Software Updates Explain Dual-Band Networking
Along with all the hardware updates, Apple has released a few software updates as well.
The Airport Client and Airport Utility Updates add support for the latest Airport Extreme and Time Capsule models announced earlier today and provide some further details about how dual-band networking will be implemented. The Airport Client Update helps Apple laptops work better with the dual-band networking features. The release notes succinctly explain that:
This update is recommended for all Intel-based Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.5.6. It addresses issues with roaming and network selection in dual-band environments.
The Airport Extreme features page says:
Instead of choosing one of the bands, AirPort Extreme now operates simultaneously on both bands, and your multiband devices automatically use the best available band.
I took note of this because I was curious how they were going to accomplish this feat. There isn’t any procedure (that I know of) in the 802.11n spec that specifies how a client should decide which network to join if they both have the same name (SSID). Apparently, Apple is going to roll that functionality right into their wireless drivers so the client device will decide which network to join based on the frequency band of the available networks.
This likely means that it won’t work seamlessly for Windows or Linux users on your Wi-Fi network and they will have to manually switch to the 5GHz 802.11n network if they first join the 2.4GHz 802.11b/g network. I am curious to see how Windows and Linux drivers will handle wireless network priority when there are two networks on different bands with the same SSID and WPA password. I imagine it can be set, but it would depend on the drivers and the features that the operating system exposes to the user.
I am sure it will work great for Apple users, but may disappoint those supporting mixed-platform environments. Truth be told, it is not any worse than other available solutions because everything else will continue to see two separate networks. Just something to be aware of when you wonder why it doesn’t work the same way on your netbook as it does on your MacBook Pro.
It will be a lot more interesting when we see the firmware update for the previous Airport and Time Capsule models so we can see what is different. Early speculation is that the MobileMe sharing features will be enabled on the old devices, but that dual-band networking will only be on the new devices. No word yet if Guest Networking will be available on the older Airport Extreme.
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Wow! Apple is quick. Just this morning I suggested online that they make their laptops smart enough to choose the best network when the choice includes both 2.4 and 5.6 networks with the same name. Now, only a few hours later, it’s done.
It’ll be interesting to see they come up with a way to tell us which network we’ve joined. My neighborhood library uses six channels: 1, 6 & 11 at 2.4 GHz and 48, 153, and 161 at what I assume in 5.6 Ghz. But my MacBook doesn’t tell me which I’m on. When the library gets crowded and access gets slow, it’s hard to know what to do to find clear air.
I’ll be happy if this update merely stops the time Machine from randomly forgetting that it has a printer attached.
Also, for those that are worrying about the utility of the double network thingie, there is an easy and cheap solution. The networks can be manually split off just by buying an older Airport that only does b/g wireless and then moving the newer device to 5Mhz n. I got one second hand for 50 bucks and they can be had a lot cheaper at this point in most locales.
Hold down the option key when clicking on your airport icon in the menu bar. That’ll give you your network specs, like what band, signal strength, etc.
@#3: is there anything the Option key can’t do?
OK it’s not sounding good for dual band networking on my old time capsule, but I’ll continue to keep my fingers crossed. I guess my bigger disappointment is that Apple didn’t put the n protocol on the itouch. Luckily my modem is a combo wireless g router so I am doing the two network thing at home, but different SSIDs. I’d love to have 3 just because…and a guest network too?
It is nice to have those features built in and gracefully implemented.
I use DD-WRT.. which enables ssid and virutal ssid for same 2.4 ghz network.
The virtual ssid is for guest access. Your choice of security level non thru wpa2
I was missing the dual band love.. so I just added my AEBS as AP in bridge mode, with a static ip address. Plug in the device via lan port to the existing network. Now it serves up just the n clients. The gigabit switch is nice. (4.6 gig transfer in about 6 minutes internal server to gigabit NAS)
The other router dd-wrt acts as a dhcp server.
Great device for n connections and time machine backup via usb hub.
But very weak remote access IMHO. Your mileage may vary.
So far the new AIPORT Utility and firmware 7.4.1 doesn’t enable dual band native to the older AEBS.
I believe the older devices are missing an antennae for dual band simultaneous support.