Tim Hassett

Q: Setting Up Roaming - New AirPort Extremes and Utility

Hello Everyone,

 

I just purchased two new AirPort Extreme units (the new 802.11ac capable ones) and want to setup a roaming network whereby the 2nd APE is upstairs and is connected via ethernet to the first APE down in the basement where my internet connection comes in. 

 

Like this:

 

Cable modem ---ethernet---->  APE 1 downstairs ------ethernet------>  APE 2 upstairs. 

 

My question:

 

- How is this done using the most current version of the AirPort utility for OS X?  (version 6.3)

- Because I'm dealing with these brand new 802.11ac units, is setup any different? 

 

 

I've already done a bunch of research on this and have found very helpful kb articles and discussions on this, but they all reference the old hardware and old utility.  Such as:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4), 16GB RAM

Posted on Jun 27, 2013 2:23 PM

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Q: Setting Up Roaming - New AirPort Extremes and Utility

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  • by h-man,

    h-man h-man Sep 6, 2013 3:47 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 3:47 AM in response to Tesserax

    Thanks. But given that i already have a bunch of airports and a netgear 8 port switch, is there any reason i cannot set up as follows rather than buying a new piece of gear?:

    Cable modem connection by ethernet cable to airport, airport connected to netgear switch, seven outputs from netgear switch go out to seven jacks around the property where i plug in airports and then configure the boxes as you suggested.

    As an aside is there a good write up somewhere on networking 101? All this dhcp, ssid, bridge mode etc is all greek to me. I am sure imcan learn it but i need to study it.

    Many thanks

    H

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 6, 2013 9:52 AM in response to h-man
    Level 9 (54,684 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 6, 2013 9:52 AM in response to h-man

    But given that i already have a bunch of airports and a netgear 8 port switch, is there any reason i cannot set up as follows rather than buying a new piece of gear?:

    Cable modem connection by ethernet cable to airport, airport connected to netgear switch, seven outputs from netgear switch go out to seven jacks around the property where i plug in airports and then configure the boxes as you suggested.

    No, that should work just fine.

     

    As an aside is there a good write up somewhere on networking 101? All this dhcp, ssid, bridge mode etc is all greek to me. I am sure imcan learn it but i need to study it.

    I would recommend the Take Control Books series, specifically their latest on the AirPort Extreme. It is a quick read but very informative. It should get you started in the right direction and make it easier to digest additional networking material if you wish to futher your studies.

  • by Ron Hollatz,

    Ron Hollatz Ron Hollatz Sep 24, 2013 11:57 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2013 11:57 AM in response to Tesserax

    Is it possible to set up a roaming network using two wired base stations and one unwired base station? My setup is;

     

    Time Capsule -> New Airport Extreme connected by ethernet -> Airport Extreme in back part of condo I can't connect with ethernet.

     

    We have a large 2 story long condo in a concrete/brick building. I've got the Time Capsule in my office downstairs, new Airport Extreme Base Station upstairs above my office I can connect with ethernet, and a Airport Extreme Base Station in the back of the condo I can't connect with ethernet.

     

    Right now they are connected as an extended network, but the signal (even with a Airport Extreme Base Station) doesn't give me the wireless speed I would expect in the back part of the condo.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 24, 2013 12:17 PM in response to Ron Hollatz
    Level 9 (54,684 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 24, 2013 12:17 PM in response to Ron Hollatz

    Is it possible to set up a roaming network using two wired base stations and one unwired base station?

    Technically no. A roaming network requires all base stations to be interconnected by Ethernet. What you are proposing should work but it would be a hybrid of a roaming plus an extended network.

  • by Ron Hollatz,

    Ron Hollatz Ron Hollatz Sep 24, 2013 1:07 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2013 1:07 PM in response to Tesserax

    So I should be able to setup the 2 base stations that can be wired as a roaming network, and then the third as extending the network?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 24, 2013 1:48 PM in response to Ron Hollatz
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 24, 2013 1:48 PM in response to Ron Hollatz

    Tesserax said that "What you are proposing should work...."

     

    The assumptions would be that the devices are working correctly, they have been configured correctly, and the AirPort Express is located where it can receive a strong wireless signal from the AirPort Extreme.

     

    To get an rough idea of whether the Express will work correctly before it is powered up, temporarily locate your laptop in the same area where the Express will be installed and check to see if the laptop can get a good, strong wireless signal from the AirPort Extreme.

     

    Remember that the Express can only "extend" the quality of signal that it receives, so location is critical when it connects using wireless to extend the network. You may need to experiment with the location of the Express for best results.

     

    In general, for best results the Express would be located at a point that is about half way between the AirPort Extreme and the general area that needs more wireless coverage.

  • by Ron Hollatz,

    Ron Hollatz Ron Hollatz Sep 24, 2013 1:50 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2013 1:50 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    I'm using an Airport Extreme instead of an Express. The 2 Extremes are in line of site. I don't currently have a laptop to check with. My iPad has a good connection from that spot.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 24, 2013 1:57 PM in response to Ron Hollatz
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 24, 2013 1:57 PM in response to Ron Hollatz

    It should work. You may be able to locate the Extreme a bit further from the other Extreme since they have a better antenna arrangement than an Express.

