Airport Express Transmit Rate

Hello,
My Airport Extreme (802.11n) has a very high transmit rate of about 128.
I recently got a new Airport Express and to my dissappointment, the transmit rate was only about 39.
I know the Airport Extreme is more powerful, but my old Airport Express (802.11g) also had a transmit rate of around 27-39. Why is my new 'n' Airport Express slow?
Thanks!

The bandwidth of both 802.11n AirPort are identical. The actual throughput or data rate (what I believe you are calling transmit rate) is the bandwidth minus RF wave propagation losses and affects of Wi-Fi interference. Your new 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) may be only providing 39 Mbps due to either of these.
How do you have the AXn configured in your network when you are getting these readings? What utility are you using?

Similar Messages

Will Airport Express transmit sound from an iMac's "DVD Player"?

I am playing a DVD on my Mac’s DVD Player application, and projecting the movie to a screen at the front of the room. Can I wirelessly transmit the sound track to a powered speaker at the front of the room via my Airport Express?

You should be able to if you use a third-party application like Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil.

Data rate slows over time: Using Time Capsule (4th) and AirPort Express (1st)

Time Capsule using Airport Express to extend network.
Over 3-4 days my data rate gradually gets slower and slower until I have to reboot both TC and AE.
Fresh reboot gets me 10Mbs or better for a while and then slows over time to 2Mbs or less.
I can cable directly to the ISP modem, taking TC and AE out of the equation, and its smokin fast
No hair left to pull out, so any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Time Capsule (4th gen) - Model A1409
Version - 7.6.4
Wireless Mode: Create a wireless network
Wireless Security: WPA2
Channel: 149 (Automatic), 11 (Automatic)
Allow this network to be extended is checked
Radio Mode: Automatic
Multicast Rate: Low
Transmit Power: 100%
Use wide channels is checked
Guest Network is NOT enabled
Mac Address Access Control: Not Enabled
Connection Sharing: Share a public address
Using DHCP
One printer attached to Time Capsule
Airport Express (1st gen) - Model A1143
Version 7.6.4
Wireless Mode: Extend a wireless network
Wireless Security: WPA2
Channel: 11 (Automatic)
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You have your wireless channels on auto.. it is usually better to control it.
You will notice I have different names for 2.4ghz and 5ghz.. then I can force the link to either band.
After you set Radio Channel selection to Manual,, click edit. You can then set the channels.
Lock the channels.. ie you take control and you set what the wireless channels will be.. when you extend wireless this works far better. The auto channel system has to run on the Extender.. but since the main base is fixed on the 2.4ghz so it will be also.. the only channel that can flap around is 5ghz (extender) since that is not under my control. Of course it is up to you to determine which channel works best.. I strongly recommend the upper channels for 2.4ghz and the lower channels for 5ghz.
So.. I have set 5ghz to 48 on the main base.. and the auto channel sets it to 149 in the extender.
One strange thing results from my setup .. (amongst many!!)
You cannot name the wireless for 5ghz in the extender.. so in my case the upstairs wireless extender has both 2.4ghz and 5ghz named TC24ghz.. nought that I can do about it. But it is not a big deal.
You can see the result in the wireless diagnostics. The last wireless I have put in the box.. it is named TC24ghz but is in fact running on 5ghz. That is just how the over automated system of the apple routers work.. If I could I would fix it.. and maybe shall via serial console at a later date.

What is the transfer rate of an airport express extreme router?

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Yes it is interesting to look at the speed of technological advance. I first started using an Apple about 30 years ago when they had floppy discs rather than hard drives. Mine had two floppy disc drives so I could work all day without swopping discs (single disc drives needed you to swop the data disc and the programme disc every so often as the Ram on the machine was limited. Since then I have up-graded every 4 to 5 years (approximately every other operating system upgrade)
Before that, in the 1970's we were changing from slide rules to electronic calculators which got steadily better and cheaper. The early Anita Calculator (with valves) cost as much as a small car - now they give simple calculators away with Christmas Cards.
I wonder how much further the technology behind the home computer will go before further advances, like those in calculators, become pointless from the user's point of view. Maybe it will take another 10 years or so but once everything we want to do is incorporated into a voice driven computing device possibly storing data in the cloud, then it will be the reliability of the components that will be the benchmark of a good system and having the latest "fastest" model will be far less important.

