Airport Express: 5Ghz Support And Compatibility

Apple's AirPort Express does support 5GHz. However, it is not enabled by default. To enable 5GHz, you must access the AirPort Utility app on your Mac, located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. From there, you can select the base station you want to configure and click Edit. After entering the password for the base station, you can click Wireless and then Wireless Options. You can then select 5 GHz network name and enter a different name for the 5GHz band. Finally, click Save and then Update to save the changes.

Setting up a 5GHz network on Apple Airport Express

The Apple AirPort Express does support 5GHz. By default, the AirPort transmits simultaneously in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands with the same network name.

Step 1: Open AirPort Utility

The AirPort Utility can be found inside Applications -> Utilities.

Step 2: Select the Wireless Tab

Click on the AirPort Express icon and then click "Edit" in the smaller window that appears. The next window will display headings for Base Station, Internet, Wireless, Network, and Disks at the top. Click on the "Wireless" tab.

Step 3: Select Wireless Options

Click on the "Wireless Options" button near the bottom of the window.

Step 4: Create a Unique Name for the 5GHz Band

Add a checkmark in the box next to "5 GHz network name" and create a unique name for the 5GHz band. This will automatically add "5 GHz" to the end of your network name. You can also change the name of the 2.4 GHz band if desired.

Step 5: Update and Restart

Click "Update" and then "Restart" for the changes to take effect. Your network will be temporarily unavailable during this time.

Additional Notes:

• It is recommended to restart your Mac and other devices after setting up the 5GHz network to ensure they connect to the correct band.
• By default, devices will automatically choose the best network to connect to based on signal strength. However, as 5 GHz signals are weaker than 2.4 GHz, devices will usually favor the stronger 2.4 GHz signal.
• You can manually force a device to connect to the 5 GHz band by assigning a different name to the 5 GHz network and then "pointing" the device to that network. However, this does not guarantee a better or faster signal.
• To check which band your Mac is connected to, hold down the Option key while clicking on the WiFi icon at the top of the screen and look for the "Channel" setting.

Turning off 5GHz on 2nd Gen. Airport Express

The 2nd Gen Apple AirPort Express is a simultaneous dual-band router, meaning it supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. While you cannot turn off one frequency band without disabling wireless connectivity entirely, you can separate the two bands by giving them different network names. This will allow you to manually select which band your devices connect to.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to separate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands on your 2nd Gen AirPort Express:

• Open AirPort Utility on your Mac. You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder.
• Select your AirPort Express from the list of available networks. It may be named something like "Tall Dart".
• Click on the "Wireless" tab.
• Click on "Wireless Options".
• Check the box next to "5 GHz network name". This will automatically add "5 GHz" to the name of the 5 GHz network. For example, if your original network name is "MyNetwork", the 5 GHz network will now be named "MyNetwork 5 GHz".
• Click "Save" and then "Update" to apply the changes and restart your AirPort Express.
• Restart your Mac and other devices connected to the network.
• Go to System Preferences > Wi-Fi > Advanced on your Mac.
• Delete the original network name from the list of preferred networks.
• Connect to the new 2.4 GHz network using the same password as before.

By following these steps, you will have effectively turned off the 5 GHz band on your 2nd Gen AirPort Express, as it will no longer be broadcasting with the same network name. Your devices will now only connect to the 2.4 GHz band unless you manually connect them to the 5 GHz network.

It is worth noting that some older devices may have trouble connecting to the 5 GHz band, so it is generally recommended to use the default settings where both bands have the same network name, and devices automatically choose the best band to connect to. However, if you have a specific use case where you need to turn off the 5 GHz band, the above steps will allow you to do so.

Separating 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands with Airport Utility

The Airport Extreme from Apple allows you to choose from two ways to configure the bands: with a single name for both bands or with two distinct names.

Single Name for Both Bands

By default, the Airport simultaneously transmits in both frequency bands with the same network name. Each device that you attach to the network will automatically find the appropriate band. If a device can only use 2.4GHz, it will attach to that band, but if it can use 5GHz, it will.

