Level 1

8 points

7.7.9 Firmware update reduced range of Airport Extreme

I have a Airport Extreme base (tall).

I did an update to the latest firmware (Dec 14th 2017) as the device was flashing with a amber signal light.

Current version reads 7.7.9.

My bedroom (2nd floor) has a Amazon Fire Stick set up on my TV, which I have had for years (updating the fire sticks periodically) which was getting the wireless signal (5ghz) as very good.

After the firmware update of the AE, the 5ghz network was "out of range" and I am not able to access it anymore. I still have access to 2.4ghz network but it confuses me why all of a sudden after an update the range has been reduced and the Fire Stick can't even see the 5ghz network .

I have always used 5ghz in my bedroom as I would stream UHD movies on a 150mb internet connection.

Anything I can do to fix the range.

Airport Extreme-OTHER, Other OS, Airport Extreme Base Tall

Posted on Dec 15, 2017 8:24 AM

Top-ranking reply

darkrume02

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Dec 23, 2017 3:23 PM

Same issue for me. What’s more: I updated to 7.7.9 and my speeds dropped from 60-70Mbps down and 10Mbps up to 1-2Mbps down and about the same up. I thought maybe it was my provider, so I rebooted modem and router - no change. I downgraded to 7.7.8 and performance went right back up. I did this twice to be sure - once from my iPhone and once from my MBP. Each time I updated to 7.7.9, performance dropped to nothing. Each time I reverted back to .8, performance came back. It’s not the modem or the provider - it’s something with the 7.7.9 update.

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44 replies

Dec 31, 2017 8:53 AM in response to DavidBenDaniel

Same behavior on mine, but as i explain, it's due tu IPTV box connected behind the Airport, it can't handle the multicast trafic on all ports and serve the wifi simultaneously. The IGMP should help but when it works...

Do you have any IPTV device connected on the Airport (ethernet)?

3vil3mpire Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 15, 2017 11:56 AM in response to Bob Timmons

7.7.7 Firmware update brought back both networks. I updated this time via the iOS Airport Utility. Device could see it again. Tried going to 7.7.9 via the iOS and same thing, ... not in range, not seen by many devices.

Seems to be an issues with the update and not my device.

gpowerz

Level 1

8 points

Jan 26, 2018 10:25 AM in response to ftlj

I have the same problem and it's really boring. All my alarms and video cam were connected to this Airport, and I had a lot of notification of déconnexion. Now, I know where it's come from. Hope Apple will fix it. I had bough Orbi instead for my alarm and cam working fine.

I just downgraded to 7.7.8 to see if it's better.

Thanks for your response in this forum because there is no communication from Apple.

ftlj

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2018 6:49 PM in response to 3vil3mpire

I found the following devices also can't detect 5GHz SSID after installed 7.7.9. And 2.4GHz sometimes lagging too.

Nintendo Switch

2015 iMac

Hopefully next patch candy fix this problem.

Dec 15, 2017 11:26 AM in response to 3vil3mpire

Unfortunately, looks like a power supply failure and I doubt that trying any other version of firmware will help. Best to call Apple Support and ask them very nicely to replace the AirPort.

If you have AppleCare in effect on one of your Macs, the AirPort is usually covered for up to three years from its purchase date. The "rules" are tricky. Get with Apple Support for details and clarification.

Jan 1, 2018 11:04 PM in response to DavidBenDaniel

Yes you can try with IGMP snooping, it works for me but the CPU Airport is not enough strong for Multicast trafic, so i have some freeze each 3/4 minutes.

Jan 6, 2018 10:31 AM in response to DavidBenDaniel

Yes, go to: Product Feedback - Apple

3vil3mpire Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 15, 2017 10:59 AM in response to Tesserax

So my guess right now is that "The firmware update did not completely take".

There should be no additional interference, nothing has been added or changed in household.

I downgraded to 7.7.8 and I got an error and I tried 7.7.9 and I got a update error -6,727. Not sure how to proceed, will hard reset restore the factory firmware?

3vil3mpire Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 15, 2017 11:12 AM in response to Bob Timmons

How far back should I go?

Right now I got the same error on the 7.7.9 and 7.7.8.

I hard reset the AE and set up a new network. Right now my MBP is the only device in the house hold that can see it. Makes no sense, probably because I don't understand much about it.

Dec 28, 2017 11:50 AM in response to Silvain24

You will see that WPA key for 2.4 and 5ghz are different !!

The WPA pre-shared key is encypted and changed every hour.. they do not need to be the same and in fact if the names are different then the key should be different.. it does not mean the actual password has changed. Apple has no place to change the password for the different bands.

I changed to 7.7.9 firmware on two Time Capsules.. and 3 airport extremes so far and I have had no issues with either signal strength or password.

3vil3mpire Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 28, 2017 3:26 PM in response to LaPastenague

Well you must be the lucky one as I have tried to update it again having the AE connected via ethernet cable and the same issues happened.

Just going to stick with 7.7.8 until a new update resolves my issues.

Dec 31, 2017 2:11 AM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks, that's right.

In fact, i downgrade to 7.7.8 and still have the issue after few hours. I found something: i moved from flat and in the new one, my ethernet wiring topology is not the same. Before, my IPTV ISP box was directly plugged on my ISP router/switch. In my new flat, as all rooms are wired with RJ45/Grade3 cable, my AirPort is wired on the router and the IPTV box is plugged on the Airport. I tried to enable the IGMP Snooping, but there is no difference, after few ours of delivering flows, the Airport is not able to authenticate any Wifi packet, password is ask on MacBook, iPhone....immediately, if i unplug the IPTV Box, wifi can connect, maybe the memory consumption of the Airport to manage IGMP trafic is to high, i don't think it's a CPU issue because the fan stay silent (i hear it at high RPM with 7.7.9 during factory reset, it's impressive).

We have pretty agressive IPTV flow here in France when using FTTH connection, 20Mb/s per flow, it's agressive in terms of packet/per/second and many people wants to use an aftermarket Switch or router have issues with IGMP/Multicast trafic, so no reason there is not with Airport.

I have no possibility to connect the IPTV box directly to ISP router anymore as i have only one RJ45 plug in my room, i have to find a solution.

Sorry for my poor English, i hope you will understand the story 😉

Dec 31, 2017 4:02 AM in response to Silvain24

Activation of IGMP snooping has resolved my issue by activating the Multicast trafic only on the IPTV port, but there is now some lag every 3/4 minutes, image of IPTV freeze for 2/4 seconds...

I'm gonna change this router, too old i think....

Dec 31, 2017 8:17 AM in response to Silvain24

Hello, firmware 7.7.9 have an issue with wifi password

Suddenly my iPhone is showing wrong password when using correct wifi password !

When i restart the router it is ok and password excepted again.

This is very annoying what can be done ?

I can not restart my router every day.

I used this router for the last year without any single issue !!!

Please help !!!

David

Dec 31, 2017 10:19 AM in response to Silvain24

Dear Friend

Yes , I have an IPTV box connected to one of the LAN ethernet ports in the AirPort box.

I did not have this issue with 7.7.8 version , is it related only to latest 7.7.9 firmware version ?

Do I need to connect the IPTV box to my Main LAN switch ( or local LAN switch ) ?

David.

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7.7.9 Firmware update reduced range of Airport Extreme