Extreme + Express = separate 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz networks ...

I have an Extreme and an Express.
If I set up the Extreme for 802.11n (5Ghz) clients only, how do I setup the Express to handle the 802.11g/b (2.4Ghz) clients?
Specifically, if you're using an 802.11n computer, wouldn't it be possible for it to connect to the Express (2.4Ghz) accidently? How do I ensure that the 802.11n capable computers ONLY connect to the Extreme?
My place is only 1000sq ft. so should I just plug in the Express to the Extreme via ethernet? Or set up a WDS?

Specifically, if you're using an 802.11n computer, wouldn't it be possible for it to connect to the Express (2.4Ghz) accidently?
Give your 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz networks different names and different wireless encryption passwords.
My place is only 1000sq ft. so should I just plug in the Express to the Extreme via ethernet? Or set up a WDS?
If you connect the AirPort Express (AX) to the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) using WDS the wireless bandwidth will drop to half of 802.11g. If you want the AEBS to operate at 802.11n speeds, you will want to connect the AX to the AEBS via Ethernet.

Similar Messages

How do I get the Time Capsule to run both 5GHz and 2.4GHz networks at the same time.

How do I get the Time Capsule to run both 5GHz and 2.4GHz networks at the same time.

Thanks for digging out the facts.
You have a 1st Generation Time Capsule.
Your model can produce two bands....either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz....but not both simultaneously.
You would need a Generation 2, 3 or 4 Time Capsule for simultaneous dual band capability.

After upgrading to Mountain Lion, I cannot connect to my Airport Extreme on the 5GHz band (2.4GHz works fine)...what's going on?

I have been having intermittent/no wireless success on the 5GHz band of my Airport Extreme. I'm on an iMac early 2008. It was working fine before upgrading to Mountain Lion. I have tried many things (deleting the wireless network, readding it, changing settings on the AirPort Extreme, deleting the 5GHz network on that and readding it, running diagnostics) but nothing has fixed it. I can switch to the 2.4GHz band and it works flawlessly. This must be a software problem since it only started happening when I upgraded the OS.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

No it isn't, I have tried 4 different mountain lion machines connected to a 5Ghz and it works just fine. It is with your machine hence we need to fix it
create a new location and see if that fixes your issue, If not trash Macintosh HD/Library/System Configuration
That is a folder so trash it > restart the computer > create a new location

How to get dual 5ghz and 2.4ghz to work at same time

i am unable to get both 5ghz and 2.4 ghz to work at the same time - i only get options to use either one or the other - i have the AE xtreme -[bought when 1st came out] and the radio mode does not give me the option to choose both.

never mind i found the answer ... i didnt know they just came out with a new
aEBS ....

Airport Express Extends 5GHz at 2.4GHz?

My second generation(802.11n) Airport Express extends my 5GHz network, Net5, at 2.4 GHz. The express is about 20
feet from its "target," an iPad 3 serving as an internet radio. I know this because a scan turned up the 5GHz network on the same
channel as the 2.4GHz one and identified as "Net5."
As far as I can tell, all my settings are correct, etc. I'd be grateful for any ideas, comments, etc.

Ok, thanks for clarifying that for me. By default, the 2nd generation Express should extend both radios of your 5th generation Extreme. The key is placement. As you are already aware the range of the 2.4 Ghz band is greater than that of the 5 GHz one.
Even if you have the Express within 20 feet of the Extreme there may be some form of Wi-Fi interference (like walls) that may be preventing the 5 GHz band to be extended properly.
To rule out a possible placement issue, please check out the following AirPort User Tip for details on how to best place your base stations.

Help! airport extreme won't recognize and extend my network

OK - so I have a house with 3 floors - and was having trouble getting a good enough signal from my ground to my top floor. So I bought an airport extreme - and this was my plan.
1) To have the signal coming into my router (provided by my cable service) all on the ground floor.
2) To use a netgear 'booster' through a power socket, to take the signal to the first floor and hook this into an airport extreme.
3) Then to have another netgear booster on the top floor into an airport express so I could use airplay etc in my room on the top floor.
I want one single network to run within the entire house.
However, the airport extreme box - when I ask it to 'extend a network' - does not recognize the ethernet cable going into the back of it - even though i know there is a signal because it will allow me to 'create a new network' and it sees every other wifi signal for miles around, but does not recognize the signal coming out of the netgear booster and going into the back of it.
So now, I've got three different networks running in the house - one for each floor - and it's a little frustrating....
thoughts on a postcard?

