Difference between the 'WDS' & 'Extend a wireless network' settings?

I bought a Time Capsule & an AirPort Express with the intention of using the AirPort Express to extend the wireless signal in my home. After reading up on it a little it looked like I needed to use the 2 devices in WDS mode.
I had trouble settings it up in WDS mode & ended up doing it without.I set the Time Capsule to ‘Create wirelss network’ under the Wireless settings in AirPort Utility & the AirPort Extreme to ‘Extend a wireless network’ & it seems fine.
I’m just wondering what the difference is between this & WDS mode? And would WDS be better than what I’ve set it to now? (Would it extend the range better than the current setting?)

"Extend a wireless network" is an option only among 802.11n devices. It is much easier to set up than WDS and is potentially faster in terms of throughput because of the differences between n and g.
It's not clear to me, however, that the throughput of an "extended" network is reduced less in terms of a percentage than is that of a network extended via WDS.

Similar Messages

Changing TimeCapsule from main WDS to create wireless network

My timecapsule is set up as main WDS unit, because I had an old Airport Express without 802.11n, so setting up WDS was the only way i could use the Airport express to extend the range of my network. I now have an airport express with 802.11.
How do i change the settings on the timecapusle to create a wireless network, instead of WDS, and then use the airport express 802.11n to extend it? Do i have to deletee the current settings? Do I change them? Do I set it up from scratch?

I would recommend that you start from scratch to set up both AirPort for the 802.11n version of WDS. The following are the basic step-by-step to do so. I would also recommend that you perform a "factory default" reset on both base stations to be sure they are in their "out-of-the-box" configuration. Note: This may not be necessary for the new AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) that you just got, but I would strongly recommend it for the Time Capsule. In addition, this reset will NOT affect anything that is already on the TC's internal or any external drives.
Dynamic WDS - Extending a Wireless Network Setup
If practical, place the base stations in near proximity to each other during the setup phase. Once done, move them to their desired locations.
Open AirPort Utility, and then, select the base station that will connect to the Internet.
Choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu, or double-click the base station to open the configuration in a separate window. Enter the base station password if necessary.
Click AirPort in the toolbar, and then, click Wireless.
Choose “Create a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then, select the “Allow this network to be extended” checkbox.
Next, select the base station that will extend this network, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu, or double-click the base station to open its configuration in a separate window. Enter the base station password if necessary.
Choose “Extend a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then, choose the network you want to extend from the Network Name pop-up menu.
Enter the base station network and base station password if necessary.
Click Update to update the base station with new network settings.
(ref: Pages 43-44 of Apple AirPort Networks.)
(ref: Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations)

Questions regarding extending a wireless network

Hi, I have three questions about extending my network.
1- Is the option "Create a wireless network" on a Time Capsule creating a second wireless network if I use the same name and exact same settings as the wireless network created by an Airport Extreme or just extend it?
2- If yes, why using the "Create a wireless network" option to extend a wireless network since there's an option to "Extend a wireless network"?
I've discovered something I don't understand while plugin my Time Capsule. I've set it up using the option "Extend a wireless network" and everything is fine, but if I plug an ethernet cable on my Time Capsule that is relied to my Airport Extreme router that creates the network, I loose all signal.
3- Why I loose all signal if I connect my Time Capsule to my Airport Extreme via ethernet while my Time Capsule is on "Extend a wireless network" option.
Thanks!

1- Is the option "Create a wireless network" on a Time Capsule creating a second wireless network if I use the same name and exact same settings as the wireless network created by an Airport Extreme or just extend it?
If you have the Time Capsule (TC) connected by Ethernet to another AirPort or non-AirPort router, then this setting will create a second wireless network. However, if both routers are configured for roaming, both of these wireless networks will perform as "one."
2- If yes, why using the "Create a wireless network" option to extend a wireless network since there's an option to "Extend a wireless network"?
The "Extend a wireless network" option is for when you want the connection between AirPort routers to be wireless. The AirPort that would be extended would have the option: "Allow this network to be extended" enabled as well. Please check out this Apple Support article for more details on configuring an extended network with two or more 802.11n AirPorts.
3- Why I loose all signal if I connect my Time Capsule to my Airport Extreme via ethernet while my Time Capsule is on "Extend a wireless network" option.
It's because you have your network mis-configured for what you are trying to do. Again, that is because this option is only relevant when two AirPorts are interconnected by wireless.

