To buy or not to buy (Dual Band Extreme)

I have a network (Extreme N) with 2 laptops, 2 Expresses (both N) for AirTunes and an iPhone. The iPhone sits sleeping the whole time I am home. Is my network speed being compromised simply by having the phone in the room? If I turn it off does my network speed jump up?
If yes to the above, does a simple setup automatically take advantage of the two network types at the same time?
Message was edited by: Eddie Strauss

If your iPhone is set to log into wi-fi and it grabs a connection when you bring it into the house, then yes, it will slow the speed. Just turn off the wi-fi if you don't use it on the phone at home.

Similar Messages

Best way to add new dual band Extreme to existing b/g network

I've been using a Snow Extreme and b/g Express, but have recently been having dropped/slow connection issues. I think this may be at least partially caused from the many other networks and other wireless devices in the neighborhood - I can see 30 or more networks at times. I've also gotten a new Mini and MacBook, both with n wireless, so I decided to get a new dual band Extreme.
The faster connection speed of the new Extreme is very noticeable on my n capable machines. It also looks like the connection issues I was previously having may have been resolved, but its a bit early to tell for sure.
First problem I've had is with setting up the guest network. If I attempt to set it up wirelessly, I get as far as changing the settings and restarting the Extreme. Once I do, it does restart, but then Airport Utility is not able to find it after restart. I am able to see the main and guest network in my available networks, but I am unable to join either. Once I turn guest off (via ethernet since Utility isn't able to see it wirelessly) I am again able to see it in Utility and connect to the main network. If I try to turn on guest via ethernet, I get an error and it does not restart.
Originally the Snow Extreme was the main and the Express was used for wireless printing. My plan was to use the new dual-band as the main, move the Snow to the printer, and use the Express for AirTunes. But now I realize that I'm only able to print and use Airtunes on the main and not the guest network. Since the Snow and Express are b/g, are they going to slow down the main network? I am seeing these as clients in Airport Utility, which I didn't expect. If so, is there a better way to set this up than what I am attempting to do?
I've got the radio mode set to 802.11n only (5GHz) - 802.11b/g/n. Am I able to set it up so that the n capable clients use the 5GHz band and the b/g clients use the 2.4GHz band so that they don't slow down the n connection, or would I even want to do this?
Thanks!!!

The jre is 14,872 KB (j2re-1_4_2_03-windows-i586-p.exe).
If you silently install the JRE then then licensing doesn't appear to be an issue (no dialogs appear). See http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/guide/plugin/developer_guide/silent.html. Silent installation is perfect for us since our customers are very nontechnical and would be very confused about the JRE installation dialogs.
My main question remains: what is the best way to incorporate the installation of the JRE into an existing product. I solved the above-mentioned error 1500 problem by asynchronously starting the silent JRE installation after my product is installed, i.e., after the InstallFinalize step. This results in a bad human interface: the user is prompted with the final dialog with a "finish" button. However the mouse cursor is showing an hourglass intermittenly (kind of like when you logon to Windows after a reboot), for 25-40 seconds after this dialog first appears, until the JRE is installed. I have got to figure out a way to synchronously install the JRE while the user waits.
I chose to do a private install (search for "private" in http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/pdf/plugin-dev-guide-1.4.2.pdf), which works, but I haven't yet figured out the best way to uninstall this JRE -- it appears that simply deleting the directory tree might be the correct way to uninstall.
I have searched a lot of newsgroups for the "generally accepted" method to incorporate some Java programs into a product (i.e., how to install the JRE). I have not found anything. My conclusion is that I must be doing something that isn't done that often, either that or I've taken a wrong turn.

Extending dual band Extreme

When I extend the Airport Extreme network, using the Express, it asks me for the name of the network.
On the Extreme I have devided the network in 2.4ghz and 5ghz (with different name for the 5Ghz).
I can only choose one of them to extend.. is this 'normal' or can I extend both? (the 2.4ghz and the 5ghz).
Thanks!

The AirPort Express is a single band device. I can work with either a 2.4 GHz network or a 5 GHz network, but not both at the same time. So, you will have to choose which band you want to extend.
If you need to extend both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands of the AirPort Extreme, you will need to use 2 AirPort Express devices, or another simultaneous dual band AirPort Extreme.

Dual Band or not?

