Multiple Base Station Help

We have multiple base stations in our office. I understand that we should seperate the channels, but what about the SSID. Should that be the same on all of them? Is there a benefit to having them be the same as opposed to naming them differently?

All your wireless devices on the same network must use the same SSID. Conversely, if you want to create a separate network you'll need to give it a different name.

Similar Messages

How to setup multiple base station under one network?

How to setup multiple base station under one network? I have 6 rooms but one airport base station makes really difficult to get good signal from every rooms. I wonder if I can setup multiple airport base stations talking to each other under the same network to build up the signal strength will help solve this problem. But, is it possible? How?

One route would be to utilize a "roaming" network. In a roaming network, you would connect multiple AirPort Extreme Base Stations (AEBS) to the same Ethernet. Of course, this would require that your home is already wired for Ethernet.

ITunes to multiple base stations

What's the chance that one can broadcast iTunes to multiple base stations concurrently - if not now in some future release?

If you're talking about AirTunes, you can do this right now. Just make sure your AirPort Express base stations are updated to version 6.3 of the AirPort Express firmware, and use a recent version of iTunes. You can stream to multiple AirPort Express base stations simultaneously, and also play through your computer speakers too. Pretty cool.

Multiple base stations w/multiple printers -- need help

My company has two airport extreme base stations, each connected to the wall-ports of 100baseT to the WAN port. So both currently have access to the internet. Each base station is also connected to a laser printer via the ethernet port.
Is it possible to setup the airports to use the same SSID and allow my clients to print to both printers? I know using WDS I could, but I want to keep each airport connected to the wall port so balance the amount of overall bandwidth.
Thanks!

Yes, this is possible:
1. make sure the router built into both is disabled (uncheck the setting to "Distribute IP addresses" found under the Network tab of the Airport Admin Utility). Presumably your cabled network has a router and DHCP server on it somewhere.
2. assign both Base Stations the exact same SSID, security protocol, and WEP/WPA password
This creates an active roaming network, and wireless clients will connect automatically and seamlessly to whichever access point provides the stronger signal.