  • by Ron Hollatz,

    Ron Hollatz Ron Hollatz Sep 24, 2013 2:06 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2013 2:06 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks. I'll give it a try.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 24, 2013 2:21 PM in response to Alderlee Way
    Level 9 (54,684 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 24, 2013 2:21 PM in response to Alderlee Way

    So you "create a wireless network" not "extend a wireless network" on the additional (slave) base station?

    Correct!

  • by Bob Meighan,

    Bob Meighan Bob Meighan Sep 25, 2013 10:11 PM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 25, 2013 10:11 PM in response to Tim Hassett

    First, thanks for all the helpful posts above (esp. to Tesserax). A few clarifying questions, but first my setup.

     

    Setup: I have a large area to cover wirelessly so I have 3 Airport Extremes all connected by Ethernet to create a roaming network. I have fiber to home so I don't need a cable box. Rather the Internet line comes in via Ethernet and I connect that to the WAN port on AE #1 (my primary base station). Ethernet then goes from the LAN ports on AE #1 to AE #2 and AE #3. Everything seems to work, but the setup is different than what is explained here.

     

    1. I connnect AE #1 to Internet using (Connect Using) PPPoE along with my password and username. This is done on the primary base station AE #1 configuration. On the two other base stations, should I Connect Using "DHCP" or "PPPoE"? I have it set at "DHCP" right now and it seems to be working.

     

    2. I also have the 5Ghz network activated. I assume the network name for this should NOT be the same name as the 2.4Ghz network name, right? I currently have the 5Ghz network named identical to the 2.4Ghz network with "5Ghz" appended to the name. The network names, passwords, etc are the same on all other Airport Extremes.

     

    3. The instructions for creating a roaming network appear to show the Ethernet cable going from the LAN port on AE #1 to the WAN port on the other Airport Extremes. This, however, does not work on my setup. I have the Ethernet going from the WAN port on AE #1 to the LAN ports on AE #2 and #3. Is this correct?

     

    4. And finally, does the guest network that is activated on each AE and have the same name get extended just like the primary network?

     

    Thanks for any help.

    Bob

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 26, 2013 6:10 AM in response to Bob Meighan
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 26, 2013 6:10 AM in response to Bob Meighan
    On the two other base stations, should I Connect Using "DHCP" or "PPPoE"?

     

     

    DHCP

     

    I assume the network name for this shouldNOT be the same name as the 2.4Ghz network name, right?

    Not necessarily. By default, Apple assigns the same wireless network name to both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network. This is is the setting that most users should use since devices will automatically connect to the best signal based on their capabilities and location in relation to the wireless router or access point.

     

    If you assign a separate name to the 5 GHz network, then you must manually "point" computers or other devices to either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz network separately. You can do this, but it makes things more complicated for most users.

     

     

    The instructions for creating a roaming network appear to show the Ethernet cable going from the LAN port on AE #1 to the WAN port on the other Airport Extremes. This, however, does not work on my setup. I have the Ethernet going from the WAN port on AE #1 to the LAN ports on AE #2 and #3. Is this correct?

     

    This is not correct.....and.....it conflicts with the information earlier in your post where you say.......

     

    Rather the Internet line comes in via Ethernet and I connect that to the WAN port on AE #1 (my primary base station).

     

    If the Ethernet signal from your provider connects to the WAN port on AE #1, as you say....how can you also have a cable going from the WAN port on #1 to the LAN ports on AE #2 and #3?  Please clarify.

  • by Bob Meighan,

    Bob Meighan Bob Meighan Sep 26, 2013 1:54 PM in response to Tim Hassett
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 26, 2013 1:54 PM in response to Tim Hassett

    To Bob Timmons... Thanks for the response. To clarify or correct my earlier statement:

     

    1. The Apple diagrams show ethernet going from the primary base station's LAN port to the WAN port on the other Airport Extremes. I was inconsisent earlier, but meant to say that that I was going AE #1 LAN port to AE #2 LAN port. I just now changed it to LAN ---> WAN port and all works fine.

     

    2. It appears that by default Apple assigns to the 5Ghz network name the same name as the 2.4Ghz but appends "5Ghz" to the network name. For example, the 2.4Ghz name is "Jones" and the 5Ghz network becomes "Jones 5Ghz". Nevertheless, because I want one seamless network (ignoring the Guest network), I will name the 2.4 and 5Ghz networks the same. Right now it seems to accept that.

     

    Thanks tremendously for your help!

  • by Ron Hollatz,

    Ron Hollatz Ron Hollatz Sep 26, 2013 2:09 PM in response to Bob Meighan
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 26, 2013 2:09 PM in response to Bob Meighan

    I've tried naming the 5GHZ network with the same name but it always reverts to the network name with the 5GHZ tacked on the end. My wireless devices see it as two different networks.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 26, 2013 2:18 PM in response to Ron Hollatz
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 26, 2013 2:18 PM in response to Ron Hollatz

    You have to remove the check mark next to 5 GHz name if you want both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to use the same wireless network name.  Click Save, then click Update and give the AirPort a full minute to restart.

     

    Screen Shot 2013-09-26 at 4.16.39 PM.png

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