Does Airport Express Need an Airport to Transmit Music?

I have an old Airport Express that I spent hours and hours trying to get working. Gave up last year. Am trying again now. I no longer use an Airport base station. I just want to transmit music from my computer to a remote location. Do I need an Airport base station to do this? Thanks.

You don't need an Airport Base Station (or any existing wireless network for that matter).
If you want to use an Airport Express as a standalone device not in association with an existing wireless network: Do a factory default reset of your Airport Express to get it into a known state. Then run the Airport Setup Assistant on your Mac, and follow its guidance to configure your Airport Express as a base station. That's it. Note that you (a) may see an error message to the effect your Airport Express is not able to connect to the internet and (b) the Airport Express status light will always and forever flash amber. Both can be ignored.
The advice above is only applicable if you want to use the Airport Express as a standalone device. If you currently use wireless internet access from a non-Apple wireless router, and if you want to be able to maintain wireless internet access while simultaneously streaming music to the Airport Express, you must configure the Airport Express to wirelessly "join" the existing wireless network created by your non-Apple wireless router.

Extended Airport Express fluctuating data rate

I have a 2012 Airport Express connected to my broadband router in the far corner of the ground floor of my house. The AX has provided faultless service, except for the fact that it's range drops off when I'm up one floor, on the diagonally opposite side of the house.
I bought an extra AX to extend the range of the first. It's set to wirelessly extend.
The problem I've got is that the data rate that the second connects to the first at keeps fluctuating, it can be as high as 144Mb/s, but also drops as low as 1Mb/s.
The RSSI is approx -76 dBm.
I assume that the two Expresses are re-negotiating to try to establish the most stable rate? However, with an average throughput from my ISP of 10Mbps, the low rate can really cause problems.
Can anyone suggest any other reason for the problem?
Thanks,
SPD.

Data links between a pair of express can be very tricky.
I find in my setup that I do need to restart the remote unit every couple of days.
But you need to take control of the system.. to make it as stable as you can. Apple have channels set to auto but also band swapping can take place.
Where you are in a situation where the system becomes unstable step in and take more control.
On the main Express plugged into the router. Set all new names.. short with no spaces and pure alphanumeric.
AX1 say for base name. (second one will be AX2.)
I recommend using different wireless names.. others will disagree but I find it helps.
So AX24ghz and AX5ghz (I am assuming your 2012 is the new gen2 AX)
Set fixed channels.. try 11 for 2.4ghz and 36 for 5ghz to start with.
With your upstairs AX2, you will then set to extend on say 5ghz band.. and give it a try.. see what the connection is like and if you get better transfer speeds.. if so stick with it.. 2.4ghz has better signal penetration but poorer speeds.. 5ghz can work poorly at a distance.. but in my double storey house I find from one end to the other, 5ghz is still faster and cleaner signal.. even though the signal level is lower.
If 5ghz doesn't work well then you will need to stick with 2.4ghz.
Some strange effects come out of all this.. but it is well worth a try.
I have noted when replying to this question.. several times.. that a v5 airport utility makes this easier as it shows more info.. link speed. Apple removed so much info in v6 utility to make your mac look like an ipad.. that it is a shame to call it a utility.. more like a toybox. So if you can possibly run v5 utility do so and you will then be able to track exactly link speeds.
This is my setup.. centre shows the main AP.. with the two each side extending the signal.

New Airport Express and airplay of 96 kHz sample rate

Does the new Airport Express (released this week) support airplay of 96 kHz sample rate music? I'm not sure what part of the old version's architecture was limited to 16/44.1, but am hoping with the newer version they have removed this limitation. The tech specs don't mention specifics about audio resolution. Anyone know?

Unfortunately, the new airport express is still limited to 44.1 kHz for bitperfect AirPlay.
Come on! The Logitech Squeezebox needs a competitor.

