5GHz WiFi Network not showing up.

[Flannery Moore]

NOTE: I realise my hardware is quite old. Please don't quip at me for it. Lets focus on the issue at hand.

Well.. here's the basics: I have a Cisco Linksys WMP600N Wireless-N PCI Dual Band wireless adapter, and for some reason my 5GHz Network isn't appearing on my WiFi list.



I'll explain everything in detail below.

Here is my system specifications, according to Speccy:

My network adapters list, according to speccy:

PSU
(Not seen in the screenshot, as Speccy can't detect it.)
750watt Kentek KTPS-750

My network adapter's driver version:

All "Advanced Properties" settings are on their proper values:

My Router's information:
(It's actually one of those new Cisco Wireless Gateway things..)

Proof that my 5GHz network is being broadcasted:

All connected devices on my WiFi:
(I'm the Basement-PC)

And my actual WiFi list on my desktop:

..Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's get started on the "story". I literally just bought this thing not 24 hours ago, and placed it within the PCI slot on my Motherboard. (This is a PCI Adapter, not a PCIe. It's the big, long one.) Upon booting my system back up, Windows automatically detected the new hardware, and attempted to install the proper driver via windows update.

I let it do it's thing, and I decided to test it to see if it worked. It obviously didn't. It picked up my 2.4GHz signal, but not my 5GHz. So, I uninstalled the driver that Windows installed, and went directly to the Linksys site; http://support.linksys.com/en-us/support/adapters/WMP600N, and downloaded the listed ISO, as there was no availible .exe or any other such file to download.

I extracted the ISO, and ran the setup, and let it install. Afterwords, it still would not connect to my 5GHz network....So, I decided it was time to test my Google-Fu skills. I spent close to eight hours scouring the InterWebs for traces of information about why I could not connect to my 5GHz Network.

There were many such queries, other than my own, which also had numerous answers. There were even a few right here on Tom's Hardware. However; I was unable to resolve my issue, even after taking every step that applied to my situation. So I found my way back here, and started typing up this post in the hopes that I would get a response.



_____


So, as you all can see from the above images, everything is configured correctly. I currently reside in the USA, so the country region is set properly; at #7, 36 - 165.

I've made sure to reboot my computer after every install/uninstall and I've tried going into the device manager, and manually attempting to update the driver as well. This hasn't worked either. I've also lugged my desktop upstairs, and sat it literally right next to the Router. It still couldn't pick up the signal on my list.

...You see that "Other Network" on my list? I don't know what that is, but it's always been there. I tried connecting to it as well, thinking it might be the 5GHz Network... but to no avail.

If you guys would like, I can easily take a picture of the adapter itself. Just let me know.



My question is this:
How can I connect to my 5GHz network?
Thank you for taking the time to read through this.

 

[digitaldoc]

I went through your post and your images. So, you have this new router, which is broadcasting on 5 GHz, and a dual band N adapter, and are trying to figure out why you can't make the connection.

This is a situation of mixing standards. Your new router is conforming to the 802.11ac standard, and is broadcasting both on 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz. However, your dual band adapter, is really "draft n" according to its amazon product listing.

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-N-Adapter-Dual-Band-WMP600N/dp/B0028N6VN2

While some N gear did broadcast, and receive on the 5 GHz spectrum, it was always in the background, and it did not connect directly to it as a separate network. With 802.11ac, this changed as the routers broadcast the 2 networks.

You have 2 options:

1- If your speeds are satisfactory with the 2.4 GHz connection, than just use that as there is nothing wrong with using it.

2- Upgrade your adapter to an 802.11ac adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-AC867-Dual-Band-USB-Adapter/dp/B00J0N0Y18/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417753797&sr=1-6&keywords=wifi+ac+adapter

Just be aware, that 2.4 GHz has a longer range than 5 GHz, and goes through walls and floors better.

 

[Paul NZ]

Did you install the drivers from the site for the adapter/s??

Because I had a similar prob, with the dual band adapters here. As soon as I plugged them in windows installed drivers for them. It didnt or couldn't see the 5 ghz connection either. When I installed the drivers from the site, it appeared

 

[Flannery Moore]

I went through your post and your images. So, you have this new router, which is broadcasting on 5 GHz, and a dual band N adapter, and are trying to figure out why you can't make the connection.

This is a situation of mixing standards. Your new router is conforming to the 802.11ac standard, and is broadcasting both on 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz. However, your dual band adapter, is really "draft n" according to its amazon product listing.

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-N-Adapter-Dual-Band-WMP600N/dp/B0028N6VN2

While some N gear did broadcast, and receive on the 5 GHz spectrum, it was always in the background, and it did not connect directly to it as a separate network. With 802.11ac, this changed as the routers broadcast the 2 networks.

You have 2 options:

1- If your speeds are satisfactory with the 2.4 GHz connection, than just use that as there is nothing wrong with using it.

2- Upgrade your adapter to an 802.11ac adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-AC867-Dual-Band-USB-Adapter/dp/B00J0N0Y18/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417753797&sr=1-6&keywords=wifi+ac+adapter

Just be aware, that 2.4 GHz has a longer range than 5 GHz, and goes through walls and floors better.

Wow... thank you for looking into this for me.
I was considering buying a USB 5GHz adapter, but I decided against it, with the thought that an internal (PCI) adapter would perform better, and result in faster speeds. And also because my motherboard does not support USB 2.0 hardware. It's quite old.. so I figured that there would be a compatability issue.


My 2.4GHz "speed" is fine, yes. But the main reason I started looking into a 5GHz adapter instead, was because of the connectivity. My WiFi is constantly being cut off by our Microwave. And then when we turn the TV on, it also seems to interfere with the connection, because my internet becomes unstable when it's on.... and then we have the phones. The wireless handsets cause quite a bit of disruption on their own.


Therefore I want to use the 5GHz band. So again I'll ask another question, in the hopes that you'll reply:
Should I get a USB 5GHz adapter? Or will it not work properly due to the age of my system?
And if that is the case, should I look for a different "newer" 5GHz PCIe Adapter? I do have two PCIe slots in my Motherboard. My old 2.4GHz Adapter is currently connected in one.

And yes, I do realise that the 5GHz signal has a much shorter range. =)

Did you install the drivers from the site for the adapter/s??

Because I had a similar prob, with the dual band adapters here. As soon as I plugged them in windows installed drivers for them. It didnt or couldn't see the 5 ghz connection either. When I installed the drivers from the site, it appeared

...I really wish you would read through everything before replying Paul NZ.
If you had, then you would already have the answer to that query.

 

[Paul NZ]

Does anyone read anything properly in here ? NO

 

[digitaldoc]

There are few PCI cards that are AC standard out, and they will be around $100. I would think this is too expensive to put into this system.

It makes more sense to me to get a PCI add in card that gets you some USB 2.0 ports. These are inexpensive. From there, you can get an AC USB adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Port-Card-Adapter-PCIUSB7/dp/B002VY53ZK/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1417835525&sr=1-1&keywords=pci+usb+2.0+cardhttp://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-Archer-T4U-Wireless-One-Button/dp/B00JBJ6VG8/ref=sr_ob_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417835737&sr=1-12