AirPort Express and Time Warner Wideband Internet

So.
I live in an apartment with four other people, and just yesterday we had installed Time Warners 50Mb wideband service. The modem with which the service comes is an SMC Networks SMCD3GN modem and wireless router combination.
With infinite grace and kindness, Time Warner has taken the time to hardcode the name of the wireless network as well as the password and -not- allow me access to the management software on the router. Since technically I am leasing this equipment from them, they have no problem doing this to me. If I'd like, I could call Time Warner and have them change the function of the equipment from modem and router to just modem.
My question is this: can I use the AirPort Express A1264 as a wireless router -without- sacrificing speeds? I rudimentarily installed the APE (is that the acronym people use?) just plugging into it an outgoing ethernet cable from the router, and when I connected to the network, I was getting speeds of about 10Mb, not the 50 I'm paying for.
And while I'm here, what's the best way to boost the 38Mb speeds I get on my wireless network vs the almost 50 wired? I have a feeling it has something to do with interference (I'm in a big building in New York and there must be over 25 other networks I pick up) but like I said I can't change that without access to my router.
Help me squeeze every last kb/s out of this situation!
Thaaank you
Will

My question is this: can I use the AirPort Express A1264 as a wireless router -without- sacrificing speeds?
Any router, with NAT enabled, will introduce some "loss" of bandwidth across the WAN-to-LAN interface. That would be true for both the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) or the SMC Gateway that was provided to you by your ISP. Disabling the SMC's NAT and substituting the NAT service provided by the AX will probably not "buy" you any additional performance gains.
The reality is that no one experiences speeds anywhere near to what their ISP claims to offer, at least not when it comes to Web surfing. This isn't entirely the ISP's fault. The ISP's claimed throughput rates are for sustained downloads of an individual file ... and from their Internet infrastructure servers. 99% of the time you will not be accessing web pages from their servers but from other servers located elsewhere on the Internet.
As you know web pages are typically made up of several files—the HTML code, graphics, Flash elements, and so forth—each of which has its own latency. And then there are all the vagaries of the Internet as data from the Web site hops from router to router down to your computer. This is why, when ISPs advertise download speeds, they're only referring to downloads directly from their own servers.
And while I'm here, what's the best way to boost the 38Mb speeds I get on my wireless network vs the almost 50 wired?
There's at least two things that you can do to improve your local wireless network bandwidth: 1) Operate the network in 802.11n only mode in the 5 GHz radio band. If the router offers it, make sure that you run this network in a "wide" or "double" band mode, and 2) Remove all sources of Wi-Fi interference. The second one will definitely prove to be more challenging in your current environment.

Similar Messages

  • Best way to extend wireless via airport express and time capsule

    best way to extend wireless via airport express and time capsule
    i live in a two storey house where i use my airport express to create a wireless network in the main floor, and time capsule to extend it in the upper floor, where my room is. i have like 16 mbps in the main floor, and 2-3 mbps in the upper floor after having speediest.
    i used time capsule in the upper floor because i use wireless backup daily and don't want to put internet down while i im doin it and consequently my parent can have internet access in the main floor, am i right? or do i have make just the opposite in order to have a good internet speed?
    secondly, while checking airport express wireless mode on airport utility, there is like 4 different type of radio mode(802 11n bg comp, 802 11n 2.4, 802 11n a comp, 802 11n 5ghz) which i have no idea what they mean
    what do you recommend?
    we have like iphone4, iphone 3g, mbookpro, ipad, ipad 2, samsung tv and a sony vaio laptop in the wireless network
    thank you

