Relay vs Remote Base Station

I have setup a WDS network with my airport express units.
What is the difference between a relay station and a remote base station in a WDS network?
Thanks
Mike

Yes, so lets say I have two aiport express. One of them is in my bedroom and it gets good reception from my router. And the second one is in lets say my den, and it doesn't get so good reception from my router, but it is close to my bedroom... Would I have both the bedroom and den airport express as REMOTE, or would i put the bedroom one as a RELAY and the den as a REMOTE, or the other way around. I have a WDS network setup.. or does it matter?
Thanks

Similar Messages

  • Remote base station versus relay base station

    Okay, I give up. What is the difference between a remote and a relay? Can I daisy chain relay base stations? Will remote base stations act as "relays"? Are there any tricks to setting up the relay stations (remotes seem completely straightforward)? What are the positives and negatives of each?
    MacBook Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  

    It seems like the distinction is more important if you want a wired connection to the station. If you're just tring to create a robust wireless network, can you do many remotes but just one relay? It seems like relay would be the way to go if there was no limitation on how many.

  • Dedicating an Airport Express Remote Base Station to a BB Curve

    Hello all,
    Please forgive me if this has been answered in another thread. I have been searching for the last week or so and have found that many people are experiencing the same frustration with the BB Curve and H@H (UMA) service. Someone recently suggested that I dedicate the Remote Base Station to my BB Curve so as to grant the UMA a fighting chance (my network consists of one Main and one Remote base station). In other words, the problem, as I understand it, is that UMA/voice data gets kicked off the network in favor of true data. If I can dedicate my extra (remote base station) airport express to my Blackberry, then the UMA should work more reliably.
    Sooo...here is my question:
    How do I assign my remote base station (set-up through WDS) to serve only my Blackberry Curve? Should I not do this? How do I find my Curve's MAC and IP address? Which address do I need? So on and so forth...
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    james

    No one seems to know what's going on! I'll retract it, then. Thank you for your consideration.

  • WPA2 - Webcam - Base Station - Remote Base Station ... How ?

    My Webcam is plugged into my Remote Base Station and uploads images over my WDS network to my Base Station perfectly ... and I can use my browser to access the Webcam's Control Panel - until I enable Wireless Security!
    Once Wireless Security is enabled on my Base Station and I have updated my WDS settings on the Remote Base Station, my browser can no longer access the Webcam and the camera's images are no longer transmitted to my Base Station.
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    The only type of Security that allows the camera to use the WDS network is no Security!!
    Question:
    After I have enabled Wireless Security on the Base Station, does the Remote Base Station's Wireless Security also have to be enabled ?
    ---alan

    From the Camera Manufacturer:
    "Hi Alan,
    I'm not sure what is causing this. The camera doesn't know about the wireless. Any encryption is between the client and the base. Devices connected to the client should not be affected."
    Well - Thanks to that helpful tip, I have eventually determined that the correct procedure is:
    Step 1: Apply the encryption to the Remote Base Station that has the Netcam connected to it.
    Step 2. Apply the same encryption & password to the Main Base Station ... the one with Internet via Ethernet.
    Step 3. Rejoin my now 'closed' Network by selecting "Other" from the Airport menu in the Menu Bar.
    Step 4. Select the Network name from that popup menu
    Step 5. Enter my new WPA2 Personal Password.
    Success!!
    ---alan
    64 years old today!

  • Old dome style Extremes used as a remote base station?

    Can the old dome style Extreme's be used as a remote base station using WDS?
    How would this be done?

    Yes - the "dome style" Airport Extreme Base Station can be configured as a remote base station, with your Airport Extreme N base station functioning as the main base station.
    The Airport Utility will guide you through the process.

  • Cannot connect 2nd Express as a Remote Base station

    When I try to set up a 2nd express it doesn't connect.
    I see in the Admin app that it has a "strange" IP address assigned. The Extreme Base station and the 1st Express have addresses like "192.168.9.x" and the new (2nd) Express has a 169.254.X.X and although you can see it in Admin you can't do anything to it.
    I configured both the Express Remotes via Admin and use the "Auto config as Remote" feature in the WDS tab via the Extreme Base Station's configuration.
    I also have an iMac with a hard-wired iMac connection to the Base Station.
    Any ideas? Thanx.

