Devices not connecting to the "extended wifi" (i.e. Airport Express)

Question

Hi,
Let me quickly describe my network setup. Attached to a Motorola cable modem (TWC) is an Airport Extreme (upstairs), firmware 7.6.4, to create a wireless network. Then, downstairs, to extend the network I have 3 Airport Express' (same firmware), all set to "Extend a wireless network". I should also add that while I don't exactly know when they were manufactured, my Airport Extreme is the dual-band version, and I believe so are all my Airport Extremes. I juse Airport Utility 6.3.2. All seems to be working just fine - all green lines, no warnings or errors.
When I look at my different devices and check which Airport they are connected to - I use the Airport Utility to check - here's what I find:
- Connected to the Airport Extreme are a total 7 devices, including a Mac, iPhone 4S, iPad and (cough) an Android tablet;
- Connected to the first Airport Express are 2 devices - another iPad and an Apple TV
- Connected to the other 2 Airport Expresses are connected... nothing.
Here's the thing: some of my devices get a pretty lousy signal (e.g. my phone downstairs). I would expect them to connect to one of the Airport Express downstairs - hey, I'm even in the same room! But even if I shut down and reboot the phone, it will connect to the Airport Express upstairs (which yield a weak signal). Same for my Macbook. So my internet on some devices is really quite slow, despite having enough wireless devices to power a whole neighborhood....
Any idea what could be behind this? Or is this "normal behavior"? As said, everything is working without error, I just suspect that the speed is suffering more than it should.
Thoughts, help or comments would be appreciated,
Phili

Answer 1

Yes, it is cumbersone over the internet.
What version of Airport Express units do you have ?
The 1st generation "n" or the newer 2nd generation that is the current model ?
1st generation
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB321LL/A/refurbished-airport-express-base-sta tion-with-80211n-and-airtunes
2nd generation
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC414LL/A/airport-express-base-station-june-20 12
The 1st generation is NOT simultaneous Dual band. It will only do 2.4 or 5 GHz at a time.
I went through this before with my older versions. (not the old 'g' version though at this time)
Some of my devices would only connect to the main base station because they wanted 2.4 GHz but that band on the Express was already being used by a 5 GHz device.
A few weeks ago I finally replaced the 'n' version with the newest version which has "Simultaneous" dual bands.
Now everything works the way I want it to.
Just throwing some ideas out for you to think about.