Bellsouth Router (DHCP)-- Airport Extreme (09) -- 2-Airport Express ('10)
I have a Bellsouth Router that is distributing a range of addresses via DHCP on a DSL connection to a network in a preschool with an the Airport Extreme connected to the router right next to it. In the room with the Airport Extreme is three Macs connected wirelessly. From the AEX the ethernet wire runs to the far end of the school where it connects to an Airport Express. In between is a pair of switches connecting an iMac and a Mac Mini. Off of one of the switches is connected another Airport Express.
The goal is wireless throughout, but I ran into some glitches and have not been able to configure the AEP's just yet.
Any quick tutorials on settings? I have the AEX set up in Bridge mode and I want the AEPs to extend the wired network wirelessly while the AEX continues to serve the wireless Macs in the office.
I'm pretty sure I can figure this out with time today, but time is precious so any assistance would be appreciated!
Thanks,
JoeL
Since the AirPort Express Base Stations (AX) will connect back to the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) by Ethernet, you will want to configure the AirPorts for a "roaming" network.
Setup all the AirPorts as a bridges.
Internet > Internet Connection > Connection Sharing: Off (Bridge Mode)
For each AirPort in the roaming network:
o Connect to the same subnet of the Ethernet network
o Provide a unique Base Station Name
o The Network Name should be identical
o If using security, use the same encryption type (WEP, WPA, etc.) and password.
o Make sure that the radio channel is set at least three channels apart from the next AirPort.
Similar Messages
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What is the difference between the AirPort Extreme and the airport express base station and which one can extend my wifi router.
With rare exceptions of a few older routers, neither one can extend a non-Apple router's network wirelessly - they are not designed that way - but you can extend the wireless network if the Extreme is hardwired to the router or you can connect wirelessly and join the network as an access point that will provide remote ethernet access but not produce or extend the wireless signal - here is a comparison of the Apple base stations - http://www.apple.com/wifi/
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Setting up Time Capsule, Airport Extreme, and old AP Express...
Question regarding setting up a wireless network in the home.
I currently have the following Apple wireless networking products:
Time Capsule - Model A1254
Airport Extreme - Latest model
Airport Express - Model A1084 (older model unit)
I also have a Verizon router with wireless capabilities.
I am trying to provide wireless coverage throughout my entire home. The Verizon router is in the basement, and I have the wireless portion turned off.
I have ethernet running to my office on the first floor from the Verizon router in the basement as well as ethernet running to the second floor. In my office I put the Time Capsule, while the Airport Extreme is on the second floor.
Since both the Time Capsule and the Airport Extreme have ethernet providing their internet connection, I am curious to know what is the best way to set them up to provide wireless support to laptops.
Should they both be configured with the same SSID but with different channels? Should they be configured with different SSIDs? What settings will provide the most seamless (Apple-like) experience? What will provide the best bandwidth?
Lastly, should I set up the Airport Express with WDS? Should I ditch it altogether since it bottlenecks the performance of the WDS main router?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Ivan+Should they both be configured with the same SSID but with different channels?+
Yes, if you want one "large" network. A laptop could "roam" around the house and automatically pick up the strongest signal.
No, if you want two separate wireless networks. In this case, you would need to switch networks depending on the location of your laptop in relation to the nearest router.
Make sure both the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme are configured with their Connection Sharing setting to "Off (Bridge Mode)".
The ethernet backbone on your network will provide for the best possible bandwidth...much better than if you try to extend using wireless only.
