WDS network setup

I have had two of the older Flying Saucer type Airport Extremes connected in a WDS for a long time. The main one was connected to the internet via a dsl modem. The other one is connected to a USB printer and it worked quite nicely thanks to Bonjour.
I just setup a brand new Square Airport Extreme with a new iMac and it is working with the dsl very well so far. I'd like to get the two older Aorport Extreme's to join in a new WDS network.
Do I have to reset those old bases first? Wipe them clean and start from Scratch? Currently, the new base doesn't seem to want to connect to the older ones which are still setup as the old network.
Setting up a WDS was aways a little confusing. A step by step setup guide would be a nice touch.
Thanks
Dave

Put both Base Stations, and the Mac you are using to run the configuration, in the same room - preferably the room with the Base Station connected to the cable modem. Don't try to take a shortcut by not doing this. This way you eliminate any chance of wireless communications problems messing with the process. You can move the remote base station anywhere you want after you are done - its configuration settings will be retained even if you have to unplug it from power.
Do a hard reset of the Base Station that is going to be the remote, to get it back into its default configuration state.
Run the Airport Utility, and rather than trying to set everything up manually as you are doing now, let the Airport Utility guide you through the process of configuring the second base station as a remote base station that "extends" the wireless network of the main base station. Letting the Airport Utility take care of the setup shouldn't take you more than a few minutes.

Similar Messages

WDS Network setup Issues

I'm trying to setup a WDS Network with two APEBS's. One is in a small bedroom with the cable modem (no choice as to it's placement) and the other is in my office, with all of my printers connected. I've done hard resets on all stations. I setup the Main AEBS, WDS enabled with the Remote AEBS ID entered. Then I setup the remote base station, entering the same network name/password, enabling WDS and entering the ID for the Main station.
Upon updating the Remote station, the Main station disappears from the Airport Utility. The only way I can get it to come back is to unplug the Remote station, and turn off/on Airport capabilities.
I simply cannot have both setup and functioning at the same time. I've tried it with and without network security, double-checking every setting meticulously. I've successfully set this up before and after six hours of fighting this I'm at a total loss.
HELP!

Put both Base Stations, and the Mac you are using to run the configuration, in the same room - preferably the room with the Base Station connected to the cable modem. Don't try to take a shortcut by not doing this. This way you eliminate any chance of wireless communications problems messing with the process. You can move the remote base station anywhere you want after you are done - its configuration settings will be retained even if you have to unplug it from power.
Do a hard reset of the Base Station that is going to be the remote, to get it back into its default configuration state.
Run the Airport Utility, and rather than trying to set everything up manually as you are doing now, let the Airport Utility guide you through the process of configuring the second base station as a remote base station that "extends" the wireless network of the main base station. Letting the Airport Utility take care of the setup shouldn't take you more than a few minutes.

Airport Extreme WDS network setup

I'm new to Apple stuff. I have a Dell Desktop running XP and a Dell laptop and IBM laptop running the same. I tried setting up a WDS network, I have an Extreme and 3 Expresses to connect to my receivers, Slingbox, etc. My desktop gets internet through the Extreme using an Ethernet cable, and we can see the network on our laptops, but when it tries to connect it gives us the "limited or no connectivity" issue. We've connected to it before wirelessly and had it work, but very rarely. Also, in the Airport Utility, it does not seem to pick up any of the Expresses even though I added their Airport IDs to the WDS network. Please help, I've definitely hit a dead end on this one. Thanks.

Time Capsule, 1TB. (0x168C, 0x9A) 80211n
Apple Express (I can't find the model number!! Though I know it is "newer" than my Time Capsule Extreme.
Both using 7.6.4
Three Apple TV's.
Sonos Music system setup in the house...separate network.
Internet service provided by ARRIS modem...from Comcast.
My goal? To have the fastest and most stable system in my house. To take advantage of the Airport Express for extending my network, physically.
Thanks!

