I am using my Airport Express 802.11N (1st Gen) as a wireless bridge between my TimeCapsule 802.11n (Living Room) and my Slingbox (Bedroom). I do not need my Airport Express to extend my network at all, just need it to act as a bridge. I have read the Express is a dual frequency device (2.5Ghz and 5Ghz), but cannot use both at the same time. Is there a way to lock my Express into only using the 5GHz frequency?
AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Gen)
Normally, when the AirPort Express is configured to "Join" or "Extend" a wireless network, it will look at both the 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band and choose the best quality, or strongest signal......which is almost always going to be 2.4 GHz if the signal has to pass through any obstructions like walls or ceilings.
You can "force" the Express to connect to the 5 GHz band, but in order to do so, you must setup the Time Capsule to provide a separate name for the 5 GHz network. Once that is done, you can "point" the AirPort Express to that specific network.
But....there is no guarantee that connecting to 5 GHz will provide you with a faster connection. If the signal must pass through several obstructions to reach the Express, the 5 GHz signal may well be slower than the 2.4 GHz signal at that point.
Post back if you need more details about how to set this up. But, also keep in mind that when you give the Express the ability to choose the best quality signal....as it is doing now....it is connecting to 2.4 GHz because that is the better quality signal....and likely faster signal.
Thanks for the help Bob. Does the Express switch back and fourth from 2.4 GHz to 5GHz or does it pick the strongest and stick with it? The reason I ask is because right now the Express is set up to extend a wireless network because I was told this was the only way it would activate the Ethernet Port. I believe my iPhone is picking up on the extended Express network when I'm in my bedroom and it may be causing issues. My iPhone will sporadically lose internet for anywhere from 10 seconds to 2 minutes. When I run the airport utility on my iPhone, it shows the Express and TC as green, but the internet as yellow. The slingbox (which is connected to the express) still streams without interuption and other devices connected to the TC wireless don't lose internet. The problem only occurs in my bedroom with devices that cannot connect to the 5GHz frequency (iPhone, Ipod Touch, Old Laptop). My MacBook Pro never has the issue. The other devices never have any issues when the express is unplugged or when they are closer to the TC. Is it possible that the Express is switching between frequencies and when it is in 5GHz mode it cuts out on the devices that cannot connect to that freq?
Is it possible that the Express is switching between frequencies and when it is in 5GHz mode it cuts out on the devices that cannot connect to that freq?
Yes
If you want the iPhone, iTouch and other 2.4 GHz devices to be able to connect through the AirPort Express, then you would want to make sure that the Express is extending the 2.4 GHz band.
To do this, assign a separate name to the 5 GHz network on the Time Capsule and leave the Express "as is" and it will connect to the 2.4 GHz band.
If you want your faster devices to connect to the 5 GHz band, then you will have to point them at the 5 GHz network name.
So I went home last night and assigned a seperate name to the 5GHz network through my TC. I then modified the Express to extend the 5GHz network. I tested my Slingbox and it worked great. I looked at the statusof the Express and it showed excellent connection, but also showed that the MAC address for my iPhone was still connected. I checked my Iphone, and it showed that it was connected to the 2.4GHz named network. I thought maybe the MAC address was still registered in the Express's system, so I did a factory reset and set it up again. Same thing happened. Even though it is set to extend the 5GHz network, my iPhone was still connecting to it. And once again I was having problems with the internet cutting on the iPhone while connected to the express.
1. Is it possible that the Express is extending the 5GHz network in 2.4GHz and 5GHz mode?
2. I have read in some other places to Airport 6.0 took away a lot of features. If I go back and install airport 5.6, will I be able to access the feature to lock my express into 5GHz mode so my iPhone will not be able to see it?
1. Is it possible that the Express is extending the 5GHz network in 2.4GHz and 5GHz mode?
Not possible. The Express is a single band device, so it can extend either then 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band, but not both simultaneously.
If I go back and install airport 5.6, will I be able to access the feature to lock my express into 5GHz mode so my iPhone will not be able to see it?
Yes. AirPort Utility 5.6 has much more functionality than 6.0. I suggest that you keep both 5.6 and 6.0 on your Mac. (You cannot delete 6.0).
Bob
I extend a TC using ethernet on an Airport Express. I then locked the AE at 5GHz so that my Macbook Pro would take advantage of the faster 5GHZ speed. The AE is in line of sight but the Macbook Pro still connects to the 2.4GHZ wireless on the TC. I verified this by doing the option click on the wireless icon. The SSID on both the TC and the AE are the same. Do you have any idea why the MB Pro continues to use 2.4 even though the AE at 5GHz is sitting right there?
Does the 5 GHz signal use a different wireless network name? Does the AirPort Express use that same 5 Ghz name?
If no, you need to enable the option to assign a different name to the 5 GHz band on the Time Capsule using AirPort Utility. Then setup the Express using that same network name or SSID.
If yes, do you have the connection order set on the Mac to connect to the 5 Ghz network first?
That is the only way that you can "point" your Mac at the 5 GHz band.
I tried using a different wireless name for the AE 5ghz signal but had some weird password issue so I reverted it back to the same name as the TC. I will try to rename the AE again and then set the MBP order like you suggested. I am really just trying to use the hardware to its full potential. I have a TC dual band in the basement and two AE's upstairs. We have many devices iphones, MBP's, ipad, ipad touch. Do you have a better suggestion for a configuration that will maximize all the connections? The TC is in the basement because of its proximity to the cable modem and an xbox.
Thanks
Might be a good idea to rename the wireless network(s) and set up a new password to eliminate potential conflicts.
It sounds like you know how to set up a different name for the 5 GHz band on the Time Capsule. Setup the Express with the same 5 GHz name that you assign to the Time Capsule
Then, make sure that you have the name of the 5 GHZ network at the top of the list of networks in System Preferences > Network > AirPort > Advanced. Good idea to delete all the other networks that you no longer need while you are there.
Lock Airport Express in 5GHZ Mode
