How Do I Reset My AirPort Extreme Password?

[MacInWin]

Thank you. I don't doubt what you are saying. However, I just did a speed test on each band (standing right next to the AirPort Extreme base station):

2.4GHz = 56.5 Mbps

5GHz = 154.2 Mbps

Seems like a big difference, even if the speed test has a margin of error.

Yep, In an optimum case (standing right next to the station), the 5Ghz will be faster, and by a lot. Now, take your phone across your house, with a couple of walls, or floors, or even go outside, and watch the speed drop off on both bands. 5Ghz will decline faster than 2.4Ghz, and will eventually fade out completely. As i said, shorter range, higher attenuation. If you never plan to leave the room with the router, 5Ghz is better. In real life, not so much. But it's still generally better to let the device negotiate which band to use.

Patrick brought up channels. You haven't said what your environment is, but on the 24Ghz band there are 11 channels. The general recommendation is to be at least 5 channels away from the next-nearest router to avoid interference and slowdowns. At the default channel 6, you may well have interference from every other router you can see that is also on the default. So, in a single case, as Patrick said, Apple may know best. But if your neighbors are also on channel 6, then all of you are interfering with each other and it may be better to move to 1 or 11 to get away from the folks on 6. You can use a WiFi analyzer to see what is your environment. Pick a channel that has the least likely signal interference.

Or take Patrick's advice and if the Mac is stationary and has an Ethernet port, use an Ethernet cable to connect directly and get even better speeds with no interference.

 

[pm-r]

By Ethernet, you mean run a cable from the modem directly to the computer, correct?

Correct.
No need for any apology...



- Patrick
=======

 

[MacInWin]

Correct.
No need for any apology...



- Patrick
=======

Not exactly. In most cases the cable goes from the AirPort to the computer. The setup in most cases is that the "modem" is the interface from the cable company or whoever provides your internet service, and should be connected to the Airport by a separate Ethernet cable. The AirPort is a router for your internal local network.

 

[pm-r]

So, in a single case, as Patrick said, Apple may know best. But if your neighbors are also on channel 6, then all of you are interfering with each other and it may be better to move to 1 or 11 to get away from the folks on

You make some excellent points about channels Jake that would be good to pay attention to.

I just replied to the OP's basic question and didn't bother adding any details about various channels excetera...

And yes, I am an advocate for using wired ethernet wherever possible.



- Patrick
=======

 

[Marrk]

Yep, In an optimum case (standing right next to the station), the 5Ghz will be faster, and by a lot. Now, take your phone across your house, with a couple of walls, or floors, or even go outside, and watch the speed drop off on both bands. 5Ghz will decline faster than 2.4Ghz, and will eventually fade out completely. As i said, shorter range, higher attenuation. If you never plan to leave the room with the router, 5Ghz is better. In real life, not so much. But it's still generally better to let the device negotiate which band to use.

Patrick brought up channels. You haven't said what your environment is, but on the 24Ghz band there are 11 channels. The general recommendation is to be at least 5 channels away from the next-nearest router to avoid interference and slowdowns. At the default channel 6, you may well have interference from every other router you can see that is also on the default. So, in a single case, as Patrick said, Apple may know best. But if your neighbors are also on channel 6, then all of you are interfering with each other and it may be better to move to 1 or 11 to get away from the folks on 6. You can use a WiFi analyzer to see what is your environment. Pick a channel that has the least likely signal interference.

Or take Patrick's advice and if the Mac is stationary and has an Ethernet port, use an Ethernet cable to connect directly and get even better speeds with no interference.

Outstanding explanation. Thank you.

I'm in an apartment building situation. I am surrounded by the WiFi of my neighbors. If I get my confidence up, I may try to change the channel settings.

I have an Ethernet cable and thunderbolt port adapter. The cable is long enough to extend throughout my small apartment, but there is noticeable heat at the adaptor. I don't know if heat is a concern. (Only used the Ethernet cable on my 2017 MBP, not on my 2021 MBP.)

 

[pm-r]

Not exactly. In most cases the cable goes from the AirPort to the computer. The setup in most cases is that the "modem" is the interface from the cable company or whoever provides your internet service, and should be connected to the Airport by a separate Ethernet cable. The AirPort is a router for your internal local network.

Thanks Jake, I sit corrected...
Let me fetch and don my dunce cap and my stool... ;-)


EDIT:
Gees, I am beginning to regret I mentioned trying out any ethernet to the OP with a recent M1 MacBook Pro as I had forgotten what a hassle it can be and how expensive it can be for some users, especially to get some decent speeds, unless Apple has recently corrected the situation.