How do I know which model numbers are dual band and which are not when buying a used Airport Extreme? I am looking at one identified as APPLE MB053LL/A and the seller says it is dual band but I am getting conflicting reports. Thanks,
Rich

Welcome, Rich.
Easy to see how things can be confusing here.
The MB053LL/A is dual band, but not a "simultaneous" dual band model. It can create a wireless network either at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, but not both at the same time.
The newer models are "simultaneous" dual band versions, which means that they can create both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks simultaneously. In addition, these models include a "Guest" network feature, which is also a "dual band" network if enabled.
For more info, check this link
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

How can I get Wireless N 5MHZ Capabilities Dual Band up to 300MHZ on my DV7 Laptop?

How can I get Wireless N 5MHZ Capabilities Dual Band up to 300MHZ on my DV7 Laptop?
Question for 4/18 experts ...
Or specifically, how can I replace my wireless card on a DV7-6B32US and upgrade to Intel Centrino 6230?
I have a relatively new DV7-6B32US puchased on 11/2011. Still under warranty. purchased 2 of the laptops. (also own 3 hp desktops and 1 HP All in One)
Existing card is wireless N but does not support 5GHZ or dual band. It is Broadcom 4313 wifi card and I am just realizing that the Broadcom card does not do the dual band 5GHZ wireless N. I have Linksys e4200 router which supports 5GHZ and dual band speeds up to 300 Mbps.
I called tech support and with their help identified Intel Centrino 6230 as the correct upgrade, and with their help ordered 631956-001. In the Maintenance Manual for DV7 laptop, this part number was listed for Intel Centrino 6230. Turns out HP sends an Intel Wireless N 1030 card, which is no better than my existing card. I called HP and they acknowledged that some manuals use part number 631956-001 for Centrino 6230 and some use 631956-001 for INtel 1030. So HP support said they would give refund but case manager was of no help in solving the upgrade problem. Said it was unavailable but here is your money back.
So after more searching, I see others have used part number 636672-001 to order Intel Centrino 6230, specifically for HP ProBook 4530s, 4230s, 4730s. And if I use part number 636672-001 and go thru parts store at HP, I can purchase it.
But will it work??
First, will the Intel Centrino 6230 with part number 636672-001 from HP parts, work in my HP DV7-6B32US, even though the part number is NOT listed in the Maintenance and Service Guide for my specific laptop. I see postings about whitelists and changing bios, etc, and am hoping someone can provide some guidance. I have been thru 2 tech support calls and one case manager and have gotten 3 different feedback from HP, from yes it will work and ordering the part, to buy it on amazon, to it will not work and here is your money back.
Second, I see some postings about Centrino 6230 and multiple antenna's. When I replaced the Broadcom 4313 with the Intel 1030 card, I simply unattached 2 wires and reattached the wires. And it worked. I am wondering if the reason HP doesn't list the 6230 card for DV7 is that DV7 does not have the antennas required to support 6230. Does the Centrino 6230 require 3 antennas?
Thanks for any suggestions. The existing cards do work but I paid extra for the Linksys e4200 Router and just assumed a winter 2011 $700 laptop from HP would use the latest wireless n technology, otherwise I would just keep existing cards.

I have went thru the exact same problems trying to upgrade the wireless card in my DV7. It is very frustrating that the wireless card can't be upgrade to one that supports 5Ghz. Here is my post from the network forum. http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Wireless-Internet-Home/Unsupported-Wireless-LAN-6230/td-p/1419595 Doesn't sound like it is possible to upgrade to the Centrino 6230 without it being added the the "white list". Sound like HP doesn't update the list after shipping the notebook. I feel your pain. HP needs to help out the consumer in upgrading the wireless cards. I see we are not the only ones that have had this problem.