Wireless router and base station help

Hello fellas -- I'll really, really appreciate any help I can get with this, so thanks in advance for any advice given. Here we go...
I purchased a MacBook (2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 160GB hard drive, 2GB RAM) about two months ago. It runs Mac OS X Tiger (10.4.9). Previously, I had a Sony Vaio desktop in my downstairs bedroom, and an HP Pavilion desktop in my mom's office upstairs. I have Comcast "high-speed" cable internet service. Downstairs (where the Vaio was) I have a surfboard cable modem with three cords coming out of the back: 1.) a power cord (obviously); 2.) a cable cord that runs into the wall for internet service; and 3.) an ethernet-looking network cable. This ethernet/network cable would have normally run right out the back of the surfboard cable modem and into the network port on the back of my Sony Vaio, but in order to provide internet service for my mom's HP upstairs, the network cable went from the back of the surboard modem and into a D-Link wireless router that we bought. Another network cable then went from the D-Link wireless router into the network port on the back of my Vaio. This provided both my Vaio and my mom's HP with good, steady cable internet access.
When I bought this new MacBook, it came with an AirPort Extreme card (no base station yet) that allowed me pick up on the wireless signal from the D-Link wireless router and this provided me with internet service. To connect to the internet, I would connect to the wireless network that my computer called "default." By this point, I had shut down and unplugged my Vaio, so it's out of the picture now -- the MacBook has replaced it. However, I left the surfboard cable moden and the D-Link wireless router plugged in, and this way I was able to connect to the default network wirelessly with my MacBook, and my mom was still provided with wireless service from the D-Link router on her HP upstairs. This worked great for awhile, until eventually this default network started getting rediculously slow and started disconnecting itself every 30 to 45 seconds -- literally. For this reason, I went out and bought an AirPort Extreme Base Station at my local Apple Store.
First, to make sure it worked, I unplugged the network cable (the one coming from the back of the surfboard cable modem) from the back of the D-Link wireless router and I plugged it directly into the base station I just bought. In other words, I took the D-Link router out of the picture and plugged the base station directly into my surfboard cable modem. This worked great, and it's how I'm connected to the internet as we speak -- it's providing me with steady, fast service. Instead of connecting to the default wireless network that was slowing me down before, I now connect to the base station's network, called "Apple Network 2b1d46." There's only one problem, though -- it involved taking the D-Link wireless router out of the picture, so now my mom can't get on the internet with her HP. The solution seemed very simple -- instead of plugging the surfboard cable modem directly into the base station, I would plug the surfboard modem into the D-Link wireless router, and then plug that into the base station. I saw no reason why this wouldn't work, and I still don't, but for whatever reason, it didn't.
This is where I need help. When I try to plug it in through the router like that, I simply can't get on the internet. Everything else works perfectly -- the surfboard cable modem's lights are properly lit, as are the D-Link router's lights. The Apple base station's status light is a solid green like it's supposed to be, and strangest of all -- when I open Internet Connect to check my AirPort status, everything is fine there as well. It says "Connected to Apple Network 2b1d46," which is the new base station network that I should be connected to, and under that it says "Connected to the internet via Ethernet," yet when I try to open Safari, it says "You are not connected to the internet," which is in direct contradiction to what Internet Connect is simultaneously telling me (that I am connected to the internet).
I've tried alot of things to trouble-shoot this. I've tried FireFox and Opera, and they can't bring up any web pages either, so I know the problem isn't just with Safari -- it's that my computer just can't connect to the internet or bring up web pages, even though Internet Connect and everything else says that it's connected. I've also run the Network Diagnostics an uncountable amount of times, and all it can tell me, in all its wisdom, is that my internet connection appears to be working fine and that I must have spelled "www.apple.com" (my home page) incorrectly (it says the same thing about any other web page I try to open). I've ran the network assistant to create a new location, and it also gets the the end of the wizard and tells me that it can't connect to the internet. Finally, I've also ran the AirPort Utility multiple times and set up the base station in every possible way, but still nothing works.
On that note, I do have one question. When you run the AirPort Utility and choose "Assist Me", at one point during the wizard it asks, "How do you connect to the internet?" Right now, remember, I have the D-Link wireless router taken out of the picture (the base station is plugged directly into the surfboard cable modem). For the answer to this part of the wizard, I chose the option that says, "I use a DSL or cable modem with a static IP address or DHCP." Obviously, given that I'm on the internet as we speak, this is working fine. However, if I bring the D-Link wireless router back into the picture and plug the base station into it (the router), and then plug the router into the surfboard modem, should I still have the same option checked (the one thats says I use a DSL or cable modem with a static IP address or DHCP), or by connecting through the router, should I change my answer to one of the other two options. The second option says, "I use a DSL or cable modem using PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE)." The third option says, "I connect to my local area network (LAN)." I've tried all three numerous times, and none of them work -- I still have the same problem getting on the internet once I connect through the D-Link router, but I thought I could at least find out which one is the right option so I could stop having to keep trying all three of them. Can anyone tell me which of those three options I should pick when connecting through the D-Link wireless router (cable modem with static IP address or DHCP, cable modem with PPPoE, or local area network).
Sorry, I know that was a long one, but if anyone can answer the previous question for me and/or give me some general advice regarding my problem with getting the internet to work once I hook up the base station through the router instead of directly into the cable modem, I would appreciate it more than you can imagine.
Thank you very much for your time and help.
-- Andrew

I am doing something similar. I have the WAN port on my Linksys 4-port wired router connected to my DSL modem. My G5 and G4 computers are connected directly to the Linksys LAN ports. My older Airport Extreme (flying saucer) is connected to another LAN port on the Linksys. I had to setup the Airrport as a bridge in this configuration. I did this by using the Ethernet LAN port on the Airport instead of the WAN port. In the Airport Setup Utility I said to connect using Ethernet. This seems to work for me.
I also use manual IP addresses for everything but you will probably want to use DHCP.
Cheers,
-= Ken =-