Can i transmit music from iphone to airport express without being connected to internet?

can i transmit music from iphone to airport express without being connected to internet? just from phone to express via local network or whatever it's called.

Do you mean Lan cable? Can this be done wirelessly from itunes to airport express without the internet connections? I can't connect to an airport express that's not connected to the internet.

Do I have to have AirPort Express to transmit AirTunes?

My PC is connected via Ethernet (wired) to a Wireless B/Wired Ethernet router. Can I still transmit AirTunes?
Thanks,
Amit Ron

I think your question is then, can it work with your
Belkin router. As long as you realise that with a
Wireless B router will be painfully slow. If you
could at all possibly connect the AirPort Express to
the Belkin by Ethernet (totally by-passing Wireless),
then do it, everything will be 10x quicker and 10x
more reliable.
This is an interesting comment. I believe I have seen other people express the idea that using Wireless B isn't as good. However, in my experience, that doesn't hold true. The wireless network I hook up to is useable by both B & G and it is totally G when only G clients are using the network. My work laptop is G but my music laptop is B. I use the B laptop to broadcast AirTunes and it works just fine.
Now, I'm not an expert in networking, but I believe how it transmits AirTunes is like this: B laptop -> Netgear Wireless router (this is directly hooked up to DSL) -> Airport Express. This is quite a distance because from B laptop to Wireless Router the signal needs to go upstairs and towards the east, then back down again back to my room where the Airport Express is. That is, unless B laptop transmits directly to Airport Express which I'm thinking isn't the case because my Airport Express is acting as a client.

Can an Airport Express be used to transmit directly from a preamp to an amp

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If your need to use the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) to extend the motorpark's wireless, then the answer (most likely) is no. This is because, unless the motorpark's Wi-Fi router is another AirPort, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible to do so.
However, if your intent is just to add the AX as a wireless client, for streaming iTunes and/or share a USB printer, then it may be possible if you know the Network Name (SSID) and encryption password (if one is used) of the router you are connecting to.,

Allowing other audio programs to transmit to Airport Express

I just set up an Airport Express to send iTunes to my home stereo. It works excellent, but I would also like to be able to send audio from some of my other programs as well, such as Audion and Real Player. Is there any way to do this?

Unfortunately - no. There is currently no Windows application available that provides a function similar to what Airfoil provides for the MacOS.

