Level 1

10 points

Can't connect to 5 GHz wireless N network

I recently bought a Cisco Linksys E4200 wireless dual band router. I have a Mid 2011 Mac Mini, running OS X Lion 10.7.2. I can see and connect to the 2.4 GHz network, but can't even see the 5 GHz network. Is the Mac Mini supposed to support Wireless N at 5 GHz? I also have an Early 2008 MacBook Pro (OS X 10.7.2), that has the same problem.

My girlfriend's phone can connect to the 5 GHz network (which has a different SSID), so I suspect that the problem is with the computers and not the router. The router is in plain sight in the same room as the computers, and is configured to Wireless N only at both 2.4 and 5 GHz. I also tried Wireless A and Mixed at 5 GHz, but the problem remained. Channel settings are automatic.

Any insight?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.2), Mid 2011, 2.5 GHz i5

Posted on Jan 1, 2012 6:41 AM

28 replies

arttuk Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 5, 2012 5:38 AM in response to arttuk

Additional information:

Today, I booted my MBP into Windows 7, and saw that the 5 GHz network is visible there. So, this really looks like a problem with OS X.

May 22, 2012 6:37 PM in response to justathome

Since we have a buch of Macs at home, I was able to figure which frequency was best for all of them. Channel 48 did the trick for a MacBook Pro 2010 and a 2010 iMac! 🙂 Ty for the tip

Motomome

Level 1

4 points

Jun 15, 2012 7:13 AM in response to otterfish

Thank you for this, it solved my issues with my iMac.

Oct 26, 2012 10:20 PM in response to justathome

Thank you justathome!! worked perfectly 🙂

sammeynl

Level 1

0 points

May 1, 2014 7:07 AM in response to castroneves

Castroneves, wauw thanks for the solution! I've been playing around for days but setting it to channel 48 did the trick! Thanks 😀

May 3, 2014 2:51 PM in response to otterfish

Fantastic post, the information contained in the link completely resolved the issues I was having with Wifi with my Macbook Pro.

Jul 15, 2014 7:15 AM in response to XeniaNJ

The 5 ghz band channels are 149,153, 157 and 161

izyoka

Level 1

8 points

May 7, 2015 8:45 AM in response to justathome

Thanks a lot man! It helped.:)

ruimgp

Level 1

2 points

Nov 13, 2015 1:04 PM in response to Jirka Dytrt

This help!🙂

Thanks

eobet

Level 1

37 points

Apr 3, 2016 9:56 AM in response to castroneves

Had to set to channel 48 manually on my router as well, due to a brand new Mac Mini refusing to connect.

Apple - "it just works" was a long, long time ago. 😟

hab1b

Level 1

4 points

May 6, 2017 3:30 PM in response to MissNoble

Ha! Thank you! I didn't even realize both my channels had the same name. Added 5g to end of the 5g channel SSID and popped right up.

Jun 19, 2017 9:17 AM in response to justathome

Thanks, that help me. Despite that my router support the same list of channels that my mac (no one more, no one less) I changed to a fixed channel and my mac started to see the network.

Thanks

Jul 7, 2017 12:09 PM in response to arttuk

THANKS! THAT WORKED FOR ME!

Changed from Auto to Channel.157... POOF... GOLD!

THANKS AGAIN!

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Can't connect to 5 GHz wireless N network