802.11ac configuration issues

Question

Level 1

9 points

802.11ac configuration issues

Hi, I have the newest iMac 2013, MacBook Air 2013 and AirPort Extreme/TimeCapsule 3 TB, all 802.11ac compliant, but when I option-click on the network symbol in the menu bar on both computers, the PHY mode is displayed as being 802.11n. I have looked everywhere under System Preferences > Network, and throughout the AirPort Utility application 6.3.1 (running under OSX 10.8.5), but I cannot find any place where I may be able to select 802.11ac as the preferred network standard -- what am I missing/doing wrong here? Perhaps I should also mention that I have several other units connected to my network, all verified 802.11n compliant (1 x MacBook Pro 2012 + 1 x MacBook Pro 2009 + 3 x iPad2 + 1 x iPad3 + 2 x iPhone4 + 1 x AppleTV G3 (black) + 1 x TimeCapsule G2 (flat white) + 1 x AirPort Express + 1 x HP Color LaserJet 3700n), but that should have nothing to do with the 802.11ac communication capacity between the iMac, MacBook Air and TimeCapsule, right? Any advice that will set me straight would be much appreciated! :-)

/Mark

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Nov 14, 2013 12:50 PM

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Answer 1

Emm W Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 14, 2013 2:57 PM in response to Emm W

Answering my own question, I discovered that I had to manually set up a separate 5 GHz network on my TimeCapsule 2013 (with AirPort Utility 6.3.1) in order to activate 802.11ac on my iMac 2013 and MacBook Air 2013... So the two 802.11ac compliant units are now running "AirPort 5 GHz" (new network name) while the 802.11n compliant units are running "AirPort" (old 2,4 GHz network name), but since all units are connected to the same router (TimeCapsule 2013), they are still interaccessible. Phew!

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

158,280 points

Nov 14, 2013 3:03 PM in response to Emm W

Thanks for providing your solution. I was just about to chime in when I saw that you already solved the problem.

One of the important takes here is that 802.11ac ONLY operates on the 5 GHz radio band. Your "separating" the radios by giving the 5 GHz a different SSID allowed 802.11ac clients to use this band. Good work!

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Answer 3

Nov 14, 2013 5:32 PM in response to Tesserax

Tesserax,

I reconfigured my AE, sixth gen. to have a single SSID and then tested the configuration with my 2013 MacBook Air. When I am in range of the AE the MBA automatically selected the 5 GHz band and displayed the 802.11AC mode, speed 896 Mb. Of course when I move the MBA about two rooms distant it switches to 802.11n mode. So far it works like magic - no intervention on my part.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

158,280 points

Nov 14, 2013 5:43 PM in response to KlaatuBarada

When I am in range of the AE the MBA automatically selected the 5 GHz band and displayed the 802.11AC mode, speed 896 Mb. Of course when I move the MBA about two rooms distant it switches to 802.11n mode.

Yes, in practice most will find that 802.11ac will only be practical when the router and the network client are in the same room. 802.11n, on the 5 GHz band, has a bit farther range but I would still recommend using it with clients that will be in the same room. This is basically the limitation of using a higher radio band, not necessarily whether it is "ac" or "n." The higher the frequency the more difficult it is for the signal to penetrate objects, like walls.

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Answer 5

AxeBox360

Level 1

116 points

Nov 28, 2013 7:30 PM in response to Tesserax

As you stated it will results will vary. I've had a good experience with 802.11n 5GHz is in multiple rooms. 2 factors that help.

1) 5GHz access point is centrally located.

2) There are only 2 other 5GHz networks in my area( based on my scans) .

2.4Ghz, on the other hand, is completely saturated where I live. You're luck if you can stay connected to your wireless network if you walk 2 feet from the access point.

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Answer 6

Oct 22, 2014 6:59 AM in response to AxeBox360

Are you saying that the AirPort Extreme will automatically set the wifi band to ac when you are creating a 5GHz network?

I just switched. To the new AE and couldn't find the band selection in the Airport Utility.

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Answer 7

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,138 points

Oct 22, 2014 7:50 AM in response to Oliver1967

"ac" only operates on the 5 GHZ band. The AirPort Extreme automatically sets this for you...and it cannot be changed.

What you can do.....if you choose....is assign a different name to the 5 GHz band signal. So, you will have one band...2.4 GHz....using one name and another....5 GHz....will use a different name.

In AirPort Utility, this option is found under the Wireless tab, then click on the Wireless Network Options button

If you do not choose this option, then both bands.....2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.....will use the name network name.

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