Hi Ronni The only network seen in the Menu Bar is the name "polly" (which is my network) which has a single entry. I occasionally see my neighbours named network. I do not see the frequency bands. I assumed it was the greyed-out details under 'polly' on each Mac that showed which band was in use.
Yes please, I'd like the further level of detail. Cheers Alan On 25/05/2013, at 1:40 PM, Ronda Brown <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Alan, > > DON'T go fiddling with the Network in Airport Utility. > > You should be able to select the 5GHz band of your Wi-Fi network as I > mentioned below in my previous reply to you... > > Click on the WiFi symbol in the Menu bar you should see all available > Networks, you Dual-Band Network should show twice, select the 5GHz one of > your Network. > > Then you can follow: >> 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. > > If you can't see both bands of your Network, post back and I'll give you > instructions how you can name 5GHz Network to make it simpler for you to see > which Network is which 'band'. > > Cheers, > Ronni > Sent from Ronni's iPad4 > > On 25/05/2013, at 12:45 PM, Alan Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi Ronni >> >> Thanks for the info. The old iMac (late 2009) fully supports 802.11n. >> >> I was going to check the Transmit Rate at 5 GHz by manually setting it up. >> But, er, I didn't know how to do that. >> >> Apple Communities discussion pointed me to Airport Utility, Wireless >> Options. Time Capsule has both 2.4 and 5 GHz chanels set to "Automatic". >> I was anticipating a change to the Mac machine preferences, not settings in >> Time Capsule, which seems to me would affect the entire network, not just >> the old Mac. (This explains Daniel's earlier comment that he had set up TC >> for "automatic" in response to my comment that he had possibly not set up >> the old Mac channel preference to "the preferred" 5 GHz band.) >> >> Decision (based on ignorance, tempered by your explanation) is to leave it >> as it is. If Time Capsule has determined "automatically" that 2.4GHz is >> best, then I'm happy to leave it there! I don't recall problems with >> radio interference (a common problem raised in Apple Communities) but will >> take note of what other household appliances are operating when using >> AirDrop. >> >> Thanks for your continued patience is stepping me through the processes. >> >> >> Cheers >> Alan >> >> >> On 25/05/2013, at 10:57 AM, Ronni Brown <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> 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>
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