5GHz band suddenly only showing up when manually selecting channel.

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Level 1

17 points

5GHz band suddenly only showing up when manually selecting channel.

I have an 802.11ac AirPort Extreme being extended by the previous generation 802.11n Extreme. Everything was working great since the AC launched--until yesterday.

Now on one of my devices (Netgear A6200/AC1200 adapter on my laptop) it will only connect to the extender's 5GHz band, even though it's in the same room as the 802.11ac Extreme. When I disable the extender, it doesn't detect a 5GHz network at all. All my other devices (6 Plus, iPad Air, my girlfriend's 5, etc) all find and connect to the 5GHz band via 802.11ac where possible or 802.11n in the case of the Air and 5, and without issue. But not the network adapter.

If I manually set the 5GHz channel instead of setting it to automatic, then it'll find and connect to 5GHz via 802.11ac. If I put it back on automatic, it goes right back to not seeing the 5GHz network.

Any idea about what would cause this? Nothing has changed and I'm extremely stumped.

Airport Extreme 802.11ac, Windows 8

Posted on Jun 25, 2015 2:05 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 25, 2015 3:05 AM in response to malrats

Make sure the wireless name and base station names are short, no spaces and pure alphanumerics.

Password the same.. 8-20 characters.. names can be 2-10 (more is really unnecessary)

Channel restrictions and driver restriction can do odd things.

Windows in particular can have done an OS upgrade and messed up the driver.

My usual method then of getting things working is to clear out all the old wireless names in the laptop..

Setup the AE as listed above.. and start with no security. Just as a test.. if it doesn't connect check via your airport utility on a Mac what actual channel is being used by the AE for 5ghz and then make sure it is within the allowed channels.. we have seen the airport do strange stuff.

Also windows can autonomously decide the AE is a source of security hazard and change the firewall rules to block it..

So make sure windows is still located in home network, not work, not public.

Still no luck with the connection.. download the latest driver direct from netgear.. install it and see.

Still no luck turn off all the firewalls..

All this is done with no security setting.. once it works put the security back on.. wpa2 personal with password mixed case and numbers pure alphanumerics.

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Answer 2

malrats Author

Level 1

17 points

Jun 25, 2015 10:50 AM in response to LaPastenague

None of this worked, unfortunately.

The really weird thing is I just set the extender back up, checked to see that the laptop with the adapter in question was connected to it (as well as my 6 Plus), and then walked down the hall to where the 802.11ac Extreme is.

My 6 Plus switched over immediately, and I can see it in AirPort Utility.

The laptop remains connected to the extender. That's the only 5GHz network it wants to find when I have the channels set to automatic, even though it's only got 1 or 2 bars.

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Answer 3

malrats Author

Level 1

17 points

Jun 25, 2015 11:50 AM in response to LaPastenague

Also, I'm not entirely sure if I mentioned this already but no matter what I do, the issue is that the A6200 adapter on my laptop simply isn't seeing the 5GHz network on my 802.11ac Extreme. So that's why it refuses to switch over when I change rooms (roaming, I guess), because as far as its concerned there is no closer network to switch to.

I found an older Netgear 802.11n adapter lying around in a drawer and plugged it into this laptop. Without any issue at all, it discovered and connected to the proper 5GHz network and showed up under connected devices in AirPort Utility.

I'm really at a loss here, especially since this very suddenly started happening. I just don't understand. And I did test the adapter out on two different PCs, both of which are unable to discover the 5GHz AC network.

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Answer 4

malrats Author

Level 1

17 points

Jun 25, 2015 1:47 PM in response to LaPastenague

I did find this:

http://forum1.netgear.com/showthread.php?p=499675

It's essentially my exact issue, just with the newer model of my adapter (A6210 vs my A6200).

If it's the same issue, the region is set incorrectly within the adapter and so it's not compatible with my router. I have scoured the internet and found nothing on how to change it. Though Netgear says on a support page that it IS possible to change the region on the A6200--they just don't say how, and they don't have support on their products beyond 90 days.

The solution for the A6210 involved using different firmware from the chipset's manufactor, Mediatek. The A6200, however, has a Broadcom chip and doesn't seem to have any firmware up for download.

This is incredibly puzzling and very frustrating.

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Answer 5

jackell

Level 1

0 points

Jul 5, 2015 4:56 PM in response to malrats

Are yoyu runing the setup on a windows pc por a mac?

I recently received confirmation from a Consumer Support Specialist. & a supervisor tech. That the generation 6 Apple Airport Extreme cannot be set up properly on a Windows device.

Because this offer is updated Apple is chosen to not update the software to support generation 6 hardware.

Therefore it must only be set up with a Mac device.

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