Hardware :: Fixing Dual Band Airport Extreme Speed?
Jun 24, 2010
I have been having a long term problem with my dual band airport extreme...
The good news - the 5 Ghz band works great - I get very consistent download speeds of around 12.5 Mbps on my MacBook Pro.
The bad news, its not the same story with the other band. The speed is somewhat inconsistent and generally very slow - usually around 1-2 Mbps on my Macbook pro (although I did do one speedtest that got 8Mbps - def the exception though). On my iPhone 3g and my new iPhone 4, I am yet to get a speed greater than 1Mbps (and its been as low as 220 Kbps) its always slower than the 1.5 Mbps I get over 3g!
Can anyone tell me what the problem might be and how I might go about troubleshooting/fixing it?
I set up my new airport extreme today, but I have a concern. Obviously it supports dual band, but how do you set that up? I don't think I'm transmitting in wireless n because my iPod touch works fine on the network. I only see one wireless network. Does this mean I'm not transmitting in wireless n, or am I?
I have the newest AirPort Extreme that transmits simultaneously in 2.4GHz and 5GHz. It's been great. My speeds have jumped 2-3x what they were before I upgraded to this router. Now, I'm getting 28-30MB per second download speeds. Before this I was getting 8-10MB per second.
But, I have a problem. My MBP connects great to the AirPort Extreme (802.11n at 2.4GHz or 5GHz). One PC desktop works great with the AirPort Extreme (via Ethernet). And, I have another PC laptop connecting at good speeds (802.11g). But, I have one other PC that sees and connects to the Airport Extreme signal (802.11g) but nothing happens. It's like a garden hose with very little to no water. The signal strength is very strong and, again, the computer DOES recognize the signal. It's an XP desktop (4 or 5 years old) with an 802.11g card inside.
Any thoughts as to why I have this problem with this one computer? It connected fine with my prior wireless router. It's a new problem.
By the way, the Airport Extreme is setup with all of the normal defaults and "automatic" settings, WPA2, etc. My cable provider is Comcast and the router gets it signal from a new modem. There are no other
I'm having issues getting my new XBOX 360 Slim to connect to my dual-band Airport Extreme when using wireless n. I can get it to connect with n but my connection speed on the 360 drops to 1 or 2 mbps, even though the signal remains strong. I can see the speed drop of the 360 using Airport Utility on my laptop. All other devices on the network are fine. When I switch the 2.4 GHz band on the AE to b/g only, then the connection speed on the 360 shoots up to 54 mbps. That of course neuters the rest of my wireless n devices to g speed since most connect to the 2.4 GHz band due to the limited distance of the 5 GHz band.
Short of finding a solution, my next step is to try a different router brand. I'd rather stick with Apple, but have had more issues with 2 AE models than all of my other Apple hardware combined.
I have an Airport Extreme with Dual Band Networks, and an airport express 802.11n edition. I have setup the Base station to do N,A,G,and B Networks, but I only want the express to EXTEND the G Network. How can I make that happen?
I am looking to get a AirPort Extreme base station and use the dual radio modes. However, there are some peripherals like printers and game consoles that will not run on the 5 GHz band. Could anybody please tell me if the router allows sharing between both bands or just in each individual band?
Anyone have the new Airport Extreme? I have a question about the new features.
I'm interesting in picking one up because I've been looking for a good 802.11n router for awhile, and the simultaneous dual-band radios plus the guest networking feature are the real sellers for me. Both those features exist in part on other routers, but I'd have to put in a lot of work in a DD-WRT compatible router to get them both to work properly.
My question, though, is can both the dual-band radios and the guest networking feature be run simultaneously? It seems that from a hardware perspective, the easiest way to get a second network and SSID running would be to use the second radio, which precludes the dual-band feature. Does anyone have the new Airport Extreme yet? Can you run both at the same time?
I have a simultaneous dual-band AirPort Extreme base station running software version 7.5 and can't find the software install disk it came with. I reinstalled Snow Leopard onto my mini and it has AirPort Utility 5.4.2. When I try to connect to the AEBS, I get a pop-up stating that a newer version of AirPort Utility is needed, but I can't find anything newer than 5.4.2 on the Apple download site. Does anyone know if Apple has the AirPort Utility software that works with this hardware/software available somewhere?
I just bought a new Time Capsule and an Airport Extreme. Both are the newfangled dual-band type. At the moment the AEX is the main base station, connected to my DSL modem in the Living Room. The TC extends the AEX network and is in my office.
The instructions suggest the TC should not be a network client and rather be the main base station, and to make the AEX extend the network. How much difference will there be in Time Machine performance between the two topologies?
I would really prefer having the TC in my office, so I can attach via gigabit ethernet to the TC when I'm working there with my MBP. I cannot move the DSL modem to my office since I don't have a phone line there (it's really an upstairs bedroom).