Extending Guest Wifi with Multiple Base Stations

The 7.6.3 firmware update reports this new feature:
"The ability to extend the Guest Wi-Fi network on a network that is configured with multiple AirPort Base Stations"
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1617
I assumed that this meant that an Airport Express was able to "Extent" the guest wifi network. However, I am not able to get this to work. Having entered all the details I just get the orange light and the message that it was unable to extend the network - check the details. I have checked them multiple times and still not working. If I switch to extending the "main" network then it works first time, but does not extend the guest as far as I can see.
If I set up from scratch it picks up the guest network and tries to extend but then switches to the main wifi later in the process after claiming to extend the base station itself, not one of the wifi networks.
What does this update mean?! Has anyone managed to "extend the Guest Wi-Fi network" in any way?
All devices have been updated to 7.6.3 and all airport utilities have been updated to the latest version (6.2).
I am running an extreme as the main router then I have a number of expresses to extend round a large building, but it is the guest that needs extending!!
Any help would be much appreciated!
Adam

I am running an extreme as the main router then I have a number of expresses to extend round a large building
You need to have the "new" AirPort Express to be able to extend the Guest Network. The "new" Express looks like a miniature AirPort Extreme.
Check the Model No on the side of the AirPort Express devices that you have. If you see A1264 this is an older version of the Express that does not have Guest Network capabiltiy.
Using an AirPort Extreme and new AirPort Express here., the Guest Network "extends" just fine when I try this using wireless only. I also have another AirPort connected back to the main AirPort Extreme using a wired Ethernet connection. The Guest Network is extended on this device as well.

How Do I Network Multiple Base Stations Using Ethernet AND Wireless?

Hi, everyone. I am having great difficulty setting up a network using multiple Airport Extreme base stations that are connected using both ethernet and wireless connections. I have one main base station connected to a cable modem, and I want to create a unified network and share its internet connection with three other base stations: one that is connected on an ethernet network, one connected to it wirelessly, and the fourth that would be connected wirelessly to the base station on the ethernet network.
The "Designing Airport Networks" manual explains how to build roaming networks of base stations that are connected to one another via ethernet. And it also explains how to build a WDS of wirelessly connected base stations. What it doesn't explain is how to build a network employing both ethernet AND wireless!
I spent most of today trying to get the base stations to work in various configurations to no avail. I could get part of the network working, but not all of it. I'm at the point where I'm going to need to do a hard, factory reset on all the base stations and start over, but I wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions for me. Any help would be incredibly appreciated! Thanks so much...
Message was edited by: Bill Ryan2

If you have stations connected via Ethernet and want them to appear as a single seamless wireless network, configure them as follows:
Same SSID (network name).
Different channels. As far apart as possible.
Same wireless encryption type/level/password.
Only the base station connected to the Internet source distributes IP addresses. All the others are configured as bridges.
If you have stations connected wirelessly using WDS and want them to appear as a single seamless wireless network, configure them as follows:
Same SSID (network name).
Same channel.
Same wireless encryption type/level/password.
It appears that you want to mix the 2 type of connections. This is easily done and here is a simple example:
base1 Ethernet base2
In this example base1 and base 2 are configured as I suggested above for Ethernet connections.
Now add base3 connected wirelessly:
base1 Ethernet base2 wireless base3
Now base2's configuration must be modified slightly so that it acts as a WDS main. base3 is configured to act as a WDS remote (or relay).
No changes are needed to base1 since it is completely unaware and uninvolved in the WDS link between base2 and base3.

Web Sharing with Leopard 10.5.2 and Airport Extreme Base Station HELP!!!

Ok...I want to set up web sharing on my computer but so far my attempts have failed.
I have an intel iMac with Leopard 10.5.2 installed and I have the latest Airport extreme base station (With draft n).
I turn on web sharing, and of course it works locally but not when trying to be accessed over the internet.
Now I realize that by default my routers address wont let anyone connect to my computer over the internet.
My router has an ip of 10.0.1.1, and I assigned my computer a static ip address of 10.0.1.200.
Now in the network preferences pane and the airport category, i set my computers IP (the 10.0.1.200), I put the gateway as 255.255.255.0, the router as 10.0.1.1 and the DNS as 10.0.1.1
Now going over to the airport utility I added a new entry in the port mapping section, with port 80 (both public and private) and the IP of my machine, 10.0.1.200.
Now in theory this should work but NOOOOO.
Does anyone have the same setup? a wireless network with the new airport extreme base station and has successfully configured Web Sharing?
Thanks in advance.
Felipe

Well here is an update.
I saw an entry in apple support that said I had to change some setting in the apache folder /etc/apache2 in order to avoid getting the 403 forbidden error. I tried this and it did not work, i checked my user configuration file as well and the path to my home site directory was correct
Anyone here have a similar setup and has it working? It shouldnt be too hard to set up web sharing through a router. It has to be possible or else a lot of people would not buy a router because of this.
thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to help
Bye.