+should I set up the Airport Express with WDS?+
Ideally, you would set the AirPort Express up the same as the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme...using ethernet to the AirPort Express. WDS will kill your bandwidth on the wireless network, cutting it in half. If you can't connect the AirPort Express using ethernet, you will probably be much better off simply not using it. -
How do I extend my AirPort Extreme network using airport express
How do I extend my AirPort Extreme network using airport express
see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145 and other support articles
and/or
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4462789?start=0&tstart=0
and many other discussions on this forum about this topic. -
Creating a bridge with airport extreme (base) and airport express
i am having trouble creating a bridge with airport extreme (base) and airport express. i got the airport express to connect to my network. Airtunes sees it fine. i have an iMac (running Tiger) connected to the airport express via ethernet which i was hoping to get internet on (the iMac doesn't not have built in wireless and i had a spare airport express). now the airport express is no longer visible to the airport setup assistant on that iMac. but, like i mentioned, Airtunes is working fine, and the light is green.
i'm new to the wireless stuff. i am sure i just missed a step. how do i get the iMac to connect to the internet via my airport express bridging to my airport extreme wireless network?
your help is appreciated.You can do this with the equipment you have. Configure the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) to act as a WDS main base station and configure the AirPort Express (AX) to act as a WDS remote base station. That will allow you to use the Ethernet port on the AX.
Unfortunately WDS also causes the available wireless bandwidth to be cut in half. -
My iPAD can use the internet through my Airport Extreme, but the Airport Utility does not see the device so I can't set a guest password.
If your Mac is using the Lion operating system with recent updates, it will be necessary to download and install AirPort Utility 5.6 for Mac OS X Lion
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility 5.6
Select the AirPort Extreme and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab just below the row of icons
Click the Wireless Network Options button
Remove the check mark next to Create a closed network
Click Done, then click Update to save the new settings and allow 25-30 seconds for the AirPort Extreme to restart -
What is the difference between the airport extreme and the airport express?
What's the real difference between the airport extreme and the airport express except for the price and the size? Does one transmit with more range?
Range is about the same, maybe a bit better on the Extreme, which has better antennas.
The AirPort Exreme has Gigabit (1,000 Mpbs) Ethernet ports and the USB port will support a hard drive.
The Express has 10/100 (up to 100 Mpbs) Ethernet ports, and will not support a hard drive at the USB port.
The Express has audio capability for AirTunes while the Extreme does not.
If you don't need to connect a hard drive and don't need the faster Ethernet ports, the Express is a good value.
All the details here:
Compare Apple Wi-Fi base stations AirPort Express AirPort Extreme Time Capsule -
Using Airport Extreme with a Airport Time Capsule to update Blu-Ray player
I was wondering if it were possible to hook up a blu-ray player to a second Airport Extreme to update the player? I have a Time Capsule in my home office and a blu-ray on the other end of the house. The blu-ray needs updates. I am wondering if I can use an Airport Extreme as an "extension" wireless unit hooked up to my blu-ray player to have it connected to the net?
Thank you!
JohnWelcome to the discussions, John!
You have a few options to do what you want.
Perhaps you were thinking of the AirPort Express when you mentioned AirPort Extreme. The AirPort Express can be configured to "extend" the main wireless network created by the Time Capsule and the ethernet port will be "live" so that you could connect to your BluRay player via ethernet.
An AirPort Extreme would work as well, but you may not need the other extra ethernet ports on the Extreme and extra expense for features that you may not use.
I take it that running an ethernet cable to the BluRay player is not feasible in your current situation.
You may not have thought about the next option, which would make use of a pair ethernet powerline adapters. One device plugs into an AC socket at the head end and another plugs into AC at the BluRay end. The adapters use the wiring in your home to transmit the ethernet signal. You would run a short ethernet cable from one of the LAN ports on your AirPort Extreme to the adapter and do the same at the BluRay end.
This type of connection will almost always provide a faster signal than wireless, so you may want to check these out as an option. Best Buy will have several to choose from. -
I bought linksys EA3500 router. Its still in the box and before I open it I want to learn more about the apple airport router, is the apple going to work with my online games with ps3? I have iPad, 2 iPhones, apple tv and Mac mini. If the airport express or airport extreme is a lot better and will work for ps3 which one should I get?
Airport will work with PS3. From what you've stated, the Extreme is more than you need. Buy the Express.
-
Should I change the express to extrem? Will it have more better signal and range compair to express? Or are they same?
Although the AirPort Extreme should provide a "better signal" due to a different antenna design, there is no guarantee that it will. Most likely the building material in the floors/ceilings between the basement Express and where you want to gain Internet access from it on the third floor may present too much Wi-Fi interference to allow it.
