Can't join 5 GHz network

Welcome to the discussions!

I assume that you have your computer in close proximity to the AEBS. 5 GHz signals are absorbed by walls, ceilings and any obstructions much more quickly than 2.4 GHz signals, so if your computer is at the other end of the house, this may be your problem.

There have been numerous posts from users who are having difficulties with recent AirPort Extremes, so you may want to contact Apple for assistance on this. Some users have reported that they have been instructed to turn off the "guest"' network for the time being until a "fix" is available. Apparently, turning off the "guest" network then allows the "main" network to function correctly. Others report that this does not help.

Please post back on your progress.

Same problem here. This is some kind of authentication problem. I can connect authenticated to the 2.4GHz network, but the 5GHz network, using the same SSID but with the default (5 GHz) appended to it, throws up an authentication dialogue box and then times out. This always happens whether or not the Guest network is enabled. I can only connect at 5GHz with wireless security off. My MBP (running 10.5.8, less than a year old) is less than 1 meter from the Airport. My previous Dual-Band version 1 connects perfectly with exactly the same configuration data. This bug manifests in the same way from 4 other Macs, one of which is a 6-month-old Mini running 10.6.2.

Here's my Console output from attempting to connect until connection timeout:

26/11/2009 18:30:27 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:27 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:31 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:31 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:35 airportd[70419] Error: Apple80211Associate() failed -6
26/11/2009 18:30:35 SystemUIServer[192] Error: airportd MIG failed = -6 ((null)) (port = 67091)
26/11/2009 18:30:35 SystemUIServer[192] Error: airportd MIG failed = -6 ((null)) (port = 67091)
26/11/2009 18:30:35 airportd[70419] Error: process commanddict() failed
26/11/2009 18:30:39 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:39 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:43 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:43 kernel Auth result for: 00:26:bb:77:4e:da MAC AUTH succeeded
26/11/2009 18:30:47 airportd[70419] Error: Apple80211Associate() failed -6
26/11/2009 18:30:47 SystemUIServer[192] Error: airportd MIG failed = -6 ((null)) (port = 67091)
26/11/2009 18:30:47 airportd[70419] Error: process commanddict() failed
26/11/2009 18:30:47 SystemUIServer[192] Error joining Mamatus (5 GHz): Connection timeout (-6 timeout connecting)

I have just setup new AEBS and have named 5 Ghz network bua also get connection timed out when trying to connect when 1 metre from AEBS.

I also tried to turn of WPA/WPA2 security but this doesn't help.

It probably won't; it didn't for me. I found that only resetting the AEBS to defaults allowed me to connect again at 5GHz, but as soon as I set the thing up and applied WPA I lost connectivity again. 2.4GHz works perfectly. The radio mode (a/n or a only) makes no difference and I see it's no longer possible to use n at 2.4GHz.

This is almost certainly a firmware problem. I'd like to see a knowledgeable tech interpret my Console output.

there could be a double reference to the network in the keychain, here is what I did,
open keychain utility , delete anything to do with the network name, turn airport off, go to library/ preferences, system config and clean everything inside. restart. go to network/airport/advanced/airport, delete any old references from the list. turn airport on and it should see both networks if you are close enough to the router. select the 5 Ghz and it should work.

If problem presist, do the same as above, but once you clean the network references from the computer, restart, do a hardware reset on the AE and good luck.

the new apple extreme with 7.5 has lots of problems, every wonder why is apple not releasing 7.5 to the wild..

HI

Thanks, this did work for me. I could not see the preferences files you mentioned but went into airport system preferences and removed all the related netowrks from the preferred list then restarted and it works perfectly even with Guest network switched on

Derek

Glad its working, it took me sometime to figure a workaround,if you need to clean everything next time,
go to the main drive, then library folder , then preferences folder, then systemconfuguration folder
and clear everything insider/restart.
are you using mobileme sync, I had to do some reseting there as well, because when I synced my keychains the bug was re-transmitted, so I had to REMOVE all the computers from mobile me , then it asked me to delete the preferences on the me servers, then synced from the clean/working mac as the master....its a nightmare, but it seems to work at the end

That, plus restarting the AEBS halfway through, worked for me. I also deleted everything in my UZer Library/Preferences folder that had Airport in its name. Watch out; after doing this your Sharing/Computer Name will be blank and require filling in. What a palaver.

My problem must have started with importing a basestationconfig first, which evidently poisoned my keychain entries, and which MobileMe kept restoring. After that, even when setting new SSIDs and passwords, nothing worked. I hadn't thought to reset my main base station admin password, too.

Many thanks.

I too have this problem. Seem to happen right after I restart the AEBS. Usually I just wait it out, seems that the 2,4 GHz net is ready faster then the 5Ghz. That explains the restart of the computer solving it as that gives the router the time it needs to get both bands ready. This is only what I think. Please everyone call Apple and let them know. The sooner they fix this crapbaked product the better.

What solved it for me was this (not sure if every step is absolutely essential, especially 1-3):

1. Delete /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
2. Disconnect USB printer and HD from AEBS (Airport Extreme Simultaneous Dual-Band II)
3. Powercycle AEBS
4. In Airport Utility, restore to factory settings, reboot AEBS
5. Use wizard to set up AEBS again using same settings as before
6. After reboot, select Manual Setup and in Airport > Wireless > More options > Wireless options, activate 5 GHz network
7. Update
8. Reconnect printer and HD to AEBS.

I was then able to log straight onto the 5 GHz network, the WPA2 Personal password was accepted without any problem. I did not attempt to switch back and forth between 2.4 and 5 GHz in fear of losing the 5 GHz connection again...

Today got this dual band II Airport Extreme Router to replace my 4 yo Airport Extreme.
Old one N - 5GHz perfect, no problemo whatsoever.
New one N - 5GHz keeps asking for password, actually same issue many users had here.
I used the tips they mention to get it working (which is actually a scandal for an Apple Product), but now it's off again and won't let me connect.
I'm gonna call Apple Support on Monday and they can take this piece of rubbish back and throw it in the face of whoever designed this latest firmware. I mean C'MON. It may not be a central product in their range, but being an avid Apple user I must say I'm very very very dissapointed. "What were they thinking" comes to mind.