I've been banging my head over this reading over and over multiple different threads but I can't come to any kind of a conclusion if I can do what I'm trying to do with the hardware I have. I realize when you have a g device connected to an N-network it drops the connection speed down. I was hoping I could get an express to extend the network then put the extreme in N-only and have my mbp connect to that, while the other devices (ps3 and iphone) could connect to the express in g mode. From what I've seen, everything is connecting to the express, including the mbp. Is there no way to force it to connect to the express in N mode? Is there no way I can simulate the functionality of "dual band" with just an extreme and an express?
My current network in my apartment is as follows: - cable modem - one G airport express hooked to cable modem & a stereo - another G airport express connected via WDS, attached to a stereo & printer
Except for the convenience of the 2 stereos for airtunes & the location of the printer, there's no need for the 2 airport express devices to be honest
While I have a bunch of G devices, I'm starting to accumulate some N devices, and for what I'm planning, I'd like to make use of the Extreme's gigabit ethernet ports in the location of my cable modem as well (which also happens to be where my TV is, going to set up some sort of media device). At the same time, I'd like to have the airtunes to both stereos and the printer connectivity without having to move either of the stereos or the printer.
I just wanted to verify that I could do what I was thinking here, the network would be structured as follows: - cable modem - extreme hooked to cable modem, broadcasting 2 SSIDs - express hooked to the stereo, connected via WDS on 2.4ghz SSID - express hooked to stereo & printer, connected via WDS on 2.4gz SSID - any N device can connect to the 5ghz SSID but still interact (ssh, etc) with the stereos, printer, and machines on the 2.4ghz SSID - any device on the 2.4ghz SSID can interact (ssh, etc) with the devices on the 5ghz SSID
Is this possible? And even if so, is there a better way to set things up to get what I want
I have tested the WAN to LAN speed and WAN to WiFi speed on Apple's latest Airport Extreme out of curiosity.
The test is done with two Unibody MacBook Pro; one connected to the WAN port, the other to LAN. The test was done over FTP with one of them set as server. A 85MB file was transferred
I recently upgraded to the airport extreme dual band II. I then moved my old extreme (N with gigabit) downstairs. It joins the network that the dual band is running to supply internet to my xbox, game PC, and ps3. The Dual band is running the newest firmware, 7.5.1 and the 5ghz network is very flaky. I have been forced to give the 5ghz a different name and use the 2.4ghz G band most the time. If I am on the 5ghz band my connection will just stop responding. Sometimes it work for an hour, sometimes for 5 minutes. Rejoining the network will make it ok again. Although last night I transferred 30gigs over the N network with no problem. It's not a distance issue since the problem is no better or worse whether I'm 2 or 25 feet away from the router. This is really driving me nuts right now. I just want to have one network setup and have the N devices use 5ghz and the G devices use 2.4 and not have to constantly worry about it.
I have just bought an Airport Extreme and Airport express, as I have quite a large house, so needed to boost the signal (plus its quite a remote area, dont get mobile signal, etc).
I have Airport Extreme connected to the Satellite broadband modem by ethernet cable.. has a green light on and is working and connected fine to my macbook air downstairs..
I have also set up the Airport Express upstairs, which is about 30 ft from the Airport Extreme box (wirelessly) - the airport express is also showing a green light.
The iMac that I have is in a bedroom upstairs and is about 18ft from the Airport Express.. however the signal on my imac is only showing 1 bar on the airport icon on my toolbar on my mac? I was using it for a short while, then I had a message saying I wasnt connected??
Surely the iMac should be picking up the express that is only about 18ft away???
when I check under 'Utilties' and Airport, it is showing the Aiport Extreme and Express on my computer, both showing a green light (that was when I had a faint signal).. It sounds as though, my imac is picking the signal maybe from the extreme downstairs??
Apple on Tuesday refreshed its AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule wireless products by adding a new Guest Network feature and support for simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band networking. Time Capsule drives are now also accessible over the Internet for MobileMe subscribers.
The new Guest Network feature, available on the new AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule, allows you to set up a secondary network for friends and visitors with Internet-only access so you don't have to hand out your WiFi password.
Meanwhile, the new combined 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz mode allows your AirPort base stations to simultaneously support iPhones and other 802.11b/g devices operating at 2.4 GHz, while also broadcasting 802.11n wide signals in the 5GHz band to maximize throughput for notebooks and devices such as Apple TV.
Previous-generation AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule models can only run in one mode or the other, providing either wide compatibility or the highest possible network performance, but not both.
Also new to Time Capsule -- and oddly omitted from any of Apple's press-releases -- is that MobileMe subscribers using Mac OS X 10.5.x Leopard can now now access all of their files on their Time Capsule drive over the Internet.
You need only to register their Time Capsule with your MobileMe account. The Time Capsule drive will then appear in the Finder sidebar of your Mac just like any other attached drive.
"It's like having your own personal file server wherever you go," Apple says.
The new Time Capsule, which combines an 802.11n router and server-grade hard disk for automatic wireless back-up with Time Machine, and is immediately available in two models: a 500GB model for $299 and a 1TB model for $499.
so i have a 802.11n airport extreme, but it just seems really slow... i was streaming a movie from a hard drive i have connected to it and it was choppy and it would cut out, i have it set on 802.11n 5ghz only and i have the latest firmware but im not getting very good throughput.
im thinking of getting a new airport extreme, i have a usb drive and want to use with time machine, easy enough so far.
i currently backup using just the standard usb drive but its not always plugged in & gets annoying so i want to make it simpler but if the speed isn't there, there is no real point.