Solution to Airport Extreme Base Station + Airport Express networking probs

I've been investigating this for 3 straight days after inadvertently destabilizing my network. There are tons of posts discussing a variety of issues, all of which seem related. My goal here is to provide links to other relevant posts and explain what I ended up doing to get things to work.
First, the background. You can skip below to SOLUTION if you don't really care... However, I highly recommend you take the time to read everything, as you'll get other useful information in the BACKGROUND section. I'm guessing many of you have similar, related problems so BACKGROUND might help provide context (and solutions) to some things you are seeing...
MY SETUP:
AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) of type b/g (round one, not square one), connects to the cable modem, and creates a WDS network that is then shared across two standard AirPort Express (AEX) units (100megabit, not the gigabit ones). One AEX serves as a relay unit that accepts clients, the other serves as a remote unit that also accepts clients. The intent is to show a single network throughout the house and let users log on to one network and move between networking units without having to switch from network to network.
I have a variety of networked devices throughout the house all running on the same network (2 Mac Pros, a Powerbook G4, a Mac Mini, an Apple TV, a Windows XP laptop, two iPhones, two wifi printers, and a 5-unit Sonos system, plus the AEBS and two AEXs). Yeah, I'm a geek.
The Mac Pros are both running 10.4.11, and the Powerbook is running 10.5.2.
AEBS is running firmware 5.7
AEXs are running firmware 6.3
All Macs were initially accessing configs via the recently released AirPort Utility 5.3.1. More on that later.
BACKGROUND:
I've had this network setup working for about a year now. Recently, I've been having poor network performance problems and came to the conclusion it was a LAN problem (ie. problem with my home network, as opposed to with my ISP). Upon initial investigation, I began by looking at my networking logs (via AirPort Utility 5.3.1). You get to those by selecting the unit in question, choosing "Manual Configuration", the selecting the "Advanced" tab up top with the "Logging and SNMP" sub-tab. Click the "Logs and Statistics" button therein for log details from that unit.
The first thing I noticed was "Administrative access denied to ff80::xxxxxxxxx" messages - a lot of them. I didn't recognize the ff80:: address in question, and so became concerned it was someone outside the network trying to hack one (or all) of the AEBS/AEX units. You can see threads discussing that investigation here:
"Hack or panic?" - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1438486
"Administrative access denied" - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1438865
Long and short of it is that the recent AirPort Utility 5.3.1 release (current as of March 13) seems to have problems (keychain) when attempting to access the AEBS and AEX units. The "Administrative access denied" logs actually refer to the client machine you are using when you try to read the logs. The ff80::xxxxxx address is simply the IPv6 address for the machine you are using; if you turn off IPv6 on your client machine, that address should switch over to begin showing a regular IP address instead (something like 10.0.1.xxx), which makes it easier to associate the IP to the machine. I explain how to deactivate IPv6 on both Tiger (10.4.x) and Leopard (1.5.x) here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6814978#6814978
Anyway, in the process of investigating the "Administrative access denied" problem, I began tinkering with my AEX settings. Specifically, I ended up performing a hard factory reset (unplug unit, plug back in while holding down the little button with paper click/pen for ~10-15 seconds until light flashes green 4x then reverts to amber/yellow/orange). I began reconfiguring my entire WDS network using the newly updated AirPort Utility 5.3.1, and that's when the trouble started.
(If you are having problems seeing either your AirPort Extreme Base Station or AirPort Express, read this:)
In short, each time I thought I had properly configured things and then confirmed settings (kicking off a reboot on the AEX unit) the unit would restart with new settings but not properly join the WDS and not show up in the AirPort Utility list of units. More specifically, I would start with a "wiped" AEX and see both the AEBS and the AEX in my AirPort Utility list, but upon confirm/reboot the AEX would disappear and the AEBS would remain. However, that's not 100% correct. It seems that sometimes I would end up with the AEX and NOT the AEBS. Because both the AEX and AEBS were theoretically "hosting" the same network name (remember, WDS shares the network name across units) my auto-login feature for my client computer's wifi seemed to "jump on" whichever unit it first saw hosting the default network name for my house. In other words, it seems what was really happening was that I was ending up with two separate networks in my house, both with the same name but not talking to each other (as opposed to two units sharing the same network name and internet connection). The AEX would continue to blink orange/amber/yellow (whichever color it is to your eyes ) because it could not grab an internet connection -- and if I was on the network through that AEX unit I would not get internet. But if i was connected through the AEBS I would continue to have internet access. As far as my client computer (my Mac Pro) was concerned, I was on the home wifi network even if I was on the AEX rather than the AEBS -- it would show the home wifi network name as the name of the network it had connected to. But when I opened the AirPort Utility 5.3.1 I would see only the AEX (if I was connected through it) or the AEBS (if connected through it) -- a clear indication that the units were not truly sharing the same network.
