Wi-Fi not connecting as 802.11n

Question

Wi-Fi not connecting as 802.11n

I've just got my nice brand-new iMac this weekend. Lovely machine. It is working over my new Time Capsule very nicely.

However, when I look at the statistics, I see that, while my Macbook pro is connecting as 802.11n, the iMac is down as connecting with 802.11b/g - which, of course, makes the whole network much slower.

I see on the iMac that the connection type is set for 'automatic'. How do I change this to force it to 802.11n?

iMac + Macbook Pro + 16Gb iPhone 3G +Mac Mini + iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jul 6, 2009 2:15 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 6, 2009 4:48 AM in response to Fustbariclation

However, when I look at the statistics...

What are you using to "look at the statistics"?

I see on the iMac that the connection type is set for 'automatic'

Where is this setting for "automatic"?

Since you have a Time Capsule, you can run AirPort Utility. On the Wireless tab (for the base station's Airport settings), there is a setting called +Radio Mode+. If you set it for one of the +802.11n only+ settings, then I would presume your iMac would have to connect at 802.11n.

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Answer 2

Jul 6, 2009 5:10 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I'm using Airport Utility to look at the stats.

The TC is set for 802.11a/n - 802.11b/g not automatic - there is no setting for 802.11n only. It's the iMac card that's set to 'automatic'.

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Answer 3

Jul 6, 2009 5:22 AM in response to Fustbariclation

I'm using Airport Utility to look at the stats.

Can you state what screen (and what field on that screen) in AirPort Utility shows this information?

It's the iMac card that's set to 'automatic'.

So my question is still, where is that setting. There are many places related to networking where the setting is automatic or automatically. Just want to make sure we are talking about the same things.

The TC is set for 802.11a/n - 802.11b/g

Interesting. I figured it would be the same options as for my older AirPort Extreme base station. I have +802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)+, +802.11n (802.11a compatible)+, and two settings for +802.11n only+.

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Answer 4

Aug 13, 2009 2:07 AM in response to Fustbariclation

This is still a problem. I've configured my Airport to have an 802.11g/n network. I've also gone to the options screen and configured a 5GHz network with a different name.

My Macbook (which is brand new, and is advertised as supporting 802.11n) only connects to the base network - the Time Capsule shows it as an 802.11b/g connection as well.

The Macbook doesn't even see the 5GHz network.

So it looks as if, for some reason, my Macbook is set onto 802.11g as a default. How can I force it to link to 802.11n as a default instead?

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Answer 5

Sep 3, 2009 7:32 PM in response to Fustbariclation

I have the newer Airport Extreme dualband (APX-DB) and found the same setup to be true with me. However, every device is connecting at 802.11b/g and I have two iMacs and one MBPro that could connect at 802.11n. Under Radio Mode on the APX-DB I have my set to 802.11a/n - 802.11b/g. I am running 10.6 on all the intel Macs.

Anyway, I was looking to figure out how to force the issue but it seems no one has an answer. But I do have one question for you; are you extending your network using the WDS setup by any chance? I was wondering if perhaps that plays a part on my wireless network.

Interestingly enough, if you hold the option key and primary click the wireless icon in the menubar in 10.5 or newer, you should see some stats telling you how you are connecting. This may help others help us.

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Answer 6

Sep 3, 2009 7:42 PM in response to Fustbariclation

I forgot to add that I did reference this article:
http://www.macworld.com/article/140685-2/2009/05/wifi_spectrumbands.html

And I have set my 802.11n channel above 149.

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Answer 7

ScuseMe

Level 2

224 points

Oct 22, 2009 5:29 PM in response to Tim Winningham

Sorry to resurrect this topic, but I've been having problems with my IMac continually keeping an 802.11n connection. It seems that if I reset the Airport Extreme, the iMac initially connects at 5 GHz (as shown using Option-Airport Icon in the menu bar), but invariably at some time in the future will drop down to 2.4 GHz. This same problem also occurs with my Airport Express, which is no more than 10 feet from the iMac (and 20 feet from the Extreme).

I'm now creating a different wireless network for the 5GHz band and setting my iMac and Airport Express to use this setting. I'll use my original 2.4 GHz network for my Dell laptop, iPhone and iPod Touch. Thanks for that Macworld article.

Hopefully, I'll know in a few days if this change will work with my setup.

Mike

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