Ok Alan, I normally only give this this formation to my paying clients. When I setup a Dual-Band Network for clients I give a separate SSID (Name) for the 5GHz Network so they can easily see which Band (5GHz or 2.4GHz) of the Dual-Band Network their computer or device is connected to.
Separate SSID (Name) for the 5GHz Network and connect to that one manually on your iMac, and from there be able to see which Network band you're on. To do this, follow the below steps... Carefully: 1.Open Airport Utility 6.0: 2. Select (click once to highlight) "Alan's Time Capsule" (or what ever TC is named) 3. Then click > Edit > Wireless > Wireless Options > Tick the box next to "5GHz network name". 4. Don't change the Network Name... Just add 5GHz at the end of the Network Name 5. Then click 'Update' For Example: Your Dual-Band Network Name (SSID) is: Fantastic Just add 5GHz to the end of that name to make it: Fantastic 5GHz DON'T change anything else or mess up; just follow the instructions to add 5GHz to the name... If you mess up Daniel will kill me for suggesting you do this! Cheers, Ronni Sent from Ronni's iPad4 On 25/05/2013, at 2:17 PM, Alan Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > 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>