    What you have would appear to be working but I can comment how I would redefine your setup.  Note that both Airport Express and Time Capsule can function as wireless base stations so you do have wireless everywhere and at all times — using the Time Capsules for backups doesn’t mean your parents won’t have internet access regardless of the where the base stations are located.
    You appear to have devices to connect to your network that use the 2.4 GHz band with 802.11g such as the iPhone 3G and perhaps the 5 GHz band with 802.11n such as likely the Macbook Pro if it’s a recent model.  The iPhone 4 can use 5 GHz and 802.11n.  Can’t comment on the Sony and Samsung but you can check their specs.
    Now the Time Capsule (if it’s a recent version), can simultaneously supply 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band signals, but the Airport Express (if it’s recent) can only use one of those bands at one time.  Likely the lowest common denominator for your devices is going to be the 2.4 GHz band since the devices that are capable of using 5 GHZ also support 2.4 GHz.  If you don’t use 5 GHz, you won’t lose much in a two-storey home because likely it’s the 2.4 GHz band is better signal anyway because 5 GHz signals drop off quickly with several walls/floors to penetrate.
    You also didn’t mention if the Airport Express is used to support a printer and/or AirPlay (using iTunes to play on remote speakers via the Airport Express connection) but that might also be a factor in the best location to place the Airport Express.  Although the printer could be switched between the Time Capsule and the Airport Express if needed, only the Airport Express will support your remote speakers.
    Recommend you use the Time Capsule as the Base station.  When using Airport Utility to define the network, after you name your network, etc., select the Wireless tab, check the box “Allow this network to be extended” and set the Radio Mode to "802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)”.
    Using the Airport Utility, click on the Airport Express; after you define the device and network name, select the Wireless tab, define the Wireless Mode as “Extend a Wireless Network” and check the box “Allow wireless clients”. 
    Hope that helps.

  • Conflicts with Airport Express and Time Capsule

    I am using Airport Express and Time Capsule at the same time. Connection to the web is via a router. Very often I do have conflicts. How shall I connect the gadgets? At the moment I connect the router to Airport Express (network cable).
    Time machine back up doesn't work properly.
    Is there anybody able to help me?
    Regards

    What broadband type do you have?
    It can be impossible to plug a TC into the existing connection because the virgin media router has special setup or logins which are not revealed to end users.
    If it is a fibre connection for instance the TC may simply not work. They have issues with many fibre ISP putting the gateway address outside the subnet of the main public IP.. (don't worry if it is too technical .. it amounts to .. it don't work! )
    You may need to wait until Sat.
    Get in a big supply of home videos or something and try and starve off your addiction.

  • Airport Extreme and Time Warner Roadrunner...

    Hello,
    I have never had so much trouble with my computer...
    I currently have one PC, one iMac and a macbook pro. Both iMac and mbpro have been connected to airport extreme through wireless connection. PC is connected to extreme through ethernet. Yesterday, the Time Warner tech (actually third party company) showed up to switch me from Windstream DSL to Time Warner cable internet. Unforunately, I was not here. What he did was disconnect my extreme completely and connected PC to cable modem and left all Apple products off of internet. He said it was my responsibility to connect third party routers, etc.
    I spent over four hours last night trying to successfully connect my extreme to the cable modem. No luck! Does anyone have a straight forward answer as to how this can happen?!? I can get it to where my airport is showing connected up to isp on imac, but it then fails with the internet. the ip address it shows is 169... When I check my ip address to the cable modem when directly hooked up through PC, it says it is 76...
    At this point, I am totally lost and ready to just give up! Any help would be appreciated!!
    Thanks!!

    power down the network and the modem. connect modem to the extreme wan port. connect pc to ethernet lan port. power modem up first then the router. use Airport Utility to configure your network.

  • Airport express and time capsule config?

    I have an airport express for Wi-Fi internet and printing. I have purchased a time capsule as a back -up drive to work with time machine. Should I
    set it up seperately from the airport express or
    replace airport express with time capsule ?
    What's the best config and can I retqin existing netwrok ID and password?
    Thanks for pointing me in right direction.

    Hi Yoreilly:
    i'm not sure just what setup is right for you.  and i'm sure the newer Airport Express is way improved over mine (got mine few yrs ago).  but my Airport express works as extension from your Time Cap Wi-Fi.  Airport does not put out wireless Wi-Fi signal on it's own. 
    1>  if yours can take your phone line & send out Wi-fi signal on it's own, then more power to you/ & you could sell back your Time Cap & just have a WD backup drive, or seagate external drive for less. 
    2>  otherwise, your airport express needs to connect to your Time Cap, to answer you #2. 
    3>  usually the application helps where you have dead spots in your house, or your location of Time Cap can't reach places in your house where U need Wi-Fi signal, or where you can't thread an ethernet cable out to your printer or device.
    not sure how you are setup with your wireless printer now.  but if your setup allows you to print by only using the Airport Exp, sure you can use the TimeCap separately as it's own Back-up drive.  the thing is it has Wi-fi capability that you wouldn't be using with that setup.
    hope this helps, & didn't confuse,
    m

