WDS between old and new AEBS

Question

First I want to apologize for this lenghty post. I want to provide as much useful info as possible. We just bought the new AEBS Dual Band and tried to add it to our existing WDS network and ran into a few serious snags. I really hope we can find help here. I've already spent many hours pouring through this forum and other sites and can't find any answer. Here's what our existing network look like:
Gigabit AEBS N as WDS Main > 2 "G" AXs as WDS Remotes
Wireless clients include: Tivo (G), MacBook (N), 2 iPhones (G), iBook G3 (B).
Wired clients include: Tivo HD, PowerMac G5, Mac mini, laser printer
What we were trying to accomplish is to make the new Dual Band AEBS as the new WDS Main and create 2 (connected) WiFi networks via WDS:
N network (5GHz) > Dual Band AEBS as WDS Main > Gigabit AEBS N as WDS Remote
G Network (2.4GHz) > 2 "G" AX as WDS Remotes
We want to do this so the Gigabit AEBS N can live in our living room and allow the Tivo to have decent speed when we download the shows to the Macs or to transfer between the Tivos. Since the Dual Band is advertised as being able to broadcast on both frequencies simultaneously, we're assuming it can do this. However, I can't find any info online or otherwise that either confirms or disputes this function.
When I tried to set it up as such, the 2 AXs work as expected. But the Gigabit AEBS N becomes non-responsive. I even tried to hard reset it and re-attach it to the network using 2.4GHz to no avail. At this point, the Gigabit AEBS N either gives the -5 error or, after hard reset, fail to acknowledge the WAN port when I tried to do a "basic" setup to test it.
My first question is: Does the Dual Band AEBS support my desired configuration at all? That is, create separate WDS networks on the 2 frequencies (5GHz vs 2.4). No one I've spoken to at Apple has a clear answer. So I wonder if anyone who reads these forums has tried this.
My second question is: does the 7.4.1 firmware hose the WAN port of the Gigabit AEBS N? I've downgraded it back to 7.3.2 and the WAN port is still not recognized. The AEBS was working 100% before the swap (and the firmware update that followed).
My last question is: Has anyone experienced "stuttering" on the Dual Band AEBS? I haven't noticed it until I tried to playback some QuickTime files off the Airport Disk attached to the Dual Band. On the Gigabit AEBS N, the files all play smooth without any dropped frames (even during substantial network activities). On the Dual Band, frames were dropping every few seconds (even during an otherwise idle network load). When I look at the Airport menu (holding down Option), the Transmit Rate fluctuates between 300 and 1 every few seconds.
Does this mean I now have 2 defective AEBS? Can someone shed some light on this? We would really appreciate any help.
PS: When I take a peek in the "Wireless Clients" pane in Airport Util under the Dual Band, the Rate for the 2 AXs are hovering between 1 and 5. Does this sound right?

Answer 1

I am in a similar situation. I purchased a new dual-band Extreme to replace the older G spaceship with the intent of extending both bands with 2 Expresses, one a new N and other an older G. I extended the N band successfully with the N Express, but when I tried to configure the older G Express I couldn't get the dual band to recognize it when WDS was selected. When I choose "join the existing network" the dual band connected to it, but of course this didn't extend the range.
My first call to Apple Support indicated that I could only extend one or the other with an Express, and that I would have to buy a second dual band Extreme if I wanted to extend the range of both bands at the same time. I took this to mean that I would set up the 2nd unit would act as a dual remote to "extend the network." I returned the new N Express and got a second dual band Extreme, but before I opened it up I checked with another Apple "product specialist", who then told me that I could NOT use the 2nd dual band Extreme to extend both bands at the same time.....only one or the other. According to this guy I would need to hook both routers up together with an ethernet cable, then I could extend each network separately with the Expresses.
There has to be a better way to accomplish this.