The Difference between Extending a Wireless network and WDS?

I have an Extreme (n) and an Express (n).
I want to make sure the signal is strong upstairs and share a printer (connected to the express) and use AirTunes. I also may add an external drive to the Extreme.
What's the difference between Extending a Wireless Network and using WDS? Will there be a speed difference?
Message was edited by: J. Christopher Edwards

I think you don't get it
If I have another draft N router that operates at 2.4G and I have only n devices I can still use WDS and it will connect using draft n in the 2.4G band.
If one g device connects to the network will go in mixed mode.
The AEBS will still report 130 Mbps for your n clients and 54 for your g clients.
If the other router is g only obviously you can't connect between the two router at n mode but still the AEBS will be in mixed mode and not in g. The Extreme will still report 130 Mbps for the connected n clients.
I can tell you that because I have actually implemented it am not taking off the documentation.
The same device if I try to use the "extend n network" does not even see the AEBS but will happily keep the n in the WDS mode and though the bandwidth is halved it is still more than g.
In any case enough for this!

Help me clarify: Difference between Joining and Extending Wireless Network

I've eventually figured out how to get my AirPort Express to allow my Mac Pro access to the internet Via Ethernet cable by joining an existing wireless network. What's the difference between that and extending it? By extending it I loose my ability to use the ethernet to connect to internet on my Mac Pro. Odd thing is though when I initially used AirPort Utility to set up my AirPort Express, I went through all the options to get it configured to access my existing network and I checked option to allow internet access through ethernet. All is well, but then I still don't have access to the internet through the ethernet and I noticed that the setting is on Extended. Just curious why it would give me the option to use the ethernet, set it on extended and not even work.

I've eventually figured out how to get my AirPort Express to allow my Mac Pro access to the internet Via Ethernet cable by joining an existing wireless network. What's the difference between that and extending it?
When "joining a network," the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) acts just like any other wireless client (laptop, desktop, printer, etc.) You would want to configure the AX to join a network when you only want to use it to share a USB printer and/or stream iTunes.
When "extending a network," the AX can perform as either a main, relay, or remote base station in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS). A WDS is primarily used to extend a network wirelessly.
By extending it I loose my ability to use the ethernet to connect to internet on my Mac Pro.
If the AX is configured as either a relay/remote base station in a WDS, you actually can use it's Ethernet port for Internet access. Of course, this relay/remote must be connected to a main base station, that itself, has Internet access.

What Is The Difference Between A Router Extender & A Bridge?

Since I was here, I just thought I'd ask what is the difference between a router extender like the RE 1000 and what is known as a bridge? Does one work better than the other? Is one better for one thing, like a wired DVD player, than the other?

The RE1000 can act as range extender as well as bridge where as the versatile Wireless Ethernet Bridge can make a wired Ethernet-enabled device a part of your wireless network.
If we talk abuot the functionality in the bridge mode, then in that case both will be same the only difference will be, WET610N will be getting DUAL frequency i.e. 2.4GHz and 5GHz from the wireless network if that is also a DUAL band.

Which airport is good to extend my wifi, what is the difference between the AirPort Extreme and the airport express base sstation

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/

What is the best way to extend a Wireless network?

