Airport Extreme 5th Gen in N mode only?

If you are using Lion or Mountain Lion......

Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

Click on the AirPort Extreme icon

Click Edit in the small window that appears

Click the Wireless tab at the top of the next window

Click Wireless Options

Hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the Radio Mode selection box to see if more "options" will appear.

The "n" only mode would be 802.11n (5 GHz) -- 802.11n

I'm having the same issue and have tried these steps, the nearest "N-Only" line available in my version of Airport Utility (6.3.6.5) reads:

802.11n (5 GHz) -- 802.11n (2 GHz).

The problem is the wifi analysis apps all show two separate networks still, the 5GHz being "a/n" and the 2 GHz "b/g/n. We've finally eliminated all our older devices and intentionally so we might enjoy the great speed bump we've read about from an N-only, single-band (5GHz) net. What might be happening here? Our router is a TimeCapsule (circa 2011) and all available firmware updates have been applied.

What might be happening here?

What is happening is that you have a simultaneous dual band wireless router that produces an "n" signal at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. So, you literally have 2 wireless networks with the same name.

Devices will connect to either 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz based on their capabilities and distance in relation to the router. Obviously, a 2.4 GHz only device cannot connect at 5 GHz.....and since 5 GHz signals are significantly weaker than 2.4 GHz signals, a 5 GHz capable device will connect at 5 GHz if it is in close proximity to the router, but if it moves a few rooms away, ti will connect to the stronger 2.4 GHz network.

You don't have to worry about any of this though. Things will just happen. Your newer devices have been connecting to the fastest signal all along.....you just weren't aware of it.

This is a big help; thank you! If you can indulge two related questions I'll consider it solved:

1. How come the tools say I'm running b/g/n when I've chose only n?

2. What about all the articles that make a case that two bands are slower than one and the same with two unique names? Is it impossible for me to run "N" and 5 GHz only with my gear?

1. How come the tools say I'm running b/g/n when I've chose only n?

The tool is telling you that the computer that you are using might be able to connect at b/g/n if that signal were available...which it is not if you have set to the router to "n" only.

2. What about all the articles that make a case that two bands are slower than one and the same with two unique names? Is it impossible for me to run "N" and 5 GHz only with my gear?

Two bands are not slower than one. If that were really the case, manufacturers would have never introduced dual band routers.

Is it impossible for me to run "N" and 5 GHz only with my gear?

"n" wireless can operate at either 2.4 GHz.....or.....at 5 GHz. If you had an older router, you could set it for "n" only at 2.4 GHz. But any router that has 5 GHz capability is going to be dual band.

Honestly, you are worrying about issues that do not exist. Trust your router and your devices. All that you are doing if you set your router to "n" only is preventing older "g" and very old "b" devices from connecting. The top speed of the network will not improve one bit when it is set to "n" only.

If you bought a new "ac" AirPort Extreme from Apple and looked at AirPort Utility, you will see that you cannot change the Radio Mode setting....because it is not there. It is locked at 802.11"ac" (5 Hz) and 802.11 b/g/n and cannot be changed.

I came here for information, not counseling, Sir. I am not worrying about anything, merely trying to increase my understanding of Apple networking.

I don't believe I made clear what tools I'm referring to. You know the herd of wifi scanners that identify nearby networks and their details? I'm not looking at my Mac's System Report! "Netspot" is the one I have running presently but they are all very similar. Surely you know what I mean?

I was a little surprised you're unfamiliar with the question about bands as it's very prevalent both here in Apple Discussions and on the wider tech blogs. If you don't believe me just google "Airport Extreme and N-only mode." I think it's always easier to accept another's viewpoint when s/he accepts the premise of the question at hand then responds with facts.

Please keep posting to the forum. You just might get the wrong answer that you are looking for.

Again you respond emotionally rather than factually. If something in my manner evoked this I'm open to your feedback. Otherwise, please consider that such hostility helps no one, least of all yourself.