Can't extend my existing Express b/g WDS network with new Express n

Hi all,
For the past 2 years I have been using a very simple Airport Express b/g wireless network setup. I have two of the older generation b/g Expresses and I've created a WDS network where the main Express is connected to my broadband modem and participates to my WDS as "main" and the relay Express is configured to participate to this WDS as "relay". This setup works flawlessly and I was very happy with it. Note: the firmware version on both units is 6.3.
Recently, I wanted to extend the range of this network. I've bought and received the newer generation Express n. To my surprise, setting it up to extend my already existing b/g WDS is simply impossible. Below is a summary of the situation:
1) The firmware was updated to 7.3.1 as soon as I opened the Airport Utility.
2) The automatic setup wizard in Airport Utility was incapable of extending my current b/g WDS with the Express n. (Green light on but no wifi coming from the new Express n).
3) I've tried countless times to reset and manually reconfigure the new Express n as "remote" in the WDS configuration panel and connect it to either my "main" Express (b/g) or the "relay" Express (b/g). Both "main" and "relay" Expresses (b/g) were also configured to extend WDS to the new "remote" Express n. I've tried to scrupulously follow instructions found in other posts/discussion forums on how to do that.
4) I then tried to make the new Express n as the "main" base station in the WDS. I could successfully connect it to the Internet (Express n connected to broaddand modem via ethernet) and receive wifi from it, but it was impossible to establish a working WDS with my other two b/g Expresses, both reconfigured as "relay" and "remote" in the WDS (again using the instructions from people who succeeded in having both b/g and n units in the same WDS).
5) Adding to all the difficulties in configuring, hard-reseting and reconfiguring each Express, I would very often be in a situation where Airport Utility only sees 1, 2 or none of my 3 Expresses. Rebooting my Mac was the only thing that enabled me to see them again.
6) After about 7 hours trying to figure out how to work this thing without any good results, I've decided to call out for help. In my situation, there seems to be an intrinsic incompatibility between older b/g Express and the newer Express n, at least for WDS network setup.
If anyone is in the same situation and has found a solution to the problem your help will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Good news everyone: don't despair, there is hope! After nearly 10 hours of configuration, I finally have a WDS with all three AXs (two b/gs and one n). woohoo!
OK, so here's how I did it:
The main idea here was to replace my "relay" b/g AX with the new n AX.
1) The first thing I did was to reconfigure my "main" b/g AX (the one connected to my modem) so that it can transmit to the new n AX: I simply added the Airport ID of my new n AX in the WDS "remotes" list inside the WDS configuration panel of the "main" b/g AX. I then did an Update Reboot on the "main" b/g AX.
2) After that, I did a Hard reset on the new n AX and plugged it near my old "relay" b/g AX. I then went in Airport Utility, scanned for the new n AX and asked the wizard to "Replace an existing Base Station". It gives you a list of all the base stations your computer has interacted with. I selected the old "relay" b/g AX. The wizard then asked to unplug the base station that is going to be replaced. Did that, and then I did an Update Reboot on the newly configured "relay" n AX.
3) I've rechecked the configuration of the new "relay" n AX, and to my surprise, it wasn't exactly the same as the one for my old "relay" b/g AX. Specifically, I had to manually reconfiguring the whole WDS settings. I had to tell it to "Participate in a WDS", re-input the Aiport ID of the "main" AX and also put the Airport ID of the "remote" AX (the old b/g I'd replaced see below - 5) in the "remotes" list. Once that was re-configured, I updated and rebooted.
4) At that point I had wifi coming from: my "main" b/g AX and now my new "relay" n AX. Yeay! that was the first time I had interaction between b/g and n units.
5) I then went to reconfigure the old "relay" b/g AX and set it up as "remote" and connected it via WDS to the new "relay" n AX. Configuring a b/g AX is a piece of cake compared to the newer n AX!
6) I am very happy to report that it all simply works now! All three AXs are happily talking to each other now. Hooray!
I am almost clueless on why performing these specific steps made it work but it did. My reasoning is that by letting Airport Utility automatically configure the n AX with the configuration data of an old b/g AX it might have changed some settings that were too hidden from view when done manually.
Thanks to dchao99 for input, and Mike hang in there. Try to follow my steps, it might also work for you!
Good luck to all of you.

