HT204617: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)

Learn about Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
Retired Guy

Q: Anyone have experience with using a AT&T UVerse wifi base as the base for a wifi connection to the Airport Extreme?  It seems very close to this configuration (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259).

Does anyone have experience with using a AT&T UVerse wifi base as the base for a wifi connection to the Airport Extreme?  It seems very close to this configuration (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259).

 

This would be to remotely locate the Airport Extreme from the AT&T wifi hub so they do not have to be connected via an ethernet wire.

 

Any hints or steps like the Airport-to-Airport setup would be very much appreciated. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259 .

 

Thanks!

AirPort Extreme 802.11n (4th Gen), Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Aug 6, 2012 11:40 AM

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Q: Anyone have experience with using a AT&T UVerse wifi base as the base for a wifi connection to the Airport Extreme?  It s ... more

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 6, 2012 11:54 AM in response to Retired Guy
    Level 10 (105,348 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 6, 2012 11:54 AM in response to Retired Guy

    Sorry, but you will notice that the support article involves extending the wireless signal between two Apple devices.

     

    Apple's "extend" feature was designed to only work with other Apple routers. It is not compatible with Uverse for this purpose.

     

    If you want to use an AirPort Extreme with the Uverse router, it must be connected back to the Uverse router using a wired Ethernet connection.

     

    If you cannot do this, you have two other options:

     

    Add a second AirPort Extreme, so one Extreme will be very close to the Uverse router and will then "extend" using wireless only to the second AirPort Extreme

     

    or

     

    Check with Uverse to see if they have a compatible product that would work with their router to extend the wireless network.

  • by Retired Guy,

    Retired Guy Retired Guy Aug 6, 2012 11:56 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2012 11:56 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks for your input. I was afraid that would be the answer.  I currently have the Airport Extreme wired to the AT&T wifi base.  I want to use the Airport Extreme on the 2nd floor of my house to get some exteneded wifi coverage, but do not have a wired way to do this.  The wifi extension, like the Airport to Airport scheme seemed to be a good idea, but alas, requires another piece of Apple hardware.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 6, 2012 11:59 AM in response to Retired Guy
    Level 10 (105,348 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 6, 2012 11:59 AM in response to Retired Guy

    The wifi extension, like the Airport to Airport scheme seemed to be a good idea, but alas, requires another piece of Apple hardware.

    The new dual band AirPort Express would do a nice job for you of extending the wireless signal from the "main" AirPort Extreme if you decide to go that route.

  • by Michael Black,Helpful

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 6, 2012 12:01 PM in response to Retired Guy
    Level 7 (25,299 points)
    Aug 6, 2012 12:01 PM in response to Retired Guy

    So, maybe this is a good time to get completely away from the Uverse for wifi?  The Uverse gateway's wifi is 802.11g only, so you could try going to your own wifi router and airport express for extension of the signal from there - then have an entirely 802.11n wifi subnet.

     

    I turned off my Uverse gateways wifi, and just use my own 802.11n router for wifi (it is a Netgear WNDR4500) so I would have 802.11n between my connected machines.

  • by Retired Guy,Helpful

    Retired Guy Retired Guy Aug 6, 2012 12:05 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2012 12:05 PM in response to Michael Black

    Thank Michael. In either case a new piece of hardware is needed. 

    My Airport Extreme is s/n 210150UUACC.  I am trying to find it specific specs on Apple web site.  Do you know where I can find that?  After that, I think I'll find my APextreme is a multi-band device with N service.  I could then find a new or used APExpress to act as my wireless base to my APExtreme.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 6, 2012 12:12 PM in response to Retired Guy
    Level 7 (25,299 points)
    Aug 6, 2012 12:12 PM in response to Retired Guy

    The specs will be in the peripherals section - http://support.apple.com/specs/ but you will need a model number not a serial number.

     

    I think every extreme since 2009 (2nd generation ?) has been simultaneous dual band (the first generation were not - they were dual band, but not simultaneous dual band, but they may have been the only ones that were not).

  • by Retired Guy,

    Retired Guy Retired Guy Aug 6, 2012 12:25 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2012 12:25 PM in response to Michael Black

    I found it Michael, thanks. The s/n did it.  My APExtreme is a N-model, 4th generation.  I'm thinking an APExpress ($99) would be a pretty foolproof way to set up a wireless base for the N subnet.That should work just like two APExtremes, OR am I better off going with a brand new APExtreme (5th Gen) as either the base or extended router?

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 6, 2012 12:37 PM in response to Retired Guy
    Level 7 (25,299 points)
    Aug 6, 2012 12:37 PM in response to Retired Guy

    It has been a couple of years since I've messed around with any Apple wifi routers, so I'll let someone else advice on that (but I think you would be good to go with what you have and a APexpress).

     

    Just remember to go into the UVerse settings (admin password is printed on it) and disable the UVersie wireless radio before plugging in your own wifi router.

     

    P.S. there are lots of folks with Airport extremes over on the AT&T community forums as well, so that will be a good place to look at alternate setups for your devices, depending on just how you want to set up your network.