I would first try to see if you have your Express in the best possible position by making Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) measurements from a laptop at each location that you want to access the Internet. Please check out the following AirPort User Tip for additional information. -
Failed upgrade to Airport Extreme N from Airport Extreme G
Hi,
I hope that someone can help.
I have got a new AEn base (firmware 7.2.1). I seem unable to get an IP address using DHCP from the cable modem - always get a self-assigned IP address in the 10.0.1 range. My previous set up used a AirportExpress (54Mbps g) with the ip address being picked up in identical way. With the new model the following stay blank: IP Address, and Router Address. If I disconnect the old AEg, and use the same settings manually I still cannot connect. Reconnecting old BS reconnects immediately.
Any help would be appreciated.sliderski wrote:
I have got a new AEn base (firmware 7.2.1). I seem unable to get an IP address using DHCP from the cable modem
Often a cable modem needs to be blanked before you can associate a new device/router/base station with it.
Power down the cable modem.
Wait 30 minutes (go and have a cup of tea or something).
Connect the cable modem to the WAN port of the Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS).
Switch on the cable modem.
Switch on the AEBS.
Wait five minutes.
Switch on the Mac.
Use the Airport Utility in the Utilities folder to configure the AEBS.
iFelix -
Airport Extreme (802.11n) & Airport Express (802.11g) single net by wire?
I just bought an Extreme-n to replace my ailing wifi router and wanted to use it with my existing Express-g to make a single wifi network so that I can have my 802.11n devices connect to the Extreme-n and the 802.11b/g devices connect to the Express-g using a shared wifi network. The tricky part is that I want the Express-g to be connected to the Extreme-n via Ethernet, not by relay, to get the best performance. This doesn't seem to be a standard configuration with WDS as it expects the Express-g to be a relay over-the-air, not by Ethernet. Is this possible, or do I have to set up separate wifi networks to do this? For either option, do I need to set up both the Express-g and the Extreme-n to be DHCP servers, or can I just rely on the Extreme-n to serve to both wifi networks?
In Apple's documentation and in threads in this discussion area you will find references to "dual band" networks. That is what you want to set up.
Each base station will create a separate wireless network.
The AirPort Express (AX) will connect via Ethernet to one of the LAN ports on the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS).
The AX will be configured to create a wireless network and to act as a bridge (not sharing a single IP address).
All clients of the AX and AEBS will get IP addresses from the AEBS. -
Extending Airport Extreme network with Airport Express using WDS
I have been having some trouble using WDS between an Airport Extreme and Express, with the Extreme acting as the internet router in the network.
Both devices have been updated with the lastest firmware.
I am using Airport Utility 5.5.1
*Airport Extreme Configuration*
*Wireless Tab*
Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network
Allow Network to be extended: Checked
Radio Mode: Auto
Security: WPA/WPA2 Personal
Channel Selection: Manual (Same as my Express)
*WDS Tab*
WDS Mode: WDS Main
Allow Wireless Clients: Checked
WDS Remotes: (MAC of my Airport Express)
*Airport Express Configuration*
*Wireless Tab*
Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network
Channel: (Same as my Extreme)
Network Name: (my network name)
Wireless Security: WPA/WPA2 Personal
Allow this network to be extended: unchecked
Radio Mode: 802.11n (802.11 b/g compatible)
*WDS Tab*
WDS Mode: WDS Remote
Allow Wireless Clients: checked
WDS Main: MAC of my Airport Extreme
I think that covers the pertinent stuff. If there's anything else that might be useful, please just say so.
So, the Extreme is green-lit, working fine. Wireless clients can connect to it just fine. On the Wireless Clients page the MAC of my Express is showing up, with a type of WDS listed. It does not, however, show up under the DHCP clients section.
The Express is yellow-lit. Sometimes after a setting change it goes green for a minute or so, then back to yellow, reporting a WDS Error ("the AirPort Wireless device is set up as part of a WDS network, but no other AirPort wireless devices were found").