Hi,
We have 3 devices,
1) Our Primary Network Router (which creates our office Network and has DHCP enabled).
2) We have and Airport Extreme, which is used to create our Wireless Network (THIS IS SET TO “Create Wireless Network”), it has DHCP Enabled, its DHCP IP Scheme is set to 192.168.2.x, where the IP Scheme of our Primary Network is set to 192.168.181.x.
3) We have an Airport Express that we are trying to use to EXTEND our Wireless Network.
The most important thing we are trying to accomplish is to isolate the Wireless Network from our Primary Network, so Wireless Clients can access the Internet, but CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Shared Network Volumes AVAILABLE ON THE PRIMARY NETWORK.
At the moment, the Wireless Clients can access the Internet and receive an IP in the range of 192.168.2.x from the DHCP Server in the Airport Extreme. That part of it is working, but the Wireless Clients can unfortunately still SEE and ACCESS the Network Volumes available on the Primary Network. WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE WANT!!
Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
Kalagan

Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
There is no way to do this. Any of the wireless clients of the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) can see any device connected to the AEBS's WAN port. Clients of a subnet can see anything on the supernet.
You could configure you network like this:
Internet-> (WAN) AEBS (LAN) -> Primary router
As long as the Primary router was providing DHCP/NAT the things on the LAN side of the Primary router would be hidden from the AEBS clients.
A better solution may be to have 2 completely separate networks OR invest in some type of network security firewall device to actively isolate your Primary network.
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
WDS is 802.11g's method of wirelessly extending a network.
"Extend wireless network" is 802.11n's method of wirelessly extending a network.
Neither of them require the AirPort Express (AX) to be cabled to the AEBS.

I purchased a new Time Capsule (2TB - 2013), and I would like to use my old Time Capsule to extend the range of my wireless network.

I purchased a new Time Capsule (2TB - 2013), and I would like to use my old Time Capsule to extend the range of my wireless network. I can't get them to communicate. Any ideas?

You need to use the airport utility on a computer.
If you use v6 utility it is fairly easy and straight forward.
The trick is to place the old TC in the same room as the new one.
Do a full factory reset and then you can just go through the utility to extend wireless network.
I did one post with all the pictures.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/24161378#24161378
If you have issues just ask.
Then you can place the old TC about half way between the new TC and the clients would want to connect.. the half way point is not distance but wireless signal levels.
You can pick that up by using the wireless diagnostics in a mac laptop and walking around to pick up the signals.
This is for extend wireless.. if you want roaming network it is entirely different. That means they are plugged together with ethernet.
Tell us if you mean roaming not wireless extend.

"Participate in WDS.." or "Extend a wireless network" ?

I've got two AEBS's, one is to be used as a main base station and the other is to be used as a remote base station. I aslo have an AXBS that will be used for Airtunes.
The main AEBS is connected to my dsl modem and is hardwired via ethernet to the 24" iMac. It also has a shared usb printer connected to it.
The remote AEBS is connected to an older iMac via ethernet cable, and also has a shared hard drive connected to it.
The AXBS is used only for Airtunes.
I also have a laptop running Windows XP that I can connect wirelessly to the network for internet access and Bonjour printing to the shared printer.
Currently, I have the network cobbled together by "creating a wireless network" with the main AEBS, and "extending a wireless network" with the remote. It is unclear to me whether I need to allow wireless clients for the remote.
Is this the best way to set up the components described above, or might it be better to set up a wireless distribution system (WDS).
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
-- MissyT

Thanks for the help Duane.
The AEBS operating as a "remote" is being used with a shared hard drive (which to my understanding is only capable by using an AEBS, rather than an Express). It is also being used to provide an older iMac (with no Airport card) the ability to connect to the internet wirelessly.
So you've pretty much answered my question regarding the use of WDS. I didn't know that WDS operates at "g" speeds, so it makes no sense for me to use to 802.11n devices at the slower 802.11g speed.
My only remaining question is whether I need to check the "Allow wireless clients" box under the Wireless tab in Airport Utility when setting up the so called remote AEBS. If I do not, I still seem to be able to connect to the shared hard drive with either computer -- the older iMac wired to the Extreme with the shared hard drive, as well as with the newer iMac that is wired to the other (main) Extreme.) This seems like a really dumb question but, what exactly does this "Allow wireless clients" checkbox do?
Thanks,
MissyT