Configuring WDS w/ Airport Extreme Dual-Band 802.11n & Express 802.11g

I currently have an Airport Extreme Dual-Band 802.11n Model: A1301 (located downstairs) and an older Airport Express 802.11g Model: A1084 (located upstairs) which I had been using to stream iTunes to my upstairs stereo (which worked flawlessly). Recently a friend of mine recommended that I reconfigure my network to a Wireless Distribution System setup which would allow me to create a remote wireless node which improves my wireless signal strength upstairs, allows an interface to Airplay to play our music from our iPod's/Pad's and also provides an hard-wired Ethernet connection for my newly delivered Network Extender for my cell phone. So I followed the URL: support.apple.com/kb/HT4262 to assist in this conversion and found that I was unable to configure my network as desired. While this documentation is very good, there is one snafu that I worked out that finally allowed a successful setup. Follow the instructions for:
- Connecting a WDS main base station to the Internet
- Configuring a WDS main base station
- Configuring a WDS remote base station (See last line of instructions for the correct WDS Main ID)
Ensure all Wi-Fi base stations are powered on and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra.
From the AirPort Menu Extra, select an 802.11g Wi-Fi base station to configure as a WDS remote.
In AirPort Utility, select the WDS remote Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, and click Manual Setup.
Select the AirPort icon from the Toolbar, and click on the Wireless tab.
From Wireless Mode select Participate in a WDS network.
Click on the WDS tab.
From WDS Mode, select WDS remote.
Enable Allow wireless clients (see the first note below).
If not already supplied, enter the 2.4Ghz AirPort ID of the WDS main, then click Update.
There are two Apple ID's for the dual-band Extreme (2.4 & 5.0Ghz). Be sure to use the 2.4Ghz ID which is listed under the "Summary Tab" of the utility. What is confusing is that in the AirPort Utility, when you position the mouse cursor over the graphic of the Extreme on the left-hand side of the GUI, you are presented with a yellow dialog box which displays the 5Ghz ID and this can be misleading especially when you are trying to connect to an older 2.4Ghz Express ...

My Express is the A1264 802.11n model. My Extreme is the A1354 model.
The most crucial issue is the the Tivo, because the Premiere only works with Ethernet (I dont' have and wont' buy the upgraded wireless doohickey), but of course I would prefer that the Express also act to extend the signal, and I particularly want it do so using WEP access (or nothing, see below), since I have a second Tivo which ONLY works wirelessly and which ONLY works using WEP, not WPA.
Since there were so many different issues and needs going on, I was excited about the Dual Band because it meant I could potentially get 5G speeds for my iPad and perhaps the Tivo Premiere connection, while allowing a completely separate band for the OLD Tivo.
The other option I've been trying out (to accommodate the Tivo2 that can't handle WEP) is having no security, but making the networks hidden.
A third option I tried to make work was to create a "guest network" for just the Tivo2.
But what I'm finding out (it's what I always struggle with...networking is a nightmare.) is that if you take one from Column A, Column B disappears, so to speak.
The way it used to work on the non-dual band Extreme was as I mapped above, and the Tivo2 and my iPad used the wireless signal with no problem while the Express was Ethernet connected to the TivoPremiere, but it did so using WDS, which doesn't even seem to exist as a possibility, forget teh fact that it undermines the speed boost (so I read)
I've frankly never been able to understand the differences between the various modes and structures, and believe it or not I'm very smart and very comfortable with computers and Macs, having worked on them for 25 years.
And one of the biggest reasons I've had such a hard time is because of the many times that I have updated after making changes, Airport Utility tells me it worked, but nothing happens and then after too much frustration I end up unplugging and shutting down every single piece of equipment and rebooting everything and then it DOES work. Sometimes. But I can't be doing that every time I make one tweak, I'll go insane!
And the number of pin-resets I've done on the Express, the Dual band, and even the cable modem would make your head spin!
So there's my story. Kinda. Does it make any sense? At least in terms of my goals?
Your help is more appreciated than you can imagine.

Can you add new AirPort Express Base Station Simultaneous dual-band 802.11n with a 1st Gen time capsule network

Hi
Has anyone tried using the AirPort Express Base Station with a first generation Time Capsule and used it to extend their network, while still being able to use the Simultaneous dual-band 802.11n on their network?
Thanks in advance

The first generation Time Capsule was not a simultaneous dual band device.
If you add the "new" AirPort Express to the network and configure it to "Extend a wireless network", it will extend the one single band signal that it is receiving from the Time Capsule.
In other words, the AirPort Express will not extend simultaneous dual bands in this type of setup...since it can only "extend" what it receives. You would need a simultaneous dual band Time Capsule if you want that type of functionality.