  • How to extend wireless with airport express and time capsule

    So, I have a time capsule & because of the thick walls in my apartment, I can barely use my ipad and iphone at night in my bedroom! (my macbookPRO stays at 3 bars however!)
    I bought an airport express thinking I could plug it closer to or inside my bedroom to boost the signal - but it doesn't seem to work that way - any tips on how to set this up?
    TWO ADDITIONAL Qs:
    Does connecting directly to my time capsule (which i'm assuming i'd need another ethernet cable) help with the boost? (then negates the other great uses for the airport express it seems)
    Isn't there a way to do the boost with the express wirelessly? I'd really love to get wireless speakers, use airplay AND be able to use my devices just two rooms away ....   HELP!
    thanks so much (when did apple phone support start to be closed on Sundays?)
    cheers.

    Suggest that you check your setup again to make sure that the settings are correct on both the Time Capsule and AirPort Express.
    Open AirPort Utility, select the Time Capsule and click Manual Setup
    Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
    Make sure that a check mark is entered next to "Allow this network to be extended".( If the box is not checked, the Time Capsule will not extend to the AirPort Express)
    Click Update to save your settings and close AirPort Utility
    Next, open AirPort Utility again, select the AirPort Express and click Manual Setup
    Click the Wireless tab
    Settings should look like this:
    Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network
    Wireless Network Name = Same name as the Time Capsule network
    Check mark entered next to "Allow wireless clients"
    Wireless Security = Same setting as the Time Capsule
    Wireless Password = Same password as the Time Capsule network
    Confirm Password
    Update to save settings and close AirPort Utility
    Locate the AirPort Express approximately half way between the Time Capsule and area that needs more wireless coverage. You may need to experiment on placement to find the best compomise.
    Post back on your results.

  • Printing completely broken on both airport express and time capsule

    Printing seems to be broken on both my old time capsul, generation one, and a new airport express.  Here's what happens.
    1.  Connect printer directly to the Mac and everything prints fine.
    2.  Reconnect printer to the Airport or timecapsule.  Delete all the printers.  Power cycle everything.  Add printer.  Print and it keeps trying to connect to the printer forever.
    It use to work and it may have been a recient firmware update that broke it.  Any help would be appreciated.  I've been through all of the support documents and still nothing.  The printer is an old Epson Stylus R280.  I'm running 10.9 with all the latest drivers and updates.

    If you want to run a N speeds, run a cable from Time Capsule to Airport Express, set Time Capsule as your primary router, and turn off DHCP on Airport Express. This will create two networks, your Express will have one SSID, and the Time Capsule another SSID. One G network and one N network. Don't include the express in your network, keep it separate from Time Capsule to avoid it from coming down to G speeds. Make sense?

  • Sharing an internet connection with Airport express and Time Capsule

    Hi, I have been happily using a cable modem and a Time Capsule for my internet connection and wireless network. We recently added solar panels to our roof and the system needs to be connected to the internet so it can be monitored remotely. Calling Comcast is an exercise in frustration, and the solar people don't seem to know exactly how to do it, so I'm trying this.
    We bought an Airport Express, thinking if it is connected with an ethernet cable to the solar system, it could somehow share the internet connection with the Time Capsule, or they could talk to each other. When I plug in the Airport Express, the only set-up option seems to be to set up a new network, which I don't think I want to do. Can anyone tell me how to set this up? Thank you!

    Hi, Under Water.
    You should configure the Express to "Join a wireless network" or to "Extend a wireless network". (Either one will work.)
    Connect your computer to your Express via Ethernet and open AirPort Utility. Press "Manual Setup" and authenticate if necessary.
    Go to the "Base Station" tab. Give the Express a name and password.
    Go to the "Wireless" tab. Set the Wireless mode to "Join a wireless network" or "Extend a wireless network." Enter the name of the wireless network created by your Time Capsule (or select it from the list). Check the box that says "Allow Ethernet clients" (if you're joining) or "Allow Wireless Clients" (if you're extending).
    Provide the appropriate security mode and password for the Time Capsule's network.
    Press "Update" and allow your Express to restart.
    Then you can plug the solar system into the Express's Ethernet port.

