Using WDS and Closed Network

I need to close an office network that I converted to wireless using apple airport's extreme base station and One relay express and a remote express. I already have it setup sucessfully broadcasting the SSID, but the owner doesnt want anybody seeing it, as we are in an office bldg. Any Suggestions? I dont want to start over unless I have to.
Imac G4 flat panel 20 Mac OS X (10.4.1) 3 PC's as well as the Mac's.

There is little advantage, and many disadvantages, of setting up a "closed" network. The two biggest disadvantages are setup administration and "false" security. The AirPort, like most wireless routers, still broadcast their SSIDs to include data used for network data synchronization. Therefore, even "closed" networks can be easily found by "sniffers." Closing a network only keeps the casual users away.
A far better policy is to use wireless encryption, specifically WPA, to ensure no unauthorized access can occur (regardless if they can "see" the network.)

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WDS and Closed Network

In an already existing WDS network (functioning in G model) is it possible to select the "Closed Network" in all my WDS routers and still have WDS functioning?
The reason I ask is because it is possible one of my neighbours is sabotaging my network and making it "invisible" there might a less likely chance for him to find my network (as long as he's not that savvy). What's been happening is I discovered today that the reason Time Capsule backups were happening so slowly is because my network conflicts with his--but only recently. I was on radio signal 1 and so was he/she. So I switched it to radio signal 11. Less than 2 hours later, his/her network radio signal is also on 11. So I have my suspicions...

Yes, my network is closed now. Security has always been enabled at WPA2 but enabling security does nothing to remedy malicious radio interference (if that is what my neighbour is doing). The reason I want to set it to "close" (invisible) is so that if the neighbour is not savvy enough, s/he will think my network is gone and no longer try to use the same channel I am.
Yesterday, I realised the reason my Time Capsule backups were going so slowly is because my neighbour was using the same radio frequency as I was (Channel 1). His/her network has existed for a while now and we never clashed before. So I thought it must have been just conincidence. So then I switched over to Channel 11. Well, two hours later, his/her network was also on Channel 11 making my network go from speeds of 54 to 11. So, I thought this is possibly him/her playing around and interfering with my network so I decided to go "invisible."
You are right that someone who is a bit more knowledgeable can figure out what the invisible networks are. It's not that hard. Even I can use iStumbler to see them. But, may s/he is not that savvy--I'm hoping.
Enabling security does nothing for radio interference. I've always had WPA2 security on.

Airport Extreme multicast rate and closed network

New to Airport Extreme.
Is the multicast rate the same as the TX rate on other routers? I chose 11Mbps during the setup and my Macbook was very slow. I moved it back to 2 Mbps and it sped up. Distance from macbook to airport approx. 24 inches.
Other question/ statement. I assume that the closed network portion of the setup is the same as turning off the SSID of other routers. Do I assume correctly?

goldengti, Welcome to the discussion area!
Is the multicast rate the same as the TX rate on other routers?
Sorry I don't know about other routers. The multicast rate defines the minimum data rate the base station will use and maintain the wireless connection. If you set it to 11 Mbps, the wireless connection will be broken if that data rate can't be maintained.
Other question/ statement. I assume that the closed network portion of the setup is the same as turning off the SSID of other routers. Do I assume correctly?
Yes the same useless option. Regardless of how you set this option on any router, the SSID is still broadcast between any connected clients and the base station. Therefore it only takes a few seconds to discover the SSID.

Keychain and Closed Network

My airport network is closed, invisible, and uses WPA Personal security.
Normally, when I boot up/login, keychain took care of logging me in automatically into the network.
This past weekend, however, my keychain died. I have had to delete my past keychain entirely, and rebuild it from scratch.
Now, whenever I log on, I have to select Other from the Airport menu and manually enter all the information for the network, after which I can join just fine. However, I am never presented with an option to store the login into my keychain, so I have to do it every time. I am not sure how to enter it into keychain manually, as I never had to do this in the past.
Anyone know how I can make this automatic again?
I have played with locations and preferred networks in preferences, with no luck.

Problem magically disappeared. Not sure why.

Airport 7.4.1 Update and closed networks

I updated my Airport Extreme and Express with the new firmware (7.4.1), both Purchased Dec 2008. After the Express udpated, it didn't show up in Airport Utility. I reset the Express and it showed up, but I had to redo the settings, when I did it didn't show up again. So I plugged an Ethernet cable into the Express and it I could see it in the Airport Utility. The Utility app said the express could not find a wireless network. My network is closed (hidden) and this seems to be a problem with the 7.4.1 update. When I opened the network, the Express worked fine. I'm using WPA2 Personal encryption.
--Scott

guys, I had this problem and have logged an issue on this forum for a similar (exact?) issue of a *TC in bridge mode* on a 5GHz hidden (closed) network that *would not connect after V7.4.1 update.*
HOWEVER after speculating a DEFECT in the V7.4.1 formware that after sometime (an hour???+) the TC doe sfinally hidden network @ 5G and iraculously comes online and connects. I have made a mistake in thinking this is a defect.
so I think I might propose _firing up V7.4.1 firmware back on your TC_ and go visit some mates for a while and it is likley to be back on.
I recycled the TC (just did this again) and waited 10mins and yes it was back online!. Slack latency however it is back with V7.4.1
In anycase backing off to that flaky V7.3.2 is probabaly not a good way to go. V7.3.2 seemed vary unstable and had at least an issue of not corrcetly port forwarding port 21 (FTP control).
just a suggestion.
hth
w

Open and Closed network access?