802.11n and Airport Express iTunes Base station Help me ?

I'll try to keep this simple :
In my Office I have a 24" iMac Intel and the
802.11n resides also in my Office
About 40ft away is my Den which resides:
My MacBook Pro 17" Intel and a Airport Express iTunes
Base Station
Going Back to the 802.11n I have a 2.0 USB AC Powered
Hub connected to the USB port on the back of the 802.11n
of which  said is OK to do
Connected to the USB on the back of the 802.11n:
is a Epson R200 USB InkJet Printer and also on that
Hub is a Lacie Porche 500gb External USB Hard Drive
Again  says is Ok to do
The problem I'm having is that the Cable Modem is
in my Office and is connected via Ethernet to the 802.11n
and I can get a strong connection to the internet
on my iMac 24" Intel in my Office but the MBP 17"
in my Den is having issues getting onto the Internet
now about a week ago I spent 8hrs on the phone W/Apple
about such issues so we erased all the information in
the Disk Utility and started over with the information
in the 802.11n and the iTunes Base Station Express
this has helped until the recent FirmWare Update that
Apple Released a few days ago,
I've tried to actual bring my MBP 17" into the Office
and it gets a better Internet signal than in the Den,
but this wasn't the way it was before the FirmWare Update
Any Suggestions on what I can do to fix this situation
As all worked well with the Express iTunes in the Den
and the 802.11n in the Office and the Cable Modem has
always been in the Office ?
P.S> One problem I forgot to mention is I keep dropping
The Macbook Pro 17" and a Lacie 400gb Hard Drive which is
connected directly to the MBP 17" USB Port which keeps
dropping from my iMac 24" networking it will be working
fine and then I get a message stating that either or both
the MBP 17" and the Lacie Disk (400gb) is Disconnecting
from iMac 24" and then the same will happen on the
MBP 17" with the iMac 24" and any connected drives I'm
sharing from the iMac 24" ?
I'm having a connection problem and I can't get to the
bottom of it and I need some help please
Feel free to email me [email protected]

Updates fixed issue closed question

Resetting Network of multiple base stations on Charter Cable Internet

Resetting a cable connected airport network seems like a black art. In this site I see constant recommendations for "perhaps" solutions, but no certain procedures.
Does any Charter Cable subscriber have a proven suggestion for how to reset the Cable<>Airport network to the saved profile when it goes on the blink? Particularly what the sweep time is for the modem and Apple
Our network has one main 802.11n Extreme base station with two ethernet lines of two 802.11n Express remote base stations each. The latest firmware upgrade and Airport Utilities software is version 5.5.3.

Yeah, it is not explained as clearly as it could be, but I hope I can clarify, I’m sure there are those who read this forum who are more knowledgeable, but here goes.
The way I understand this document is:
The settings in step 3,
The first figure is for the base station that is connected to your cable modem.
The second figure is for your remote base stations connected via the Ethernet cable from the main base station.
Step 4 is for all base stations connected via the WAN connecter (all base stations connected via cable should be set up like in the figure in step 4. All base stations connected via a cable are being use to “Create a Wireless Network” and if you leave the “Radio Mode:” and “Radio Channel Selection:” set to automatic they should choose WIFi channels that will be optimal for your network.
If someone else know better or can explain better feel free to jump in, but I will continue to do what I can.
I'm still working on my network as well. It is a little more complex, and enough of it is working now, so I'm going to give it a rest for a day or two, then jump back into it.
Andy

Signals from multiple base stations

This may be a very naive question, but here goes. I have a new Mac that supports WiFi 802.11ac. I'd like to replace my current Airport Extreme with the latest model, so I can take advantage of what I assume will be a faster speed. But I have an Airport Express base station (1st generation) that won't support ac. How can I be sure that my Mac receives the signal from the Airport Extreme and not from Airport Express?
Thank you.