New Airport Extreme N wireless network setup questions (WDS, D-Link)

I have finally been able to set up my Airport Extreme N network after numerous attempts over the last few weeks. I was getting a very weak signal in front of the house where my wife's G4 is connected wireless to an old Airport card and where all the systems (XBOX 360; Wii and PS3) are also wirelessly hitting the network.
The current configuration is as follows: In the office in the back of the house I have an Airport Extreme N basestation connected to the cable modem and have three workstations (One Mac and two PCs) wired to it. I set up a WDS network, so I set up the Airport Expresses as remotes. In the living room I have another Airport Extreme N basestation (as a remote as well) that is hooking up to the XBOX 360, Wii and PS3. I have enabled WEP security (not effecting the XBOX 360 since it is now "wired"). Here is the weird thing - I have a PC laptop with a D-Link Xtreme N card ( DWA-652) that cannot connect to the network. I enter the WEP password but it does not connect. Am I missing something on the basestation setup? Do I need to add the MAC address of the card anywhere. When I use the laptop's built in wireless it connects with no problem. By creating a WDS network did I disable the n functionality of the base station(s)? I am a lttle condused.
Also, prior to going to an all Apple wireless network setup, I bought the D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router (DIR-655). I was regretfully about to return it to Best Buy but I had an idea which may or may not work. I know that the D-Link does not support WDS but if I was to set it up as the main router and added the "main" Airport basestation as a wired bridge could I maintain the WDS network? The reason I ask this is because I would love to keep the gigabit for the wired machines in the office. Also, I am wondering if the D-Link notebook card is incompatible with the Airport network.
All I know is that I have spent alot of money and sleepless nights just trying to set this network up but thankfully Best Buy has a thirty day return policy so I will return what I can't use.
I appreciate any help and advice anyone can give me.
Thanks.
V
MacPro Mac OS X (10.4.9)
MacPro Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Hello!
I have noticed that some manufacturers (Linksys and possibly D-LINK) only accept upper-case WEP keys only.
This drove me nuts when trying to integrate a Linksys PC PCMCIA card into my old "g" network.
As far as using WEP, it's bad and broken; but I understand that your choice of security is limited to the devices that you are trying to network.
For what it's worth, I have my network set up with the AEBS 'n' connected to my Cable Modem, with one of the ports going to a gigabit switch for my wired network. I then have two AirTunes set up as WDS extensions for music & Internet delivery to two separate areas. The AEBS 'n" serves up DHCP and routing for the entire network.
It works quite well; I get 54 mbits/sec for the two WDS AirTunes, and 145 mbits/sec to one of my ATV's. My gigabit wired machines see data rates of 15-27 MBytes/sec (depending on the type of transfer).
Good luck!

Airport Extreme setup problems on existing WDS network - Please help!

I just bought a Time Capsule and have setup a WDS network for the house. The Airport Express joins the network just fine as a remote WDS device. I cannot get the Airport Extreme (v5.7) to join the same network. It just continues to make a *separate network with the same name* despite the Channel being the same, the WDS being set to remote, and the main ID of the Time Capsule has been put in correctly. In other words, since I setup the airport Express correctly, I cannot figure out for the life of me why the Airport Extreme is not joining correctly.
PLEASE HELP. I've been trying this for 6 hours now and countless total restarts by hard resets of all the equipment.

Hello arthung. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Let's double-check your 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 for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS.)
o Perform a "hard" reset on the Time Capsule (TC) and a "hard" reset on the 802.11b/g AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS).
Main Base Station Setup - TC
o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the TC.
o Open AirPort Utility.
o Select the TC, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base
Station menu.
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 AX.
o Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
Remote Base Station Setup - AEBS
o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the AX.
o Open AirPort Utility.
o Select the AX, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
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.
(ref: Pages 42-46 of "Designing AirPort Networks.)

Is it possible to setup a WDS network with separate SSID's?

Is it possible to setup a WDS network with separate SSID's? I'm using two AirPort Extreme N devices.

Welcome to the discussions!
+Is it possible to setup a WDS network with separate SSID's+
In order to "extend a wireless network", the network must have the same SSID.
If you have dual band AirPort Extreme devices, this is the only way that you will be able to extend both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Use the same SSID for both bands on the "main" AirPort Extreme and be sure to check the box to "Allow this network to be extended".
On the remote Extreme, set the Wireless Mode to "Extend a wireless network" and choose the name of the network on the "main" Extreme to extend. Enter the same security and password.
For more information and Apple's step by step on this, refer to pages 43-44 in the Apple AirPort Networks Guide.

