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

Close
Payam Minoofar

Q: Firmware 7.6.3 kills 5 GHz channel in Airport Express

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 3 of 3

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 15, 2013 7:46 AM in response to nature1ders
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 15, 2013 7:46 AM in response to nature1ders

    Thanks. I'll keep those in mind. I'm happy the way things are right now.

  • by mfox327,

    mfox327 mfox327 Apr 20, 2013 10:10 AM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2013 10:10 AM in response to Payam Minoofar

    I have not yet upgraded to 7.6.3, but airport utility has been prompting me to do so. I've been reluctant because a previous upgrade made my Nest thermostat stop working correctly (until Nest issued an update). So I searched the Apple discussion communities first to see if there were any issues with 7.6.3, and I immediately came across this discussion.  After reading this whole string of complaints and possible solutions, my only question is this:

     

    Why even bother upgrading to 7.6.3? What does it do that 7.6.2 doesn't do, other than cause a headache trying to get older AEs back on the 5 ghz channel? Should I just stay with 7.6.2?

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 20, 2013 10:18 AM in response to mfox327
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2013 10:18 AM in response to mfox327

    In my case, the music streaming performance is VASTLY better. Practically flawless. As for your Nest, heed the warning above about manually setting a 5 GHz channel (if the Nest supports 5Ghz). I have found the performance to be much, much better. The 5 GHz networking bug, in my experience, has been the sole problem. Otherwise, the update improves performance dramatically.

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 20, 2013 10:22 AM in response to nature1ders
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2013 10:22 AM in response to nature1ders

    Wow. Those are awesome. I just downloaded the former, and I am running the latter. We'll see how things go. I just might find out which channels interfere least with the cheap Boston Acoustics sound bars.

  • by Boat Guy,

    Boat Guy Boat Guy Apr 20, 2013 10:23 AM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2013 10:23 AM in response to Payam Minoofar

    People have definitely had different results.  My Time Capsule and AE are both current versions, and the AE did not receive the 5GHz channel when extending my network and performance was horrible.

     

    I'd love to have better streaming performance so maybe Apple will identify the 5GHz problem and we can all move to a 7.6.4!

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 20, 2013 10:27 AM in response to Boat Guy
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2013 10:27 AM in response to Boat Guy

    Use the trick above to set a single channel for the 5GHz network on the device that acts as your access point. I'm pretty sure it will fix everything.

  • by Boat Guy,

    Boat Guy Boat Guy Apr 21, 2013 10:52 AM in response to Payam Minoofar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2013 10:52 AM in response to Payam Minoofar

    My trouble with 7.6.3 was not with the legacy AE's, it was the new AE that I was using to extend the network in another area of the house.

     

    With 7.6.1, the new AE and the older AE both successfully connect and/or extend my network in both the 2.5 and 5GHz bands.

     

    Your solution for 7.6.3 involves creating a second, 5GHz only network, then manually setting it's channel.  So now your home has two separate networks and you must be using only the 5GHz network, abandoning the 2.5GHz band entirely?

     

    I can see how that works for you, but why is it better than using 7.6.1 where devices connect / extends both bands?

  • by Payam Minoofar,

    Payam Minoofar Payam Minoofar Apr 21, 2013 2:52 PM in response to Boat Guy
    Level 1 (83 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 21, 2013 2:52 PM in response to Boat Guy

    In my case, I have two Boston Acoustics TVEE 25 soundbar systems connected to the older AEs. These speakers have the nearly fatal flaw that they communicate with the wireless woofer on the 2.4 GHz channel, and, thus, interfere with the 2.4 GHz network.

     

    These speakers sound good and and are very cheap (at least, the refurbished models I have are). So, forcing all computers onto a separate 5 GHz network solves this problem. The only device that still uses the 2.4 GHz network is my iPhone 4. The next iPhone I get will probably move up to the 5 GHz network.

     

    Indeed, my situation is unique, but it's worth the effort to have a really groovy discotheque of a house.

     

    In your case, you may find that the added reliability of the 5 GHz network and the added reliability of music streaming to be worthwhile.

     

    Leaving your system unchanged is an entirely reasonable and understandable solution.

first Previous Page 3 of 3