AEBS Dual-BandNot crap anymore

[minik]

I still don't quite understand the 'utter crap' mentioning from the title. Does letting 802.11a devices from joining bother you?

I'm considering the Time Capsule at this moment. I doubt that I will experience any problem moving from the original AirPort Extreme 802.11n base station (Fast Ethernet) + AirPort Express 802.11n to the dual-band Time Capsule.

 

[emt1]

I still don't quite understand the 'utter crap' mentioning from the title. Does letting 802.11a devices from joining bother you?

I'm considering the Time Capsule at this moment. I doubt that I will experience any problem moving from the original AirPort Extreme 802.11n base station (Fast Ethernet) + AirPort Express 802.11n to the dual-band Time Capsule.

Letting an 802.11a device join would bother somebody who didn't want their network to run at 802.11a speeds.

 

[paragonj]

Letting an 802.11a device join would bother somebody who didn't want their network to run at 802.11a speeds.

I don't really think it is that big of a deal either. As long as you are controlling which devices are allowed on your network, just set any 802.11a devices you have to run in b/g mode.

 

[pilotError]

When you set the 5ghz name did you see it in the list of SSID's to join? I can't seem to get the 5ghz to work at all with any of my devices.

 

[emt1]

I don't really think it is that big of a deal either. As long as you are controlling which devices are allowed on your network, just set any 802.11a devices you have to run in b/g mode.

Early 802.11a devices only ran in 802.11a, which is 5GHz only. Therefore, they could only join the 5GHz network, which 802.11n is also using.

Right?

 

[minik]

Letting an 802.11a device join would bother somebody who didn't want their network to run at 802.11a speeds.

Alright, I forget the fact that 802.11a can only max out at 54 Mbit/s. You cannot hold the 'option' key to see more options?

 

[emt1]

Alright, I forget the fact that 802.11a can only max out at 54 Mbit/s. You cannot hold the 'option' key to see more options?

What? Yes, you can hold the option key and click the WiFi icon to see the speed you are running at...

 

[pilotError]

Update...

My MBA sees the network, but the 2.4ghz network is actually faster.

Since my router is on the other side of the house, I suspect that this was a waste of time.

I have a few wireless cards in my PC's and they aren't seeing the 5ghz network at all. Not sure what the deal is there.

I haven't checked my ATV yet, wife is watching something.

I'm pretty underwhelmed so far.

 

[minik]

What? Yes, you can hold the option key and click the WiFi icon to see the speed you are running at...

Sorry. Regarding to the OP screenshots, there may be hidden options from the drop down menu by holding the option key.

 

[paragonj]

Early 802.11a devices only ran in 802.11a, which is 5GHz only. Therefore, they could only join the 5GHz network, which 802.11n is also using.

Right?

Ah, yes I guess that would be true if you had an 802.11a only device. I've never encountered one, so I didn't think of it. I've never used 802.11a at all, actually.

 

[alphaod]

Sorry. Regarding to the OP screenshots, there may be hidden options from the drop down menu by holding the option key.

Okay I guess this isn't utter crap:

Thank you! I am certainly not proficient.

 

[ks-man]

Okay I guess this isn't utter crap:

Thank you! I am certainly not proficient.

That looks much nicer.

Does it mention it in the manual? Seems strange that Apple would have some great options hidden and not tell users how to access them.

 

[freelander]

iPhone and Macbook

Slightly off the above topic, apologies for that.
But can someone confirm that if I buy the new AEBS I will be able to use my macbook on n and the iPhone on g without having to change the settings within Airport utility. At the moment I have my existing AEBS set to g so that I can use the IPhone on my home network

 

[paragonj]

Okay I guess this isn't utter crap:

Thank you! I am certainly not proficient.

Ahh that it is a nice suite of options. I wish there was one for 802.11n only (5GHz) and 802.11g/n (2.4GHz) (keep 802.11a off the 5GHz portion and keep 802.11b off the 2.4GHz portion) but I'm just being nitpicky. Once I get the new TC I will probably put it on 802.11n only (5GHz) - 802.11b/g/n.

 

[ks-man]

Does anybody know if I get a new AEBS to use as an access point if one of the simultaneous networks can be used to extend an existing network? The AEBS would be connected to the router through ethernet.

Essentially this is what I want to do.

Old Time Capsule in basement on 2.4Ghz B/G/N - SSID 1
New AEBS in office with one network 5.0Ghz N Only - SSID 2
and second network extends SSID 1 2.4Ghz B/G/N - SSID 1

If that doesn't work I guess I can have the second AEBS network create a new B/G/N network but the first solution would be better.

Thanks.

 

[paragonj]

Does anybody know if I get a new AEBS to use as an access point if one of the simultaneous networks can be used to extend an existing network? The AEBS would be connected to the router through ethernet.

Essentially this is what I want to do.

Old Time Capsule in basement on 2.4Ghz B/G/N - SSID 1
New AEBS in office with one network 5.0Ghz N Only - SSID 2
and second network extends SSID 1 2.4Ghz B/G/N - SSID 1

If that doesn't work I guess I can have the second AEBS network create a new B/G/N network but the first solution would be better.

Thanks.

Why not set up the new AEBS to be dual band and set up the old Time Capsule to extend the new AEBS 2.4 GHz network.

 

[ks-man]

Why not set up the new AEBS to be dual band and set up the old Time Capsule to extend the new AEBS 2.4 GHz network.

I keep the Time Capsule in my utility room and I want the AEBS in my office. I'd expect the TC will be much louder than the AEBS due to the hard drive running so I want to keep the locations as such.

I'd assume it makes more sense to have the TC set up the primary network since it is directly connected to my cable modem rather than the AEBS.

Does that not matter?

