How to force 802.11ac?

[benghaith83]

Hmm... apparently the version of AirPort Utility on my iPhone doesn't show this data. However, I can get it from AirPort Utility on my Mac for my iPhone. See attached. As you can see my iPhone is connecting at the higher data rate so it does work. I'm thinking you have some configuration settings that are not quite right. Especially since the mode in your screenshot is b/g/n instead of a/n/ac.

Even on AirPort Utility for Mac, same reading...

 

[richard13]

Well, it's clear that there's something wrong in your configuration. Here's some things to check:

• Make sure your router is 802.11ac capable. Not all are. This is especially true of Apple products as they all have very similar sounding names. The current generation is capable but the previous was only good up to 802.11n
• Make sure you have a separate network for 5GHz apart from your 2.4GHz network. Give it a different name so you can tell the difference.
• Do not allow any clients that are not 802.11ac capable on your 5GHz network.
• Make sure your 802.11ac clients only connect to your 5GHz network. Tell them to "forget" any others.

 

[benghaith83]

Well, it's clear that there's something wrong in your configuration. Here's some things to check:

• Make sure your router is 802.11ac capable. Not all are. This is especially true of Apple products as they all have very similar sounding names. The current generation is capable but the previous was only good up to 802.11n
• Make sure you have a separate network for 5GHz apart from your 2.4GHz network. Give it a different name so you can tell the difference.
• Do not allow any clients that are not 802.11ac capable on your 5GHz network.
• Make sure your 802.11ac clients only connect to your 5GHz network. Tell them to "forget" any others.

Beg your pardon, but, firstly, all what you've listed is already current, secondly, all our devices are from Apple, and all are with latest 802.11ac technology, save one; which is our printer! Which uses legacy networking, and it is not connected through wireless; rather hocked via USB to an AirPort Extreme... Our home supervisor do use an iPhone 5 but he is connected to our guest network not the 5 GHz nor the 2.4 GHz, nevertheless, thank you for the information...

 

[mso4]

Thanks guys for all the tips. I was able to get my iMac, MBP, iPhones, and Apple TV to all use 802.11ac by setting up a new 5GHz SSID. I'm getting speeds of 150Mbps+ compared to 20-30Mbps before. All this time I've been using the 802.11n. And yes there is one room at the other end of the house where iPhones won't get the (ac) signal so I can see why (n) is still preferred for range. In that room my MBP is still getting 120-130 Mbps. I'm going to hook up another Airport Extreme as an extender and see if that helps.

Update: Just extended my network using a second Airport Extreme. The iPhones are getting 70-80 Mbps vs 7-10 Mbps before I extended the network. The MBP is still getting 130 Mbps. Man I'm a happy camper.