All that you need to do is insure that all 3 networks have exactly the same wireless network name, use exactly the same wireless security setting, and the same password. Then everything will behave as one "big" single network.
If your devices are capable, they will automatically "switch" to the access point with the strongest signal as you walk them around the house.
The AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express both need to be in Bridge Mode (they probably are), but you need to check on this as the last item before you update the settings.
The tricky part of this is the wireless security setting.....because you must know exactly what type of wireless security setting your cable service modem/router is using to provide the exact same setting to the AirPorts. I assume that you know the name of the "main" wireless network and password.
The AirPorts use WPA2 Personal by default, so check and see if your modem/router is using that setting. If not, you will need to change the modem/router to either WPA2 Personal (preferred) or WPA/WPA2 Personal (next best setting). If you change the modem/router to WPA/WPA2 Personal, then you must also change it to the same setting on the AirPorts.
If the security settings do not match up exactly on all wireless access points, then the network will not behave as one "big" single network.
The settings for both AirPorts should look like this:

Separate "n" and "b/g" Networks

I need to clarify something about wireless as 2 Apple Store sales people have contradicted my understanding from discussions here and told me I can't successfully do this:
I have a new Macbook Pro arriving and a Time Capsule. I wish the wireless network that results to operate at draft n speed only (no slower device using b/g only can join that network.) The Time Capsule would operate in bridge mode by cable from a netgear wired router. That router needs to stay for the existing wired LAN which will continue in use.
I wish to use a cable from the Time Capsule to an Airport Express set to bridge mode for 2 devices I have which are b/g only (an e-reader and an old iBook)
I do not want the Time Capsule to slow down from "n" speed as it is handling Time Machine hourly back ups.
The Apple sales person told me it is untrue that a b/g device will slow a network down and that a b/g device and an n device can operate simultaneously both at their maximum speed. I am sufficiently inexperienced with wireless to have argued with him and figured I needed expert clarification here.
What is the truth and can I operate 2 separate wireless networks (one n one b/g) as I propose above?

Duane,
Not arguing with you here but I experience something different with my mixed network than all the documents tell me.
I have 2 computers that have "n".
One computer has "b/g".
The TC of course is "n" and I have 2 older Airport Express that are "b/g"...
Here is what I experience.
(Don't quote me on the time and size below as this is just an example.)
I can transfer a 5 MB file from my "n" computer to my other "n" computer in 5 minutes.
That same file takes twice the time, 10 minutes, to transfer it to my "b/g" computer.
So, for me, the transfers are twice as fast from "n" computers than to "b/g" computers all on the same mixed network.
For my Wireless Client stats, see this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1449407&tstart=0
You can see that some are connected at the 54 rate and some are at 130 rate.
According to most everyone, the transfer rate from one computer to another should be all the same speed on a mixed wireless network and the network in this case should only run at the 54 rate.
I'm just trying to figure out why my speeds show something entirely different than what people are suggesting...
I am not transferring the files directly from computer to computer but they are all over the mixed wireless network signal... To me, the speed should be the same.
That same 5MB file should take 10 minutes to transfer to any computer on my network as they should all be the same wireless speed.
Anyone have any insights on this?
Thanks,
Joseph Kriz

2 Extremes, 2 IP Ranges and 1 wireless network

i have 2 Airport Extremes both on the same sub net but in different IP ranges what i wanted to know is can i bridge the wireless networks so i get one wireless network name without it causing problems?

Sorry, I can't duplicate your setup here, but don't think that what you are trying to do will be possible with two Apple routers.
The "second" AirPort Extreme cannot act as a DHCP server to provide a different IP address range if it is in Bridge Mode. To provide IP addresses, the "second" AirPort Extreme would have to be configured to "Share a public IP address".
But, even if you manage to get both routers assigning a different IP address range without conflicts, you will still have to deal with a Double NAT error on the network. This will slow communications in some instances and not allow devices on one sub net to talk to others on another sub net in other cases. It's not possible to predict in advance what your results will be, you'll have to try it out.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Using airport express for itunes and another wireless network for internet

Is there any way i can use my airport express just for playin music through airtunes, and log onto the internet using a different wireless network?