    I would do another reset and then configure the second Express manually. To configure the Express you have to be on the same network either with or without a wire.
    Here are some steps to try and let us know the results:
    - From your wireless laptop run Airport Admin Utility
    - Select the Airport Extreme Bas Station (AEBS) and write down its "Airport ID"
    - Open the configuration of the AEBS and note the channel number it is on. It should not be on "Automatic"
    - Hard reset the 2nd Express
    - Connect the Express to your laptop with an ethernet cable
    - Both your laptop and the Express should be on the 169.254.x.x ethernet network since no DHCP server is available over their ethernet
    - Open the configuration of the 2nd Express which has a name similar to "Airport Base xxxxxx" in Airport Admin Utility
    - Change the Base Station name to something like "Express 2" and change the Base Station password so it's not the default "public"
    - Leave the wireless mode as "Create a wireless network (Home Router)"
    - Change the Network Name, wireless security and channel to match exactly what the other two Airports are set to
    - Under the Internet tab change it to "Connect Using: Airport WDS"
    - In the "MAC Address:" field enter the Airport ID of the AEBS
    - Under the Network tab uncheck "Distribute IP Addresses"
    - Under the WDS tab check "Enable this base station as a WDS Remote Base Station" and keep the check mark "Allow wireless clients on this base station"
    - In the "Main Airport ID:" field enter the AEBS Airport ID again or click the Select button and pick it from the list (not the 1st Express)
    - Under the Music tab set as desired
    - Click the Update button finally and wait for it to update
    - Disconnect the ethernet cable
    - If necessary move the Express to it desired location
    Did that help? If the "Auto configure as a WDS remote base station" from the Extreme doesn't work those are the manual steps to apply to an Express!

  • Cannot connect to remote base station

    I have two airport express base stations.
    The one in my office is setup as a WDS main base main base station and is connected to the internet.
    The other one is installed in the kitchen as a WDS remote base station.
    Both base stations allow wireless clients.
    When I am in the reach of the main base station (in the office and in the kitchen), everything works fine.
    However, when I go to the living room (here i am out of reach of the office base station, but within reach of the kitchen base station), my laptop still "sees" the network, but is unable to connect. An error is given: "There was an error joining the airport network"
    I have re-configured the base stations several times; I also disabled the wireless security; I switched the base stations; .... no result
    Who can help ????

    I have the same problem at home. Somone else in this forum had a similar (though not absolutely identical) problem, for which another person suggested this:
    "It sounds like the issue may be the communication between the Cable modem & the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS). Since you already have reset the AEBS, I suggest that you try a complete power recycle of your network components.
    "Modem/Router Power ReCycling
    - Power-off the DSL/Cable modem, Internet Router, & computer(s). (Wait at least 30 minutes. If possible, leave the modem off overnight.)
    - Power-on the DSL/Cable modem; Wait at least 30 minutes.
    - Power-on the Internet Router; Wait at least 5 minutes.
    - Power-on the computer(s) "
    Since I am not home, I can't try the above right now, but will do so when I return home in a few days. In the meantime, if you are able to solve your problem, either by trying the above procedure, or by some other method, will you please let me know?
    Thanks a lot.
    MacBook Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

  • HT4262 Can I extend a wired remote base station network via wireless WDS Remote to a Wireless WDS main base station?

    I have a wired nework in a remote closet (3 PC's to a 100/1000 Linksys switch).  I have an Apple Extreme network connected to the Internet  in another remote closet allowing wireless PC's and wired PC's access to the internet and printers.  I do not have the ability to connect the two networks together via wired although they are 50' apart. 
    My objective is to configure two Airport Extreme devices so the remote wired PCs can connect via the remote/relay Airport Extremen to the main Airport base station for DHCP, internet and intranet.
    One Aiport Extreme base station is Model # A1034 and the other is Model A1408.

    Can I extend......?
    Yes, this is possible.  But sometimes, the fact that something can be done does not necessarily mean that it should be done.  In a case like this....Upsides are far outweighed by Downsides.
    Upsides
    You will have more wireless coverage (but 50 feet is a long way if there are multiple walls or ceilings in the signal path...I am not optimistic about this)
    The Ethernet ports will be enabled on the remote Extreme.
    Downsides
    The required WDS configuration will drop the performance of your newer "n" Extreme down to wireless "g" levels.
    In addition, the bandwidth on the entire network will drop by 50%. In effect, you will have a "g" wireless network running at half speed
    WDS is difficult for most users to configure. It is very easy to make a mistake and literally impossible to recover without starting all over again with the configuration attempt
    It might work. But things are going to be extremely slow. Might be OK for general Internet browsing or light email. Any file transfers or copies from one device to another are going to take a very long time.
    You also might want to review the WDS setup required to get an idea of what is involved here:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262
    As you know, a far better way to do this would be to connect the two AirPort Extremes using an Ethernet connection. If you cannot run the Ethernet cable, you might want to consider a pair of Ethernet Powerline Adapters.
    These devices send an Ethernet signal over the existing AC powerlines in your home. So, you already have the wiring in place....you just need the adapters. I've used these devices for runs up to 70-80 feet or so with good results. But, you need to understand that there are number of factors that can affect performance here.
    So, if you want to try the powerline adapters, I would strongly recommend that you understand the store's return policy in advance. The bottom line is always this.....you won't know how they will work until you install them in your home.
    Apple's instructions for a setup using Ethernet are here:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260

  • Is WDS connection to the relay or the base station?

