JimmyFWalker
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Q: How can I extend my dual band wireless signal with the new airport express?

I have my apple time capsule, creating a dual band wireless network. I am using both bands with different network names.  I am also using the new airport express which does support dual band to extend the network from the TC.  However it seems I can only tell it to extend the 2.4GHz or the 5GHz but not to do both at the same time.  How can I accomplish this?  I have read a couple of posts that said if you use the same network name for both bands it works, but has anyone confirmed that you are actually extending both bands? I would appreciate any information anyone can supply.  Thanks!

Posted on Jul 10, 2012 7:10 PM

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JimmyFWalker

Q: How can I extend my dual band wireless signal with the new airport express?

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jul 10, 2012 7:15 PM in response to JimmyFWalker
    Level 9 (54,901 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 10, 2012 7:15 PM in response to JimmyFWalker

    I have read a couple of posts that said if you use the same network name for both bands it works, but has anyone confirmed that you are actually extending both bands?

    Yes, both Network Names need to be the same in order to extend both bands with additional base stations. One thing to take into consideration is that the range of the 5 GHz network will be less than that of the 2.4 GHz band. You need to place the extending base station so that it's wireless overlaps both bands.

  • by bryan.taylor,

    bryan.taylor bryan.taylor Jul 15, 2012 12:55 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 15, 2012 12:55 PM in response to Tesserax

    How do I get the Network Names in the same order?  I want to do the same thing this guy did.

     

    Thanks.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jul 15, 2012 12:58 PM in response to bryan.taylor
    Level 9 (54,901 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 15, 2012 12:58 PM in response to bryan.taylor

    Not in the "same order," but "in order." To extend both radios, the Network Names for both radios must be the same "in order" for this to work ... and by default, both are.

  • by bryan.taylor,

    bryan.taylor bryan.taylor Jul 15, 2012 1:02 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 15, 2012 1:02 PM in response to Tesserax

    Sorry, a little dense here.  The network names for the 2.4 ghz must the same (Network A) on both pieces of hardware and a the same for the 5ghz (netowrk B).

     

    Or does the name have to be the same for both the 2.4 & the 5ghz?

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jul 15, 2012 1:05 PM in response to bryan.taylor
    Level 9 (54,901 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 15, 2012 1:05 PM in response to bryan.taylor

    Staying with the AirPort to be extended, both radios (2.4 & 5 GHz) must have the same Network Name (or SSID). The extending AirPort must use the same Network Name as the AirPort being extended and it would be this Network Name that you would select when configuring both for an extended network. Make sense now?

  • by bryan.taylor,

    bryan.taylor bryan.taylor Jul 15, 2012 1:11 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 15, 2012 1:11 PM in response to Tesserax

    My Time Capsule is configured to use dual band 2.4 and 5 with 2 separate names so that I can keep the faster speed pure for the N devices like my Air and iPad, while the 2.4 is set up for my G devices.  I want to extend this configuration so I can get full coverage in my house with the separate bands.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jul 15, 2012 1:16 PM in response to bryan.taylor
    Level 9 (54,901 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 15, 2012 1:16 PM in response to bryan.taylor

    Sorry, but you can't. The extending AIrPort can only be configured to extend ONE Network Name, regardless if it is a simultaneous dual-band model or not. There is no option in the AirPort Utility that allows you to select different Network Names between bands to extend them.