WDS, network extending, and 2.4Ghz versus 5Ghz

Well, having spent a lot of time yesterday to set up 2 new AEs, I came away with some questions;

It appears like it it NOT possible to create or participate in a WDS network on the 5Ghz spectrum - the only choices are in the 2.4. Why is that?

Same for extending the network - it is not clear to me what the difference to WDS is. In any case, this seems to stay in the 5Ghz range (that might be the only diff?), but enables a as well as n).

However, I had horrible results - by extended station would loose connectivity to the base every few minutes - and they are maybe 20 feet apart.

I now have both setup on seperate segments (5 and 2.4), with the 2.4 bridging, so it's well - but I wonder if anyone else has tried this, has any experience, any insight.

WDS or extending - at least for me, didn't work sufficiently (I wanted to extend the network to also provide an ethernet converter for some wired devices in another room).

Cheers,
dan

Mac Pro 3Ghz, 4GB, ATI 1900XT, ACD 30. MacBook Pro 2.33, 3GB, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 8, 2007 9:37 AM

36 replies

Zebra1

Level 2

290 points

Feb 20, 2007 7:09 PM in response to Chas Hulme

I have read some of the thread and I think one thing you cannot do is have the same name networks for your b/g one and the n extension you are adding with the Airport Extreme.

Maybe I'm mistaken in what you guys are doing, but if this is how you are doing it then name the n extension different than the b/g and connect to either one. I think that you will then find the internet connection works reliably from either one.

If you have the same name, you do not know to which unit you are connected to, especially when making measurements of the n network. I know that theoretically it should work OK in a 2.4GHz setup, but maybe it won't or can't yet.

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

Feb 20, 2007 10:53 PM in response to Zebra1

You may need to read the entire thread, as you seem to have misinterpreted things a bit...

I don't have a mixed Apple network. It is a pure AEBS(n) extended, with one primary and two extensions (i.e., three AEBS(n) routers). Clearly I want this to run at-speed, so the intention is pristene n-only 5GHz.

The curve ball here is that I also happen to have an entirely separate 2.4GHz g-net - SONOS digital music system. The SONOS uses its own proprietary comm protocol and operates on channel 1.

During the troubleshooting process, had eventually stripped the Apple net down to one n-base only at (n)-b/g compatible assigned to 2.4GHz channel 11. But for some reason still unknown to me, it began to interfere with SONOS. So I shut SONOS down completely...

So, for me, I don't have a mix...

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

Feb 20, 2007 11:00 PM in response to dosers

Dan,

Something Zebra1 posted about mixed b/g and n nets prompted me to re-read the entire thread. I noticed something you said earlier about settings that I missed the first time around...

You said that with your primary router set to n-only 5Ghz, you could not set your extended router to the match? You said it could only be set to (n)-a compatible 5Ghz? Is this right? Cause that's not my recollection of how mine was setup... I find this curious...

dosers Author

Level 2

391 points

Feb 21, 2007 1:40 AM in response to Chas Hulme

Hi Chas,
actually, my primary router is on n/5only. On the extender, once I set 'extend network' correct - there no longer is an option to select ANY network protocol or bandwidth - obviousl as it's matching the base. But is it?
I know for a fact that the extender enables both 5Ghz standards (n AND a) - even though the base is n only. All very odd....

Best
dan

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

Feb 23, 2007 4:40 PM in response to dosers

Bump...

Yo Dan, anything new?

My update is that I am running a roaming network. It was a pain in the ** but it works reliably and at-speed.

I would, however, love to hear of a solution to extending at (n)-only 5GHz.

Chas

dosers Author

Level 2

391 points

Feb 23, 2007 4:34 PM in response to Chas Hulme

Hi Chas,
sorry - no I haven't forgotten 🙂 but the Apple 2nd tier tech has not gotten back to me yet and not returned my follow-up phone calls (I will say, I usually have a good experience with them).....
I will re-route the case if I haven't heard by end of the day.
Nope, nothing new yet though.

Best
Dan

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WDS, network extending, and 2.4Ghz versus 5Ghz