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AirPort Extreme 802.11n vs. Any AC wireless router
- Thread starter Bill Killer
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I don't see how it would matter either way. The idea is to reboot the modem at some point after the old router is gone so the modem finds the MAC address of the new router.
802.11ac means faster transfer between devices, but only if all of your devices where you live support the ac protocol. 802.11ac doesn't mean anything in terms of speeding up your internet. There are very few internet users out there that will come anywhere near maxing out an 802.11n router.
802.11ac at this point is a convenience thing if you have compatible devices that are 802.11ac compatible and want to transfer large files between them, nothing more nothing less for the home user.
802.11ac at this point is a convenience thing if you have compatible devices that are 802.11ac compatible and want to transfer large files between them, nothing more nothing less for the home user.
Dunno, but the last Comcrap ISP cable connection we did a year ago, where we replaced the router with another, we couldn't get to work completely until we started over and went step by step per the the ISP's procedure. Perhaps just a comcast thing, and its been a year... or we were just unlucky.
Sorry for the delay, several meetings interspersed with college football viewings today. I agree with Weaselboy's earlier comments, and have more to add on the printers. I have two wireless printers - one laser and one inkjet, and my small office has 2 laser and one inkjet - and I'll offer that anytime we print over wifi, its...........sooooo.................slow........
It's not practical for everyone, but we have a Mini hooked up to a USB hub - the Mini is our print server, and each of our printers also have USB and SD card slots (common nowadays), and for more than a page or two it's quicker to get up off my butt and print from the Mini or one of the ports than over wifi. Any print job that's a bit "dense" (from AutoCAD, PS or Illustrator, or Word) can saturate the wifi connection or choke the printer. The only wifi printing we do now is Airprint from one of our iPads.
Enjoy your new Extreme AC! Oh, and check for firmware updates!
Just to let you know that it was an easy procedure to set up the new Extreme and it only took me about 5 minutes to complete the setup. It was fast like you said and I will for sure enjoy the Extreme. Thanks you guys. By the way, to update firmware, do I use Airport Utility?
Yes, when you're connected to the AE (wifi or ethernet, it doesn't matter), launch the Utility, and you'll see a red number if there's an issue (when the status light on the AE blinks yellow) or if there's an update to the firmware on the AE - what to do is easy, just follow the instructions...
Yes, when you're connected to the AE (wifi or ethernet, it doesn't matter), launch the Utility, and you'll see a red number if there's an issue (when the status light on the AE blinks yellow) or if there's an update to the firmware on the AE - what to do is easy, just follow the instructions...
Speaking of using Airport Utility, I can only use iPad to manage the network due to the fact that it was the iPad I used to set up the Extreme. When I try to use Airport Utility on iMac, it only shows that there are no configured base stations, i.e. no Extreme. I should have used iMac to set up in the first place. The thing is it easier at least for me, to use Airport Utility on iMac to manage the network. Any way to do that without doing the setup all over again using iMac? Thanks again!
If you launch Airport Util on the Mac it should see the Extreme if you are on the same network. Do you have the latest version of Airport Utility?
Is the iMac on the same network and through what means is it connected to the AirPort (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, etc.)?
Hey, we're here to help, so get over it already!
Two more tidbits. On your iMac, click on the W-Fi icon in your Menu Bar, and select the network you set up - it could be that simple. If you don't see your network's name right away, allow you iMac a few seconds (you'll see the "Wi-Fi: Looking for Networks..." at the top) and you may see the network you created. If/when you do, click on that network and you should be good to go.
And as a secondary measure, on your iMac, open the Airport Utility app. Iff (that's "if and only if") you've found your network and selected it in the first tip above, you'll see your AE. If you haven't selected your network as described above, in Airport Utility, click the "Other Wi-Fi Devices" button in the upper left corner - and the pull-down menu may show your AE.
Keep in mind that your AE has three possible networks - that's what mine has - the 2.4GHz network, the 5GHz network (if you've enabled it), and a Guest network (if you've enabled it). You need to have your iMac on the same network for the Airport Utility app to "see" the AE (and, of course, utilize your network) - as your iPad apparently is. I use an iPad Air to tweak my network from time to time as well.
In the Network System Preference, you may have only the previous wireless router (System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Preferred Networks) - your iMac could be looking for the wifi router that you used to have and it's not available. Using the first tip above (to use the Wi-Fi Menu Bar widget) to select your new AE could be your "doh" moment of the day.
Hey, we're here to help, so get over it already!
Keep in mind that your AE has three possible networks - that's what mine has - the 2.4GHz network, the 5GHz network (if you've enabled it), and a Guest network (if you've enabled it). You need to have your iMac on the same network for the Airport Utility app to "see" the AE (and, of course, utilize your network) - as your iPad apparently is. I use an iPad Air to tweak my network from time to time as well.
