Complicated question...

[calimed]

I have the Airport Extreme runnning in 801.11n (b/g compatible). The only reason I need the b/g is because I use my iPhone to control my Apple TV.

Question 1: Does this mean when it is running at 802.11n it is automatically at 5Ghz? This is assuming my iPhone isn't connected via WiFi.

Questions 2: If I were to create another access point for the iPhone could I run the Airport Extreme at 5Ghz and everything still work.

Question 3: When my Iphone is connected via WiFi does that mean the network will only operate b/g until I disconnect the iPhone?

The reason I ask all this is b/c my Apple TV only will give me good HD download speeds at the 5Ghz speed. Since I use my iPhone to control my Apple TV I run into problems...

I am obviously hoping for 802.11N in the next iPhone.

Thanks for everyones help.

 

[skorpien]

802.11n (b/g compatible) only operates on the 2.4GHz frequency (since b/g only operates on it), so no you are not getting 5GHz speeds. You're getting ~170 Mbps maximum.

Assuming you don't have a recently released AEBS, it's perfectly possible to create a b/g access point and have everything run smoothly. In fact, I have a Linksys WRT54GS acting as a b/g WAP with my TC running in 5GHz n only and everything connects just fine. It's even easier to do if you have one of the recently released Extremes since those are dual band capable without any additional hardware.

Lastly, from what I understand, if a b/g device connects, it only slows things down when the connection is active (ie, you're downloading something to your iPhone), and even then it doesn't slow things down completely to 54 Mbps on N enabled devices. But don't take my word since I haven't researched this extensively.

 

[gwihannom]

I have the Airport Extreme runnning in 801.11n (b/g compatible). The only reason I need the b/g is because I use my iPhone to control my Apple TV.

Question 1: Does this mean when it is running at 802.11n it is automatically at 5Ghz? This is assuming my iPhone isn't connected via WiFi.

Questions 2: If I were to create another access point for the iPhone could I run the Airport Extreme at 5Ghz and everything still work.

Question 3: When my Iphone is connected via WiFi does that mean the network will only operate b/g until I disconnect the iPhone?

The reason I ask all this is b/c my Apple TV only will give me good HD download speeds at the 5Ghz speed. Since I use my iPhone to control my Apple TV I run into problems...

I am obviously hoping for 802.11N in the next iPhone.

Thanks for everyones help.

1. Since it's in a compatible mode, it's running at 2.4 GHz. If your iPhone is able to connect to your network, then it means it's at 2.4GHz.

2. A lot of people are doing that. And that's the whole big thing with the new AEBS just recently updated. It distributes dual band radio modes, Wireless N only at 5GHz and B/G compatible at 2.4GHz.

3. Yes. It will slow down to G speed.

 

[skorpien]

No, it will not slow down to G speeds. I was connected to my b/g/n mixed network with my MB (which is N) and simultaneously with my PC desktop (which is G), both downloading files from the Internet. The transmit rate on my MB, while being less than the usual 170 Mbps when my desktop is off, was actually at ~100 Mbps, not 54 Mbps.