HT201735: Mac Basics: Connecting your Mac to the Internet
Learn about Mac Basics: Connecting your Mac to the Internet
Q: Slow airport extreme
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Apr 23, 2016 11:18 AMby Bob Timmons,Possibly......and probably, if your base station is 5+ years old. That is about it as far as the useful life of a router designed for home use.
But, it might also mean that there are too many other wireless networks around you, and not enough wireless channels to handle the traffic. So, when you restart the router, things are OK for awhile.......until they slow down again because of the wireless congestion and interference.
If you click on the WiFi status menu at the top of the screen on your Mac, how many other wireless networks do you 'see"?
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Apr 23, 2016 4:17 PMby shawnfromhaslet,@Mr. B. Timmons, Currently I can only see my 2 airport wifi stations and my wifi printer. Sometimes I can see my neighbors ATT uverse stations. As for the age of my unit, I would have to guess at 3 years old or so. With regards to traffic, there are multiple apple products in my home, 8 each, a few wifi security cameras, and by next Saturday there will be two HVAC systems being connected to the wifi, and the kids will be coming home for college in the next two weeks. What are your thoughts on a traffic solution? TY, Shawn
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Apr 24, 2016 8:23 AMby Bob Timmons,With that additional information, it now looks like you have two AirPort base stations, which doubles the chances of issues. We really need to get some specific information about the devices that you do have, so please bear with us on the questions about them and your network.
What model number or version of the AirPorts do you have?
Have you taken one, or both, to an Apple Store to let the experts there test them?
Do the AirPorts communicate together over a wired Ethernet cable connection between them, or are you using wireless between the AirPorts?
Have you powered off the "remote" AirPort and used only the "main" AirPort to see if things still slow down that way?
The amount of wireless devices that you have would require an Internet connection that is capable of at least 50 Mbps, preferably more. What is the speed of your Internet connection plan with your Internet Service Provider?
What is the make and model number of the modem? How old is this device
Have you connected a computer directly to the modem for day or so....as a test....to see if the connection slows down that way?
Do you have any devices that connect to your AirPort base station(s) using a wired Ethernet cable connection? If yes, do they also slow down after awhile, like the wireless devices?
Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are in the process of adding a new type of connection to their service called IPv6. While the ISP might say that users should not normally notice any difference in their current connection while new services are being added, that has not exactly been the case for a number of users. Who is your ISP? Do you know if they are incorporating IPv6 services into their systems?
With some answers to questions above, we should have enough information to get started, but I would caution in advance that network "slowdowns".... particularly wireless.....are probably the most difficult issue to try to diagnose and solve. It will require a good deal of time and patience to work through the various possibilities. And unfortunately, sometimes a solution is not found.
Not sure if you want to proceed at this time, or wait for a post from another user who might have some shortcuts to suggest. They never seem to work for me, but might for you.
