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 3:31 PM in response to Tom Gentry
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 3:31 PM in response to Tom Gentry

    My bad.  The AirPort Expresses now see the 5GHz network and can extend it when rolled back to 7.6.1.  I was too impatient.

  • by It_caveman,

    It_caveman It_caveman Feb 8, 2013 3:33 PM in response to It_caveman
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 3:33 PM in response to It_caveman

    I may have been wrong. I've looked everywhere and can't find it. Maybe someone could post one up on a temp FTP site for you. Or maybe Apple will do the right thing  and put the 7.6.1 back where it can be downloaded.

     

     

    Note that if you are using a Windows device and could not find the path to the previous versions of files the appdata folder is hidden and must be unhidden to view it. Also it could be in two different places depending on if you have Windows XP, 7' etc. but it's always under the users name folder in all versions (just hidden) .

     

    Best of luck getting it sorted out.

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Feb 8, 2013 6:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 8, 2013 6:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hi Bob,

     

    The problem is very specific. Upon upgrading tot firmware 7.6.3, previous generation (NOT current generation) Airport Expresses no longer see 5 GHz networks. My current generation Express updated just fine, but my previouis generation Express no longer sees the 5 GHz network that the current gen. Express broadcasts.

     

    My iPad and Macbook Pro both see this 5 GHz network.

  • by Payam Minoofar,Solvedanswer

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Feb 8, 2013 7:46 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 8, 2013 7:46 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    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.

  • by nature1ders,

    nature1ders nature1ders Feb 8, 2013 9:32 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 9:32 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    I figured out what's wrong, for whatever reason you must have the 5ghz network name contain 5GHz in it. They must have made some dumb blunder or something in programming it. Anyways if you type the network name, then uncheck the 5ghz, and recheck it, the thing goes to NETWORK 5GHz and this is the only way it will save the settings and work.

     

    STUPID

  • by nature1ders,

    nature1ders nature1ders Feb 8, 2013 9:45 PM in response to nature1ders
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Feb 8, 2013 9:45 PM in response to nature1ders

    Wait I was wrong, terribly, it didn't work =/ how very strange. It is broke on Airport Express 2nd Gen 5ghz won't send signal out =/ grr

  • by rvjacobs,

    rvjacobs rvjacobs Feb 20, 2013 4:45 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Feb 20, 2013 4:45 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    I can confirm that firmware 7.6.3 makes the 5GHz wifi drop. I've tried everything thinking it was something else, but rolling back the firmware to 7.6.1 solved the problem immediately.

     

    I have a TC with two Airport Express base stations. To be sure, I rolled all three of them back to the older firmware version. Now my iMac, iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini and iPod touch latest gen, working stunningly fast and stabel again.

     

    Thanx for the solution, it kept me awake and busy for over a week.

  • by Boat Guy,

    Boat Guy Boat Guy Apr 2, 2013 3:23 PM in response to rvjacobs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2013 3:23 PM in response to rvjacobs

    Ditto.  With one TC and one AE the upgrade to 7.6.3 killed the 5GHz and the AE struggled to extend the network.  I rolled back to 7.6.1 and everything is working again.

     

    Avoid 7.6.3.

  • by Payam Minoofar,Helpful

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 12, 2013 9:02 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 12, 2013 9:02 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    I managed to get my hands on another AE, and I found the solution!!!!!

     

    I upgraded to firmware 7.6.3 and, again, both older generation Airport Expresses dropped out. Neither older AE could join the 5 GHz network as each was programmed to do. I then did one last thing. In the "Wireless" tab of Airport Utility for the new, replacement AE, I clicked the "Wireless Options" button and manually changed the "5GHz Channel" setting from "Automatic" to 157. Upon reboot, EVERYTHING was working. Both old AEs immediately joined the network, I can play music through both satellite speakers without any interference from the wireless woofers, and the music streaming from the main router (the replacement unit) is no longer skipping. It plays flawlessly. All my devices are connected and running, and network speed is blazing fast.

     

    The DEFINITIVE problem is that when the 5 GHz network channel selection is set to "Auto" on the new AE, the old AEs cannot see it. When it is manually set to any channel (I have now verified this with channel settings of 48, 157 and 161), EVERYTHING  works FLAWLESSLY. I have verified this on BOTH Airport Expresses.

     

    I live in a house. I don't know if additional interference in denser quarters might make this an imperfect solution, but the problem is solved as far as I am concerned.

    5GHz_fix.png

  • by nature1ders,

    nature1ders nature1ders Apr 13, 2013 1:02 AM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 13, 2013 1:02 AM in response to Payam Minoofar

    It makes no sense, I have a 2nd generation AE that drops out when I upgrade to the new firmware, I wish people would stop saying it only effects older 1st generation versions. It clearly does NOT, it effects both. WTH man anyways I may try this idk yet

  • by nature1ders,Helpful

    nature1ders nature1ders Apr 13, 2013 1:19 AM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 13, 2013 1:19 AM in response to Payam Minoofar

    I just tried your solution and it works! I will just use Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector to monitor nearby frequencies and set them myself.

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 14, 2013 11:08 AM in response to nature1ders
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2013 11:08 AM in response to nature1ders

    Too bad it's not available for OS X. If anyone knows of such a program for OS X, I will be happy to hear about it.

  • by nature1ders,

    nature1ders nature1ders Apr 14, 2013 2:39 PM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 14, 2013 2:39 PM in response to Payam Minoofar

    Read this http://www.xirrus.com/Company/Press/Press-Releases/Xirrus-Releases-Wi-Fi-Monitor -Widget-for-Mac-OS-X

     

    Yahoo Widget should work =/

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 14, 2013 6:30 PM in response to nature1ders
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2013 6:30 PM in response to nature1ders

    Alas, no. http://widgets.yahoo.com Yahoo! discontinued widgets.

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