Question re: multiple wireless devices and the Duel Band Airport Extreme

I recently purchased the new duel-band Airport Extreme. Prior to that I had the single band Airport Extreme. I’m a bit confused about how it works and have spent a good bit of time trying to find the answers on the web, but nothing really addresses my specific question so I’m coming to the experts.
I have a number of wireless devices throughout my house… a couple of Roku boxes, two iPads, two iPods running Pandora, a MacBook and an older model Apple TV etc.
Both of the iPods are 802.11 G. The iPads can handle N.
One Roku is 802.11 G and the other can handle N.
I am confused about configuring the Airport Extreme. It’s my understanding that if I just go with the basic setup of creating a network and selecting Automatic for the Radio Mode and Channel that all of my devices will automatically connect to the most appropriate band for the best throughput for that particular device.
I have tried configuring the Airport Extreme as I mentioned above, as well as setting it up with the 5GHz Network Name field selected. I gave this a different name so I would be able to distinguish between the two networks when selecting one on my iPad. I will refer to the fist configuration as Setup A and the second (naming the 5 GHZ Network ) as Setup B.
When I use Setup A all of my devices show one available network to connect to. I select that network and all is well.
When I use Setup B the devices show two available networks, the original and the one I named on the 5GHz Network Name Filed.
My iPod’s ( 802.11 G ) only display the name of the first network, but my iPad’s show both, and I can select either. The signal strength on the 5GHz channel only dislplays two bars on the signal strength indicator icon, but the other network is full bars.
When I use Setup A, is my iPad, Roku and MacBook automatically selecting the 5GHz AND the N connection? How do I know that it’s not using the G band? Is it best to just go with the automatic settings and trust that I’m getting the best connections? How does it know weather to connect to the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. What determines that ?
Sorry for the rambling questions but the more I think about it the more confused I get about all of the possible combinations of connectivity possibilities.
I appreciate any attempts at making this a “teachable moment” for me :- )
Thanks !
Chuck
Message was edited by: ChuckLD

Welcome to the discussion area!
The signal strength on the 5GHz channel only dislplays two bars on the signal strength indicator icon, but the other network is full bars.
Not surprising, because the much higher frequency 5 GHz signals are absorbed much more quickly by any obstructions than 2.4 GHz signals. Everything is a trade off. In return for higher speeds, you must give up distance capability and penetration power with 5 GHz. It's not exactly true that you have to have a line-of-sight arrangement between the router and computer with 5 GHz, but many users are finding that to be the case for good, reliable performance.
How does it know weather to connect to the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. What determines that ?
The signal strength. If your computer is capable of connecting at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, it will choose the band with the higher signal strength...assuming that both bands have the same network name. The only way you can "force" a device to connect to the 5 GHz band is set it up with a different name and point your computer to that specific network.
For most users, the way to go is setup both bands with the same wireless network name and let devices connect to the strongest signal automatically.

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Question re: multiple wireless devices and the Duel Band Airport Extreme

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