Time Capsule (Dual Band), iTunes and tv

Here is my little story.
I had an airport extreme, with a usb disk holding my iTunes library. I run two tv's (wirelessly) and things were fine. At times iTunes would give me a spinning beach ball, but streaming tv shows and movies to the tv,s worked well.
Then came 7.4.1 (airport extreme)
Streaming tv or movies became impossible with tv re buffering every 30 secs.
Downgrading to 7.3.x fixed the problem.
Being an apple tragic and living 650 klm's from my wife and children, I convinced myself that I needed a new toy, so of to the apple shop (150 klm's away) to get the new dual band extreme. I didn't even think of the firmware issue, thinking the new one would just work!!!
Somehow I left the store with a shiny new 1TB TC (blast apple)
Well of course after waiting 6 hours for my itunes library to transfer to TC, I fired up the tv and set about watching an episode of Damages.
Unfortunately the TC and firmware version 7.4 (shipping firmware) was as bad as the external disc and the airport extreme on 7.4.1
I upgraded the TC firmware to 7.4.1, there is no before 7.4, blindly think this might fix things, but no luck.
I reverted to plugging in the usb disk and running iTunes via the TC to the usb drive, again no luck, stop start streaming.
I then plugged the usb disk into my laptop and surprises surprise, streaming via network to tv was flawless, like my good old days.
Not a long term solution, I have spent two days reading all the posts on 7.4.1, TC and tv.
Tonight I hooked up the extreme, connected it via cable to the TC, turned off the extreme radio and plugged the usb disk in to the extreme. the extreme is running 7.3.x.
Pointed iTunes to the library on the usb disk, sat down and watched the episode of Damages.
Amazingly this arrangement works, and streaming is smooth.
Now I am no tech wizard, but something is clearly amiss with 7.4.1 and disks.
If anyone knows away to get the TC playing nice with streaming to the tv then it would be nice to hear, otherwise ebay will have to wait for the old extreme!
Anyway just wanted to share, after many frustrating hours.

Good post thanks for that. I agree something is wrong with 7.4.1 on both extreme and express as well. I had a lot of problems extending my network and only managed to fix things by reverting back to 7.3.x
I'm planning no getting TC and appletv soon, so l'm hoping the a revised software update emerges before then. It looks like you've had some real dramas.
Good luck.

Confused about Dual Band

I picked up a dual band extreme yesterday and replaced my dlink with it. I'm having some very odd behavior, and I'm sure I probably set it up wrong.
I am sitting with my 17" 2009 MBP about 5 feet from the airport. I set up the airport, naming my network and setting my password, all is good.
However, perf is just not great. I'd think sitting right next to it, I'd be flying like the wind, but I'm getting a LOT of pauses. I also am noticing that my "link speed" in network utility is reported as 130, and I would think it should be way faster. So, some questions --
1. I assume the 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz get setup automatically when you create your network?
2. How does the mac decide which band to pick when it connects?
3. Do you have to name the networks separately? I saw an option in there for it, but the help and manual are somewhat lacking in that regard.
Thanks for any help!

I also am noticing that my "link speed" in network utility is reported as 130, and I would think it should be way faster.
130 Mbps would be typical for either 802.11n at either 2.4 GHz or at 5 GHz with wide-channels disabled. To achieve 300+ Mbps, you would need to configure the 5 GHz radio to 802.11n only (5 GHz) with wide-channels enabled. (ref: AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Wireless > Wireless Options)
1. I assume the 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz get setup automatically when you create your network?
Yes, by default, both the radios are configured to support their span of respective clients. For 5 GHz, that would be 802.11a/n; for 2.4 GHz, that would be 802.11b/g/n.
2. How does the mac decide which band to pick when it connects?
Yes. Since, again by default, both radios have the same Network Name, your Mac, depending on its capabilities, will try to connect with the radio with the strongest signal. If you're near the AEBSn, most likely it will choose the 5 GHz radio. Since, the 5 GHz signal tends to dissipate quicker as distance increases, your MBP will probably choose the 2.4 GHz radio instead.
3. Do you have to name the networks separately?
No. But if you want to "force" your MBP to choose the 5 GHz radio, naming its wireless network different then that of the 2.4 GHz radio would allow for that.

Printers connected to a dual band network

How can I have a laser printer seen by the two networks setup by a dual band extreme?

