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6 Replies Last post: Sep 8, 2007 11:50 AM by piginabarn

macintologist

1 posts since
Aug 5, 2007

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Aug 5, 2007 9:40 PM

How do I set up a dual-band Airport network?

I have both a new Airport base station that works as 802.11n and I also have an old Airport that works on 802.11g/b. I have Powerbooks and an AppleTV. How do I set up the network so that both frequencies can work simultaneously? I want the AppleTV to go on n at 5ghz so it gets full speed, while the older Airport serves out b/g so that my Powerbooks can connect.

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smax013

1,520 posts since
Jul 6, 2007

1. Aug 5, 2007 10:43 PM

in response to: macintologist

Re: How do I set up a dual-band Airport network?

802.11n is backwards compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b. Thus, you should be able to hook up your new Airport Extreme with 802.11n and ALL your devices should work fine with it. The AppleTV should connect at n speeds and the Powerbooks should connect at g/b speeds.

That is how is should work in theory...reality might not match theory. But, try it.

Member of the "Crazy Mac Users who run Anti-virus on their Macs" club - come join us and you too can be snickered at!

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d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

2. Aug 5, 2007 10:45 PM

in response to: macintologist

Re: How do I set up a dual-band Airport network?

I would make the new Airport your main router, then connect the old Airport's WAN port to one of the new Airport's LAN ports. Once that is done, configure the old Airport as a "bridge". Let us know if you need help finding that option.

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d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

3. Aug 5, 2007 10:49 PM

in response to: smax013

Re: How do I set up a dual-band Airport network?

The problem is you degrade the performance of your N devices. The 2.4 GHz range is a very noisy one and you'll lose speed because of that. Then add that everytime a G or B device does any transfer the speed gets degraded and suddenly your N network isn't nearly as fast as you'd hoped.

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smax013

1,520 posts since
Jul 6, 2007

4. Aug 5, 2007 11:01 PM

in response to: d00d

Re: How do I set up a dual-band Airport network?

Quote:<hr />
The problem is you degrade the performance of your N devices. The 2.4 GHz range is a very noisy one and you'll lose speed because of that. Then add that everytime a G or B device does any transfer the speed gets degraded and suddenly your N network isn't nearly as fast as you'd hoped.

<hr />

OK...but if all the computers on your network are using b/g speeds and your broadband connection is likely not anywhere able to match the maximum speeds of the n network and the only n device is the AppleTV, then what is that speed gonna really allow you to do? Your syncing to the computers would limited by the b/g speeds and your accessing outside content (i.e. say YouTube videos) will be limited by the broadband connection speeds. Now, if the original poster also has a computer with an n adapter that he/she did not mention, then it is another story.

I guess that it seems like a lot of work to "splice" the two together for what will likely be no benefit.

But, you are correct.

Member of the "Crazy Mac Users who run Anti-virus on their Macs" club - come join us and you too can be snickered at!

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d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

5. Aug 6, 2007 12:32 AM

in response to: smax013

Re: How do I set up a dual-band Airport network?

Well, in the scenarios you present, yes, but Apple TV transfers can take a long time if limited by b/g. I'm not sure the OP listed all of their equipment (I expect at least one wired Mac), but even if they are not, Apple TV transfers will be cut in speed by up to half of the g speed if sharing with the Apple TV. By placing it on a separate connection, you can saturate the maximum speed of that g connection.

As for being a lot of work, if I remember correctly, it's one checkbox in the Airport config utility. But maybe my perspective is cloudy because I'm comfortable enough with networking to fully configure a WRT54G router with OpenWRT using nothing but a telnet connection. I even gave each item on my network a static IP and hostname.

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piginabarn

1 posts since
Sep 8, 2007

6. Sep 8, 2007 11:50 AM

in response to: macintologist

How do I keep my Airport Express from Slowing...

down my N network? I just use it for airtunes, but I can do airtunes over ethernet. It doesn't seem to be working..any suggestions?

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