Q: Airport Extreme 5th Gen: 2.4GHz VERY Slow
I have a AP Extreme (5th Gen) installed in a commercial environment and I've had some serious issues with it. I previously had it installed as my primary router, but it was locking up and taking down my internet connection (which I MUST have at all times), so I've since moved it to be used in bridged mode as a wireless AP. The issue is I've been having a terrible time getting any sort of connection on the 2.4GHz network. Some of my devices are not 5 GHz (3 iMac C2Ds, iPod touch, iPhone 4, Nest, etc.) and I just cannot get a stable connection with the devices. The network will normally show up fine, but it will take 30+ seconds to connect, and the internet is typically so slow that the device will just drop the connection. Here is what I've tried:
Channels - tried both auto and manually switching between 1, 6, 11
Disabling wide band
Increasing/changing multicast rate
Moving router (which is currenly about 10 feet from the devices)
Differnet wireless antenna settings (currently on 802.11n only (5GHz) - 802.11b/g/n)
Disabling guest network
I've scanned the area in my building and there are about 54 networks within range on 2.4GHz from corner to corner, about 10 right next to the AP Extreme. I'm really at a loss here. My 5GHz equipment works flawlessly, always connects, great speed, etc. I've wired in every device I can, but obviously that's becoming less and less an option with iDevices. ANY help here would be much apprecitaed (including suggesting a different router).
Posted on Sep 18, 2013 9:30 AM
I understand the theory here.....just trying to offer some suggestions when the theory does not work.
If you run a scan of the 50+ networks near you, my guess is that 70-80% of them are using channel 1, 6, or 11.
Maybe you try to go where the other guys aren't. This is working well for my friend who uses Channel 8 in a very crowded environment, even though the theory says he should be using 1, 6 or 11....(none of which work well for him.)
No guarantees.....there never are. Channel 8 or 9 might be worse than 1,6 or 11 for you. But, if you don't try....you won't know.
Posted on Sep 18, 2013 8:37 PM