Airport WDS Network and the 5GHz Option

Setting up any Airport base station with basic settings is simple but there always seem to be options that are not well covered in the 'manual' when setting up slightly more complex networks. I'm hoping someone can provide some clarification on our configuration or parhaps some advice.
For many years we have used a series of generations of Aiport basestations to create a WDS (wireless distributed) network. This is where one base station is the master and other base stations extend the range of the network wirelessly. This is not a set of wireless basestations creating an extended network by sitting on an ethernet backbone - that's a different configuration.
Anyway, we now have a Time Capsule, an Airport Extreme, and an Airport Express. The Time Capsule is the master and the other two base stations extend the network. By default, the basestations select the channel automatically but we have selected manual channels because we have neightbours that all seem to want to sit on channel 1. We've opted for channel 13, a less used channel.
[Internet ADSL Modem]
|
[Airport Extreme] ---- [Time Capsule] ---- [Airport Express]
The Extreme and the Express both operate in Bridge Mode only, that is, they simply extend the configuration of the master basestation and do not ditribute private addresses or do any NAT. I reckon this keeps it simple. Any changes made on the Time Capsule - such as Access Control changes - are pushed out to the other two stations automatically. This seems to be a significant improvement over version 5 of the airport software.
My main question relates to the 5GHz network option. I can turn on a 5GHz discrete network on the Time Capsule. It receives a unique name so it's clearly distinguished from the 2.4GHz network when connecting to it on our Macs. You would expect the other two base stations to be able to extend the 5GHz network too but their 5GHz options remain turned off by default. I can turn them on manually but I'm not sure if they should all be configured to work on the same channel or even if turning them on at all is a good idea.
Over the years, the setup of a WDS network has become easier (if only for the reason that Apple has removed some of the more confusing options and simply enables them in background). But the 5GHz network configuration is far from clear. Any advice anyone might have would be much appreciated. Thanks.

My main question relates to the 5GHz network option. I can turn on a 5GHz discrete network on the Time Capsule. It receives a unique name so it's clearly distinguished from the 2.4GHz network when connecting to it on our Macs. You would expect the other two base stations to be able to extend the 5GHz network too but their 5GHz options remain turned off by default.
It appears as if your Time Capsule is a simultaneous dual band version which produces both a a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network.....and you have enabled the option to assign a separate name to the 5 GHz network.
If both your AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express are also simultaneous dual band versions, they can extend both the 2.4 GHz and 5 Ghz signals from the Time Capsule.......but only if the Time Capsule is configured to use the same wireless network name for both bands.
The simultaneous dual band version of the AirPort Express is easy to identify......it looks like a miniature AirPort Extreme. Check the Model No on the bottom of the AirPort Extreme and report back with that to find out if your AirPort is simultaneous dual band.
Earlier versions of the AirPort Extreme could produce a 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz network, but not both at the same time.
Once we have clarification on your AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express, we can decide on the options that will be available to you as far as "extending" both bands.

Solution for Poor signal in a wireless WDS network with two Airport Extreme

I have just bought my second Airport Extreme to create a wireless network with the best possible signal. I have one Airport Extreme in my office and the second one (supposedly the remote base) in the living room, two brick walls and 7 meters away. I have follow Apple instructions for the setup, main base "Create a Wifi Network" and Extend network option selected. The remote "join an existent network" and Allow wifi clients selected. According to Apple this is a WDS network between two Airport Extreme.
The network is working and the signal from my iMac is very good in my Office. In the living room the signal with my PC laptop is also very good.
Problem is that my iPod Touch OS 3.0 (I use it as a remote control in my living room with a twonky media server) gets now a very weak wifi signal in my living room, in many cases I lose the wifi sgnal although I sit two meters away from the remote Airport Extreme in the Living Room. If I go to my office with the iPod, then I get a good signal.
I think that only the first Airport Extreme in my Office (Main Base) is emitting a wifi signal and the second Airport Extreme (remote) is only receiving the wifi signal not making a repetition of the wifi signal. (Sorry for my explanation, I am not technical on this.)
I thought that, in a WDS configuration, the remote Airport Extreme WAS suppose to also replicate the wifi signal in my living room.
I have also tried a WDS manual setup with the two airport with the same results.
Is there a solution for this?. Do I have to connect the two Airport Extreme with a wire ethernet in order to be able to have a wifi signal strong enough in my living room for my iPod Touch?.
Thank you for your time.