How do I resolve error 10057 when trying to set up my airport express to extend the range of my wireless network

I have a Dell XPS running on Windows 7 and use an AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi to get wireless internet access for other laptops in the home. I want to connect an AirPort Express 802.11n into the network to wirelessly extend the range of my wireless network. I have installed the AirPort Utility but when I attempt to connect to the AirPort Express, it gives me an error code 10057 and says I should check the internet connection. I have tried resetting the TCP/IP settings on my PC but that did not fix the issue. The Airport Express is also flashing yellow rather than solid green. Has anyone found a fix for this issue?

This sounds as if you have an older AirPort Express that is no longer supported by the newer Mavericks operating system.
To check and see if that might be the case, locate the model number on the side of the AirPort Express. It will start with an "A" followed by four numbers. Hard to see in the faint print.....so you may need reading glasses or a magnifying class to see the model number clearly.
Model numbers A1084 and A1088 of the AirPort Express are no longer supported by AirPort Utility in Mavericks.
You will need to use a Mac running Leopard, Snow Leopard, or a PC to be able to administer the older AirPort Express.

What are the differences between the Time Capsule MC344LL/A and MD032LL/A, do both havethe same make of server grade HDD, also any changes in WiFi coverage and networking abilities?

What are the differences between the Time Capsule MC344LL/A and MD032LL/A, do both have the same make of server grade hard drive, also any changes in WiFi coverage or networking abilities? Thanks

Found this info regarding original question:
What are the differences between the Time Capsule MC344LL/A and MD032LL/A, do both have the same make of server grade hard drive, also any changes in WiFi coverage or networking abilities? Thanks
http://www.hardmac.com/articles/402/page1
http://www.applefritter.com/node/23907
Hope this helps -
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Whats the difference between implements and extends!??

Can an interface be extended or not??
If it can whats the difference between implements and extends??
Thank you!

Code Sample:
interface a implements aa{This is illegal. An interface cannot implement another interface. It can only extend another interface.
interface a extends aa{That's the way to do it. As already said above:
An interface can only extend another interface.
A class can extend another class.
A class can implement zero or more interfaces.
So, "implements" is only used for classes that implement interfaces. For the rest, "extends" is used.

Difference between the 5 ghz and the 2.4 ghz network on the Airport Extreme

Strenght signal-wise, is there a difference between the 5 ghz and the 2.4 ghz network on the Airport Extreme?
Is the 5 ghz network on the Airport Extreme the 802.11n signal that is supossed to have better speed and strenght than the 802.11g spec?
I am confused because I can not tell the difference in performance between both signal on my new A.E.

The laws of physics always dictate that in order to gain something....let's say speed....you have to give up something else.
In return for higher speed capabilities, 5 GHz signals are not as strong as 2.4 GHz signals, so they do not travel as far, or penetrate obstructions as well as 2.4 GHz signals.
If your Mac is in close proximity to the AirPort Extreme, it will probably connect to the 5 GHz band. If you take your Mac to the other end of the house, it will probably connect to the 2.4 GHz band. The point is, the Mac will choose the best signal quality and connect automatically based on its location in relation to the AirPort Extreme.
If you are curious to know which band the Mac is connecting to at an given time, hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the fan shaped AirPort icon and look for the Channel setting. You will see either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz displayed.

HT4262 What is the difference between a WDS Remote and WDS Relay?

I am just wondering what the difference between the two are?

A Remote basically extends the signal of the main base station.
The "Relay" relays the signal to a "Remote"...
The Relay will allow you to get the signal further out in conjuction with the Remote.
See this Apple doc:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Difference between the 'WDS' & 'Extend a wireless network' settings?

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