Hi Alan, > But it then raises the question of why is the old Mac using 2.4GHz?
There are reasons why: Firstly, I don’t know how old your ‘old’ iMac is; I presume as it is running Mountain Lion that it has a wireless card that supports 802.11n 5GHz. All Macs with Wi-Fi released since October 2006—except for pre-2009 Mac minis—do; so can the iPad and the Apple TV. Secondly, I don’t know where you have the ‘old’ iMac located... how far away from the Time Capsule, how many walls in between, etc. So first check if ‘old’ iMac does support 802.11n. 1. On your ‘old’ iMac: Open Network Utility: Applications > Utilities > Network Utility Choose the appropriate interface “Wi-Fi (en1)” Under Interface Information - Model: Wireless Network Adapter (802.11 a/b/g/n) If it doesn’t show (802.11 a/b/g/n) but instead shows (802.11a/b/g) you need to install 802.11n Enabler. Again presuming your ‘old’ iMac does support 802.11n 5GHz. 2. You might have manually selected your ‘old’ iMac to connect to the 2.4GHz band instead of the 5GHz band by selecting it under the Wi-Fi symbol in the Menu Bar 3. The 5 GHz band is a higher, shorter radio frequency, which means that at the same amount of radio transmission power, its radio waves propagate shorter distances than those of 2.4 GHz base stations. The 5 GHz band is also worse at penetrating solid objects such as wooden walls in a home (neither band can penetrate metal walls, such as lath and plaster walls using a metal mesh found in some older buildings). 5GHz can be more sensitive to environmental interferences. As I mentioned in my previous reply to you, your multi-band devices automatically use the best available band. This means all your Wi-Fi devices get the fastest possible wireless performance and the best possible range. So in summary: (Again presuming your 'old' iMac supports 802.11n); and you have not manually selected the 2.4GHz band for your 'old' iMac...... The 2.4GHz is the best available band for the 'old' iMac at the time. You could check the Transmit Rate, by manually connecting the 'old' iMac to the 5GHz and comparing the details to when it is connected to the 2.4GHz band. As you did before by 'option click' on the Wi-Fi symbol when connected to each band. Hope that clears things up for you. Cheers, Ronni On 25/05/2013, at 8:02 AM, Alan Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Ronni > > Thanks for your detailed explanation. But it then raises the question of why > is the old Mac using 2.4GHz? Your explanation suggests that the system > chooses the best band automatically but your earlier email asked me why I was > using 2.4 and inferred 5 GHz is better. I will read your explanation of TC > more carefully, but I am confused. > > Cheers > Alan > > Sent from my iPad > > On 25/05/2013, at 7:28 AM, Ronda Brown <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi Alan, >> >> Daniel would have created/setup for you a Airport Time Capsule "Simultaneous >> dual-band Wi-Fi Network" for maximum range and compatibility. This Wireless >> Network works simultaneously on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. >> >> What that means is: >> WiFi is turned ON all your computers & devices they will all automatically >> connect to the Wireless Network's correct Band simultaneously. >> >> That is: Your iMacs & iPad will automatically connect to the 5GHz Band; your >> iPhone will connect to the 2.4GHz band of the Dual-Band Wireless Network. >> All on the same Network... One Network. >> >> On my Website I explain a Simultaneous Dual-Band 802.11n Wi-Fi Base Station >> and a tutorial how to. >> <http://ronnibrown.net/tutorials/simultaneous-dual-band/index.html> >> >> /Quote from my web page: >> Simultaneous Dual-Band 802.11n Wi-Fi Base Station. >> Some Wi-Fi devices use the 2.4GHz wireless band, including iPhone, iPod >> touch, and devices using 802.11b/g. >> Other devices can use either 2.4GHz or the higher-speed 5GHz band, such as >> the latest 802.11n-based Mac computers and Apple TV and iPad. >> Instead of choosing one of the bands, AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule now >> operates simultaneously on both bands, and your multi-band devices >> automatically use the best available band. >> This means all your Wi-Fi devices get the fastest possible wireless >> performance and the best possible range. >> /End quote from my web page: >> I hope that explains your Network more clearly to you. >> Cheers, >> Ronni >> Sent from Ronni's iPad4 >> >> On 24/05/2013, at 11:24 PM, Daniel Kerr <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> You don't set up…the Time Capsule - it should already be Dual Band,..hence >>> it is already working with both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz range,…. >>> >>> So really no "should" needed,….it was working in both the 2.4Ghz and 5GHz >>> range when I was there….. >>> >>> Kind regards >>> Daniel >>> --- >>> Daniel Kerr >>> MacWizardry >>> >>> Phone: 0414 795 960 >>> Email: <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au> >>> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >>> >>> >>> **For everything Apple** >>> >>> On 24/05/2013, at 10:59 PM, Alan Smith <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Perhaps Daniel "should" have changed it to 5 GHz when he set up the TC >>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
