Airport Extreme as extender? Not working

[darknyt]

I might be reading the thread wrongly (for some reason I've woken up at 6am on a Sunday morning and my brain isn't fully functioning yet) but you're now running 1x 5th gen and 1x 6th gen Airport Extremes?

My venerable Netgear DG834 modem/router does all the DHCP/NAT stuff. It's connected by ethernet to one 5th gen AE, which in turn is connected by ethernet to another 5th gen AW. Both AEs are in 'bridge mode' with manual IP addresses.

When both 5GHz and 2.4GHz networks shared the same SSID I had similar problems with devices not picking up the optimal connection when moving between AEs. Once I'd assigned another name to the 5GHz network on each AE this problem disappeared.

I can now move, nay skip, through the flat from AE to AE knowing that devices will stay on 'mojnet' or 'mojnet 5GHz' as appropriate.

I guess it helps that I have no 5GHz blind spots. On the downside, my flat would fit in your 4,500 sq feet house five times over...

Thanks for your reply. Yes read it right I am running the one 5g and one 6 g.
I actually turned off the Wi-Fi on the 5G. It is first device off modem. 6g is used as access point on first floor.

The 6G has the capability to broadcast two SSIDs, right? It can have a 5gz dedicated band I thought. Trying that it wasn't making the AC band stick to my 6+ or Air 2.

Though to be honest, the issues I have really mainly cropping up when I am in a corner somewhere a good distance from the router. Then it seems to persist as I walk into what should easily be AC range.

 

[Altemose]

A client will drop to N speed if it cannot connect at AC speed. If you are right on the edge of AC/N speed it will drop down and you need to make it reconnect. Try creating the separate 5 GHz SSID so it is forced to use either AC or N.

 

[darknyt]

A client will drop to N speed if it cannot connect at AC speed. If you are right on the edge of AC/N speed it will drop down and you need to make it reconnect. Try creating the separate 5 GHz SSID so it is forced to use either AC or N.

Yeah, I can get it to reconnect at full speed on AC so if I could keep it on AC that would be awesome.

So there is a way to make the 5ghz band broadcast only for AC and NOT N so if I'm on that band it will only be AC?

Drawbacks?

 

[Altemose]

Yeah, I can get it to reconnect at full speed on AC so if I could keep it on AC that would be awesome.

So there is a way to make the 5ghz band broadcast only for AC and NOT N so if I'm on that band it will only be AC?

Drawbacks?

I am not sure if you can do that anymore.

 

[darknyt]

I am not sure if you can do that anymore.

I setup the 5ghz band again and that seems to be workin much better. My AC devices nearly always are connecting via AC and speeds are terrific.

Only in the furthest upstairs bedroom with the door closed does it switch over to N and get crappier speeds in 30-40 range.

Other that it's above 120/12 everywhere else in the house. Even in the hall outside that dead spot bedroom.

 

[Altemose]

I setup the 5ghz band again and that seems to be workin much better. My AC devices nearly always are connecting via AC and speeds are terrific.

Only in the furthest upstairs bedroom with the door closed does it switch over to N and get crappier speeds in 30-40 range.

Other that it's above 120/12 everywhere else in the house. Even in the hall outside that dead spot bedroom.

Glad you got it running well!