The Airport Express is ending up with an ip address of 169.254.49.198 (an automatic private). It seems it's not getting an ip from the Extreme's DHCP.
Do I have some sort of authentication issue here? Honestly I'm totally baffled.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Would the routers' logs be of any help?
Thanks
Message was edited by: XanielWait, just did a bit more reading. Am I correct in assuming now that the "Extend a network" option will function as a wireless repeater, with no ethernet connection to the main router required
Yes. This will provide much better wireless performance...and...its much easier to configure.
On your AirPort Extreme, open AirPort Utility - click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Make sure there is a check mark next to "Allow this network to be extended"
Update to save settings
On the AirPort Express, open AirPort Utility - click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab
Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network (hold down the option key when you click on the selection box if you do not see this setting)
Wireless Network Name = Click on the selection box and name of your AirPort Extreme network should appear
Check mark next to Allow wireless clients
Wireless Security = Exact same setting as the AirPort Extreme network
Wireless Password = Same password as the AirPort Extreme network
Confirm Password
Update to save changes
A good starting location for the Express is a point that is about 1/2 to 2/3 the distance from your AirPort Extreme to the area that needs more coverage.
The ethernet port on the Express is also enabled, so you can connect an ethernet device if needed. Post back to let us know how things are working. -
Slow WiFi transmission and low signal power (Airport Extreme extended by Airport Express)
I am experiencing slow wifi transmission between my notebooks and my base stations and I am hoping someone can help me fix it.
My wifi configuration is the following:
1 Airport Extreme base station (acting as router, wifi "creator" and DHCP server)
1 Airport Express base station (connected to Airport Extreme with a LAN cable, set up to extend wireless network)
1 Lenovo T410 notebook with Intel Centrino Ultimate N-6300 AGN WiFi antenna (I will call this one "Lenovo"), connected to wireless network, running Windows 7
1 MacBook Pro purchased in 2009 (I will call this one "Mac"), connected to wireless network, running Mac OS X Lion
1 QNAP T209-II NAS, connected to Airport Extreme via UTP cable
Airport Extreme (AXTRM) is creating a 802.11n wireless network with WPA2+PSK security with MAC address filtering. The other base station, Airport Express (AXPRS) is connected to AXTRM via a UTP cable. AXPRS is set to extend my wireless network.
My first problem is low signal power. My appartment is 90m2 in size and is in one floor. It is a new flat with high ceiling and modern layout, meaning little walls, big rooms and wide corridors. Still my notebooks, iPhones and iPad can barely reach AXTRM when I am on the other side of the flat. This was the reason why I purchased AXPRS and placed it in the middle of the appartment. My notebooks are placed just on the other side of the AXPRS's wall (less than 1 meter of distance and a simple 10cm brick wall in between), yet signal strength is only at about 80% (measured on my Lenovo using Lenovo Access Connections tool).
My first question is: Is it normal that in a 90m2 flat with not unusual obstacles, I need 2 base stations and even then have a rather poor reception?
My second problem is even more disturbing. I think I have catastrophic transfer speeds via wLAN. It takes over 1 hour to transfer cca. 1GB of files (average size 8MB) from my Lenovo or Mac to my QNAP. My Lenovo is showing about 250kb/s transfer rate when copying files. At the same time, Windows 7 show connection speed 144Mbps. This mean about 18MB/s. I know these numbers are theoretical and that actual transfer speeds are lower. But hey, 72 times lower? Furthermore, if I copy files from my Mac and my Lenovo at the same time, transfer speed is slightly lower. On the other hand, if I connect my notebooks to AXTRM via LAN cable and copy files to QNAP, transfer speeds are a few megabytes per second.
To make things even more confusing for me: if I transfer files from the internet, I get download speed at about 700kb/s, which is quite in line with my internet download speed. I don't understand why transfer speeds within my local network are so much lower.
Therefore, my second question is: How to set up my base stations and my routers to get a decent wifi connection?
