How to connect 2.4Ghz band printer to dual-band Airport Extreme?

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Level 1

15 points

How to connect 2.4Ghz band printer to dual-band Airport Extreme?

I need a new printer to connect wirelessly to my Imac running OS 10.7.5. My router is the multi-band Airport Extreme. Most printers seem to not support multi-band wireless; they only support the 2.4 Ghz band. Are there certain document printers (I need to also copy and scan) which will connect easily to the multi-band Airport Extreme, or is there some way I can set the Airport Extreme so that a printer would only look at the 2.4 Ghz band?

I found something on Google which said the wireless devices should be bridged, by disabling the Wlan partition. I don't know what this means. Another article said I could name the SSID's separately and connect the printer to the 2.4Ghz band. Again I don't know what this means. Can you help? I do know the Canon MG 5720 printer I bought doesn't work and I have to just throw it away. I would like to avoid making another mistake.

Thank you if anybody can help.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Mar 26, 2016 5:08 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,018 points

Mar 26, 2016 5:27 PM in response to Morriehr

On your Mac....

Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

Click on the picture of the AirPort Extreme

Click Edit in the smaller window that appears

Click the Wireless tab at the top of the next window

Click the Wireless Options button at near the bottom of the next window

Click to enter a check mark in the box next to 5 GHz Name

Click Save

Click Update at the lower right of the next window and give the AirPort a full minute to restart

Now your normal wireless network name is a 2.4 GHz signal only. The other wireless network has "5 GHz" added to the name, so it is the 5 GHz network

Connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz network

The name with "5 GHz" added is now the 5 GHz network. Connect capable devices to that band for a faster connection.

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Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,018 points

Mar 30, 2016 5:17 PM in response to Morriehr

I'm not sure though how to attach the printer to the 2.4 Ghz band

You now know what the name of the 2.4 GHz network will be. Configure your printer using the instructions that Canon has provided to connect to the 2.4 GHz network. You may need to contact Canon support for more details about this.

and the other devices to the other channel.

With a wireless device like a Mac laptop for example, click the WiFi icon at the top of the screen. You will see your network name twice.....once with the normal name (that is the 2.4 GHz network) and another time with the name of the network with 5 GHz added. That is the 5 GHz network.

Configure the laptop to connect to the 5 GHz network if possible. If it won't connect to the 5 GHz, then you will need to select the 2.4 GHz network and use that signal. Set up other wireless devices the same way. Your printer should have an option like this as well.

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Answer 3

Morriehr Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 29, 2016 6:44 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thank you. Appreciate help and followed steps. I'm not sure though how to attach the printer to the 2.4 Ghz band, or to attach other devices to the 5 Ghz network and would appreciate help for that step.

Actually I have the Time Capsule rather than the Airport Extreme, but I followed the directions you gave. (I also have the Airport Express used as an extender, and followed the directions for that device also.)

However I do not know how to connect the printer to the 2.4 GHz channel and the other devices to the other channel. I'd appreciate it if you could give me directions for that part of the solution also.

Again, thank you.

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Answer 4

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,018 points

Mar 30, 2016 5:28 PM in response to Morriehr

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/printers/inkje t-multifunction/mg-series-inkjet/pixma-mg5720

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Answer 5

Morriehr Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 30, 2016 5:19 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thank you! I've been struggling trying to get this printer to work since November. You gave me clear directions and I really appreciate it. Many thanks.

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