I tried rebooting and reconfiguring the AEBS and AEX about 50 times (literally). I even tracked down an older version of the AirPort Utility 5.2.1 via this thread (see Tesserax post):
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1067565
One interesting thing re: 5.2.1 is that the "Administrative access denied" errors summarized above disappeared. As explained in a post reference above, the going theory is that this a permissions/keychain problem new and unique to AirPort Utility 5.3.1. However, even though 5.2.1 does have a slightly different interface with different settings, I still couldn't get the WDS to work.
EVENTUALLY, I came across this post:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1422527
MuaddibOfArrakis walks through setting up a WDS from scratch, and the workflow is different than what is possible with either AirPort Utility 5.3.1 or 5.2.1. He's doing it with the old version of AirPort Admin Utility, which I fortunately saved a copy of many moons ago when I had somewhat-related problems with my WDS (since forgotten). In fact, it's a lot easier. What's nice about this older app is that it literally does the heavy lifting of "connecting" the AEBS and AEX units during the configuration -- it reboots both at the same time as the config is happening, and lets you choose from a list of available units to "add" to your WDS network. In short, it's a FAR SUPERIOR workflow even though some of the GUI isn't as intuitive as the newer AirPort Utilities that were designed to replace it.
SOLUTION:
If still have a copy of the AirPort Admin Utility follow the instructions from MuaddibOfArrakis here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1422527
If not, try setting up your WDS network using AirPort Utility (hereafter AU), with these configs (take from my now-working network), as viewed through AirPort Utility 5.3.1.
I. Configure your AEBS.
Select the AEBS from AU, and choose "Manual Setup"
1. Under the AirPort tab up top:
a. Under "Base Station" sub-tab:
i.) assign a name for that specific unit, so you can later identify the specific unit from the list of units -- this is the name that will show up beside the unit in the AU list of configurable units. You can name it something like "kitchen", or "office". I have mine numbered, so XXXXXv1, XXXXXv2 etc where the XXXXX is the name of the shared network and the numbers help me tell the units apart. Just be sure you name each uniquely, and if you have several you might write the name on the unit itself.
ii.) pick a password for logging into that unit. This is different from the network password, its a security check to get in and change the configs on this unit later. Be sure to remember it in your keychain for the sake of simplicity, and write it down somewhere secure.
iii.) if you choose to set time automatically, pick a location that you will use consistently across all your units. I use time.apple.com.
iv.) uncheck "Allow configuration over Ethernet WAN port" unless you want to be able to remotely mess with settings -- which you almost certainly do not need to do.
v.) I left the "Options" button alone - no settings there.
b. Under the "Wireless" sub-tab:
i.) Wireless Mode: "Participate in a WDS network"
ii.) Network Name: this will be the name of your wifi network shared by all units, so be sure to remember what you pick. If you are already connected to this AEBS via wifi while you are making these changes, then you can use the same wifi name you already have set up -- you don't have to change it. Note that if you DO change it, after reboot your will LOSE connection to the network and have to reset your wifi settings on your client machine to match the new network/password in order to be able to access the network.
iii.) pick a Radio Mode. I'm using b/g compatible. You'll want to do the same, unless you are on the new gigabit AEX. I'm pretty sure about this, but not 100% -- others post if I'm wrong.
iv.) choose a Channel. This can be a more complicated procedure, but for now just pick something consistent across all your units. If you get everything working and find that you're having intermittent network problems, you could later try changing your Channel -- it can pick up interference from phones, microwaves, etc and changing it can help.
v.) I have wireless security set to WPA/WPA2 Personal.
vi.) Wireless Password is the password for access to your wifi network (not your unit itself). If you are connecting to your AEBS via wifi while doing this config, then you can use the same password you have already set up. Pick a good one unless you want other folks jumping on your wifi and stealing your bandwidth and/or credit card numbers . Remember it in your keychain and write it down someplace secure, because you'll need it for the other units too. As noted above, note that if you DO change it, after reboot your will LOSE connection to the network and have to reset your wifi settings on your client machine to match the new network/password in order to be able to access the network.