 

[emt1]

I keep the Time Capsule in my utility room and I want the AEBS in my office. I'd expect the TC will be much louder than the AEBS due to the hard drive running so I want to keep the locations as such.

I'd assume it makes more sense to have the TC set up the primary network since it is directly connected to my cable modem rather than the AEBS.

Does that not matter?

If the closet is poorly ventilated, that probably isn't a good place to put the TC.

The TC is almost completely silent. You have to put your ears right by it to hear it. It's just a hard drive and maybe a fan.

 

[clayj]

Sorry, but it is crap. The fact that the new AEBS refuses to work if you add a port mapping for port 25 (and this has happened with TWO new AEBSes, so it's not a question of a single defective unit) shows that Apple has very much dropped the ball on this one.

I'm so angry right now I could spit inside my house. The question now is whether I hang on to this new one and pray that Apple fixes the problem before the return period runs out, or try to return it to my local Apple Store.

 

[Preclaro_tipo]

Return it!

I'm a long time reader, first time poster -- thanks for all the valuable info I've gotten from these forums!

I just bought the old Time Capsule on Saturday, and now I wonder if I should return it to take advantage of the dual band feature. (I'm upgrading from the space-ship looking Airport Extreme.) I will be running one new Mac Mini with 802.11N (yeah!) and a couple older G4 Macs using 802.11G, as well as an iPhone on my network.

Will my new Mac Mini be able to take full advantage of 802.11N with the old Time Capsule, competing with all those other 802.11G devices?

No, it won't!!! I was in the exact same boat, returned it today. Much much happier since my 'N' iMac is furthest from the base station...previously, just before this dual mode, I would have internet until my roommates got home with their 'b' and 'g' devices...then it would run in b/g mode and i would lose internet altogether....now, with the dual band installed 15 minutes ago, all the roommate home, no issues. except one. I can't extend my network with my airport express....I assume it is a bug, it worked yesterday on the last APExtreme

 

[aristobrat]

Sorry, but it is crap. The fact that the new AEBS refuses to work if you add a port mapping for port 25 (and this has happened with TWO new AEBSes, so it's not a question of a single defective unit) shows that Apple has very much dropped the ball on this one.

I'm so angry right now I could spit inside my house. The question now is whether I hang on to this new one and pray that Apple fixes the problem before the return period runs out, or try to return it to my local Apple Store.

Your ISP allows port 25? That's cool. You could port forward 25 all you want around here, but nothing would ever come in because they block it.

 

[macleod199]

Update...

My MBA sees the network, but the 2.4ghz network is actually faster.

Since my router is on the other side of the house, I suspect that this was a waste of time.

I have a few wireless cards in my PC's and they aren't seeing the 5ghz network at all. Not sure what the deal is there.

I haven't checked my ATV yet, wife is watching something.

I'm pretty underwhelmed so far.

Can't tell from your post whether you already know or not, but signals at 5 GHz traverse walls less well than 2.4 GHz in general, so it's not surprising that you're having problems in that setup.

As for wireless cards, I searched and searched and didn't have any luck finding a 802.11n PCI card that would do 5 GHz two years ago. The situation may have changed, but make sure your cards actually support 5 GHz. They may also just not be getting the signal because of the loss.

 

[emt1]

Can't tell from your post whether you already know or not, but signals at 5 GHz traverse walls less well than 2.4 GHz in general, so it's not surprising that you're having problems in that setup.

As for wireless cards, I searched and searched and didn't have any luck finding a 802.11n PCI card that would do 5 GHz two years ago. The situation may have changed, but make sure your cards actually support 5 GHz. They may also just not be getting the signal because of the loss.

Even if the PC cards do support 5GHz, they probably don't support Apple's draft
version of 802.11n. It is NOT a final standard and interoperability is not guaranteed.

 

[klmckenzie03]

I have an older AEBS that I just updated with the newest 7.4.1 firmware. I found the MobileMe tab and entered my information in. I am either missing something or misunderstanding the implementation of this new feature...

When they say that you can access any USB disk that is connected to your AEBS via MobileMe does this mean I will be able to browse my files via the MobileMe web interface where I can access my email, contacts, and iDisk? Or does this mean that I must have another Apple computer and "Back To My Mac" my way back to my home computer before I can access this shared USB disk?

If the latter is true doesn't this seem kind of useless? Correct me if I am wrong, I have never used Back To My Mac, but it was my understanding that it is basically a remote desktop connection to another computer. Screen sharing over a WAN if you will. Therefore, if the shared USB disk was already mounted to that computer or directly attached wouldn't I already have access to it?

I'd really like to be able to access a shared USB disk via the online MobileMe interface. I'm just not sure if this is what Apple was getting at or if I missed the concept.

 

[emt1]

I have an older AEBS that I just updated with the newest 7.4.1 firmware. I found the MobileMe tab and entered my information in. I am either missing something or misunderstanding the implementation of this new feature...

When they say that you can access any USB disk that is connected to your AEBS via MobileMe does this mean I will be able to browse my files via the MobileMe web interface where I can access my email, contacts, and iDisk? Or does this mean that I must have another Apple computer and "Back To My Mac" my way back to my home computer before I can access this shared USB disk?

If the latter is true doesn't this seem kind of useless? Correct me if I am wrong, I have never used Back To My Mac, but it was my understanding that it is basically a remote desktop connection to another computer. Screen sharing over a WAN if you will. Therefore, if the shared USB disk was already mounted to that computer or directly attached wouldn't I already have access to it?

I'd really like to be able to access a shared USB disk via the online MobileMe interface. I'm just not sure if this is what Apple was getting at or if I missed the concept.

You don't need a computer "at home", the connection is made directly to the router. Back To My Mac must be on to use this though. You cannot access through the web interface, you access through finder.