Is it possible to have both an open network portion (no password), as well as a closed (password protected) network setup with a single Time Capsule/Airport Extreme device?
I want to keep my data protected with a password access to the network, but would like to also have an open network for guests that does not always require a password just to access the internet.
Thanks!

Can you clarify what you mean by "closed network"? Normally a "closed" network is one in which the name of the wireless network is not visible.
If you have a dual band AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule it is possible to set up a "main" network that is visible and password protected....and a "guest" network that is "open", not requiring a password to connect.
Important.......The guest network feature cannot be enabled if you are connecting the Extreme or Time Capsule to another gateway device.....a combination modem/router that is provided by a number of service providers.

AE and closed network...deactivated my AE and won't hard or factory reset

Hi there. Simply set my AE to a closed network, but didn't get a chance to set name and password before AE shut down. Now I can't gain green light by unplugging and replugging, soft, hard or factory reset. Ugh! I can't locate AE on Airport Utility 1)b/c not up and running and 2) b/c is now set as closed network.
Can anybody tell me a trick to resetting AE beyond all the given resets?
Can I access what the closed network settings (name/password) may be?
Thanks.

Sure... first I tried just unplugging but it plugged back in as amber light. Then I tried the reset button for 5 seconds. Then I tried for 10 seconds. Then I unplugged and plugged back in while holding reset button. I did this as outlined in the link above for resetting AE. With Admin utilities open the the settings named. The only time I can get a green light is the first moment it hits the socket, but it immediately goes solid amber. If I press and hold for 10 seconds I get 3 or 4 flashing green lights but it immediately goes amber (in this case, flashing amber)after the 3rd or 4th flashing green light.
When I connected AE via Ethernet cable, I had to hold reset for 10 sec to get flashing amber in order to view AE details in AirPort Admin Utilities. I get a flashing amber light and the base station is named in the Admin Utilities with the name,Ethernet (WAN), the AirPort ID and Apple Base Station V6.3. When I choose configure, I get the error message, "The AirPort Admin Utility was unable to read the configuration fo the selected base station. An error occurred while reading the configuration." I always get this far and get stuck.
Is it that the AE is not "green", or have I blocked access to reconfigure when I put it on a closed network? or both?
Thanks...
Tracy

Itunes v10.5.2 will not re-open after using it and closing it once on my Windows XP computer.

After installing the latest version of itunes, v10.5.2, on my Windows XP computer, I find that once I close itunes, it will not re-open until I restart my computer. The itunes icon remains in my system tray and is unresponsive. The only way I can use itunes after opening and closing it once is to restart my computer. I've checked for updates and support guidance on itunes.com to no avail. I've even tried uninstalling and reinstalling and it did not fix the problem. I was not having this problem with the previous version of itunes. Any advice.

Have you tried the following option also?:
- Close the frozen itunes using task manager
- In task manager go to the 'process' tab
- Find and select 'APSDaemon.exe'
- Click 'end process' then close the task manager
- Re-open iTunes.
With thanks to user 'Melboredom'

Remote app won't connect after using it and closing it

Hello,
I currently have iTunes 11.1.3.8 installed on my computer which runs Windows 7. I am trying to get the remote app to work on my iPhone 4S running iOS 7.0.3.
I connect to the Remote App using the remote 4-digit code. Once I do this it works while I have the app opened. But, once I close the app or iTunes I am not able to reconnect and I have to enter the 4-digit code again. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks!

THANKS!
I read that first article and think that we forgot to turn on Home Sharing on the iPod! I sent the link to them and hope it will solve the problem - will have to wait until they get back to me to see if that worked since they live pretty far from me...but I'm hopeful!
Thanks, again!

After using FF and closing it will not always reload and requires me to restart my computer, why?

After running FF and visiting different web sites and then closing down FF it will not restart without a restart of my computer. version 4.
I have uninstalled and re-installed FF several times to no avail.
I also have had the problem that when trying to read a complete article on Eurekalert.org I can only do so by opening in another tab rather than just being able to click on it to open.

https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox+hangs - see '''Hang_at_exit'''

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.