Hello bleno567. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Is there any way i can use my airport express just for playin music through airtunes, and log onto the internet using a different wireless network?
Yes, you just need to configure the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), that will be used to stream iTunes, as a wireless client.

Using laptop on separate home and office wireless networks

I have a laptop the connects (wireless) to my home router and my other home computers. At work we have a wireless router (both home and office are linksys wrt54g's). I can connect to the router at work, get to the internet, but can't "see" the other PCs at work.
Is there a good reference to trouble shoot the various settings for the routers, Windows XP, firewalls, Symantic, McAfee, and so on? I have administration privileges on all the systems and routers, but can't seem to get the settings right. BTW both routers are hardwired to PCs that use the same version of McAfee's security programs - my laptop uses Symantic security programs
Thanks.

If you intend using your portable Mac in a variety of different environments then I recommend you create a series of Locations and then switch between them as required. Keep Automatic for your most used network such as your home or office and then create additional ones for say, wireless networks on the road, an internet connection via your mobile phone and so on.
I am getting confused though, you say
'Actually, even if I boot to the login screen, I will see the G4 appear and can start transferring files, but after 10 -15 minutes, it disappears.'
From what you said earlier in this thread I thought you meant that the G4 laptop would either be visible or not to the other Macs when you join one of your networks not that it is visible for a while then drops off the network. Which is it please?
If it is the latter then check in System Preferences/Energy Saver to see if 'Put the hard disk(s) to sleep ...' is ticked and if it is untick it. You might also want to extend the time for 'Put the computer to sleep ....' to see if that makes a difference.
Message was edited by: Sean Dale1

IPhone 5 won't connect to Airport Extreme (1st gen) at end of extended network

See the attached image below for my network setup... The Time Capsule is a 4th gen unit, the Airport Express (Mudroom) is a 2nd gen - both of which are dual band devices (5GHz *and* 2.4GHz at the same time). The Airport Extreme (Workshop) is a 1st gen unit that only supports one band at a time (5Ghz *or* 2.4Ghz, but not at the same time). Don't know if it matters, but the other Airport Express (Living Room Speakers) is a 1st gen "N" unit, again, either 5GHz *or* 2.4GHz at a time.
The Workshop and Mudroom devices are about 100-120' apart, and have a decent connection between the two (I have both units sitting in windows so there is minimal obstruction on a line-of-sight between them).
When I go out to the workshop, my iPhone 5 will not switch over to the device in the shop - it tries to stay connected to the unit in the mudroom, which of course has a weak signal because my iPhone is now inside a metal building.
I've searched online (here and google) to see if perhaps this has something to do with the dual band vs. single band nature of the devices, but haven't come up with anything definitive.
Any ideas? Do I need to get a newer Express to put out in the workshop that supports dual band?
Thanks...

The graphic is fooling you. The Workshop AirPort will not extend the signal unless there is a dotted line directly from the TIme Capsule to the Workshop AirPort. You cannot have another AirPort in "between' the Time Capsule and Workshop AirPort if you want the Workshop AirPort to provide any additional wireless coverage.
For more details, see this Apple Support document note.
If you have a Mac laptop handy, we can do another test to prove that the Workshop AirPort is not extending the signal at all. It is "joining" the network....and it provides no additional wireless coverage that way.
If you want the Workshop AirPort to "extend" there must be a dotted line directly from the Time Capsule to the Workshop AirPort. No other Airports can come "between" the Time Capsule and Workshop AirPort.

Creating WDS for a/b/g AND extended 'n' network..can I do both???