    I have an Airport Extreme that I use as a WDS network base station. I also have an Airport Express that I have configured as a WDS relay that is associated with the Airport Extreme base station. How do I tell if a computer using the network is connected to the base station or the relay? I have both PCs and Macs as wireless computers that use the WDS network.

    Welcome to the discussions!
    Open AirPort Utility and click on the AirPort Extreme on the left. On the right, you'll see some info about the device. Jot down the AirPort ID number.
    Do the same for the AirPort Express.
    On your Mac, move it close to the AirPort Express
    Hold down the option key while you click on the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen
    Look for the BSSID. That is the AirPort ID of the device that the Mac is currently connected to. If you see the AirPort ID of the AirPort Express, then the WDS setup is working correctly.
    You can do the same thing testing near the AirPort Extreme.
    Not sure how to get this info on the PC. If you click on the current wireless connection icon and look for Properties or similar, you might see the ID number of the device that the PC is currently connected to.
    Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

  • Setting up my remote base station

    Unless I am mistaken I thought that it would work to have one AE connected to an Ethernet cable and have it be my base station, then have it send a signal to another AE. I thought that the second AE could take the wireless signal and send it farther so my iBook with Airport could pick it up. I am having some serious issues with setting this up. Can anyone give suggestions or walk me through setting these things up? Thanks so much in advance.
    From,
    Luke

    Unless I am mistaken I thought that it would work to
    have one AE connected to an Ethernet cable and have
    it be my base station, then have it send a signal to
    another AE. I thought that the second AE could take
    the wireless signal and send it farther so my iBook
    with Airport could pick it up.
    Yes this is possible.
    I am having some
    serious issues with setting this up. Can anyone give
    suggestions or walk me through setting these things
    up?
    Configure the first Airport Express (AX) so that it is working as a wireless base station - reset if necessary and reconfigure.
    Factory reset the second AX.
    Resetting AirPort Express
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108044
    Ensure you are connected to the first AX.
    Use the Airport Assistant to configure a new base station.
    Configure the new (second) AC to join and extend an existing wireless network.
    iFelix

  • Can I connect a printer to remote base station?

    I moved into a two-story house and I want to set up a main station downstairs with an Airport Extreme (where the cable comes in) and a remote station upstairs with an Airport Express. Is it possible to connect a printer to the remote airport upstairs and be available to all computers in the house via the network?

    Is it possible to connect a printer to the remote airport upstairs and be available to all computers in the house via the network?
    Yes it would be available to any device on the network.

  • WDS on a remote base station

    Hello everyone,
    I have a home network which worked perfectly with a Linksys WRT54G and a Linksys Range Expander for more than a year. Recently I decided to try the Airport Express since all our machines here are Macs (yes and the WRT54G died after 2 years of flawless work): a G5 Quad, 1 MacBookPro, 1 MacBook and one G4 laptop. Setting it up took me less than 20 minutes -- I shared a printer on the main station and music creatures on both (main and remote). Network runs on channel 13 (only one not interfering with the neighbouring networks) with WDS enabled, WPA2. All connections via the main station are flawless (except some radio streaming which can be dodgy), whereas the remote is VERY slow. I tried it without security options, on all 13 channels, etc.
    From what I read it must be the 10.4.8 update? Funnily enough it did not interfere with my network while I still had the Linksys routers on.
    Any help is highly appreciated!

    How do you check the signal strength?
    Welcome to the forums.
    You can check your "transmitter power" with AirPort Admin Utility.
    Choose your Express, double click it or click configure, in the AirPort tab click "wireless options".
    MacBook 15” 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB - both 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   Apple Wireless Keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse

  • Airport Extreme Base station + Relay Inquiry

    My Airport Express Base station died on me so I replaced it with an Airport Extreme. I immediately noticed the lack of wds support and a simplified network setup option.
    So I updated all my other relay stations to the newer network(Airport Express btw).
    I found that the Ethernet connections weren't functioning anymore. Why?
    To make it clear, I'm trying to connect a non-wireless computer to my wireless network through a relay station.
    Is this still doable?