Unbearably slow Internet connection using WDS network

We have an old Airport Extreme (saucer, 802.11b/g) and an Airport Express (802.11n, b/g compatible). We're using the Extreme as a WDS main, and the Express as WDS relay. Wireless devices that connect to the Internet in our house include a MacBook Pro, a couple of iPhones, an iPod Touch, an XBox 360, and a PS3.
None of these wireless devices are in direct line of sight to the main base station. Typically, our connection to the Internet is decent for the XBox, which has almost a clear line of sight to the relay (Express) base station. On the other hand, the connection for the MacBook Pro, iPhones, and iPod, is extremely slow. Maybe the actual connection speeds are the same for all devices, but at least for the XBox online gaming works. (Haven't tried online gaming with the PS3 yet.)
The problem that compelled me to post this thread is the slow Internet connection to our MacBook. When our MacBook Pro is moved from its usual location to a place just a few feet away from the Extreme, download speeds are satisfactory (e.g. 10,000+ kbps measured using Speakeasy.net). However, when we sit farther away from the Extreme and are only a few feet from the Express, download speeds are dismal (200-300 kbps). The Internet connection is noticeably slow; web pages load like molasses, and watching streaming video is almost impossible. Upload speeds are usually about 7-10x faster, which is kind of strange.
Airtunes is off. We've tried setting up the Express base station as a WDS remote instead of relay, no difference. Allow wireless clients is turned on for both main and relay. Channel 1, WPA2 personal security.
Part of the problem may be due to the fact that our house is steel framed so, depending on location, the frame of the house may get in the way of our wireless network. But even if the MacBook is within 2 feet of the Express with NO walls or obstacles in between, the speed remains dismal. The line of sight from the Extreme (main) to the Express (relay) is impeded by a few obstacles but little in the way of walls.
However, if the MacBook is close to the Extreme, with good speeds, then I walk away and sit near the Express, I still get good download speeds. This lasts only a short time. Also, if I turn off Airport on my MacBook Pro and turn it back on again, speeds are back down right away.
I understand WDS cuts the bandwidth down substantially, so I decided to unplug the Express and just use the Extreme station, set to create a wireless network instead of participate as main in a WDS network. When I do this I get satisfactory speeds on the MacBook Pro, even sitting at a location where I used to get the slow speeds.
So at first I thought forgetting about WDS completely would seem to be the solution to the problem. That seems to be true for the MacBook, but when the Express is offline and the Extreme is the only base station, the XBox and PS3 now are the devices with a very poor connection to the Internet, as there are 3+ steel framed walls between the base station and the devices. When the WDS network is up, the XBox and PS3 are almost in direct line of sight to the relay station (but then I lose speed on the MacBook and other devices.)
I'm trying to find a solution that allows a good speed connection for all these devices. Right now I have to choose between a regular network with a good connection for my MacBook, or a WDS network that allows gaming but appears to be worthless for the MacBook.
Your assistance is most welcome.

I'm trying to find a solution that allows a good speed connection for all these devices.
The solution is to run an Ethernet cable from the LAN port on the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) to the AirPort Express (AX). Then you won't need to use WDS and you won't suffer the bandwidth penalty of WDS. Then you would configure both the AEBS and AX to create a wireless network using the same SSID (network name) and wireless encryption type/level/password. The AX should be configured to act as a bridge (not sharing a single IP address).

Font usage in CS6 Premiere , Open and Closed quotes??

Hello
I am trying to use open and closed quotes in CS6 Premiere, without any success.
Using a Mac 10.8.5.
When I try the alt shft [ and the shift [ it only uses one side of the quote.
Any suggestions?
Is this a software, settings or OS issue?
Thank you
I am working on deadline....
Brian

One side? I'm confused. You mean want these?
But you're only seeing this?

Officejet Pro L7780 Wired and wireless networking at same time

I have an officejet pro L7780 printer that I would like to use wired and wireless networking at the same time. It that possible. The printer is connected directly to the network by ethernet, but I would like to print wirelessly with an ipad or iphone using HP ePrint Home and Biz.
Thanks,
Maurice Hawley

The bad news: no it is not possible to have two connections active on your printer at once.
The good news: the router will connect any device to the printer regardless of how the printer or the devices are connected. So your iPad can print to a printer that is wired (with Ethernet) to your router.
If it does not work, restart your router by pulling its power plug momentarily.
Say thanks by clicking "Kudos" "thumbs up" in the post that helped you.
I am employed by HP

"closed network" setting in a WDS network

I've just shifted to the APExtreme after many years in LinksysLand. I've recycled an old old APExpress (circa '04) and combined the two in a WDS network, in order to boost signal on the other side of that metal elevator. (Yes, I know WDS is less efficient...but the price was right, etc).
I prefer to suppress SSID broadcast, so I set both base and remote stations to "closed network." But then the MacBook and iPhone couldn't see the network - either station. Turn that option off on the Express (remote station) only, and the devices see the network and set up on the Express G channels. Meanwhile, down the hall, everybody can see the Extreme, and those that can use the 5gHz channels do so, with that set as a "closed network."
What am I missing? Or not understanding about WDS? thx

Unfortunately that option is simply a deception to the user and offers a false sense of security. The network name is still broadcast between any connected client and the base station. Therefore the network name is easily discovered.
The only thing enabling that option does successfully is cause connection and configuration problems. The option is best avoided.

Using WDS and Closed Network

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