  • Airport Express with Time Warner DSL

    A friend just had her Time Warner DSL setup but she really wants wifi in her house. They want to charge her another $50 setup and then $10 more per month. They did say we could just setup our own network by plugging a router into the modem. Can I do this with an Airport Express or do I need to use an Extreme?
    And the router mode would be set to DHCP and NAT?

    Hello
    I am having similar issues setting up my Airport Express.
    I have the TWC Cable Modem with built in WIFI. All of that is working fine.
    I have connected my ethernet cable ( itested and it has a internet connection) to the WAN port on the AE and plugged it in. After a few moments the light flashes amber.
    When I run the Airport Utility from my Mac, it says "Examing..." and then says "An unexpected error occurred. Try again"
    I have tried many times, and even reset the AE using the button on the back.
    I am at a loss.
    Can you help me diagnose further or try an alternative method?
    thanks in advance.

  • Airport Express and Time Capsule

    Hi
    I am attempting to create the following setup and would like advice as to the best way to go about it:
    In my house I have a Time Capsule connected to an incoming internet connection (from a cable modem) creating a WiFi network
    I have a 'home office' at the end of the garden and have taken one ethernet output from the back of the TC and extended that to the office using a couple of TP Link Powerline adapters
    The intention is to connect an Airport Express in the office connected to the TP Link adapter to create a WiFi network for the office
    How should I set up the TC and AE to make this work? I have tried a few things using Airport Utility but no joy yet!
    Many thanks in advance
    PS Wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the AE discussion group so I have copied it there also.

    First, please verify that the powerline adapters are functioning correctly by temporarily turning off the wireless on a computer and moving it to the office. Connect the computer to the Ethernet cable attached to the powerline adapter at that location.
    See if you can get a good Internet connection that way. If you can, you know the powerline adapters are working correctly and the chances of an AirPort Express also working in the office improve.
    Post back to confirm and we will continue with a detailed step by step setup of the AirPort Express.

  • Extending wifi with airport express and time capsule

    Hi All
    I'm new to macs and moving over in a big way!
    I started with a time capsule and all was fine apart from the coverage in the house.
    It seemed easy to extend the wifi so purchased an AE 802.11n and extended the network.
    It does extend and I can connect to the internet but the network is now really really slow and the time capsule backup wont work.
    connection is :
    Ethernet modem - Airport express ( as its close to my audio equipment ) - extended WIFI conection via 802.11n.
    Any suggestions? why is it so slow?
    Im at 7.3.1 firmware on both AE and time capsule and the Macbook pro is at 10.5.3.
    Any suggestions?

    I've managed to change the 5gHz of ther Airport Express that's extending the network.
    As mentioned, main AE is on channel 48, and I now have the 2nd AE on channel 36 - which means my TV can now see the network. Also tested speed via my mavbook air on the same 5gHz network as it all seems OK (A while ago I spotted my Time Capsule was on the same channel 48 as main AE and throughput was abysmal! Bad enough to make me reset the TC to factory defaults and setup again - which is when the TC got channel 120).
    Anyway, the fix... I changed the 2nd AE to create a wireless network (instead of extend), and manually set the channel to 36. I then set it back to extend, and it seems to have kept channel 36.

  • Airport Express and Time capsule - using to stream music

    I just bought Time Capsule to replace my Airport Express. The wireless connection and internet hook-up work seamlessly. I was told, and read, that I can use my Airport Express to connect to my stereo and stream music from Itunes. I have followed the directions (which say you do not need a hook-up to the modem) and I get nothing but a flashing amber light. I've opened Airport Utility and it does not see the Airport Express. I cannot figure out how to make this connection and get it to work. Has anyone done this and if so how.
    Thanks in advance for the help.
    PS. The stereo equipment and the Airport Express are located about 20 feet from the Time Capsule. I get reception thru the house and my IPhone picks up the network without a problem. I've moved the Airport Express adjacent to the Time Capsule and still nothing but a blinking amber light. The Apple literature says this is possible, but I'm doubting it right now.