Two Distinct Names

If you want to actively choose the band on which you want each device to function, you can give the 5GHz band a unique name. This will leave the 2.4GHz band with the original network name, and you will have to manually move the devices that can go to 5GHz over to the higher band.

How to Separate the Bands

• Open AirPort Utility. This can be found inside Applications -> Utilities.
• Select the Wireless Tab.
• Select Wireless Options.
• Check the box next to the 5GHz network name.
• Create a unique name for the 5GHz band.
• You can also change the name of the 2.4GHz band if you want to.
• Hit "Update" for the changes to be saved.
• Your network will be temporarily unavailable, and the Airport will restart.

Creating a separate 5GHz network

The Apple Airport Express does support 5GHz. By default, the Airport simultaneously transmits in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands with the same network name. However, you can create a separate 5GHz network by following these steps:

Step 1: Open AirPort Utility

The AirPort Utility can be found inside Applications -> Utilities. Select your AirPort from the list of available networks.

Step 2: Select the Wireless Tab

Click on the Wireless Tab in the AirPort Utility.

Step 3: Select Wireless Options

Click on Wireless Options, which is usually located near the bottom of the window.

Step 4: Create a Unique Name for the 5GHz Band

Check the box next to the 5GHz network name. This will automatically add "5GHz" to the name of the 5GHz network. For example, if your original network name is "MyNetwork," the 5GHz network name will become "MyNetwork 5GHz." You can also choose to change the name of the 2.4GHz band if desired.

Step 5: Save and Update

Click Save to save the changes, then click Update for the changes to take effect. Your network will be temporarily unavailable during this process. Once the AirPort restarts and the symbols turn green, your separate 5GHz network will be active.

Additional Notes:

• It is important to note that 5GHz signals are generally weaker than 2.4GHz signals and may not pass through walls or obstructions as effectively.
• By creating separate 5GHz and 2.4GHz networks, you can manually choose which band each device connects to. This can be beneficial for certain devices, such as older devices that may only support 2.4GHz or devices that have trouble connecting to a dual-band network.
• You can check which band a device is using by holding down the Option key on your Mac and clicking on the WiFi icon.
• If you decide to revert to a single network name for both bands, simply uncheck the box next to the 5GHz network name in the Wireless Options and update your AirPort.

Changing the 5GHz network name

The Apple AirPort Express does support 5GHz. By default, the AirPort transmits simultaneously in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands with the same network name. However, you can change the 5GHz network name by following these steps:

Step 1: Open AirPort Utility

AirPort Utility can be found inside the Applications folder, under Utilities.

Step 2: Select the Wireless Tab

Click on the Wireless tab at the top of the window.

Step 3: Select Wireless Options

Click on Wireless Options, which is located near the bottom of the window.

Step 4: Check the Box Next to 5GHz Network Name

Place a checkmark in the box next to "5GHz network name". This will automatically add "5GHz" to the name of the 5GHz network. For example, if your original network name was "MyNetwork", the new 5GHz network name will be "MyNetwork 5GHz".

Step 5: Update and Restart

Click "Update" and then "Restart" to apply the changes. Your network will be temporarily unavailable during this time.

Step 6: Connect Devices to the Desired Network

Once your network is back up, you and other users will need to manually select the desired network (2.4GHz or 5GHz) on each device.

Additional Notes:

• It is recommended to use specific frequency channels to avoid interference with radar or other official uses. In Europe, use channels 36, 40, 44, or 48. In the USA, use channels 149, 153, 157, 161, or 165.
• 5GHz signals are generally weaker than 2.4GHz signals, so they may not always be the best choice, especially if your device is far away from the router or separated by walls or other obstructions.
• Some devices may require a separate 2.4GHz network during their initial configuration. After configuration, you can go back and change the settings to use a single network name for both bands.
• You can also choose to keep the same network name for both bands, allowing devices to automatically connect to the highest band they can support.

Frequently asked questions