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Airport Extreme Help

eternlgladiator

eternlgladiator

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 20, 2010
1,766
104
Twin Cities
I have a generation 2 (third release) airport extreme base station. It is the model that supports gigabit ethernet (A1143, MB053LL/A). I've been noticing lately that it seems to be limiting my internet speeds over wifi. I've talked with my ISP and when I hardwire I can get 12ms ping, 50-60 down, 8-12 up but on wifi I can barely get 1/3 of that. Is the router holding me back? I've tried to research but these terms are all foreign to me and I just don't know what I'm looking at.

Some additional info. Router is in the same room as I use it but regular hardwiring is not an option. It's in clear line of sight to most regular use. Devices connected include Macbook Air 2012, iPad mini, iPhones, HP laptop. Happy to provide other info if needed. Also I doubt this is effecting anything but I do have an external drive connected to it for use over the network but only access it sparingly.

I don't really want to by a new router if I can avoid it.
 
Altemose

Altemose

macrumors G3
Mar 26, 2013
9,189
487
Elkton, Maryland
eternlgladiator said:
I have a generation 2 (third release) airport extreme base station. It is the model that supports gigabit ethernet (A1143, MB053LL/A). I've been noticing lately that it seems to be limiting my internet speeds over wifi. I've talked with my ISP and when I hardwire I can get 12ms ping, 50-60 down, 8-12 up but on wifi I can barely get 1/3 of that. Is the router holding me back? I've tried to research but these terms are all foreign to me and I just don't know what I'm looking at.

Some additional info. Router is in the same room as I use it but regular hardwiring is not an option. It's in clear line of sight to most regular use. Devices connected include Macbook Air 2012, iPad mini, iPhones, HP laptop. Happy to provide other info if needed. Also I doubt this is effecting anything but I do have an external drive connected to it for use over the network but only access it sparingly.

I don't really want to by a new router if I can avoid it.
Click to expand...
Try resetting it...
 
ABC5S

ABC5S

Suspended
Sep 10, 2013
3,395
1,646
Florida
Have you tried different channels that are not as congested for your area ?

Does your AE support 5 Ghz ? I switched to a different channel and only using 5 Ghz since my AE is in the same room, no obstructions and I get better download speeds over 2.4 Ghz.
 

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eternlgladiator

eternlgladiator

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 20, 2010
1,766
104
Twin Cities
ABC5S said:
Have you tried different channels that are not as congested for your area ?

Does your AE support 5 Ghz ? I switched to a different channel and only using 5 Ghz since my AE is in the same room, no obstructions and I get better download speeds over 2.4 Ghz.
Click to expand...

I'm not exactly sure how to do that. Can you explain a bit more?
 
ABC5S

ABC5S

Suspended
Sep 10, 2013
3,395
1,646
Florida
Step One, if you wish is to download an app from Apples App store called "WiFi Explorer". Is not free, but cost a little. There might be some free versions that someone might have for you, but this is the one I use. This app will give you a lot of information from your Airport Express.
 

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ABC5S

ABC5S

Suspended
Sep 10, 2013
3,395
1,646
Florida
Step Two is to run the app and the arrow shown below for my airport express/wifi gives me a few choices of channels to select that are not over crowded from those in my neighborhood. Do this first
 

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ABC5S

ABC5S

Suspended
Sep 10, 2013
3,395
1,646
Florida
Step three... Now open your AirPort Utility from the "LaunchPad"

Click next to the Airport Extreme Photo and an edit button will appear. Click on it and than click on Wireless at very top. After which click on the Wireless Option tab on bottom of next window. Final window you will see a place to change your channels to the best one for your area
 

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eternlgladiator

eternlgladiator

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 20, 2010
1,766
104
Twin Cities
Weaselboy said:
Follow this guide to find the wifi channels that have the least interference in your home then go to Airport Utility in the screen ABC posted and set the Extreme to use those channels.
Click to expand...

ABC5S said:
Step One, if you wish is to download an app from Apples App store called "WiFi Explorer". Is not free, but cost a little. There might be some free versions that someone might have for you, but this is the one I use. This app will give you a lot of information from your Airport Express.
Click to expand...

Thank you both! I'm going to give these a try tonight.
 
eternlgladiator

eternlgladiator

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 20, 2010
1,766
104
Twin Cities
Weaselboy said:
Follow this guide to find the wifi channels that have the least interference in your home then go to Airport Utility in the screen ABC posted and set the Extreme to use those channels.
Click to expand...

I did this and set it like this. My speed on my laptop looks like it should now. Are there any downsides to having it set up like this based on what I have in my OP?
 

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Altemose

Altemose

macrumors G3
Mar 26, 2013
9,189
487
Elkton, Maryland
eternlgladiator said:
I did this and set it like this. My speed on my laptop looks like it should now. Are there any downsides to having it set up like this based on what I have in my OP?
Click to expand...


The only down fault would be the lesser range as 5 GHz degrades quicker than 2.4. If you still have coverage where you need it then I wouldn't worry about it.
 
ABC5S

ABC5S

Suspended
Sep 10, 2013
3,395
1,646
Florida
Altemose said:
The only down fault would be the lesser range as 5 GHz degrades quicker than 2.4. If you still have coverage where you need it then I wouldn't worry about it.
Click to expand...

This is a known issue with 5 Ghz but at least with me, I have my system just a few feet away from my modem. Very good speeds. But be warned, if you use your computer further away or in another room, 5 Ghz will degrade.
 
Weaselboy

Weaselboy

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 23, 2005
34,132
15,595
California
eternlgladiator said:
I did this and set it like this. My speed on my laptop looks like it should now. Are there any downsides to having it set up like this based on what I have in my OP?
Click to expand...

It looks like you set it to 5Ghz only and you don''t necessarily need to do that. You can have both 2.4 and 5 on and assign them the channels suggested in that wireless scan utility from the video I linked.

As long as all your devices will work on 5 though and you are getting coverage everywhere you need it, no harm leaving it this way.
 
eternlgladiator

eternlgladiator

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 20, 2010
1,766
104
Twin Cities
Weaselboy said:
It looks like you set it to 5Ghz only and you don''t necessarily need to do that. You can have both 2.4 and 5 on and assign them the channels suggested in that wireless scan utility from the video I linked.

As long as all your devices will work on 5 though and you are getting coverage everywhere you need it, no harm leaving it this way.
Click to expand...

I'm on Yosemite and didn't see a way to set up both...
 
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