Airport Express (2nd gen): Radio Mode & Channel Set-Up

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Airport Express (2nd gen): Radio Mode & Channel Set-Up

Hello,

I am hoping somebody can help me with an Airport Express question.

I have recently purchased an Airport Express (2nd gen) and iPod Touch (4th gen) to stream music. I experience connectivity problems when my neighbour’s WiFi is turned on. When their WiFi is on my iPod rarely can detect the Base Station and when it does detect it - it cannot connect. The Airport Utility cannot detect the Base Station either when their WiFi is on. Yet when they are away and their WiFi isn’t turned on I have no problems and the system works absolutely perfectly.

I gather that I can change channels but I am looking for some advice on how to do this.

In work (because I can open the Airport Utility there –as there is no interference) I connect using the Airport Utility I have found the following options:

Radio Mode:

5 GHz Mode: Automatic mode, 802.11n (802.11a compatible) or 802.11n only (5 GHz Mode)

2.4GHz Mode: Automatic mode, 802.11n (802.11g/g compatible) or 802.11n only (5 GHz Mode)

Radio Channel:

5 GHz Channel: Automatic or four channels (36, 40, 44 or 48)

2.4GHz Mode: Automatic or choice of eleven channels

There are dozens of combinations using Radio Modes (5 or 2.4 GHz, manual or auto, 802.11a compatible) and Radio Channels (4 options using 5GHz and 11 options using 2.4 GHz).

Where should I start? Both radio mode manual and also manual channels? The possibilities seem endless!

Can someone please help?

Thank you.

Airport Express (2nd Gen)-OTHER, iOS 6, iPod touch (4th gen)

Posted on Sep 26, 2012 1:21 PM

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Answer 1

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Tesserax

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152,145 points

Sep 26, 2012 4:58 PM in response to Dezwald

To help you get started are you using version 5.x or 6.x of the AirPort Utility? Also do you have any non-"n" network clients that your network needs to support?

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Answer 2

Dezwald Author

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Sep 27, 2012 5:21 AM in response to Tesserax

Hi Tesserax,

I am using version 6.x of the AirPort Utility. I don’t have any non-“n” network clients that my network needs to support (I’m only using the Airport Express as a receiving device to stream music from my iPod Touch).

Thanks,

D

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

152,145 points

Sep 29, 2012 7:28 PM in response to Dezwald

Ok, I would suggest the following settings to help reduce the amount of Wi-Fi interference that your neighbor's Wi-Fi is creating.

On the Wireless tab > Wireless Options > Radio Mode: 802.11n only (5 GHz) - 802.11n only (2.4 GHz)
On the same tab, you will want to manually set the radio channel for the 2.4 GHz band; possible for the 5 GHz band as well. To know which channel to set them to, I would suggest that you use a utility like iStumbler. iStumbler will quickly show you all Wi-Fi networks in your area; which have the greatest signal and what channels they are running on. You will want to choose a channel that is at least 3-5 channels away (on the 2.4 GHz band).

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Answer 4

Dezwald Author

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Oct 5, 2012 2:19 PM in response to Tesserax

Thanks so much! I've been trying in vain to get this sorted out since I bought the iPod touch & AirPort Express. I had almost given up hope. Now it works! Thanks again.

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Answer 5

Oct 5, 2012 9:55 PM in response to Tesserax

Hello, Tesserax,

My apologies if I have breeched community etiquette in asking for your advice.

I use a second generation Airport Express base station, Ethernet fed with category 6 cable, Radio Mode locked to 5 GHz for best data throughput, the station close to my iPad. The set up has improved YouTube video streaming performance significantly. No streaming freezing so far.

Are my base station's WiFi Settings are correct?

This is what I have done via iOS AirPort Utility -

Edit > Advanced > WiFi Settings > 5 GHz Name: AirPort Lounge -

Radio Mode > Manual > Automatic Off > 5 GHz Mode > 802.11n only (5 GHz) > 802.11n only (5 GHz) ticked. Automatic off to allow access to 5 GHz only.

Radio Channel > Manual > Automatic On > 5 GHz Channel 149. Automatic on to allow switching between 5 GHz channels.

Regards, Ken

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