vii.) Click the "Wireless Options" button. I have my multicast rate set to 2mbps, transmit at 100%, timeout at 1 hour, and i have checked the "Create a closed network". This last step keeps your network from advertising itself to the outside world. Users can only find it by explicitly typing the network name into their wifi settings (e.g. AirPort -> Other... then enter Network Name, Security and Password). I leave interference robustness unchecked.
c. Under the "WDS" sub-tab:
i.) the AEBS should have it's WDS Mode set to "WDS main".
ii.) Check the "allow wireless clients" box on the AEBS; this lets you connect client machines to it directly too.
iii.) hit the plus button to add the Remote system (AEX). There are two types of configs for the AEX's - "remote" and "relay". Assuming you have 3 units like me (2 AEX and 1 AEBS) the key question is whether you will place each AEX within direct reach of the AEBS (remotes), or if you will have one AEX in the middle connecting to an AEBS on one side and an AEX on the other -- where the furthest AEX is out of reach from the AEBS (remote) and connects only to the AEX in the middle (relay). I'm using a relay setup. If you are using relay, you can still set up the AEX relay to serve client computers too -- it doesnt have to JUST relay. More on that later. For now, you want to add only AEX units that will talk DIRECTLY to the AEBS. So if you have a setup like mine, just add one (the one in the middle - the relay). If you have two remotes connecting directly to the AEBS, you will add them both here. When you hit the '+' button it will ask for both an ID and description. For description I use the name I'm assigning to each unique unit (as above, "kitchen" or XXXXXv1 or whatever you use). For AirPort ID, use the number listed on the AEX unit itself (not the number for "Ethernet", also on the AEX unit).
d. Under the "Access" sub-tab:
i.) I have it set to "Not Enabled". I'd suggest you start that way too, and you can go change it later if you get everything working correctly.
2. Under the "Internet" tab up top:
a. Under the "Internet Connection" sub-tab:
i.) Connect Using: Ethernet
ii.) Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
iii.) Ethernet WAN Port: Automatic (Default)
iv.) Connection Sharing: Share a public IP address
b. Under the "DHCP" sub-tab:
i.) DHCP Beginning Address: 10.0 . 1 . 2
ii.) DHCP Ending Address: 10.0.1.200
DHCP Lease: 4 hours
c. Under the "NAT" sub-tab:
i.) nothing should be checked;
ii.) nothing under Port Mappings either
3. Under the "Printers and Advanced" tabs up top:
Nothing special needs to be configured there.
THAT'S IT.
=============
I. Configure your AEX(s)
Select the AEX from AU, and choose "Manual Setup"
1. Under the "AirPort" tab up top:
a. Under "Base Station" sub-tab:
i.) pick a unique name for this unit, same logic as for AEBS
ii.) pick a password specific for accessing this unit, same logic as for AEBS
iii.) Set time automatically: be sure to use the same settings used on your AEBS
iv.) Options: no need to set any
b. Under "Wireless" sub-tab:
i.) Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network
ii.) Network Name: same name used for AEBS, this is the name of your wifi network
iii.) Channel: same as AEBS
iv.) All settings here (those above, plus Security and Password & in Options button) should be the same as for AEBS settings on this tab
c. Under the "WDS" sub-tab:
...if AEX is "in the middle" (as described above):
i.) WDS Mode: WDS relay
ii.) Allow wireless clients: check (unless you only want to bridge between the edges without letting folks connect on this AEX in the middle)
iii.) WDS Main: set to the AirPort ID (aka MAC address) for the AEBS. You can find it on the bottom of the AEBS, either labeled as such or at the bottom beside the logo of a wireless signal (square logo, with semi-circles mimicing a radio signal).
iv.) WDS Remotes: click the '+' to add any AEX's that will connect to this relay rather than directly to the AEBS. Same deal as above, use the name in the description and use the AirPort ID from the side of the AEX (not the Ethernet ID).
.....if AEX is connecting to a relay ("on the end", as above) or if there is no relay and AEX connects directly to the AEBS:
i.) WDS Model: WDS remote
ii.) Allow wireless clients: checked
iii.) WDS Main: if connected to a relay, use the AirPort ID of the relay AEX. If connected to the AEBS directly, use the AirPort ID of the AEBS
d. Under the "Access" sub-tab:
i.) MAC Address Access Control: Not Enabled (for now, you can change later)
2. Under the "Internet" tab up top:
a. Under the "Internet Connection" sub-tab:
i.) Connect Using: AirPort (WDS) -- should be selected and gray'ed out.
ii.) Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
iii.) Ethernet WAN Port: Automatic (Default)
iv.) Connection Sharing: Off (Bridge Mode)
3. Under the Music, Printers and Advanced tabs up top:
Nothing special needs to be configured there. You can worry about AirTunes settings later...
That should be it. I'd recommend setting up the AEBS first, then the relay (if applicable), then the remotes. Initially, you can bring each unit in the same room with you for configuring. After configured and restarted the AEX should blink then turn solid green. If it turns green you should be good to go.
HOPE THIS HELPS. As noted above, I did not config through AirPort Utility 5.3.1 so I haven't tested this procedure through that app. However, after getting my network to work I went back and transposed all settings into this post to help others. Please provide feedback on whether or not this is working, so we can collectively try to move towards a setup procedure that works for everyone....
Good luck!
Message was edited by: b.byrd

