Payam Minoofar
Level 1 (83 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Firmware 7.6.3 kills 5 GHz channel in Airport Express

I just updated the firmware on both of my Airport Expresses. The new one (current generation) is working fine, but the old one, which is one generation behind and joins the network the new one creates, can no longer see the 5 GHz network. This is bad because the old router functions solely as a base for my speakers. So, I need it to be on the 5 GHz network to avoid interference from the 2.4 GHz woofer.

 

Is anyone else experiencing this?

 

Thanks.

Posted on Feb 8, 2013 8:21 AM

by Payam Minoofar,Solvedanswer
Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar
Level 1 (83 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Ok. Here is what I did:

 

I rolled back the previous gen AE to 7.6.1, and the 5 GHz network still wasn't showing up. So, I rolled back the current gen AE to 7.6.2, and presto! the previous gen easily found and joined the 5 GHz network.

 

So, I rolled the previous gen AE to 7.6.3, and presto! everything is still honky dory.

 

Without a doubt, firmware 7.6.3 does something royally messed up to the 5 GHz network that the current gen AE can create.

 

This has to be fixed because having simultaneous 2.4 and 5 GHz networks is the ONLY reason to buy this product.

Posted on Feb 8, 2013 7:46 PM

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Payam Minoofar

Q: Firmware 7.6.3 kills 5 GHz channel in Airport Express

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  • by Tom Gentry,

    Tom Gentry Tom Gentry Feb 8, 2013 10:28 AM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 10:28 AM in response to Payam Minoofar

    Yes, same here.  Airport Express 802.11n's can no longer see 5GHz network with new firmware.

  • by It_caveman,

    It_caveman It_caveman Feb 8, 2013 12:13 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 12:13 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    Well I gave it all a try. Upgraded the three 5th gens, then rolled them back and upgraded again. They seemed to work for about 15 minutes then things started to go unstable. The primary started giving errors about double NA'T and handing out DHCP and the cable modem was rebooting like crazy. When it was working the speed test app is all over the place to, never stable and some times it hangs and if it does that you have to toggle wifi on and off to get Internet to come back on that device. All three routers act the same. Tested with MacBook Air, iPad mini, IPhone 5 and Latiude e6220 with 6300 intel wifi chip. I rolled the all back for now to 7.6.1 and Cable is now stable, routers are all stable, no more hangs and weird stuff. My speeds area ll back to normal and my shared drives and wifi printer are back as well.

  • by datklopt,

    datklopt datklopt Feb 8, 2013 12:53 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 12:53 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    This is correct.  The firmware upgrade will break an Airport Netwrok connectiong other Airport Express modules.  It cannot see them any longer.  However,  I do not know how to roll back the firmware upgrade.  Any info on how to do that?

  • by Tom Gentry,

    Tom Gentry Tom Gentry Feb 8, 2013 1:05 PM in response to datklopt
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 1:05 PM in response to datklopt

    Yes.  Download AirPort Utility 5.6 if you don't have it.  Open and select the AirPort device that you want to rollback firmware to 7.6.1.  (it will be all in your network.)  Click on Base Station on main menu bar, then select Upload Firmware, select 7.6.1 from the menu, click OK and you will be back at 7.6.1 shortly.

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Feb 8, 2013 1:11 PM in response to datklopt
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 8, 2013 1:11 PM in response to datklopt

    You can download the 5.6 utility here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 8, 2013 1:22 PM in response to datklopt
    Level 10 (105,448 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 8, 2013 1:22 PM in response to datklopt

    However,  I do not know how to roll back the firmware upgrade.

    Open AirPort Utility 6.2 and click on an AirPort Express

     

    Hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the version number of firmware. A drop down of available previous versions for the device will appear. Click to select the version that you want.

     

     

    Screen Shot 2013-02-08 at 3.20.46 PM.png

  • by datklopt,

    datklopt datklopt Feb 8, 2013 1:53 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 1:53 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    When I do this, I do not get a drop down. I have a horizontal arrow instead of a vertical one. 

  • by datklopt,

    datklopt datklopt Feb 8, 2013 1:55 PM in response to Tom Gentry
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 1:55 PM in response to Tom Gentry

    When I do this (upgrade firmware from the drop dwn menu) , it asks for a file from my computer.  Is the 7.6.1 file still located on my computer somewhere?

  • by Tom Gentry,

    Tom Gentry Tom Gentry Feb 8, 2013 2:05 PM in response to datklopt
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 2:05 PM in response to datklopt

    Well, I've rolled back all my AirPorts to 7.6.1 or 7.6.2 and the AirPort Expresses still cannot see the 5GHz network to extend it.  And it all worked before updating to 7.6.3.

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Feb 8, 2013 2:06 PM in response to datklopt
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 8, 2013 2:06 PM in response to datklopt

    This answer

     

    Does AirPort Utility keep an archive of all my AirPort base station firmware updates?

    AirPort Utility keeps an archive of all Wi-Fi Base Station firmware updates  you install, and stores them in the location below.

    • OS X:  ~/Library/Application Support/Apple/AirPort/Firmware
    • Windows: ~/AppData/Local/Apple/AirPort/Firmware

     

    Appears on this page:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1218

     

    I'm gonna have to waste another hour rolling back this evening, after I spent an hour troubleshooting this morning. Very disappointed.

  • by It_caveman,

    It_caveman It_caveman Feb 8, 2013 2:32 PM in response to Tom Gentry
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 2:32 PM in response to Tom Gentry

    Make sure the upgrade didn't remove your 5g name or the 5g settings in the AirPort Extreme. It did this on one of my Extremes some how and I had to add that info back in. It also changed the auto time check to off  on one and enable setup over Wan on another. Good luck.

  • by datklopt,

    datklopt datklopt Feb 8, 2013 2:33 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 2:33 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    The firmware is not on my computer anymore.  The new update deleted it.  Also, Apple deleted all the airport firmware downloads from the support web site.  I'm not a conspiracy kid of guy, but this is really wierd. 

  • by It_caveman,

    It_caveman It_caveman Feb 8, 2013 2:44 PM in response to datklopt
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 2:44 PM in response to datklopt

    Google airport 7.6.1 airport firmware down load and I bet you can find a copy. Good luck

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 8, 2013 2:51 PM in response to datklopt
    Level 10 (105,448 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 8, 2013 2:51 PM in response to datklopt

    Sorry, but I cannot duplicate the error that you are reporting.

     

    I have toggled back and forth 3 times downgrading and upgrading various versions as a test and everything goes very smoothly.

     

     

    Screen Shot 2013-02-08 at 4.47.23 PM.png

     

    If I can manage to break it, then maybe I can figure out how to fix it. So far, no luck.

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