    Yep! I can understand that!
    Here are the basic setup steps for creating a WDS with a mixed (802.11n/g) base stations:
    AEBSn - WDS Setup
    (Note: To facilitate the WDS set up, place the base stations within near proximity of each other during the set up phase, and then relocate them to their desired locations when complete. Also, jot down the AirPort IDs (MAC addresses) for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS. The AirPort ID and is printed on the label on the bottom/side of the base station.)
    Main Base Station Setup
    o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as the main base station.
    o Open AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
    o Select the main base station, and choose Manual Setup from the Base
    Station menu, or double-click the base station to open the configuration in a separate window.
    o Enter the base station password if necessary. If the base station is using the
    default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
    o Click Wireless in the toolbar, and then choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu.
    o Click WDS and then choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
    o Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox if you want client computer to connect to this base station.
    o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the base station you want to connect to this base station.
    o Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
    Remote Base Station Setup
    o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as a remote base station.
    o Open AirPort Utility (in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
    o Select the remote base station, and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
    o Enter the base station password, if necessary. If the base station is using the default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
    o Enter the same network password as the main base station, if necessary.
    o Click AirPort in the toolbar and click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
    o Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
    o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the WDS Main field.
    o Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.
    Relay Base Station Setup
    o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar to join the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as the relay base station.
    o Open AirPort Utility (in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
    o Select the relay base station, and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
    o If the base station is using the default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
    o Enter the same network password as the main base station, if necessary.
    o Click AirPort in the toolbar and click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
    o Click WDS and choose “WDS relay” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
    o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the Main AirPort ID field.
    o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the remote base station this relay base station will connect to.
    o Click Update to transfer the new WDS settings to the relay and remote base stations.
    (ref: Pages 42-46 of "Designing AirPort Networks.)

  • Airport Base Station - setting up base station to already existing network

    Hello,
    I just replaced a network switch on the network. Since I did that I am unable to get Internet connection from our main base station in the server room that distributes the IP addresses. I did a reset to the base station and tried to get it to show on the already existing network, but I'm having some issues getting the base station configured with the other base stations on the network. How do I get this main base station to show up on our network?
    Right now our other base stations are not getting valid IP addresses. The base station that is setup to distribute IP addresses is getting valid addresses from our provider. If someone could give me any suggestions I would appreciate it.
    We are running Apple 10.2.4 on our network.

    OK - starts to make sense now. If you did a factory reset of the base station then more than likely the airport network name for it is the Apple default name, and you probably lost the WDS in Wireless Mode.
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    One step back from this, you need to confirm that the DSL modem is connecting to your ISP. Connect the ethernet cable from the DSL modem to your Mac and confirm that you can log onto your ISP or internet. If it works then lets go onto the AEB you reset.
    Apple publish setup manuals for their AirPort Base Stations - they can be downloaded at: http://support.apple.com/manuals/#airport
    1. Reset your AEB to its factory default again.
    2. Turn-off the AEB and connect one of its ethernet ports to your Mac by ethernet cable, and connect the DSL modem to the WAN port on the AEB by ethernet cable.
    3. Power up your Mac, the DSL modem and the AEB and wait for all to complete their startup sequence. Then open AirPort Utility - you should see your AEB under a generic network name. Click on the AEB.
    4. Use the auto setup procedure by clicking 'Continue'. Follow the onscreen instructions for setting up a new network. When asked, use the 'original network name' for your school network. When asked for a network password, use the 'original network password' for your school network (what sort of network security were you using - WPA2 Personal - use whatever you had previously.
    5. At some stage you will also be asked to give the AEB a name and admin password - use whatever they were previously.
    6. When the setup procedure is complete and the AEB finishes restarting, the AEB will reappear in AirPort Utility. Click on the AEB and click 'Manual Setup'. You may be asked for the admin password to get into the configuration profile.
    7. Click on the 'Wireless' tab and set the 'Wireless Mode:' to 'Participate in a WDS network' if not already set to this. While in this pane, look at 'Channel:' - do you remember what this was set to previously (if not, you may need to connect one of the other AEBs by ethernet cable to a Mac and use AirPort Utility to check the Channel setting.
    8. Now, click on the 'Internet' icon at the top of AirPort Utility. Check that 'Connection Sharing:' is set to 'Off (Bridge Mode)' - if not, change it.
    9. Now, click 'Update' and wait for the AEB to restart.
    10. Now, disconnect the ethernet cable from the Mac to the AEB ethernet port.
    11. Open Airport Utility, and hopefully, you can now see the AEB and the other 4 or 5 base stations.
    Let us know what happens.

  • How many base stations can form a WDS

    hi, I am considering covering a very large area with very few users, so I would like to just have a central Extreme Base Station connected to the internet and maybe a dozen or so Expresses peripherally located as relays and remotes. I have been looking but can't find a statement from anyone on the scalability limits of these networks.
    How many can be connected at one time?

    You can set up a maximum of five nodes on a WDS - one main base station, and up to four relay or remote base stations.
    If you need to cover a large area with multiple base stations, a WDS is not a good solution as pointed out above by Modem Geek. You should set up a cabled ethernet network connected to a cabled router as a backbone, then connect multiple base stations (each configured to function as a wireless network access point) to that ethernet backbone.

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