Thank you Bob for your time.
I understand from your words that with a DHCP reservation I can force de Airport Extreme Main Base to assign an specific IP to a particular client in the network. Is that correct?. If that is the case, I will reserve the 10.0.1.3 to the Twonky Media Server (I need this to be fixed to this IP) and I will change the configuration of the remote Airport Extreme to DHCP automatic.
I will give it a try in a few days. I have spent so many hours with this set up that I am a bit terrified to start again today, to tired from work.
Just one last question. Setting up the remote Airport was very difficult with the Airport Utility. I had to reset and start many times as I always got two errors in the set up:
1.- Internet not connected.
After a minute or so, most of the time the problem was corrected automatically as the remote found the main base that is connected to the internet. I got a confirmation message for this.
2.- Second problem was that Airport Utility said that it could no connect the remote to the specified network. Sometimes (not always) the remote light turn green both in the Airport Extreme and in the Airport Utility, BUT I never got confirmation of a successful installation. Nevertheless, the connection was established because the wifi network exist.
Do I have to "disable the WAN port" during the installation of the remote Airport to avoid the problems?.
Best Regards,
Fernando

Connecting to specific routers within a WDS network

I have two routers that are successfully operating on a WDS network.
The primary router is a linksys WRT54G v2.2 with dd-wrt firmware and the secondary router is an airport express. The express has my xbox connected to it allowing me to connect to the network and i have it configured to play videos from my macbook and desktop pc.
I know that because the primary router is not the airport extreme that the WAN connection is bottlenecked by the ISP, however i would like to be able to stream HD video - as well as transfer large files between my xbox, pc, and macbook - while utilizing the 802.11n functionality of the airport extreme.
Is it possible to force my macbook to selectively connect to the airport extreme in order to acheive the higher data transfer rates while bypassing the linksys router?

+I've concluded that the firmware in the newer version of the AX must ave been enhanced to permit the use of the ethernet port when it's extending a network.+
The AirPort Express 802.11n has a feature called ProxySTA which allows the ethernet port to be enabled when the device "joins" virtually any wireless network. The Express does not "extend" the wireless network when it "joins"
The 802.11n AirPort Express also works in conjunction with another Apple "n" router to allow the wireless network to be extended without the speed loss and bandwidth drop associated with WDS. The "extend" feature only works among Apple devices on a network.
When the Express is setup to "extend a wireless network", the ethernet port is also active.

Connecting an 802.11n Express to an older WEP-enabled WDS network

I have a domed 802.11g Extreme base station connected to an older (802.11g) Express in a 128-bit WEP enabled WDS network - works great.
I recently purchased a new 802.11n Express and would like to add it as another remote in my WDS. The new Airport Setup Utility will not allow me to set up the new Express as a remote in a WDS network with 128-bit WEP. The closest I can get is WEP Transitional Security Network. When setting it up this way, it demanded a 13-character password -- which I dutifully supplied AFTER changing the password on my domed Extreme to the same thing. After all this effort - the new Express won't get past the blinking yellow light thus requiring me to reset it using the manual reset button.
I can get this same unit to "join" my existing network just fine. In that case, it accepts 128-bit WEP without a whimper.
Is there a basic compatibility problem here? Can I get the new unit to connect to the old 128-bit WEP network by using Transitional Security Network? Do I need to update the whole network to WPA? Or is there some other issue here that has nothing to do with the security issue?
Thanks for any help.

Hello Tim Hopmann. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
You should be able to access the "earlier" WEP modes by first changing the radio mode on the 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) to one of the non-"n" modes. To do so, just be sure to hold down the <Option> key before making the radio mode selection in the AirPort Utility. Once you choose one of these non-"n" modes, the WEP 40 & 128-bit options become available.

Airport extreme/express network setup

i'm sure this has been covered in general but lan equipment and requirements vary widely (plus most of my wireless experience is w/non-apple routers), so here goes. i have the following hardware
airport extreme (802.11n) running 7.5.2 (might downgrade to 7.4.x based on comments in this forum) connected to cable modem
2 airport express (v6.3) connected wirelessly to ap extreme
1 airport express (v6.3) connected via ethernet (wd powerline) to ap extreme
what i'd like:
ap extreme base to be the only SSID & DHCP server on the network.
the 2 wireless expresses to provide wider coverage in the main house.
the express connected via ethernet to provide wireless signal/access in the detached guest house (trying to run it wirelessly does not get a strong enough signal, hence the powerline ethernet), but only as an extension to the extreme base.
when a device (laptop, phone, etc.) connects, it should use the closest / strongest wireless signal, but always think there is only 1 network/connection config. and, when one moves between house and guest house, connected device will auto 'roam'.
whoever set this up, set the extreme to be running in WDS mode (WDS main). however, it complains that it is the only WDS device on the network (see next ???).
the 2 wireless expresses are set to 'Participate in WDS' (WDS remote)
in order to get the ethernet-connected express to work, i had to give it its own SSID and set it to 'Create wireless network'.
it does work, but there are 2 networks, no roaming, and error message on ap extreme base re:WDS config.
questions:
1) what mode should the extreme base use ('Create wireless network' or 'Participate in WDS network')?
2) what settings (WDS or wireless) for the wireless expresses?
3) what mode should the ethernet-connected express use ('Create wireless network', 'Participate in WDS network' or 'Join wireless network')?
4) anything special i need to know to get the roaming to work reliably?
5) any suggestion (due to missing questions :-)?
tx for any info. i could try all the permutations & combinations of config (actually, i've already tried a number of them , but tired of running up/downstairs and to/fro resetting devices, so i thought i would ask for help from people with more experience background.
mack