I hope someone could help me. If you need any more information, just ask. Thanks!From my experience of setting up the Airport WiFi for family members and friends, I have learnt the following :-
1. Airport Express is not as good as Airport Extreme, for being as extender, the difference can be quite a lot.
2. There is always a dead cornor (bad reception) in a house
3. Even moving the Airport Extreme / AE a few inches, the performance can be improved quite significant
4. If possible, always choose 5G 802.11n than 2.4G, unless there are many thick walls.
My suggestion will be as follows :
1. Moving out the AEBS out of a closet, is a good idea
2. Always try to locate the AEBS in the centre of a area, instead of the two sides
3. Try to test the AEBS without an extender, and find the best location area (don't place on the floor, neither above 6 feet height)
4. After finding a best location, set the extender closer to the AEBS, and then moving apart from it (check the performance after every move), it is better that both devices can face each other.
5. I can't tell you the reason, and some people may not agree with me, the new 2013 Airport Exteme performance is better and may be is a good idea to replace your Airport Express, and use it to connect with your router, and old AEBS as an extender
6. Some Powerlinks (in case you can't use a wired ethernet connection between the two devices) work and some don't work with Apple Airport products, therefore, if possible, have an option to return them to the shop if they do not match
Good luck -
Solution to Airport Extreme Base Station + Airport Express networking probs
I've been investigating this for 3 straight days after inadvertently destabilizing my network. There are tons of posts discussing a variety of issues, all of which seem related. My goal here is to provide links to other relevant posts and explain what I ended up doing to get things to work.
First, the background. You can skip below to SOLUTION if you don't really care... However, I highly recommend you take the time to read everything, as you'll get other useful information in the BACKGROUND section. I'm guessing many of you have similar, related problems so BACKGROUND might help provide context (and solutions) to some things you are seeing...
MY SETUP:
AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) of type b/g (round one, not square one), connects to the cable modem, and creates a WDS network that is then shared across two standard AirPort Express (AEX) units (100megabit, not the gigabit ones). One AEX serves as a relay unit that accepts clients, the other serves as a remote unit that also accepts clients. The intent is to show a single network throughout the house and let users log on to one network and move between networking units without having to switch from network to network.
I have a variety of networked devices throughout the house all running on the same network (2 Mac Pros, a Powerbook G4, a Mac Mini, an Apple TV, a Windows XP laptop, two iPhones, two wifi printers, and a 5-unit Sonos system, plus the AEBS and two AEXs). Yeah, I'm a geek.
The Mac Pros are both running 10.4.11, and the Powerbook is running 10.5.2.
AEBS is running firmware 5.7
AEXs are running firmware 6.3
All Macs were initially accessing configs via the recently released AirPort Utility 5.3.1. More on that later.
BACKGROUND:
I've had this network setup working for about a year now. Recently, I've been having poor network performance problems and came to the conclusion it was a LAN problem (ie. problem with my home network, as opposed to with my ISP). Upon initial investigation, I began by looking at my networking logs (via AirPort Utility 5.3.1). You get to those by selecting the unit in question, choosing "Manual Configuration", the selecting the "Advanced" tab up top with the "Logging and SNMP" sub-tab. Click the "Logs and Statistics" button therein for log details from that unit.
The first thing I noticed was "Administrative access denied to ff80::xxxxxxxxx" messages - a lot of them. I didn't recognize the ff80:: address in question, and so became concerned it was someone outside the network trying to hack one (or all) of the AEBS/AEX units. You can see threads discussing that investigation here:
"Hack or panic?" - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1438486
"Administrative access denied" - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1438865
Long and short of it is that the recent AirPort Utility 5.3.1 release (current as of March 13) seems to have problems (keychain) when attempting to access the AEBS and AEX units. The "Administrative access denied" logs actually refer to the client machine you are using when you try to read the logs. The ff80::xxxxxx address is simply the IPv6 address for the machine you are using; if you turn off IPv6 on your client machine, that address should switch over to begin showing a regular IP address instead (something like 10.0.1.xxx), which makes it easier to associate the IP to the machine. I explain how to deactivate IPv6 on both Tiger (10.4.x) and Leopard (1.5.x) here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6814978#6814978
Anyway, in the process of investigating the "Administrative access denied" problem, I began tinkering with my AEX settings. Specifically, I ended up performing a hard factory reset (unplug unit, plug back in while holding down the little button with paper click/pen for ~10-15 seconds until light flashes green 4x then reverts to amber/yellow/orange). I began reconfiguring my entire WDS network using the newly updated AirPort Utility 5.3.1, and that's when the trouble started.
