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I recently purchased a new iMac and AirPort Time Capsule. I was looking forward to faster speeds using the new AC protocol, however, I just checked my wireless settings on my iMac and it shows I'm still connected using N. I thought the AirPort automatically decided which band/protocol was fastest. Why is my iMac connecting on N and not AC? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks Bob and LP. This detailed information allows us to focus on what matters and what's irrelevant to anyone with an ISP speed < 300 mbs. Why this key point is left out of most discussions of n vs ac is hard to understand.
I thought the AirPort automatically decided which band/protocol was fastest.
No, it works on best signal.. and that is often N wireless unless you are extremely close to the TC.
What channel is it currently connected to?
If you wish to at least force it to 5ghz.. then give 5ghz wireless a different name in the TC via the airport utility.
I thought the AirPort automatically decided which band/protocol was fastest.
Your iMac will connect to the strongest signal......not necessarily the fastest signal. Since 2.4 GHz signals are quite a bit stronger than 5 GHz signals, your iMac will likely connect to the 2.4 GHz signal unless it is in the same room as your AirPort Time Capsule,, or it has line-of-sight with the Time Capsule.
As LaPastenague mentions, you can assign a different name to the 5 GHz band that the Time Capsule is producing, and then "force" your iMac to connect to the 5 GHz named signal that way. But, doing this does not guarantee that the iMac will connect to the "best" (strongest) signal, and if the iMac is several rooms away from the Time Capsule, even though it might connect to 5 GHz, at that location the 2.4 GHz signal might well be both stronger and faster than the 5 GHz signal.
The bottom line here is that in general, it will likely help if you will think of 5 GHz as a "same room" connection, or a "line-of-sight" connection.
Thanks for the reply.
Does AC only work on 5ghz? If so, based on what you said, AC is really only beneficial for devices in the same room as the router?
When I get home, I'll try using my iPhone 6 Plus in the same room as my router and see if I'm on AC.
Does AC only work on 5ghz?
Yes
If so, based on what you said, AC is really only beneficial for devices in the same room as the router?
As i said above, you should think of "AC" or 5 GHz as "same room" or "line-of-sight" for best performance. If you move your wireless device a room or two away from the router, then it may or may not connect at 5 GHz. If it does, the speed capability will likely be about half of what it would be if the wireless device was in the same room as the router.
I'll try using my iPhone 6 Plus in the same room as my router and see if I'm on AC.
Unless you have an incredibly fast Internet connection......something in the 300 Mbps+ range.....you will receive no benefit from an "ac" connection. Chances are, the "n" connection still has much higher speed capabilities than your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can hope to provide.
The speed of your Internet connection is going to be limited by the plan that you have with your ISP.
Why is my iMac using wireless "N" instead of "AC"