Hi, mackiemesser. Welcome to the forums!
So if I understand correctly, your setup looks like this:
<hr>
• Express #1, Express #2, and the Extreme should be set to "Participate in a WDS."
• The Extreme needs to be told that Expresses #1 and #2 will be WDS Remotes. (You'll have to enter their MAC addresses.)
• Expresses #1 and #2 need to be told that the Extreme will be their WDS Main. (You'll have to enter its MAC address.)
• Express #3 should indeed be set to "Create a wireless network" but should use the same SSID and password that your other wireless network uses.
• All Expresses should be configured to operate in Bridge Mode. In Manual Setup, click "Internet" in the toolbar and choose "Off (Bridge Mode)" from the "Connection Sharing" popup menu.
• The Extreme should not be in Bridge Mode. It should instead "Share a public IP."
<hr>
A few suggestions:
• Write down the MAC addresses of all your Extremes. This saves a lot of time when you're setting up the WDS.
• Sometimes after you change the WDS settings for one AirPort on the network, it confuses the other AirPorts in the WDS, and you get network problems until all of the AirPorts agree on WDS information. In this case, if you can't see an AirPort in AirPort Utility, connect that AirPort to the computer via Ethernet. In fact, it might save time to gather all your AirPorts and plug them in next to your computer for the WDS setup process so that you can easily connect via Ethernet if necessary.
• Using a WDS dramatically decreases your network performance. Every time you add a WDS Remote, you decrease your maximum network speed by 50%. Newer AirPorts support 802.11n and have a feature that allows you to extend your wireless network without as much overhead as a WDS, but all AirPorts in the wireless network that's extended must support 802.11n.

WDS networking issue - Airport Extreme (802.11n) and remote Airport Express

*Background Info:*
Airport Extreme 802.11n (Fast Ethernet)
Version: 7.2.1
Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network (set as main)
Network Name: @Home
Wireless Security: WPA/WPA2 Personal
Channel: 1
Airport Express
Version: 6.3
Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network (set as remote)
Network Name: @Home
Wireless Security: WPA/WPA2 Personal
Channel: 1
Radio Mode: 802.11b/g compatible
Connect Using: AirPort (WDS)
Connection Sharing: Off (Bridge Mode)
Issue
Please help as I'm having issues with my WDS network. I've setup using both the wizard and manual and also hard reset on both units to setup again but cannot get them both to communicate to one another. Both units are showing green LED under their configuration. For my last attempt, I've tried adding the Airport ID (MAC) of the Airport Express to the Access Control and also DHCP Reservations on the Airport Extreme but still no luck.
The Airport Express (setup as remote) does not even show up in the Airport Extreme's Summary as Wireless Clients. In the WDS tab, the Airport Extreme is set up as WDS main, Allow wireless clients box checked and WDS Remotes has the Airport Express' AirPort ID in the list. On the Airport Express, WDS is set up as remote, with Allow wireless client box checked and the Airport ID of the Airport Express in the WDS Main.
I can connect clients to both units. Both units are configured using the same Network Name and have the same WPA/WPA2 security key. The Airport Extreme (main) however is connected to my broadband so any devices or clients connected to it are able to get outside. Connected devices or clients are assigned IP address via DHCP with IP 10.0.x.x. If wifi devices or clients connect to the Airport Express (remote) they are assigned a completely different IP addresses 169.254.x.x, they are not able to browse the internet or talk to other clients connected on the 10.0.1.x network. The Internet Connection configuration on the Airport Express (remote) is Connect Using Airport (WDS) and Using DHCP. I've even tried manually and entered the IP address 10.0.1.199 that I had assigned to the Airport Express from the Airport Extreme and Router Address as IP of Airport Extreme (10.0.1.1).
I think I've tried everything but I'm still having this problem. The remote Airport Express is not extending my existing Airport Extreme network. Any ideas???