(If you are having problems seeing either your AirPort Extreme Base Station or AirPort Express, read this:)
In short, each time I thought I had properly configured things and then confirmed settings (kicking off a reboot on the AEX unit) the unit would restart with new settings but not properly join the WDS and not show up in the AirPort Utility list of units. More specifically, I would start with a "wiped" AEX and see both the AEBS and the AEX in my AirPort Utility list, but upon confirm/reboot the AEX would disappear and the AEBS would remain. However, that's not 100% correct. It seems that sometimes I would end up with the AEX and NOT the AEBS. Because both the AEX and AEBS were theoretically "hosting" the same network name (remember, WDS shares the network name across units) my auto-login feature for my client computer's wifi seemed to "jump on" whichever unit it first saw hosting the default network name for my house. In other words, it seems what was really happening was that I was ending up with two separate networks in my house, both with the same name but not talking to each other (as opposed to two units sharing the same network name and internet connection). The AEX would continue to blink orange/amber/yellow (whichever color it is to your eyes ) because it could not grab an internet connection -- and if I was on the network through that AEX unit I would not get internet. But if i was connected through the AEBS I would continue to have internet access. As far as my client computer (my Mac Pro) was concerned, I was on the home wifi network even if I was on the AEX rather than the AEBS -- it would show the home wifi network name as the name of the network it had connected to. But when I opened the AirPort Utility 5.3.1 I would see only the AEX (if I was connected through it) or the AEBS (if connected through it) -- a clear indication that the units were not truly sharing the same network.
I tried rebooting and reconfiguring the AEBS and AEX about 50 times (literally). I even tracked down an older version of the AirPort Utility 5.2.1 via this thread (see Tesserax post):
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1067565
One interesting thing re: 5.2.1 is that the "Administrative access denied" errors summarized above disappeared. As explained in a post reference above, the going theory is that this a permissions/keychain problem new and unique to AirPort Utility 5.3.1. However, even though 5.2.1 does have a slightly different interface with different settings, I still couldn't get the WDS to work.
EVENTUALLY, I came across this post:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1422527
MuaddibOfArrakis walks through setting up a WDS from scratch, and the workflow is different than what is possible with either AirPort Utility 5.3.1 or 5.2.1. He's doing it with the old version of AirPort Admin Utility, which I fortunately saved a copy of many moons ago when I had somewhat-related problems with my WDS (since forgotten). In fact, it's a lot easier. What's nice about this older app is that it literally does the heavy lifting of "connecting" the AEBS and AEX units during the configuration -- it reboots both at the same time as the config is happening, and lets you choose from a list of available units to "add" to your WDS network. In short, it's a FAR SUPERIOR workflow even though some of the GUI isn't as intuitive as the newer AirPort Utilities that were designed to replace it.
SOLUTION:
If still have a copy of the AirPort Admin Utility follow the instructions from MuaddibOfArrakis here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1422527
If not, try setting up your WDS network using AirPort Utility (hereafter AU), with these configs (take from my now-working network), as viewed through AirPort Utility 5.3.1.