So the new Airport Extreme has two radios and allows one to use 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz simultaneously with 802.11 a/b/g/n in various configurations on either band. My question is this, can you use different types of encryption for each band/radio or are you forced to use one for all? What I'd like to do is have 2.4 ghz running 802.11 b/g for an older iBook and my iPhone using WEP encryption. Then have 5 ghz running 802.11n using WPA2 encryption. Both will use MAC address filtering to also tighten security a little. Lastly, can the guest login also use it's own type of encryption (or lack thereof) independent of the above?
We have a desktop PC wired into an Airport Extreme and then my macbook pro wirelessly connected. We are both running at the same speed - slower than dial up! I had Time Warner talk me through checking the connection and everything is fine on their end. They said it the problem was airport. I called Apple and was suggested to "change channels" to an odd number instead of using "automatic" through manual set up. Tried that - just as slow. I also upgraded to 7.4.2.
I just got an AirPort Extreme Card from Apple that has been refurbished. I installed it in my G5 and then on power-on, the system hangs before the chime even sounds? I remove it and everything is back to normal...
Information: Power Mac G5 Dual 2GHz Mac OS X (10.5.1) MacBook 2.16, PowerMac G3 B&W, PowerMac 8100 AV, PowerBook 540c, Mac Plus
Have an Extreme base stations and express repeater connected to my DSL services. On my primary iMac connected via ethernet I get 5.25MBps speed. The speed on this computer is always constant. On the remote MacPro I get anywhere from 1.5MBps to 5MPps speed within a half hour of testing.
What does the dual band do for you? I was thinking about buying a second AEBS for Wireless N access only since mixed mode slows down when a G device is connected. Does this new AEBS get around that by having all the N devices at 5ghz and all the G devices at 2.4 ghz? I guess a basic explanation is in order here.
So I see from the product description that the Mac Mini has "built in Airport Extreme wireless N WiFi", but I'm unsure of what that means. Does the Mac Mini have dual band wireless N WiFi, or does it only operate on the 2.4 GHZ band?
I've tried searching, but can anyone point me in the directions of how to set up and Airport Extreme (old) and an DI-524 (D-link) b/g router. I obviously am looking to turn my old AEBS into dual band. The two routers will be connected via Ethernet cable.
[URL:...] over on engadget today was this article, setting up a dual band (for those that havent yet bought apples new extreme). I have a question about doing this. Here is my set up.
1 mac mini - ethernet to router 1 printer, attached to mini, sharing on network 2 laptops using wireless n - main computers 1 laptop using b/g 2 iphones using b/g 1 express b/g to stereo $10000000 to S. Jobs.
will doing this dual band set up essentially mean i have two independent networks? I would like to have my printer, mini, and wireless music appear on all set ups.
I have the wireless N airport base station (not the dual band) and I also have an old airport express (B/G only). Is there any way I can set up my home wireless network so that the express handles all of the B/G traffic and the base stations handles all of the N traffic (thus not slowing down my N stuff with the G stuff). If this is possible, would somebody be able to provide idiot proof, step by step instructions for me.
First, I have a SMC WGBR14-N router that operates only at 2.4Ghz. I have several different routers that are G only. Is there a way I can connect two routers and have one operate at G only and one at N only? That would make my network faster, no?
I have just got hold of an BT HomeHub2 and already have a single band Time Capsule. Having read a few posts it looks as though it's possible to use the HomeHub for my g devices and the TC's n network for my Macs. After hours of playing around I've achieved the following: BT HomeHub set up as one network and able to take g and n clients TC set up as a secondary network but limited to n clients.
My TC is connected to the HH via Ethernet and in Bridge Mode When on the N network the iMac has the same router IP as the iPhone which is forced on the HH network I was hoping that g clients on the HH Network would, via the Ethernet bridge, be able to connect to the clients on the TC n only network. However, with my current set up this isn't happening. My Airport Express which I use for AirTunes is an old g type and my iPhones are obviously g. As a result if my Mac and Mac Mini are on the TC N network then they iTunes can't connect with the Express and apps on my iPhone that connect across wi-fi to the Mini can't do so. Apart from getting a dual band TC is there any way I can get what I want (my Express and iPhones not pulling down the n network to G standards)? I guess I could bite the bullet and get an n AX, leaving just the iPhones dragging things down when they're in use. The reason for me wanting to do this was because AirTunes often cuts out (desired solution wouldn't solve this but TC backups are probably causing heavy network traffic when I'm streaming music), I get a poor wi-fi signal in the garden and iTunes Library sharing between iMac and Mini is unreliable.
I have the latest AEBS dual mode. I want to use my previous non-dual N AEBS as an extension to the dual, but I want to run it in N mode only. When I set the non-dual up in bridge mode, Airport Utility won't let me choose which radio mode to use. Is there a way to set up an extended network which uses N only on the extension?