Your original question was how to make sure that your Mac would connect to the faster "ac" wireless signal that a new AirPort Extreme would provide.
Since the "ac" signal is carried only on the 5 GHz signal, assigning a separate name to that signal would allow you to always have your Mac connect to the faster wireless signal.
If you did not assign a separate name to the 5 GHz network on the new Extreme, then your Mac would connect to the strongest signal.....either the AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme depending on where the Mac was in relation to the AirPort router.
So, if the Mac was picking up the stronger signal from the AirPort Express, you would lose connection speed, since the AirPort Express does not have "ac" wireless capability.
Are you saying that, without buying a new Airport Extreme, setting up the separate network will just make file copying faster?
Whether you buy a new AirPort Extreme or not, having your Mac connect to the 5 GHz signal will insure that it is operating at the fastest available speed.
The point that I was making was whether you continue to use your older AirPort Extreme or buy a new product........the Internet connection speed on your network will be controlled by your Internet Service Provider and the connection speed plan that you have with them.
It's nice to know that a new AirPort Extreme might be able to produce a wireless signal at a speed of 900 Mbps. But.....if your Internet connection speed is 30 Mbps, that is the fastest speed that your network will operate when you are connected to the Internet.
Buying a new router will not improve your Internet connection speed. Even your current AirPort is capable of producing a faster signal than your Internet Service Provider can ever hope to deliver.
Think of your "local" network speed as if it were water moving through a fire hose. Think of your "Internet" speed as if it were water delivered by a garden hose.
You can connect a garden hose to a fire hose with the right adapter.......but you will not get any more water out of the fire hose than the garden hose can deliver.

I have two airport express base stations that I want to configure on two separate sets of speakers in two separate rooms. How do I do this? Airport Utility only seems to scan one express at a time.

I am currently running a PowerPC G5 imac and have a wired broadband modem via ethernet with airport wireless network turned on, on the G5. I have the computer in the bedroom and have an airport express wired into a mixer that connects to my stereo. I have recently bought another airport express base station to connect to a pair of active monitors in the kitchen. When I try to scan these on Airport Utility version 5.42 I am only managing to scan one base unit at a time. I have plugged them in separately and reset them, they both have firmware updates, however the utility will only read one at once. I have read that you can link base stations to the same WDS. I would like to know how to go about doing this if it will only scan one airport express at a time. I have looked it up on the net and not found anything that is a simple fix. Can anyone help? In Apple Support it says that multiple Base Stations can be used. I would like to get both Apple Airport Express units to be able play airtunes separately or at the same time depending where I am in my flat. I do not need different music in each room. I would like to stream music from the computer to multiple rooms in the flat without having to continually unplug and configure the Base Stations. Has anyone come across such a challenge? Any help would be welcome.

How do I configure the AX to connect to the hub's wireless network? It will only scan one base station Airport Express at a time in the Airport Utility. I think what I am trying to do is use the hub as a router to the two AX's. Is there a specific way to set this up?
To set up the AX to join a wireless network as a "Wireless Client," using the AirPort Utility, either connect to the AX's wireless network or temporarily connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to the Ethernet port of the AX, and then, try these settings:
Launch the AirPort Utility.
Select the AX.
If not already connected to the AX's wireless network, go ahead and switch to it when prompted.
AirPort Utility > Select the AX > Manual Setup > AirPort > Wireless
Wireless Mode: Join a wireless network
Network Name: <type in the network name/SSID of the wireless network that you want to join or select it from the pop-up menu>
Wireless Security: None OR, if you are using security on your wireless network:
Wireless Security: <Select the appropriate level of security for the existing wireless network: WPA/WPA2 Personal | WPA2 Personal>
Password: <enter your wireless network security password>
Verify Password: <re-enter the same security password>
Click Update to write the new settings to the AX.