Thanks for the reply and potential solution Tesserax.
Here is the detailed (and long) version of my problem. I bought a Lexmark S608 printer thinking that since it supports wireless n, that all would be good and I could print and scan wirelessly. Unfortunately, the S60x only supports wireless n in the 2.4GHz band.
So if I downgrade my wireless n to 2.4GHz, the MacBook, Mac Mini and S608 are on the same network and can print and scan wirelessly.
The problem is that even watching YouTube video wirelessly is not possible on the n 2.4GHz band; it stops every few seconds to buffer. I guess I have a lot of interference where I am in the 2.4GHz band (and I don't have 2.4GHz phones). I have tried different channels on the 2.4GHz band but with no success; since I switched to the 5GHz band over a year ago, all has been very good. I tested copying files locally from/to the MacBook and the Mac Mini and wireless n 2.4GHz takes more than five time longer on average than wireless n 5GHz.
If I share the S608 on the TC USB port I will be able to print wirelessly from both the MacBook and Mac Mini, but won't be able to scan from either.
For now, I've attached the S608 to the Mac Mini via USB. I shared the printer via the sharing control panel and that works fine. But I shared the scanner via the sharing control panel and that does not seem to work; I cannot access the scanning function using Preview from the MacBook for example (whereas this was possible when the S608 was connected wirelessly on the n 2.4GHz band).
I looked at creating a WDS network but I have not tried yet because everything I've read says that it will halve your speed at best (and including g (for the printer/scanner) and n seemed to be problematic for most).
So I don't think it is possible, but I was therefore wondering if the dual band feature of the latest TC or AEBS would allow clients to see each other, bridging the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz network together.
All that to say that the S608 is still a fine printer for my needs, but it would have been practical to be able to scan wirelessly from either the MacBook or Mac Mini. So buyer beware!

Extending dual band issues

Received a call. New client, "Wants to extend his Apple network"
So I swing by and pick up an Airport Express. Arrive at the clients to discover that he has a dual band Extreme Router.
He has set up a Shared Network, which he wants extended so others throughout the abode can get internet and print. He also has a Private Network which he does not want the others to have access to. I learn you cannot extend the Shared network. Then I thought just flip them, have him use the Shared network with a private password, and make the normal Private network the one for which everyone has the password. In the same room, works fine. Create the extended network using the utility on the express. less than 25 feet from the express base station, the network is not being seen by an iPad. Windows machines see it, sometimes can join with a "low signal" message. Then the windows machine drops the signal and rejoins saying it is unsecured and it doesn't have internet.
I'm thinking of pulling an ethernet cable and just setting up a wired connection to the express and making a separate network with the express.
Anyone seen this type of problem with the dual bands and extending the networks? Or have suggestions which may help

+He has set up a Shared Network, which he wants extended so others throughout the abode can get internet and print.+
It sounds like what your client calls the Shared Network is actually the Guest network. +Computers on the guest network have access to the internet, but they cannot "see" any other devices on the main or Private network. So, users on this network will not be able to print or share files with any devices on the Private network.+ And, as you have already discovered, the Guest, or Shared, network cannot be extended...either by wireless or ethernet.
You can extend the main, or Private, network but you have to setup both the AirPort Extreme and the AirPort Express for this. If you only configured the Express, the extend setup won't work. Unfortunately, the client really wants the Guest network extended. Even if you could do this, which you can't, printers would not be available on this network.
+I'm thinking of pulling an ethernet cable and just setting up a wired connection to the express and making a separate network with the express.+
That would also work for the Private network, but not the Guest or Shared network. You could setup a separate network, or you could assign the same name to the network that the main or Private network is using, and "extend" in that manner.

I have an older version of the airport extreme, can i still set it up to be a dual band router like the newer versions?

Wondering if an airport extreme router that I bought back in 2009 will function as a dual band router, similar to the newer versions. I wish to run my mac off of the lesser Ghz and the periphery devices off of the other(ipad, iphone). I also have an apple tV, is this possible?

The 2009 model extremes are simultaneous dual band (but the 2007 model was not - it was dual band, but not simultaneous). Your problem is that I know of no way to force a given device onto a given bandwidth on an extreme. Both channels share the same SSID, and a device simple connects via whichever frequency it gets the best connection.
This is unlike other simultaneous dual band wifi routers. I use a netgear wndr4500 (n900), and each radio is assigned a different SSID (and can also be configured independently in terms of security settings, and even turned on or off indepentently). That way, I can force a given dual-band device to connect on a particular frequency by connecting it to that frequency's SSID. The two SSIDs still function over the same subnet, so all 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz connected devices can see eachother on the same DHCP subnet.
But, I do not think you can set up an airport extreme like that - that sort of configuration is simply not an option with those devices.

Dual Band Concurrent AP with captive portal?

