghz band, which i believe is faster, but this can be changed. 

Now the questions (at last!!). 

Is that the right band to connect the Qute to by wire, or should I change it to 2.4Ghz: I seem to recall the Qute uses the 2.4 band and not the 5Ghz, but is that only for wireless?

Does the band make any difference to reliablity or SQ?

Will a 5GHz input damage or overload the Qute in any way?

Many thanks

JSH

Posted on: 13 November 2016 by Bart

It doesn't make any difference at all, as the Qute is connected by wire to the range extender device.  Enjoy the fact that you've solved the dropout issue -- no worries!

Posted on: 13 November 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk
JSH posted:

Now the questions (at last!!). 

Does the band make any difference to reliablity or SQ?

Will a 5GHz input damage or overload the Qute in any way?

Hi, there will be no damage or overload to the Qute. As fas as SQ, no practical difference either, as far as reliability, it depends what else is using your wifi network and what the spectrum is being shared with.. the chances are the 5GHz channels are less busy and so reliability will be increased...its either very old/early or new wifi equipment that works on 5GHz, but 2.4GHz tends to travel further around buildings.

Posted on: 13 November 2016 by David Hendon

Just adding to the earlier replies, as your Qute is connected by Ethernet, it doesn't matter to it what radio frequency your extender uses.  If you were connecting direct to the Qute with wifi, then it has to be 2.4 GHz because the Qute can't see 5 GHz. There is no risk of damage, it's just that the Qute can't tune to 5GHz (rather like a medium wave radio can't tune to FM channels.)

The microwave will be using frequencies near to 2.4 GHz wifi too, so you might find your extender is less affected by the microwave if you use 5 GHz rather than 2.4 GHz for the extender.  But 5 GHz may get blocked by the walls, so what you gain in reliability in one respect, you may lose in the other.

As Simon says, no risk of damage to anything and no effect on SQ either way.

best

David

Posted on: 13 November 2016 by JSH

Many thanks to you all.  Back to the music