'Join a wireless network' - Ethernet ports disabled?

Why when the TC 'joins' a wireless network, does it not share the network connection via the ethernet ports as any good wireless router would do?
SH

What about the 'Extend a wireless network' option? I can't try this because I believe it requires another N enabled device, which I don't currently have.
Yes, that is correct, you would need another 802.11n AirPort base station to have this feature work.
Why when it joins a network can it not act as a bridge or a gaming adapter to allow at least one of it's ethernet ports usable?
Because that is the way is was designed. If you want to have it act as a bridge, you would need to connect it directly, using an Ethernet cable, to an existing router.

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Does connecting a TC wirelessly via "join a wireless network" disable the Ethernet ports?

I've been trying to connect my TC wireless to a D-Link router/cable modem provided by Virgin Media. I have successfully enabled the TC to join my wireless network, and can successfully print from my USB printer, and back up my laptop using Time Machine.
However, when I connected my network laser printer to an Ethernet port on the TC, I could not print to it, or even see it on the network. (Naturally, it worked fine connected to the D-Link, or I would not be posting...)
To test my theory, we connected the TC to the D-Link by wire instead. Voila, we can print to the network printer even while it's connected to the TC.
So, can anyone confirm that connecting a TC wirelessly via "join a wireless network" disables the Ethernet ports?
If so, can anyone explain why a £300+ device would do something so daft?
Cheers,
Aegrem

So, can anyone confirm that connecting a TC wirelessly via "join a wireless network" disables the Ethernet ports?
When the TC is configured to "join a wireless network", it becomes a wireless client of the network and does not perform any routing functions, so the etherent ports are not enabled in this type of configuration.
IF...you were using an Apple"n" router as your main base station or router, you could configure the TC to "extend a wireless network", providing more wireless coverage and also enablling the ethernet ports. But, the "extend" feature will only work among Apple devices. Or more correctly, we're not aware of any other devices from any other manufacturers that are compatible with this feature.

Ethernet ports disabled when joining TC to a wireless network.

Is this still the case? I'm hoping that this has been changed and bridge mode works as it does on the Airport express.

Is this still the case?
Yes
The AirPort Express 802.11n is the only Apple device that will allow the Ethernet port to be enabled when it is configured to "Join a wireless network".

I have a mid-2010 iMac and just purchased a 2TB TC, can't join existing wireless network with AC standard so attached to iMac via ethernet with TC wifi turned off. How do i access TC now? not showing up in disk utility or on desktop. working fine with TM

I have a mid-2010 iMac and just purchased a 2TB TC, I just found out that it can't join existing wireless network with new AC standard so attached to iMac via ethernet with TC's wifi turned off. How do i access TC now? not showing up in disk utility or on desktop. It is working fine with TM. My cheeper seagate drives etc kept crashing, so i didnt trust cheeper back up options anymore. Connected those drives to TM via firewire and could see the drives and access them.
Also, I didn't want to bridge TC with my new fios router that I paid 100 dollars for, to get N speed and also paying 10 dollars more a month for fast speed. I heard that bridging slows down everything and then there can be port issues with mail etc. I connect to the internet via airport only and it is pretty fast. Getting over 50mbs downloads and over 30mbs uploads. Plus everything in my home it connected to my fios router, airport express for music streaming, two apple tvs, vuezone camer system. I really didn't want to monkey around too much with my system. But are there other options to connect the new TC. Can't find info anywhere for this and called apple who gave me the info above. after hanging up, i see that i cant access my TC and I am wondering if i would have to reset it to turn wifi on again to make changes to the drive, turn off blinking light or repair it in disk utility if it should become corrupted.
For other with similar issues i did solve some other problems: when i connected it to my ethernet port on my iMac wifi stopped working. Found that I had to turn off the ethernet in the system>network screen, but then TM didn't see the TC so i restarted after changes and then it saw it.
Now a rant. I can't believe in this wireless age that Apple would make a product that cant join a wireless net work. The apple rep said i could return it and look for the previous TC that would join an existing wireless network. Are we going backwards?
Thanks!
lennydas