I. Configure your AEBS.
Select the AEBS from AU, and choose "Manual Setup"
1. Under the AirPort tab up top:
a. Under "Base Station" sub-tab:
i.) assign a name for that specific unit, so you can later identify the specific unit from the list of units -- this is the name that will show up beside the unit in the AU list of configurable units. You can name it something like "kitchen", or "office". I have mine numbered, so XXXXXv1, XXXXXv2 etc where the XXXXX is the name of the shared network and the numbers help me tell the units apart. Just be sure you name each uniquely, and if you have several you might write the name on the unit itself.
ii.) pick a password for logging into that unit. This is different from the network password, its a security check to get in and change the configs on this unit later. Be sure to remember it in your keychain for the sake of simplicity, and write it down somewhere secure.
iii.) if you choose to set time automatically, pick a location that you will use consistently across all your units. I use time.apple.com.
iv.) uncheck "Allow configuration over Ethernet WAN port" unless you want to be able to remotely mess with settings -- which you almost certainly do not need to do.
v.) I left the "Options" button alone - no settings there.
b. Under the "Wireless" sub-tab:
i.) Wireless Mode: "Participate in a WDS network"
ii.) Network Name: this will be the name of your wifi network shared by all units, so be sure to remember what you pick. If you are already connected to this AEBS via wifi while you are making these changes, then you can use the same wifi name you already have set up -- you don't have to change it. Note that if you DO change it, after reboot your will LOSE connection to the network and have to reset your wifi settings on your client machine to match the new network/password in order to be able to access the network.
iii.) pick a Radio Mode. I'm using b/g compatible. You'll want to do the same, unless you are on the new gigabit AEX. I'm pretty sure about this, but not 100% -- others post if I'm wrong.
iv.) choose a Channel. This can be a more complicated procedure, but for now just pick something consistent across all your units. If you get everything working and find that you're having intermittent network problems, you could later try changing your Channel -- it can pick up interference from phones, microwaves, etc and changing it can help.
v.) I have wireless security set to WPA/WPA2 Personal.
vi.) Wireless Password is the password for access to your wifi network (not your unit itself). If you are connecting to your AEBS via wifi while doing this config, then you can use the same password you have already set up. Pick a good one unless you want other folks jumping on your wifi and stealing your bandwidth and/or credit card numbers . Remember it in your keychain and write it down someplace secure, because you'll need it for the other units too. As noted above, note that if you DO change it, after reboot your will LOSE connection to the network and have to reset your wifi settings on your client machine to match the new network/password in order to be able to access the network.
vii.) Click the "Wireless Options" button. I have my multicast rate set to 2mbps, transmit at 100%, timeout at 1 hour, and i have checked the "Create a closed network". This last step keeps your network from advertising itself to the outside world. Users can only find it by explicitly typing the network name into their wifi settings (e.g. AirPort -> Other... then enter Network Name, Security and Password). I leave interference robustness unchecked.
c. Under the "WDS" sub-tab:
i.) the AEBS should have it's WDS Mode set to "WDS main".
ii.) Check the "allow wireless clients" box on the AEBS; this lets you connect client machines to it directly too.
iii.) hit the plus button to add the Remote system (AEX). There are two types of configs for the AEX's - "remote" and "relay". Assuming you have 3 units like me (2 AEX and 1 AEBS) the key question is whether you will place each AEX within direct reach of the AEBS (remotes), or if you will have one AEX in the middle connecting to an AEBS on one side and an AEX on the other -- where the furthest AEX is out of reach from the AEBS (remote) and connects only to the AEX in the middle (relay). I'm using a relay setup. If you are using relay, you can still set up the AEX relay to serve client computers too -- it doesnt have to JUST relay. More on that later. For now, you want to add only AEX units that will talk DIRECTLY to the AEBS. So if you have a setup like mine, just add one (the one in the middle - the relay). If you have two remotes connecting directly to the AEBS, you will add them both here. When you hit the '+' button it will ask for both an ID and description. For description I use the name I'm assigning to each unique unit (as above, "kitchen" or XXXXXv1 or whatever you use). For AirPort ID, use the number listed on the AEX unit itself (not the number for "Ethernet", also on the AEX unit).
d. Under the "Access" sub-tab:
i.) I have it set to "Not Enabled". I'd suggest you start that way too, and you can go change it later if you get everything working correctly.
