Dual band, multiple network question

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Dual band, multiple network question

I have an airport express as my primary router and an Airport Extreme to extend. I'd like to create a seperate 5Ghz network for my pc for faster speeds but I need to keep a seperate network at 2.4Ghz for my ps3, xbox and other peripherals. I've searched around the web and can't seem to find a clear concise answer about how to do this. Both my routers are less than a year old and I'm reading online that they should be able to do dual-band simultaneous. Does this mean that both of them should be able to offer two networks around the house? If anyone can help or shed light to this, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

AES, AEX-OTHER, Windows 7

Posted on Nov 21, 2011 12:04 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,374 points

Nov 21, 2011 12:59 PM in response to Gh0strid3r

If your AirPort Express is your primary router, it can only provide one band...either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, but not both simultaneously.

If you want to "extend" the wireless signal using an AirPort Extreme....it will only extend what it receives....the signal from the Express....which is a single band device.

So only one band will be extended by the AirPort Extreme....that being the band the AirPort Express is currently set to provide.

In order to extend simultaneous dual band around the house.....

You need an AirPort Extreme to provide the "main" dual band wireless network...and

You need another AirPort Extreme to extend both bands.....or

You need two AirPort Express devices...one set to extend 2.4 GHz and the other to extend the 5 GHz band

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Answer 2

May 15, 2012 1:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the quick reply! I am using the dualband AP extreme for the main router. So can't I use thte oldest APE for the 2.4g channel, and the other APE (first generation) 802.11n for the 5g?

Assuming that is workable, then I'd need an AP express set to 5g as well?

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,374 points

May 15, 2012 1:55 PM in response to James Kayten

So can't I use thte oldest APE for the 2.4g channel, and the other APE (first generation) 802.11n for the 5g?

You must have an 802.11n device to be able to use Apple's "Extend a wireless network" feature.

So, you could use the 802.11n device that you now have to extend either the 2.4 GHz band...or...the 5 GHz band.

But, you would not be able to to use an older 802.11g device to "extend" at all...using wireless only. It must be an 802.11n device for that function.

If the older 802.11g device happens to be an AirPort Express, you could still use that to "Join" the 2.4 GHz network for AirTunes, but it would not provide any additional wireless coverage in that setting.

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Answer 4

May 15, 2012 2:12 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I see, so even though the small older APexpress units (802.11g) are added to the network, they are not providing any extension of coverage? I thought I had that as an option when I was using the setup assistant. My concern is that as far as I understand, the network speed is limited my the slowest client connected to it with the older system.

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Answer 5

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,374 points

May 15, 2012 2:23 PM in response to James Kayten

so even though the small older APexpress units (802.11g) are added to the network, they are not providing any extension of coverage?

Correct. There is no setting on the older 802.11b/g Express to "Extend a wireless network". That feature is only found on the newer 802.11n Express and other newer Apple routers.

My concern is that as far as I understand, the network speed is limited my the slowest client connected to it with the older system.

Not sure that you mean here. If my older "g" iPhone is on the network, it has no measurable effect on any of the other "n" devices on the network.

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