Christopher,
This may or may not be helpful, or it may be something you've already tried or are aware of so I apologize if that's the case.
I have been researching ways to set up the Dual Band Network supported by the AEBS and came across your post. I've got an AEBS and (2) AirPort Express set-up currently (AEBS is main and the Express are participating in the WDS as remotes) and I'm trying to configure one of the Express to utilize a 802.11b/g compatible network while the AEBS runs a 5Ghz 802.11n Only network.
AAR, since the AirPort Express are 2.4Ghz 802.11b/g ONLY (no support for 802.11n), you have to be sure to set-up your AEBS first and select "802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)" in the Radio Mode drop-down on the AEBS before you attempt to connect an AirPort Express. The AEBS should be set-up as your "WDS main" and the Express should be set-up as a "WDS remote" for the network you established when you set-up the AEBS.
Bottom line here is the Express won't be seen by the AEBS unless the AEBS is 'looking' in the 802.11b/g 2.4Ghz frequency.
Hope this was helpful.

Temporary Network Setup Issues

Over the next 10 days I will be camping and spending time with mother nature... and my Macbook Pro of course! A few friends and myself rented a couple RV's and have them stationed outside of the farmers house where we are staying. Lucky for us the farmer has DSL (located in his basement) and we were able to conjure up 2 Airport Extremes and 1 Airport Express. The way I currently have the network setup is something like this: Airport Express is plugged into the DSL modem with the wireless set to 802.11n 2.4ghz and extending this network is allowed. The first Airport Extreme is located in a windowsill on the other side of the basement and is set to join and extend the network created by the Airport Express. The other Airport Extreme is in my RV and is set to join and extend the network created by the Airport Express.
The problem I'm having is a couple older Macbook Pro's and sometimes my new Macbook Pro are not connecting to the closest Airport Extreme (in the RV) and our iPhones are not finding a network at all? Any ideas why the iPhones and Macbook Pro's are connecting to the Airport Extreme located in the RV?
Version: 7.4.2
Nework Name: CF
No Security
Airport Express: Channel 1 - IP 192.168.1.39
Airport Extreme 1: Channel 149, 1 - IP 192.168.1.154
Airport Extreme 2: Channel 149, 1 - IP 192.168.1.149
DNS Servers for all 3 are set to: 192.168.1.1
Connection Sharing is Off or (Bridge Mode)
Thanx!

See if any of the following helps you to facilitate the WDS set up:
o Perform a "factory default" reset on all of the AirPorts used in the WDS.
o Be sure to record the AirPort IDs of each of the base station used in the WDS as you will need these during the setup through the AirPort Utility.
o 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.
o To avoid having to "switch" wireless networks during the WDS setup, attach each of the remote/relay base station, via an Ethernet cable, to the main base station. Of course, this would be dependent on the AirPort types used for the main/relays/remotes.
o Be sure to jot down the MAC addresses for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS as these will be required during the setup.
o When enabling wireless encryption, configure the relay/remote base stations first and the main base station last.

Difference between an Extended 802.11n Network and a WDS Network?

If the question is confusing, I'm referring to the article here...
http://www.macgurulounge.com/started-learn-extend-airport-networks-wds/
Why would I choose one over the other? Is it just that WDS works with mixed (b/g/n) networks, while an "extended n" requires every station to be n-compatible?
Thanks.

The "extend a wireless network" setup maintains "n" speeds on the network. All of the AirPorts on the network must be capable of "n" operation in order to run the configuration.
WDS runs on maximum "g" speeds only, even if you have a newer "n" AirPort device on the network. If you have any "g" AirPort router on the network, you must use the WDS configuration. It's not possible to run the "extend" setup on an older "g" AirPort device.
There's a huge bandwidth penalty using WDS. For each "remote" on the network, the bandwidth on the entire network is cut in half. So, with a "main" and "remote" operating on a WDS setup, you'll have in effect, a "g" wireless network running at 1/2 speed. Not very attractive, but you have no alternative if any of the routers on the network are "g" products.
If all of the AirPorts are newer "n" devices, you would obviously want to use the "extend" setup to maintain "n" speeds on the entire network with much less bandwidth loss compared to WDS.

WDS network setup

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