Roger Purves

Q: Guest network signal weak

to the forum:

 

My simple Airport network consists of an Airport Extreme 802.11AC (bought new a year ago) and an Airport Express BaseStation (definitely not the latest model). I have been using the Airport Express to extend the reach of the network, and it has worked fine for the past year. However, when I recentlly set up a Guest network (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204590), the Guest network did not work properly in a particular room far from the Express. I would get a message to the effect that my machine was too far from the router. However, in the very same room, our main network continued to work well. (I am testing with a single machine, a MacBook Air 13-inch, Mid 2013, running OS X Version 10.9.5, Mavericks. )

 

Here is my question: if I replace the old Express with the newest model, is the Guest network more likely to work properly?

 

If the question is difficult to answer, any help or advice would be much appreciated.

 

Thank you,

 

Roger

(Roger Purves)

Posted on Aug 28, 2015 10:11 PM

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Q: Guest network signal weak

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  • by LaPastenague,Helpful

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Aug 28, 2015 11:00 PM in response to Roger Purves
    Level 9 (52,825 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 28, 2015 11:00 PM in response to Roger Purves

    Here is my question: if I replace the old Express with the newest model, is the Guest network more likely to work properly?

    The answer is NO..

     

    Here is why.. apple made it so.

     

    http://www.chriscolotti.us/technology/apple-airports-dirty-little-secret/

     

    Whether aware or unaware of their actions.. was it intentional or unintentional .. I do not know.. !!

     

    But guest works poorly on extended wireless.. do not use it.. run ethernet or use EOP adapters and place a airport as an access point (AP) and it will work great.. but never link back by wireless.

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 29, 2015 7:17 AM in response to Roger Purves
    Level 10 (105,268 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 29, 2015 7:17 AM in response to Roger Purves

    My simple Airport network consists of an Airport Extreme 802.11AC (bought new a year ago) and an Airport Express BaseStation (definitely not the latest model)

    Suggest that we get back to basics here. The AirPort Extreme supports the guest network feature, but only the current version of the AirPort Express will do this as well. Older models of the Express do not even have Guest Network capability.

     

    So, if you have enabled the Guest Network feature on the AirPort Extreme.....the feature is only working on the Extreme, so it does not matter where you have the older Express located.  A device trying to connect to the Guest Network must connect to the AirPort Extreme signal. If that device is not in close proximity to the AirPort Extreme, the wireless signal will be weak at best, so the the wireless device may not be able to connect to the Guest Network with a good connection.

     

    As a test, move your wireless device close to the AirPort Extreme and see if it will connect to the Guest Network reliably that way.

     

    If it does, then a new AirPort Express might do what you want. It will do just fine if you can connect the new Express back to the AirPort Extreme using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection. This is always by far the best way to extend a network, whether you are trying to extend the Guest Network feature or not.

     

    If you want to try to have the Express connect wirelessly, then you will almost need a line-of-sight situation between the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express for everything to work reasonably well.

     

    There will be a significant speed reduction over the network when you do it this way.....about half of the potential speed on the network will be lost.....but the network might still function OK. The only way that you will know whether this will work, is to try it out in your home.  Buy from Apple and you have a 14 day return privilege on the new Express, in case things do not work as well as hoped.

     

    Post back if you decide to try this and need more help with the setup of the new Express.

  • by Roger Purves,

    Roger Purves Roger Purves Aug 29, 2015 11:06 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Aug 29, 2015 11:06 AM in response to LaPastenague

    Thank you for the heads up. I can't comment on the discussion at the link, because I know almost nothing about how wireless works.

    --RP

  • by Roger Purves,

    Roger Purves Roger Purves Aug 29, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Aug 29, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I was led to make the attempt to set up a Guest network by the encouraging description at support.apple.com/en-us/HT204590, but my failure and your comments have convinced me, at least for the time being, to abandon the project. If I change my mind, and find out anything relevant, I will post it here.

     

    Thank you for taking the time to set out so clearly the issues involved. I really appreciate it.

     

    --RP