I'm not convinced that the problem lies in Airport Utility. This same thing was happening to me, nearly exactly as you describe it. The thing is that with me, the problems clearly started when I updated the firmware in my Airport Express (n). That's when all the wacky stuff started happening. Sometimes it would show up in AU, sometimes it didn't and even if it didn't, I could still access the internet through it.
But as you said, the problems got really bad when another Express (b/g) was put on the network with it. Even when it did work, the (b/g) would make it impossibly slow.
You know more about this than me, and clearly have more patience if you've restarted the network fifty times. I gave up at about ten.
In any case, your solution is more of a work around and if you're still having that slow connection problem, I'm not sure you've got it. But thanks for your reporting of this. At least I know I'm not crazy.

Transmit rate vs. Download speed: should I switch everything to 5GHZ or does it matter?

Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me. I am not well-schooled in networking so, after doing a lot of research and not being able to get clarity, I figured I would write what I understand and hope that somebody here could point me in the right direction. I have 3 airport stations (a time capsule dual band is the primary and 2 airport expresses) and they are all ethernet wired. All my devices are 802.11n capable and all the base stations are n capable. I have no strictly b/g devices, only n devices. No matter what base station a device is connected to, the speedtest.net rate is about 17mbps (I pay for 18mbps) so that is good. However, the "transmit rate" (and I don't really understand what this does) varies depending on what base station my device hooks into. Whenever I am near the time capsule (primary station), my devices hook in at 5Ghz and I get a transmit rate of about 240 to 300 and a 17mbps download speed. But when I hook into either of the other 2 aiport expresses, it shows that I am hooked into 2.4Ghz and the transmit rate is about 50 to 130, but I still get the 17mbps download speed. I know I can change both expresses to only do 5Ghz. Keep in mind, the speedtest.net test always shows about 17mbps download speed no matter what base station my device connects to. I am not sure I understand what the transmit rate indicates. I want to make my network the fastest it can be no matter what base station I use.
So, my question is should I change the other 2 airport extreme base stations to operate as 5Ghz n network only so that I have 5Ghz operating throughout my whole house which will give a higher "transmit rate" and will that make my experience faster even though I already get maximum 17mbps download speed? Also, if you could, please explain to me the difference between ISP download speed and "transmit rate" because I don't really understand the difference...I mean how does download speed affect my experience vs. how does transmit rate affect my experience? Do I really need to have a higher "transmit rate" to increase my speed or is just having 17mbps download speed necessary and the transmit rate doesn't matter?
One other thing you might need to know: I don't have any 2.4 ghz devices that might interfere with my network (my cordless phones are 1.9Ghz)
Thanks again for the help.