Ok... it is getting a bit clearer but there are still some questions.
I connect to the internet via airport only and it is pretty fast.
I was assuming airport in this statement in your first post meant the TC or the Express.. but I now realise we are still in the mass confusion stage where apple calls everything wireless an airport. So what you mean is the airport internal card of the computer??
Also, I didn't want to bridge TC with my new fios router that I paid 100 dollars for, to get N speed and also paying 10 dollars more a month for fast speed. I heard that bridging slows down everything and then there can be port issues with mail etc.
I think this is mistaken.
Putting the TC in bridge mode plugged into your FIOS will not slow the network.. nor will it cause mail or port issues.. in bridge the TC is just a fancy WAP and switch plus the network hard drive.
If the computer is close it will be faster than the FIOS.
You can run both wireless networks with different names.. so it is clear which is which. But you can also setup roaming so the computers themselves pick which is the best wireless.
I tried extending the wireless net work and tried joining wireless network, but the TC kept crashing and I had to keep resetting the TC. the Apple support person said these, extend wireless network and joint wireless network, are no longer a connection option with the new TC because of the new AC protocol.
Thanks again!
You cannot extend to a non-apple wireless router.
You cannot use join a wireless network because when you do the ethernet ports will be cut off.
But that has not changed.. I don't think Apple support is correct.. there has been no change with the AC model.. it is simply a fact that apple routers do not work in join wireless mode other than as a dumb client. The same applies to AC as to the earlier version.. but I have asked another person to check this.
Join in the express is the only apple router that still allows an ethernet connection.
For now you best use of the TC is bridged to the FIOS. Wireless you can sort out between several options.

How can I use an Airport Express to join my wireless network and provide an internet signal to my Power Mac g5 via an ethernet cable?

I have a power mac g5 that does not have a wireless card, and connects to the internet via ethernet cable.
I want to know how to set up an airport express so that it joins my wireless home network and provides the G5 with an internet signal.
This via an ethernet cable that is plugged into the airport express and then into the ethernet port on the g5.
Please advise as I have configured the airport express in every way possible, the green light is on and when I plug the ethernet cable into the G5 my network cofigurations shows nothing and says that the ethernet cable is not plugged in (It is).
I get an internet signal if the ethernet cable is plugged directly into my wireless router, so the ethernet port works.
Please assist. Thanks.

Two requirements that must be met to do what you want.......
1) An AirPort Express 802.11n must be used. Check the Model No on the label on the side of the Express. It needs to be A1264. Any other model number will not do what you want.
2) The Express must be configured to "Join a wireless network" and the option to enable Ethernet Clients must be checked.
Open AirPort Utility and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
The box to "Allow Ethernet Clients" must be checked
Please check to verify that your AirPort Express meets both requirements

Can the WAN port be used as LAN when AirPort Express (2nd Generation) is setup to join a wireless network?

Can the WAN port be used as LAN when AirPort Express (2nd Generation) is setup to join a wireless network? (IE: 2 LAN ports)
I haven't been able to get a clear answer on this. I believe the 1st generation would act as WAN/LAN depending on setting, but what happens with the 2nd generation?
Thank you for your time.

If the Express joins a wireless network wirelessly, in other words its WAN port isn't connected to anything, the correct way to connect a wired client to it is by using its LAN port.
I don't know what would happen if you were to connect a wired client to its WAN port instead — it's just not supposed to be used for that purpose. It won't permanently break anything if you were to try it though. If you were, the worst that would occur is that your network would become unresponsive as packets continuously traverse its WAN port in a circular fashion, which might require that you power down your router to reset your whole network.
If you are already using your Express's LAN port and you need another, the way to provide more ports is to purchase an inexpensive ($10 or so) switch. Connect it to the LAN port and as many other pieces of equipment as the switch's available number of ports.
You're correct about the first generation with the single Ethernet port. It could be used in either capacity depending on its configuration.

Can AirPort Extreme join a wireless network and share the connection to ethernet connected devices?

Can AirPort Extreme join a wireless network and share the connection to ethernet connected devices?

Yes, if the AirPort Extreme is joining a wireless network that has been created by another Apple router. In this case, it will be extending the wireless network and the Ethernet ports are enabled on the "remote" AirPort Extreme.
No, if the AirPort Extreme will be used with another router from another manfacturer.
Ironically, the less expensive AirPort Express can do what you ask about with virtually any wireless network using a special feature called ProxySTA. It won't extend the wireless with a non-Apple router, but the Ethernet port will be enabled.

Join a wireless network and allow ethernet client?