    Have you performed a Factory Default Reset so that the Express can be reconfigured?
    If not, pull the Express from power
    Hold in the reset button and keep holding it in as you plug the Express back in to power
    Release the reset button after 8-10 seconds
    If AirPort Utility is having trouble finding the Express, temporarily connect an ethernet cable from your computer to the Express. Open AirPort Utility again to see if that helps.
    For AirTunes, you will configure the Express to "Join" your wireless network. The guided setup should help with this.
    Please post back on your progress.

  • AirPort Extreme and Time Warner RoadRunner Service Issue

    I have Time Warner's RoadRunner Turbo Internet service, which promises a minimum bitrate of 15 Mbps for downloads and 1 Mbps for uploads. Recently, my measured throughput has crashed on uploads, to well below 100 Kbps (0.01 Mbps) while going through my AirPort Extreme over 100/1000Base-T cable (system 7.4.2). When I directly connect my Mac to the cable modem, I get a consistent 28 Mbps down and 1.7 Mbps up and a ping time of 20 ms. I've tried cycling power, soft resetting, and even hard resetting to factory settings, but nothing seems to fix this throughput issue. I'm going to try a cheap 3rd party router (D-Link or Linksys) to see if I can get my throughput back up, but is there something I'm missing on my setup? I have opened SSH, IMAP and Apple Remote Desktop through the AirPort Extreme, and have enabled Bonjour on it. I can't figure out why this change has happened so suddenly.

    power down the network and the modem. connect modem to the extreme wan port. connect pc to ethernet lan port. power modem up first then the router. use Airport Utility to configure your network.

  • Airport Express and Time Capsule problem

    We've had an AirPort express since 2006 that has always worked FINE for wireless printing and Airplay.  We just bought a new iMac and a TimeCapsule (2tb).  We replaced our netgear router with the TimeCapsule, and now we have problems.  First off, if the iMac goes to sleep when it wakes - although the connection to the Internet is intact - AirPort Utility will not be able to find any of the TWO devices from any computer in the house (MacBook, PC, and iMac).  Second, if we try AirPlay from iTunes we get this:
    And from there, everything again disappears from the AirPort Utility for a while........and then comes back and works fine.  Anyone know how to get rid of this hiccup?  sometimes it takes a while to come back, and we have to turn off one of the devices and turn it back on again.
    Thanks!

    So you replaced the netgear router with teh TimeCapsule, and configured the airport express to join the network correct?
    The iMac is connected to a LAN port on the TimeCapsule right?
    AirPlay works by first "finding," and then, establishing a secured communications link between the iTunes host and the TimeCapsule. Once this link has been established, it can then start the streaming process. Also periodically through the streaming, AirPlay checks to see if the link is still valid.

  • Airport Express and Time Capsule connection issues

    I have the following setup:
    - Airport Express set up as 'create a wifi network' with the exact same name and password as my main network from my BT router
    - Time Capsule setup to 'join existing network' which is the same name - obvioulsy! - as the other two.
    Everything worked OK until fairly recently. My MBP which usually is connected to the AE n/w accessed the TC via Time Machine OK, and my iMac backed up via TM to the TC OK as well.  Now, however, the TC (which is situated in range of both the AE and the main router) seems to connect sometimes to the (weaker) AE and sometimes to the (almost adjacent) main router.
    If it connects to the main router network, my iMac backups are OK, but if it connects to the AE network, then TM just fails with the usual 'backup disk cannot be found' even though it is clearly visible in Finder.
    Is there anyway of locking the TC into a particular network?

    OK, thanks for the information.
    Temporarily, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the AirPort Extreme to the Time Capsule's WAN port.
    Close AirPort Utility 6.1 on the Mac if it is open
    Start over by holding in the reset button on the back of the Time Capsule for 9-10 seconds, then allow 60 seconds for it to restart to a slow, blinking amber light
    Connect the Ethernet cable from the AirPort Extreme to the WAN port on the Time Capsule
    Click the AirPort icon at the top of the Mac's screen and wait a minute for the heading of New Apple Base Station to appear. Under that,  click on the Time Capsule.
    AirPort Utility will open automatically and take a minute to analyze the connection. After a minute, it will display a message that the network will be configured to "Extend".
    Enter a name for the Time Capsule and click Next
    AirPort Utility will take another minute to configure everything.  When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.
    You should now be able to connect to the Time Capsule wireless signal.

Maybe you are looking for