Slow Ethernet Speeds on 2021 MacBook Pro

I have a 2021 16" MacBook Pro and my wife has a 2019 15" MacBook Pro, both running macOS 12.3.1. I have a UniFi gigabit network with a Dream Machine Pro and Switch Lite 16, also running the latest firmware. I ran iperf3 with my hardwired PC as the server and each MacBook Pro as clients one at a...

forums.macrumors.com

2021 Macbook Pro 16" M1 Max ethernet capa… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Man, some of those fast ethernet adapters are on the extreme pricey side...

OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter

Connect your Thunderbolt 3 equipped Mac or PC to high-performance wired networks delivering up to 10x the performance of Gigabit Ethernet.

eshop.macsales.com

Solo10G Thunderbolt Adapter (Single-port • 10GBASE-T)

10 Gigabit Ethernet Thunderbolt adapter with one RJ45 10GbE port for adding 10GBASE-T 10GbE network connectivity. Compatible with computers with Thunderbolt ports.

www.sonnetstore.com

- Patrick
=======

 

[MacInWin]

My wife uses an Ethernet adapter with her MBP (2015 model). Works great, not hot. I don't know about any others. When it comes to adapters, I try to stick with what Apple sells because they tend to work much better than third-party stuff. Yes, it costs more, but you get what you pay for.

I use an OWC hub for Ethernet. Connects to the M1 MBP by TB4 cable. The choke point in my network is the ISP, where I have 1Gbps service. It routinely tests out at above 900 Mbps.

 

[pm-r]

I use an OWC hub for Ethernet. Connects to the M1 MBP by TB4 cable. The choke point in my network is the ISP, where I have 1Gbps service. It routinely tests out at above 900 Mbps.

Good Grief Jake, that is f a s t... I assume it doesn't break your bank...

That is also a lot faster than many commercial businesses manage to get, at least around this area... ;-)

Advertised but not necessarily realized...

We average around 84Mbps down which is more than fast enough for us in our retirement lifestyle. ;-)



- Patrick
=======

 

[MacInWin]

Yeah, I don't need the down, but my wife and daughter have been doing Facebook videos, and the way Xfiinity/Comcast tiers the service, to get more than 5Gbps up, I had to step up to the 1Gbps down. It is nice, however, when it's time to update/upgrade our MBPs.

 

[Marrk]

Here's my groovy little adaptor. It was all they had at Best Buy. Guess I should have gotten this one instead.

 

[MacInWin]

Normally, Belkin makes good products. I'm surprised you say it's running hot. It is OK if it's just warm, but hot is not good for electronics.

 

[Marrk]

Normally, Belkin makes good products. I'm surprised you say it's running hot. It is OK if it's just warm, but hot is not good for electronics.

It seemed quite warm to me. I wasn't prepared for it. Is the Apple adaptor completely without heat?

 

[MacInWin]

No, it's slightly warm to the touch when in the middle of a large transfer of data. But never hot.

 

[pm-r]

I'm surprised you say it's running hot. It is OK if it's just warm, but hot is not good for electronics.

Some users comments on the adapters:

Why does the USB-C Ethernet adapter get hot, even when unplugged from ethernet?

The new MacBook Pro have a bunch of USB-C ports and no ethernet port, so you have to use an adapter. The issue is that as long as the adapter is connected to the MacBook, it gets very noticeably h...

apple.stackexchange.com

And the chips need to be powered, but they must be pretty small:

USB Ethernet ICs | ASIX Electronics

ASIX Super Speed/High Speed USB to 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet Solutions for Smart Home & Office

www.asix.com.tw

https://www.microchip.com/en-us/product/LAN9500A

- Patrick
=======

 

[ferrarr]

Thank you. I don't doubt what you are saying. However, I just did a speed test on each band (standing right next to the AirPort Extreme base station):

2.4GHz = 56.5 Mbps

5GHz = 154.2 Mbps

Seems like a big difference, even if the speed test has a margin of error.

Now test the extreme limit to see how the signal strengths differ. Move to another room and see the test speeds.

 

[Marrk]

Now test the extreme limit to see how the signal strengths differ. Move to another room and see the test speeds.

They are both low, almost the same speed.

 

[MacInWin]

Eventually, if you keep moving away or put more "things" between you and the router the 5Ghz will disappear and only the 2.4 Ghz will work at all.