Dual Band AirPort Extreme - 5GHz problems?

OllyM · 28 Jan 2010 at 11:15

I just wondered if anybody else here has the latest model simultaneous dual band AirPort Extreme?

We've had one for a few weeks and I just can't get the 5GHz network to work - it appears in the network list as a separate network but nothing can connect to it. All the Macs say 'Connection Timeout' after putting the WPA key in.

The 2.4GHz band works fine, but it's totally pointless having the dual band capability if it doesn't work correctly!

I've tried everything, even setting it up from scratch twice and altering every different option under the sun, but it just will not work.

Apple Discussions is full of posts about it but no real solutions. I think this is the first Apple product I've bought for a long time that doesn't 'just work'

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Feek · 28 Jan 2010 at 11:20

I do, and I have the same simultaneous dual band Time Capsule as well - Both work perfectly on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. I'm sitting here at the moment accessing the Airport on 5GHz, my Mac Mini is doing its initial Time Machine backup through it on 5GHz and my daughter is on her netbook attached to the 2.4GHz part and all are working and talking successfully.

OllyM · 28 Jan 2010 at 11:22

Is it a late 2009 one though? Do they run firmware 7.5 (not available for download)?

They changed wireless chipsets when they revised them a few months ago which seems to have caused the problem...

Feek · 28 Jan 2010 at 11:24

No, they're both using 7.4.2 firmware. I bought the TC when the 2Gb version came out and I got the AE shortly after the simultaneous dual band versions were released.

Could well be down to the firmware.

OllyM · 28 Jan 2010 at 11:27

Ah, so yours have the old chipset which works fine.

The problem is contained to the post October 2009 ones - and you can't downgrade the firmware as 7.4.2 doesn't work on the new chipset

FreeStream · 28 Jan 2010 at 11:41

Full reset been tried?

If that doesn't work applecare time!

OllyM · 28 Jan 2010 at 11:42

Concorde Rules said:
Full reset been tried?

If that doesn't work applecare time!

OllyM said:
I've tried everything, even setting it up from scratch twice and altering every different option under the sun, but it just will not work.

AppleCare are telling people that they are aware of it and that the next firmware update will fix it... which is great, but people were being told that in mid-October and it's now the end of January 2010...