When you set the wireless mode to "join a wireless network" there is a check box "allow ethernet clients". I understood the ethernet port was not active in this mode so what is the check box telling me??

The old Express units did NOT allow ethernet clients unless it was setup in WDS mode.
The new Express units do allow ethernet clients without using WDS just by checking the box "allow ethernet clients"....
This is a great new feature and only available in firmware version 7.3.1 for the new Express.
Even version 7.3 does NOT have this feature.
Joseph Kriz

7.5.2 Causes unstable ethernet connection (join a wireless network)

My express stopped to perform its bridge function after 7.5.2 updated.
I have this con:
- Join a wireless network
- Allow Ethernet Clients
- WPA/WPA2 Personal.
It's bridging a wifi network from an Airport Extreme also running 7.5.2
Express has been extended my WiFi network to ethernet (2 floor in the building) perfectly fine in the last 2 years. After the updated is was almost impossible to ping the device on the ethernet network. (the 2 floor segment Express is bridging was isolated)
Solution was to rollback to 7.4.2 on the Express.
Please Apple fix 7.5.2 I believe it's way buggy (SNMP doesn't work as well!!)

Not much to add to this except "me too". The same configuration, too: an Airport Express configured with "Join a wireless network" and "Allow Ethernet Clients", bridging a wifi network from an Airport Extreme running 7.5.2 using WPA2.
After upgrading to 7.5.2, long transfers from the device plugged into the Express (i.e., the "Ethernet Client") work for a while and then just stop dead. For example, a 6 gig transfer will stop around 4 gigs. A power cycle of the Airport Express brings it back to life temporarily, but a rollback to 7.4.2 on the Express brought it back to life permanently.
(Yes, I've reported this as a bug to Apple - I know they don't read these discussions).

How to use ethernet connections on a TC that joined other wireless network?

My TC is setup to join a Linksys wireless network and works fine as network drive and backup utility for Time Machine.
I have a HP all in one printer connected to the TC by ethernet cable but that printer is not getting an IP address. When I connect the ethernet cable to the Linksys router (in another room) it gets the IP address right away.
Is it possible at all to connect the printer by ethernet cable to a TC that joins another wireless network?
If so what do I need to change?
Thanks,
Menno

On the Mac that the printer is plugged into, go to System Preferences/Sharing and turn on Printer Sharing.
The rest of the Macs can now use the shared printer as long as that Mac is turned on...

Why Are Ethernet Ports Disabled When Extending WiFi

I have an airport extreme (latest model) and have just bought a time capsule (latest model).
My extreme works as my primary WiFi and router, however I'm a fair distance from it and only get 100 meg WiFi link at best. I had hoped to connect the new Time Capsule as a wireless extender on the other side of the room where signal strength and quality are improved, and hard wire into the unit - so my backup would be quickest and the 100 meg wifi plenty for my internet browsing.
Sadly when I setup the TC to extend the WiFi it disabled the ethernet ports - is their any reason for this? it seems completely unnecerssary from my understanding of the technology and comparable products on the market, like the netgear universal extenders which have a 4 port switch to connect to the wifi on.
Can we expect a firmware update to address this or is this just plain old arrogance at it's best?

This is long standing setup that when an apple router joins the wireless of another router it will turn off ethernet ports. That includes another apple router.
But this is simply a case of wrong setup for you.
Somehow you have chosen join a wireless work.. and you should have chosen extend a wireless network. In extend wireless the ethernet ports still work..
Apple have given a reason for the lack of ethernet bridge in join wireless.. but it is fairly complex.. and seems unnecessary. The Extend wireless is proprietary method and apple was able to get around whatever the issues were.
Extend wireless on the TC.. create a wireless network on the AE.. should work ok.. I do have it running fine with Gen5 AE and Gen4 TC so previous generation.
Please give screenshots from the airport utility if you cannot figure it out.