Hi, Was looking at purchasing WAP321 however after looking at the spec's I see it has not got concurrent dual band (2.45Ghz/5Ghz) is there any simular access points with dual band and captive portal?
Thank You

Hi, My name is Eric Moyers. I am a Network Support Engineer in the Cisco Small Business Support Center. Thank you for using the Cisco Community Post Forums.
There is not an access point in the Small Business collection that has dual radio capability. The AP541 and WAP321 has dual band 2.4 and 5 ghz, but only one band at a time because they only have a single radio.
To find something with dual band, dual radio that can do 2.4 and 5 ghz at the same time you will have to look at Cisco Enterprise, AP1262N or 1142N for example.
Hope this helps.
Thanks
Eric Moyers
Cisco Network Advanced Support Engineer
SBSC Wireless and Surveillance SME
CCNA, CCNA-Wireless
1-866-606-1866
*Please rate Post so other will know when answer have been found.

Connecting ap extreme (dual-band) to ap express b/g via wds

main question: can i have two b/g ap expresses extend the b/g signal from a main dual band station?
either this is way complicated or i'm really slow (i know). i have a new-ish ap extreme dual band (v. 7.5.2) and two older ap expresses (v. 6.3). i thought i was extending the extreme's b/g signal by choosing the "join a wireless network" option, and just learned that option does not extend the b/g signal. maybe i am slow...
i learned that the ap extreme dual band's checkbox "allow the network to be extended" is only for other N wireless airports (counter-intuitive). i learned that trying to make my remote (but not relay!) ap expresses participate in a wds network, first, causes them to need to be reset. every time. i learned that i need to make the wds setting on the main station FIRST, and option-click on the wireless mode menu (counter-intuitive? sheesh!) i've read several posts about people having problems (one person said apple doesn't really want us to use wds, so that's why it's hidden). i found this page and did all the steps on the main station:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2355832?threadID=2355832&tstart=0
and the result was an amber light w/ a wds error (i saw the amber light in the airport utility window, i didn't check to see if the unit was blinking).
neither the above link, nor the pdf mentioned (http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Designing_AirPort_Networks_10.5-Windows.pdf) pages 42-46 mention a wds error or what to do.
w/ the wds error, i still had internet, but could not access the other two b/g ap expresses to make them wds remotes.
2nd-ary question: why is this so hard? why the secret option-click menu? why doesn't the apple help utility spell this out (it only mentions N airport, and says for other devices, to "check the Apple Support Website.")? there are so many posts on this, some are poorly worded (maybe mine too!), some are slightly different scenarios...
any help is greatly appreciated.
marc

Marc,
I would suggest that you decide whether to move back 5-6 years and use WDS....with a tremendous loss of performance on your dual band Extreme....(It becomes a "g" wireless router using WDS and the bandwidth of your entire network will drop by half for each AirPort Express you have on the network).
So, instead of "n" wireless at 130 Mbps, your WDS setup will yield 13 Mbps at best. WDS is very difficult for most users to setup because it is very easy to make a mistake and hard to find your way out when you do.
The "Extend a wireless network" setup will maintain "n" speeds on the entire network with a very small bandwith loss. But, you have to use all "n" devices for this to work, and you can only have "main" and "remotes". There are no "relays" in this setup. It is a much easier setup to configure than WDS.
The Apple document below provides all the details. I could not tell from your post whether you had looked at this.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145

New AE-Use as extender AND utilize dual-band or guest network?

I currently have a 1st Gen Time Capsule hooked into my only cable modem. However, the signal is very weak on the 2nd floor of my house. I've been thinking about getting an Airport Express to extend my network so that I have improved coverage upstairs.
Now it appears that the new Express supports the dual-band and the guest network that my original 1st gen TC does not. If I purchase it to extend my network, can I also use these features or would it have to be the first device in the network (hooked into the cable modem?

If I purchase it to extend my network, can I also use these features or would it have to be the first device in the network (hooked into the cable modem?
Unfortunately, your Time Capsule is not a simultaneous dual band model, so the "new" AirPort Express would only extend one band....just like the "old" AirPort Express would do.
Maybe Apple has a deal on refurbished or close out "old" Express devices that might help you.
Otherwise, you would need to connect the "new" AirPort Express to the cable modem to get the benefits of a "main" and "guest" network. The "guest" network cannot be extended, by the way. It is only produced by the "main" AirPort connected to the modem.

To buy or not to buy (Dual Band Extreme)

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