Problem with Airport 2.4GHz connection

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Problem with Airport 2.4GHz connection

My airport express (A1392, firmware 7.6.4) recently began having problems maintaining a stable connection. Every device using the network, (iPhones (4S), printer, blu-ray, xbox, etc) except my iMac (early 2008, airport utility 6.3.2, mac os 10.9.2) are randomly connected and disconnected. A stable connection lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, but nothing longer. I opened airport utility and split the wifi network into 2.4GHz and 5GHz and verified that the 2.4GHz is unstable and 5GHz is stable using my iMac. Simple fix would be to have everything just utlize the 5GHz network and abandon the 2.4GHz...except none of the "newer technology" can use the 5GHz network as they don't yet have a 5GHz antenna. My 2008 iMac has a 5GHz antenna, but my 2011 iPhone and 2012 printer do not??? Very frustrating to find out, like buying a new car and finding out it has a tape deck and no cd player let alone bluetooth standard. Anyway, does anyone know of a way to test if it is some setting that can be adjusted, or if my year old AP express is just toast and I need to replace it?

Thanks!

OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 15, 2014 3:05 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

140,942 points

Apr 15, 2014 8:13 PM in response to Blackaero

My 2008 iMac has a 5GHz antenna, but my 2011 iPhone and 2012 printer do not???

5 GHz 802.11n was first available on the iPhone 5 introduced in September, 2012. Printer manufacturers have been slow to adopt 5 GHz. It's a feature best researched before purchasing a printer.

The wireless spectrum is a truly limited natural resource, and the 2.4 GHz spectrum can be hopelessly crowded in populated areas. Even 5 GHz is not a panacea since it is less tolerant of intervening obstructions than 2.4 GHz. In theory 5 GHz should have greater range, and there will be almost no interference from competing wireless networks, but its advantages over 2.4 GHz can best be realized only in the absence of solid walls and ceilings. Your iMac will probably benefit more from it than mobile devices whose locations are constantly changing.

You might be able to compensate somewhat by adding an additional AirPort Base Station in a "wirelessly extended" or "roaming" configuration. Roaming is preferable but it requires an Ethernet cable between the two base stations. What you would be doing is contributing even more to what is likely the problem - wireless congestion - but the devices will be yours. It's like raising your voice to be heard in a crowd. Everyone does it, and the din only grows louder.

A new AirPort Extreme might help due to several advantages your Express doesn't have, primarily its antenna design. There is no way to be certain unless you try it. You can always return the Extreme to the Apple Store if it results in no improvement (keep its receipt, packaging, etc). If you elect to keep it you can use your existing Express to "extend" the Extreme's network, which might result in an acceptable wireless solution for you.

Consider using Apple's Wireless Diagnostics. It might provide some helpful information. If you need help using it or interpreting its results, write back.

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