Having trouble with Airport Base Station

Hello,
I am having a problem with getting a base station configured correctly. I am new with working on Apple networks. Currently, there is a communication problem between one of the base stations and the network. I cannot get an Internet connection. One question that I have is if I reset the base station, does it automaticallly go to a default IP address? I keep seeing a 10.0.1.1 address, but I believe that this address is assigned to another base station that is on another floor of the building.
I have gone into the airport setup manager and have tried to set up the base station from there without having success. Do you have any suggestions on how I can set up this base station to get Internet connection?
I see another base station listed on the server that I did not see before, but I'm not sure if this is the correct base station since it has a different IP address. I'd appreciate any help you could provide on this issue.
Thanks

One question that I have is if I reset the base station, does it automaticallly go to a default IP address? I keep seeing a 10.0.1.1 address, but I believe that this address is assigned to another base station that is on another floor of the building.
Yes, if you perform a reset on the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS), it will default to 10.0.1.1.
I have gone into the airport setup manager and have tried to set up the base station from there without having success. Do you have any suggestions on how I can set up this base station to get Internet connection?
Try connecting directly, using an Ethernet cable, to the AEBS you want to setup.
I see another base station listed on the server that I did not see before, but I'm not sure if this is the correct base station since it has a different IP address. I'd appreciate any help you could provide on this issue.
To set up multiple base stations, you will want to use the AirPort Management Utility, which is part of AirPort Management Tools. But, more importantly, what is the desired network that you are trying to achieve? You can connect additional AEBSs to extend the range of a wireless network, either wirelessly or via Ethernet. When done wirelessly, this is known as Wireless Distribution System (WDS); as wired, it called Roaming.
It sounds like your building has a wired network and that your are using AEBSs at multiple locations throughout the building, but all connected to the building's Ethernet network...correct? This would be a roaming configuration. If this is true, then:
- Each AEBS would have it's LAN port connected to the building's Ethernet ports on the same subnet.
- Each AEBS would have a unique Base Station Name.
- All AEBSs would have the same Network Name and Password.
- Each of the AEBSs would be set up as bridges

Can I iTunes to Airport Express while surfing internet from Base Station

I am new to Macs and Networking. I have DSL ethernet plugged into Airport Extreme Base Station and Express into my stero. I have set up a network pointing to each but when I choose the Express network for streaming music, I cannot connect to the internet which is on my Base station. Is there a network configuration that will do both. Working w/a new Powerbook G4. Mac OS 10.4. Thanks for any help.

OW, Welcome to the discussion area!
Follow the directions in KB 302153, AirPort Express: How to join an existing wireless network in client mode or KB 107454, AirPort Extreme and Express: Using WDS to create a network from multiple base stations.
Frank snuck in while I was typing.
: )

Adding remote/relay base stations

hello,
re network with AEBSn's and Airport Express's
is it possible to add more than 4 remotes to a network? In Airport Utility under the WDS page (participate in a network), it only seems to allow 4 remotes added when setting up the main base station.
can remotes be connected both by WDS and ethernet cable?
are relay stations required to be connected by ethernet cable or can they be WDS as well?
when setting up a relay base station, should the station also be listed as a remote under the main station?
finally, when do I use 'Participate' vs. 'Extend' a network under the wireless tab in Airport Utility?
I've read the article "Designing Airport Networks" and can't find clear answers to the above.
also, I do understand band width will suffer with multiple base stations
any help appreciated.
kind regards, Scott.

is it possible to add more than 4 remotes to a network? In Airport Utility under the WDS page (participate in a network), it only seems to allow 4 remotes added when setting up the main base station.
Yes, but indirectly. You can only add four remotes or four relays (with up to four remotes attached to the relay) to a main base station ... for a total of twenty-one base stations in a WDS.
can remotes be connected both by WDS and ethernet cable?
If a base station is connected by Ethernet, it is no longer participating in a WDS.
are relay stations required to be connected by ethernet cable or can they be WDS as well?
They would be wireless.
finally, when do I use 'Participate' vs. 'Extend' a network under the wireless tab in Airport Utility?
Use "Participate" when you are creating a WDS; use "Extend" when you want to extend a 802.11n network wirelessly with an additional 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn).

Multiple Base Station Help

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