Wireless G vs. N question...

[pherplexed]

So I just got my AppleTV yesterday and I LOVE IT. But how can I tell if my AppleTV is connecting to my network at N speeds? Let me explain:

I've got an Airport Extreme N base station upstairs serving up the whole house. I've also got an AirportExpress right next to my home theater setup. My TiVo connects to the AirportExpress via ethernet cable. So my question is, since Airport Express can only distribute wireless G signals, how can I find out if my Apple TV is connecting to the G signals from my AiportExpress or the N signals from my Base station?

[Deej]

Switch off the Express for a few minutes and see what happens to Apple TV?

[pherplexed]

Well, it works just fine if my AirportExpress is turned off....it's only receiving a wireless signal from my base station.

What I'm asking, I guess, is: if given the choice between 2 types of signal on the same network, will the AppleTV choose N over G even if the G signal may be a bit stronger since it's closer to the unit??

[PkennethV]

Well, it works just fine if my AirportExpress is turned off....it's only receiving a wireless signal from my base station.

What I'm asking, I guess, is: if given the choice between 2 types of signal on the same network, will the AppleTV choose N over G even if the G signal may be a bit stronger since it's closer to the unit??

I can't quite answer that...but I don't understand why it would only be receiving 'weak" signal, given the range of N (unless maybe you lived in a huge house and the Extreme is in the basement or something).

[yippy]

Don't you have to manually choose which signal it connects to by giving it the password?

[pherplexed]

Don't you have to manually choose which signal it connects to by giving it the password?

yeah, but my AirportExpress and Airport Base Station are broadcasting the same network. I'm in a tiny house, so the BaseStation N signal isn't weak at all but the AirportExpress is broadcasting the same network with a G signal. That's why I was wondering if a network had mixed G & N signals, would the AppleTV chose N automatically.

Is there a tool or software app that could show me the mix of signals in my house and their strengths? So i can "see" what kind of network mesh I've got covering my house?

[sandman42]

I don't know about mixed g/n networks (and I've been trying to find out), but what I always heard about mixed b/g networks was that if a 802.11b device was present on an otherwise 'g' network, the whole network slowed down for the 'b' device.