Just want to note that administration can be done via the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network but cannot be done through the "Guest Network".
No, I only see the internet with green light but not the Extreme. Airport Utility on the Mac version 6.3.2 Both iMac and iPad are on the same network.
When I open the Utility on the iPad (under iOS 8.0), I see both internet and Extreme with green lights
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Yes, the iMac and the Extreme are on the same network (actually the network has both 2.4 and 5 GHz , Guest network is not used). Both are connected to the internet through Wi-Fi)
Try going to
--> System Preferences --> Network --> Select "Wi-Fi" on Sidebar --> Advanced --> TCP/IP --> "Configure IPv6". Set it to either Automatically or Link-Local Only.Hey, we're here to help, so get over it already!
Two more tidbits. On your iMac, click on the W-Fi icon in your Menu Bar, and select the network you set up - it could be that simple. If you don't see your network's name right away, allow you iMac a few seconds (you'll see the "Wi-Fi: Looking for Networks..." at the top) and you may see the network you created. If/when you do, click on that network and you should be good to go
And as a secondary measure, on your iMac, open the Airport Utility app. Iff (that's "if and only if") you've found your network and selected it in the first tip above, you'll see your AE. If you haven't selected your network as described above, in Airport Utility, click the "Other Wi-Fi Devices" button in the upper left corner - and the pull-down menu may show your AE.
Keep in mind that your AE has three possible networks - that's what mine has - the 2.4GHz network, the 5GHz network (if you've enabled it), and a Guest network (if you've enabled it). You need to have your iMac on the same network for the Airport Utility app to "see" the AE (and, of course, utilize your network) - as your iPad apparently is. I use an iPad Air to tweak my network from time to time as well.
In the Network System Preference, you may have only the previous wireless router (System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Preferred Networks) - your iMac could be looking for the wifi router that you used to have and it's not available. Using the first tip above (to use the Wi-Fi Menu Bar widget) to select your new AE could be your "doh" moment of the day.
I have followed you steps and found the one and only one newly created network created network (by iPad). My old Belkin network was on the preferred list but deleted. Open Airport Utility on my iPad, under Network it shows that there are two wireless clients (iMac and iPad). Also there are two networks (5 GHz and 2.4 GHz with guest network not enabled.)
Open Airport Utility on the iMac, only information are internet with solid green light.
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Try going to
Follow your suggestion, finally it works now that I can see the the Extreme when I open the Utility on my iMac. Thanks you guys.
No problem! Glad that it worked! The newer version of AirPort Utility uses IPv6 to manage base stations and some have that disabled.
I'd follow the advice of the previous posters. I would also suggest checking for interference and try switching channels.
The IPv6 configure setting was set to Automatically yesterday, but it was changed back to Off this morning. I have to change back. Is that normal? If not, how do I solve the problem? The fact that DHCP lease is set for i day has anything to with this problem?
Airport Utility doesn't have an "Off" setting. If you've set the Utility to Automatic it's picking up network settings and adjusting them as necessary. You're modem and/or ISP may not be IPv6 ready - out of the box, the AE is set for local IPv6, but not global IPv6. If your modem or ISP aren't configured for IPv6 - both out of your control - your AE is just reading the settings available. Leave the setting on Automatic - when your ISP is ready, so will your AE. Cheers!
iMac Network Preferences have three settings: Automatically, Link-Local only and Manually. The Modem I have is Motorola SB6141 and my ISP is Cox. Not sure they are IPv6 ready? Since the AE is set for local IPv6, isn't that equivalent to "Link-Locally Only" setting?
I was referencing the Airport Utility in my earlier post, not the Network Preference Pane - I thought you were too.
FYI, one of my employees is on Cox - she told me that residential accounts will not be enabled/ported to IPv6 until early-to-mid next year: http://www.cox.com/residential/supp...rticleId=0bced860-9666-11df-6baf-000000000000 - look for "When will the Cox network be upgraded to IPv6?". I'm on Comcast Business Class, and most of us are ready for IPv6 but some of us aren't, and none of our residential class employees are IPv6-capable. If you're on Cox residential, chill out for several months.
Actually, I was referring to the Network Preference on my iMac. The "Configure IPv6" pane was set at "Automatically" last night. This morning, the setting was gone and I have to set it back in order to "see" the Extreme on my iMac. So just wonder if I have to this everyday? Any idea?
Thanks for the info. I am on Cox residential so that I will be looking forward to it.
Set it to Automatically in OS X then click okay at the bottom then Apply at the bottom again to save the setting and it should stay. Also set IPV6 to automatically in Airport Util. Even if you don't have IPV6 yet, setting it like this will do no harm and will pick it up when you do have it.
I set to Automatically on my iMac via Netework Preferences but overnight it changed back. So I tried last night set to Link-local only and this morning, it stays. Thanks!