Think of it like this.. Change moving data in air to water in pipes.
You have a 1/2" pipe coming from the ISP into your house..
Inside your house you have 5" and 2" pipes.. (this represents the speeds or flow rate if you like, 1/2" is all the ISP gives you.. but your ethernet is a huge pipe.. think of it as infinite for this situation,, and 5" pipe that is 5ghz and 2" pipe is 2.4ghz.. this is just illustration remember it is area not diameter that matters).
If you transfer files between the computer on the TC to the TC hard disk.. you get all the 5" pipe.. very fast.
If you copy a file between computer on the TC and device on the express.. you are limited by the 2" pipe.. everything goes at the speed the 2" pipe can manage.
Now you do something with internet.. 5" pipe can get the same throughput as the 2" pipe because it is only 1/2"
Pipes btw are still in imperial even if you are in a metric country pretty often.
But I hope that illustrates the situation..
If a computer on 5" pipe and computer on 2" pipe are both trying to access internet .. they both still have to share the 1/2" pipe. In a perfect world they both get half your 18mbps if they are accessing it at the same time.. (QoS represent a flow valve that says this pipe should get more flow even if it is smaller so I shut the valve down on 5" to make sure it only gets what the 2" can get.. no more.. to be fair.).
Same as water in pipes.. the 1/2" pipe can never fill the 5" or even the 2" pipe.. the 2" cannot fill the 5" so the fastest would be everything on 5" pipes.. since you are unlikely to be able to afford a 5" pipe from the ISP then you accept everything is going to go slower when internet is involved.
Jumping out of my illustration..
Apple made 2.4ghz max out at 150mbps..
Although some of the later stuff can get better than that,, 217mbps.
The 5ghz is faster because it is has more bandwidth.. up to 1200mbps in the newest AC .. 450 on Gen3,4 TC and 300 on the older gen1,2
BUT the range is poor.. so generally better sticking with 2.4ghz for express.. they are not high power devices at all.
2.4ghz has better range and penetration.. you are going to be just fine with internet access.. and your setup is actually working really well.. There are some overheads on wireless so you do not quite hit wired speeds.

Transmit Rate on my Mac Pro and MBP

Hi,
I have a early 09 MBP and an early 08 Mac Pro. I recently upgraded both from SL to ML. Both are running on the same wireless network, set up with anAirport express. I am experiencing really erratic wifi signals on my Mac Pro (it'll drop out w/i a few min. of connecting to a wifi), though my mbp stays on the network just fine.
I opened up system profiler and wrote down the following numbers
                         MBP                              Pro
Signal/ noise      -66 dBm / -86 dBm          -84 dBm / -85 dBm
Transmit rate     117                                   26
MCS Index          14                                   9
What does these number mean? do I need a new airport card for my pro?
Thanks
Angela

If you download and use OmniDiskSweeper, It will tell you what is using the disk space.
Allan

I keep getting this message An unknown error (-15006) occurred while connecting to the AirPlay device " AirPort Express".

Please help. I have been having major difficulties with my Airport Express. It used to work fine but for the last year or so it continually disconnects, skips and ultimately drops out and itunes gives me this message "An unknown error (-15006) occurred while connecting to the AirPlay device “AirPort Express”. I keep resetting, unplugging, restarting Itunes, or my computer. It works for a couple of hours and then I get the message again. It's making me nuts and was a bummer at last week's party when we had no music, yet again. I have looked up the support discussions, but there is no answer as to how I can fix it. I am currently using Mt Lion OS. Does this have anything to do with it? Checked for software updates, but nada.
Any suggestions.

It may be possible the where you have the AX located may just be in a spot where it does not get a good signal even it is only 8 feet away.
I suggest that you download and install iStumbler. You will use it to determine the signal quality by making Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) measurements. This will be easiest if your Mac is a laptop ... or you can borrow one. When taking the measurements, you only want your "main" AirPort running as this is what we want to measure at the location of the AX.
SNR (in dB) = Signal (in dBm) - Noise (in dBm)
You can easily find the Signal and Noise value using System Profiler on your Mac laptop.
ref: Click on the Apple icon on the menu bar > About This Mac > More Info... > Contents > Network > AirPort > Interfaces > en1 > Current Network Information > Find your wireless network > Signal / Noise
While your still in the System Profiler, note the value for Transmit Rate.
These values should be negative numbers. For example, mine currently read: -67 dBm / -95 dBm, with a transmit rate of 27 (Mbps). Plugging in these numbers yield: SNR = -67 - (-95) = 28. My Mac Mini is about four rooms away from my AEBS with about five walls between them. As you can see, the signal is still quite useable ... but the bandwidth is minimal, especially for streaming.
SNR Guideline
40dB+ SNR = Excellent signal
25dB to 40dB SNR = Very good signal
15dB to 25dB SNR = Low signal
10dB to 15dB SNR = Very low signal
5dB to 10dB SNR = No signal
Please post back your results.

Airport Express Transmit Rate

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