Time Capsule to join existing wireless network

Hi All,
I have a question, as despite experimenting and reading all I can find on the subject I am no closer to a definite answer.
I have the old 500gb Time Capsule (802.11n non-simultanious version).
I presently have a BT HomeHub 2.0 as my wifi router downstairs, and use a Linksys WRT54GS to connect to the network SSID provided by the HomeHub. All my desktop machines, etc are then connected into the 10/100 switch in the WRT54GS, giving them access to the WiFi network.
Ideally I wanted to replace the WRT54GS with my Time Capsule, so that my desktop machines upstairs plug into the 10/100/1000 ethernet ports on the Time Capsule, which is then in-turn connected wirelessly to the BT HomeHub downstairs for Internet access. (The benefit of this being increased speed thanks to the 802.11n technology in the HomeHub and Time Capsule).
Sadly, the Time Capsule does not seem to like connecting to the HomeHub's SSID, each time giving me the flashing amber light. Normally, I would simply re-configure the network so the BT HomeHub connects to an SSID provided by the Time Capsule, but my version of the HomeHub is not capable of doing this, or using a WDS type setup.
WiFi signal strength is good where the Time Capsule is located, the network is using WPA/WPA2 mixed authentication, and other devices can connect to the SSID.
Any help on this is much appreciated,
Thanks,
Jon

Welcome to the discussions!
When the Time Capsule "joins" a wireless network, (which is the only way that it could connect to the HomeHub network unless you use ethernet) the ethernet ports on the device are not active. When you configure the TC to "join", it really takes on the function of a wireless backup device, nothing more.
The Time Capsule cannot be configured for a WDS type arrangement with your HomeHub because it is not compatible.
If you want to connect the Time Capsule to the HomeHub and have the Time Capsule create a wireless network, then you must use an ethernet cable from one of the LAN ports on your HomeHub to the WAN port on the Time Capsule and configure the TC to act as a "bridge".
If you are unable to run an ethernet cable, the next option would be to use ethernet powerline adapters to use the wiring in your home to transmit the ethernet signal.

What's the difference between "Extend" or "Join" a wireless network?

I have a Time Capsule as my main base station and an Airport Express I'd like to use on another floor of my home for an internet connection for my Blu-ray player and to stream music via Airtunes. If I connect the Express to the Blu-ray using Ethernet and to my speakers with an audio cable, should I set up the Express to Extend or Join my network? What's the difference between "Extend" or "Join" a wireless network?

If I connect the Express to the Blu-ray using Ethernet and to my speakers with an audio cable, should I set up the Express to Extend or Join my network?
Extend.
What's the difference between "Extend" or "Join" a wireless network?
When you configure the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) to "join an existing wireless network" it will perform like any other wireless client (laptop, printer, etc.) that connects to that wireless network. It will NOT perform as a router nor extend the wireless range of (in this case) the Time Capsule (TC).
However, if you configure the AX to "extend a wireless network" it will perform as an additional wireless access point to your TC's wireless network, effectively extending the TC's wireless range. In addition, the AX's Ethernet port will also be enabled and you can connect a single Ethernet client or multiple ones if you connect an Ethernet switch instead.

Airport Extreme - Cannot join a wireless network

I just purchased the Airport Extreme and cannot get it to find a wireless network. In the Airport Utility I receive the following messages, "Joining a wireless network….An error occurred joining the selected wireless network.". I cannot proceed past this point. When I select "manual" configure I get the same error message. I've tried repeatedly disconnecting the cable & power from the modem and the airport extreme and then restarting but nothing happens. Any advice would be appreciated!

If you have a cable modem, you will need to power it off for at least 15-20 minutes and pull the battery if is has one as it is remembering the last device (probably your computer) that is was connected to. Power it back up after 20 minutes and connect the ethernet cable to the WAN port on the AEBS.
Suggest you do a factory default reset to clear the corrupted settings and start over again on the AEBS
Power down the AEBS
Hold in the reset button +and keep holding it in+ as you plug the power back in
Release the reset button after approximately 8-10 seconds
Temporarily, connect an ethernet cable from your computer to one of the LAN <-> ports on the AEBS to help AirPort Utility connect with the device.
You will be configuring the AEBS to "Share a public IP address" and "create a wireless network. The guided setup will step you through.

Can Time Capsule Join Existing Wireless Network?

I currently work in a building with a wireless network. In my own office, I use AX to join that wireless network and I connect a local printer to the USB port.
From some posts, I've gotten the idea that the Time Capsule will not join an existing wireless network.
Is that the case?

That is correct - Time Capsule cannot be configured to function as a wireless client on an existing wireless network. The only Apple Airport product currently able to do that is the Airport Express device.
It can be configured as a remote base station in a wireless distribution system (WDS), but this would require the wireless network's main base station to be another Time Capsule or any model of Airport Extreme base station.

'Join a wireless network' - Ethernet ports disabled?

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