2. Under the "Internet" tab up top:
a. Under the "Internet Connection" sub-tab:
i.) Connect Using: Ethernet
ii.) Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
iii.) Ethernet WAN Port: Automatic (Default)
iv.) Connection Sharing: Share a public IP address
b. Under the "DHCP" sub-tab:
i.) DHCP Beginning Address: 10.0 . 1 . 2
ii.) DHCP Ending Address: 10.0.1.200
DHCP Lease: 4 hours
c. Under the "NAT" sub-tab:
i.) nothing should be checked;
ii.) nothing under Port Mappings either
3. Under the "Printers and Advanced" tabs up top:
Nothing special needs to be configured there.
THAT'S IT.
=============
I. Configure your AEX(s)
Select the AEX from AU, and choose "Manual Setup"
1. Under the "AirPort" tab up top:
a. Under "Base Station" sub-tab:
i.) pick a unique name for this unit, same logic as for AEBS
ii.) pick a password specific for accessing this unit, same logic as for AEBS
iii.) Set time automatically: be sure to use the same settings used on your AEBS
iv.) Options: no need to set any
b. Under "Wireless" sub-tab:
i.) Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network
ii.) Network Name: same name used for AEBS, this is the name of your wifi network
iii.) Channel: same as AEBS
iv.) All settings here (those above, plus Security and Password & in Options button) should be the same as for AEBS settings on this tab
c. Under the "WDS" sub-tab:
...if AEX is "in the middle" (as described above):
i.) WDS Mode: WDS relay
ii.) Allow wireless clients: check (unless you only want to bridge between the edges without letting folks connect on this AEX in the middle)
iii.) WDS Main: set to the AirPort ID (aka MAC address) for the AEBS. You can find it on the bottom of the AEBS, either labeled as such or at the bottom beside the logo of a wireless signal (square logo, with semi-circles mimicing a radio signal).
iv.) WDS Remotes: click the '+' to add any AEX's that will connect to this relay rather than directly to the AEBS. Same deal as above, use the name in the description and use the AirPort ID from the side of the AEX (not the Ethernet ID).
.....if AEX is connecting to a relay ("on the end", as above) or if there is no relay and AEX connects directly to the AEBS:
i.) WDS Model: WDS remote
ii.) Allow wireless clients: checked
iii.) WDS Main: if connected to a relay, use the AirPort ID of the relay AEX. If connected to the AEBS directly, use the AirPort ID of the AEBS
d. Under the "Access" sub-tab:
i.) MAC Address Access Control: Not Enabled (for now, you can change later)
2. Under the "Internet" tab up top:
a. Under the "Internet Connection" sub-tab:
i.) Connect Using: AirPort (WDS) -- should be selected and gray'ed out.
ii.) Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
iii.) Ethernet WAN Port: Automatic (Default)
iv.) Connection Sharing: Off (Bridge Mode)
3. Under the Music, Printers and Advanced tabs up top:
Nothing special needs to be configured there. You can worry about AirTunes settings later...
That should be it. I'd recommend setting up the AEBS first, then the relay (if applicable), then the remotes. Initially, you can bring each unit in the same room with you for configuring. After configured and restarted the AEX should blink then turn solid green. If it turns green you should be good to go.
HOPE THIS HELPS. As noted above, I did not config through AirPort Utility 5.3.1 so I haven't tested this procedure through that app. However, after getting my network to work I went back and transposed all settings into this post to help others. Please provide feedback on whether or not this is working, so we can collectively try to move towards a setup procedure that works for everyone....
Good luck!
Message was edited by: b.byrdI'm not convinced that the problem lies in Airport Utility. This same thing was happening to me, nearly exactly as you describe it. The thing is that with me, the problems clearly started when I updated the firmware in my Airport Express (n). That's when all the wacky stuff started happening. Sometimes it would show up in AU, sometimes it didn't and even if it didn't, I could still access the internet through it.
But as you said, the problems got really bad when another Express (b/g) was put on the network with it. Even when it did work, the (b/g) would make it impossibly slow.
You know more about this than me, and clearly have more patience if you've restarted the network fifty times. I gave up at about ten.
In any case, your solution is more of a work around and if you're still having that slow connection problem, I'm not sure you've got it. But thanks for your reporting of this. At least I know I'm not crazy.
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