Can you use two Airport Extreme "N" routers in 5GHz only mode?

Question

Can you use two Airport Extreme "N" routers in 5GHz only mode?

Hello All,

Just a quick question, can you use two Airport Extreme "N" routers in 5GHz only mode on the same network?

The reason for the question is I want to keep maximum network speed "N" only, as at the moment I have an airport express joining my network which effectively slows my network down to "G" speeds.

Many thanks

John

Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Sep 2, 2007 11:35 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 3, 2007 1:45 AM in response to John Lenneberg

John Lenneberg wrote:
Hello All,

Just a quick question, can you use two Airport Extreme "N" routers in 5GHz only mode on the same network?

The reason for the question is I want to keep maximum network speed "N" only, as at the moment I have an airport express joining my network which effectively slows my network down to "G" speeds.

You sure can. Set one up to "create the network" (the one connected to your DSL/cable modem) and the other one to "extend the network".

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Answer 2

Sep 3, 2007 4:07 AM in response to John Lenneberg

So extending the network will keep the 5GHz network? is this WDS or something different?

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Answer 3

Sep 6, 2007 2:14 AM in response to John Lenneberg

John Lenneberg wrote:
So extending the network will keep the 5GHz network?

Yes.

is this WDS or something different?

Close, but not quite as WDS allows more than just 2 devices to be connected. WDS is not that simple to set up, also. With create-extend, all the proper settings are selected for you.

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Answer 4

Sep 9, 2007 4:03 PM in response to neptune2000

So does the network take a performance hit for having the 2nd extreme extending the network? Or is it still running at max. I'm trying to find the best setup for maximum performance.

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Answer 5

Sep 9, 2007 10:03 PM in response to John Lenneberg

John Lenneberg wrote:
So does the network take a performance hit for having the 2nd extreme extending the network? Or is it still running at max. I'm trying to find the best setup for maximum performance.

Well, apparently it depends on whether you use 2.4Gz or 5GHz. I can personally report that extending the network with 2.5GHz n-only does NOT take a performance hit.

Reports in this forum and on the net regarding extending the network with 5GHZ n-only devices will take a performance hit. Here are links and some quotes for the details. I hope this helps:

Quoting from:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4041680&#4041680
"It is very simple. 5Ghz does not go thru stuff as well as 2.4Ghz. The larger the number re-Ghz the shorter the distance and ability to pass thru walls, etc (Up to a point). There is a full physics reason for this if you want to look it up. I am to lazy to detail it."

Quoting from:
http://wifinetnews.com/archives/007336.html
"This means that even if you use the top four channels for 802.11a or single-wide channels for 802.11n in 5 GHz, you will only be able to send data less than half as far if that. There are only two double-wide channels possible in that top band."

and:

"Apple’s new AirPort Extreme with 802.11n says in its advanced configuration manual—online already long before the product ships—that what it dubs the Use Wide Channels options is only available in 5 GHz. Conversely, Apple is promoting its AirPort Extreme with N in some European as only offering 20 MHz channels in 5 GHz because of regulatory limits."

This may well be more than you wanted to know, but here you have it. Enjoy.

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Answer 6

vbs420

Level 1

0 points

Sep 10, 2007 12:20 PM in response to neptune2000

I am attempting the same thing, and having fought with numerous setups using WDS and non-WDS, and n-only and n/b/g, the BEST I could get from the WiFi "extension" was 130 Mbps, and that was with the two AEn's sitting 6 inches apart. The distance and location I am trying to bridge is already done by an older AEg and AExpress.

I don't want to connect anything else wireless to these two n-routers, but it appears that the best/easiest method would be to just drag out the box of Cat6 cable (and return those mostly useless AEn's).

Anyone??

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Answer 7

Sep 10, 2007 7:59 PM in response to vbs420

Have been doing quite a bit of experimenting of late.

1. 300Mbps 5GHz Mode.
This is out for me, serious connection issues as my MacBook refuses to connect to my network when two Extremes used together with one extending the network. Also the range seems to be seriously reduced & the network drops in & out. Theoretically should be the fastest network for uploading from Laptop to AppleTV but not much use if you can't connect to network.

2. 130Mbps 2.5GHZ Mode.
Seems ok, no connection issues but limited if any 'g" devices like Nintendo Wii need to be on the network.

3. 130 Mbps (a,b,g,n) mode.
Again no connection issues, laptop says I'm connected at 130Mbps even with Nintendo Wii in standby (always on) mode, so network does not seem to be taking a hit from the "g" device and test Wi-Fi upload from MacBook to AppleTV definitely seems faster than "g" speeds, perhaps not quite as fast as 5GHz "n" only mode but a good compromise.

The biggest puzzle is the connection issues with the 5GHz mode. I've tracked this down to the Gigabit Extreme as it seems to be the problem, with or without the second Extreme "N" joining & extending the network, it just doesn't like my Macbook. Works for a while then "boom" can't connect to wi-fi network, usually from a wake from sleep.

Anyone come across this 5GHz connection issue?

ps yes I have a "N" enabled Macbook

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Answer 8

vbs420

Level 1

0 points

Sep 11, 2007 9:56 AM in response to John Lenneberg

My point here is: what's with the "n"?? Is it not to denote "gigabit"? If so, then why with the sluggish speeds?

I think I will be boxing up these two AEn's and sending them back to Apple today. (I'll have to bite the 10% "re-stocking" fee.)

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Answer 9

Sep 11, 2007 10:06 AM in response to vbs420

vbs, the new AEBS with the "gigabit" refer to the ethernet ports in the back. I believe that this is the first AEBS with gigabit ethernet ports. I don't believe the 'n' specification takes wireless to 'gigabit' speeds.

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Answer 10

vbs420

Level 1

0 points

Sep 11, 2007 10:24 AM in response to Paul Conaway

After I last posted, I went and read up on 802.11n.

Kind of a misnomer to advertise something as one thing, but it in fact be another.

Too bad for me really, I should have done more research first.

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Answer 11

Sep 12, 2007 12:20 AM in response to Paul Conaway

Paul Conaway wrote:
vbs, the new AEBS with the "gigabit" refer to the ethernet ports in the back. I believe that this is the first AEBS with gigabit ethernet ports. I don't believe the 'n' specification takes wireless to 'gigabit' speeds.

Let's be clear. The 'n' on 802.11n has NOTHING to do the Gigabit "wired" speeds of a device.

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Answer 12

EKaru

Level 1

0 points

Oct 2, 2007 12:53 PM in response to John Lenneberg

Hello, I'm about to purchase an additional Airport extreme to improve the reception in my home... I was wondering if someone can provide me with a link which explains how to "extend my network" ...
Also I was wondering where to place the 2nd airport extreme unit? Closer to my computer or right in between the original airport extreme and my computer? Thanks a lot

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Answer 13

Oct 2, 2007 2:22 PM in response to neptune2000

You cannot join an Express wirelessly to a AEBS in "n" only by extending the network. You can do it if the AEBS is in a/b/g/n mode...but that is not the same as "n" only at 5Ghz as the original poster asked about.

The only way to run a AEBS in "n" ONLY with an Express is to Bridge the Express via Ethernet to the AEBS and disable assigning IP in the Express.

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Answer 14

Oct 2, 2007 2:23 PM in response to Bear Hunter

Disreguard my reply above...I just realized he was talking about two AEBS routers....sorry

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