Do you have to set up AE inBridge mode with existing wireless modem router?

Question

Hi
I've just bought the AE and Apple TV. My plan was to basically use my existing Netgear wireless modem router for the internet only and set up the AE as the wireless router. I also bought the AE to boost the strength, print wirelessly and I thought it might work better with the Apple TV. The other things I use on my home network are ipad, iphone 4, HP DV6 Notebook, Toshiba Notebook and PS3.
I've plugged the Netgear into the AE with an Ethernet cable. I initially started with the "replace existing access point with AE", as I thought I was replacing the Netgear with the AE. This option left me with internet working and a blinking amber light on the AE.
I then did a hard reset and started again. I diabled the wireless on my old modem/router and chose the "create wireless network" option in airport utility. I think it worked because I have internet and a green light but to be honest I have no idea what I did. I know it's in bridge mode but only because I didn't know how to set up the other options.
Also, I've ended up with three networks out of this process. The default network for the AE (but it has one of those yellow error icons next to it in the available network list), the one I set up and a 5ghz of the one I set up. Neither the default network of the 5ghz network show up in the Internet and Networking control panel, which is where I delete them. I just thought this was odd.
What I'd like to know:
Do you have to set it up in bridge mode when you have an existing wireless modem/router?
If not, is there any benefit to setting the AE up as the router instead of using the Netgear?
If I create a new network should the default network still be showing up in my list of available networks or have I done something wrong?
If I have a 5ghz network, does that mean that the other network I created is only 2.4ghz or is it still dual band?
Considering the devices I have would it be beneficial for me to have a 5ghz network for certain devices only like the Apple TV?
As you can probably tell I have no idea what I am doing. I'm basically just clicking stuff and seeing if it works.
Any help/advice is much appreciated
Thanks
Jo

Answer 1

Hello Jo Sugden. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Do you have to set it up in bridge mode when you have an existing wireless modem/router?
You don't have to but, most likely, it will be the best configuration choice when you have the 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn) connected to your main Internet router by Ethernet. In this configuration, all NAT & DHCP services will continue to be provided by the Netgear router. This will allow all wired or wireless clients connected to the AEBSn to get their IP address (and be on the same subnet) from the Netgear ... and this would allow clients connected to either router to "see" each other.
If not, is there any benefit to setting the AE up as the router instead of using the Netgear?
If, for some reason, you wanted to create a separate subnet, configuring the AEBSn as a router would allow for this.
If I create a new network should the default network still be showing up in my list of available networks or have I done something wrong?
By default, your AEBSn will create two wireless networks with the same Network Name; one broadcasting in the 5 GHz band, and the other in the 2.4 GHz band. The default name for both of these will be Apple Network NNNNNN. You have the option, within the AirPort Utility, to change the names of each network.
When connected by Ethernet, and in bridge mode, it would be beneficial to name your AEBSn's networks the same as that provided by the Netgear. This would create what is called a "roaming" network ... where you literally can roam with a laptop from one router to the other and still be on the "same" network. This also is a way to extend the wireless range of the Netgear.
If I have a 5ghz network, does that mean that the other network I created is only 2.4ghz or is it still dual band?
As a minimum, you will have three wireless networks: one provided by the Netgear and two provided by the AEBSn. By giving them all the same Network Name, they will appear as one to any wireless client. However, they will all show up in a utility like iStumbler or AirRadar.
Considering the devices I have would it be beneficial for me to have a 5ghz network for certain devices only like the Apple TV?
Yes. Operating a wireless network in the 802.11n Radio Mode in the 5 GHz Radio Band offers the best potential bandwidth ... around 300+ Mbps. The only real drawback of the higher frequency band is that the signal strength drops off more rapidly with distance than in the lower frequency band. Also higher frequencies cannot penetrate objects (like walls) as well.
Ideally, you would want to place your Apple TV or other streaming devices in the same room as the 5 GHz network ... or connect them to the router by Ethernet.