I have finally been able to get my Airport Extreme-n and Airport Express-n setup as a WDS since all of my wireless nodes currently only support a/b/g and i needed to boost my signal in the house. It took quite some time to setup just right, after using this forum, and trail+error / docs. I ended up turning off the 'n' protocol, but maybe did not need too. Now I simply have a 2.4 WDS wireless network established and extended via the AP Express and so far so good.
I see an AppleTV in my future and I will want and need to re-establish the 'n' 5.0 Ghz network and may need to extend the N via my Airport Express too. So, can I do both??? Continue to have the WDS with the APexpress acting as the remote and turn back on the 5.0 ghz network and extend the n to my Express? My only stipulation is that this would be WIRELESSLY extending, not using the AP express ethernet port to connect to my extreme's ethernet port.
I was hoping switching to "802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)” and then enabling the extending feature on both the extreme express would wirelessly extend the .n network, while I can keep the WDS configuration to 'extend' by non-n wireless devices.
Since I have an iMac with n-device, I presume I could try this as a test as well???

Hi Bob, my current configuration is using the WDS option; I have the latest versions of the Dual-band AP Extreme and latest AP Express hardward. I was told that since I had a/b/g nodes, that the only option I had was to create a WDS and have both Airport devices participate in that configuration. I was told specifically in other posts that I could not utilize the "extend a wireless network" feature since this is exclusively for .N devices only and since I have a mixed bag of devices, I had to use the 'Participate in a WDS' configuration.
I did try to use the "extend a wireless" configuration and this would not work well at all. I just dont see getting rid of my a/b/g devices anytime soon.
Should I turn on dual-band N for my Airport Extreme, but not use the "extend a wireless" feature and hope that the 5gzh signal is strong enough to connect to future .N nodes as I obtain them?
Kind regards,
Rob

I have an airport express and want to know how to set up two different wireless networks. One with 5GHZ and one with 2.4GHZ so different devices can connect to either.

I have an airport express and want to know how to set up two different wireless networks. One with 5GHZ and one with 2.4GHZ so different devices can connect to either. I have an iphone 4 that will not connect to 5ghz.
thank you!

Your AirPort Express is already providing two separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, but each band is using the same wireless network name.
This is the default setup for the AirPort Express, which is recommended for most users. The theory here is that devices will automatically connect to the best quality signal based on their capabilities and distance in relation to the AirPort Express.
It is possible to assign a different name to the 5 GHz band, and then "point" devices at that network to connect. Some users swear by this option.....(I am not one of them).... but you might want to give it a try to see how it works for you.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the AirPort Express
Click Edit in the smaller window that appears
Click the Wireless tab at the top of the next window
Click Wireless Options near the bottom of the next window
Enter a check mark next to 5 GHz Name.....which will automatically add "5 GHz" to the network name....so you can identify it
Click Save, then click Update and wait a full minute for the Express to restart
Now you will need to "point" your 5 GHz capable devices at the 5 GHz network name. 2.4 GHz devices will connect to your "other" network name.

Hi, my wifi set up is Extreme, Express then iMac. All showing solid green status. Airport utility showing no connection tho? i can see network name and use homesharing too. why is it showing this?

Hi, my wifi set up is Extreme, Express then iMac over 3 floors. All showing solid green status and iMac (showing full signal wireless). However, the Airport utility is showing no connection? I can see the network name and use homesharing too. why is it showing this??

I dont follow the problem?
By the way, i hope you have those all set on non-interfering frequencies. e.g.: 1,6,11
Grant

When extending my wifi network using an Extreme as my main and an Express to extend.. does it help to make sure that both devices are on the same channel or does it even make a difference if they are on different channels?

when extending my wifi network using an Extreme as my main and an Express to extend.. does it help to make sure that both devices are on the same channel or does it even make a difference if they are on different channels?

Have you even tried the process in which i have described in my previous post?
Yes, many times. If you are setup to "extend a wireless network, the screen looks like this:
If you click the Wireless Options button, the screen looks like this:
Where is it on this screen that you see a setting to adjust the channel? It sounds like you are confusing "create a wireless network"....which does allow you to adjust channels.....with "exend a wireless network" which does not.
Normally, when you extend a wireless network, AirPort Utility used to always assign the same channel to the extending device. That is no longer the case. It might be the same, or it might be different. You have no control over this, so you have to accept what AirPort Utility thinks is best.

Extreme + Express = separate 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz networks ...

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