Wireless client to client communication in apartment

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Level 1

4 points

Wireless client to client communication in apartment

I am in a long term appartment rental situation where I need to set up wireless communication between my Mac, iPads and iPhones (all running their latest software) -- all of which previously worked fine together on my residential wifi network. As of now, I can't see the printer when it and all the other devices are on the same apartment wifi network. I've been told that commercial router setups in such situation are typically set up to prohibit client to client communications (for obvious reasons), and further that an Apple Airport router such as an Airport Express can't be set up as a client to permit my using its wifi net to allow the client to client comm. Since I'm the only appartment in the building (there's also a restaurant, that WOULD need the restricted comm set up -- but I've been here in previous years and the dual set up DID work OK then), what do I need to tell the landlord to have done to the router to allow me to set up as desired -- and as it was in previous years? Help? There seems to be very little info available on this subject!

MacBook

Posted on Jun 7, 2019 1:57 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Bob Timmons

Community+ 2025

Level 10

184,736 points

Jun 8, 2019 5:41 AM in response to Jinxson1

I'm not convinced that it will permit peer-to-peer communications among them. Worth a try, though.

Sure it will. Remember that the hotel router....or your apartment router in this case will only be supplying one IP address to a device.......the Express that will be acting like a "modem" for your network.

The other Express.....or it could be an AirPort Extreme......is set up as a router providing DHCP and NAT service. In other words, do not set up the router in Bridge Mode.

It is this router that will be controlling all of the devices that will be connecting to your private network. The hotel or apartment WiFi is not involved at all with the devices on your private network. Since the AirPorts by default will allow communications between WiFi devices, all of the devices on your private network will be able to "see" and communicate with each other.

I know this works, because I can back up my iPhone to my Mac over my own private WiFi network. At times, I take an Apple TV along as well if I know that the hotel TV has an HDMI port. Works fine. I don't travel with a printer, but there will be no problems printing as long as the printer is on the same network as your devices.

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Answer 2

Jun 7, 2019 7:35 PM in response to Jinxson1

It is a bit goofy, but I use a setup with two AirPort Express devices when I'm traveling to handle situations where the hotel only provides a WiFi connection for Internet access.

The first AirPort Express is set up to "join" the WiFi network at the hotel. Then, I connect an Ethernet cable from the first Express to the second and set up the second Express as a router to create a wireless network.

This way, I have my own private network in the room, and I can connect as many devices as I want and the hotel only "sees" one connection.....the first AirPort Express. I cannot "see" any other devices on the hotel network, and they cannot "see" any of my devices, so the setup provides some extra security as well.

In a way, the first Express acts as if it were a modem, except it receives a WiFi signal rather than a wired Ethernet connection.

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Answer 3

Jun 7, 2019 7:15 PM in response to Jinxson1

If you cannot back up using wireless to an iPhone or iPad to your Mac as a test, then you'll have to get in touch with the management folks to ask whether some settings can be changed on the router. Chances are, they won't have any idea what you are talking about unless they have set up the router themselves. More likely, they will say that no one else has reported the problems that you are experiencing.......and they will have to get in touch with the IT guy who set up the network.

If you are asking about a corresponding setting on an Apple router, there is none since the AirPorts by default allow wireless devices to communicate with each other whether or not there is an Internet connection present.

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Answer 4

Jun 7, 2019 3:12 PM in response to Jinxson1

I've been told that commercial router setups in such situation are typically set up to prohibit client to client communications

I suppose this is possible, but it would be extremely rare.

and further that an Apple Airport router such as an Airport Express can't be set up as a client to permit my using its wifi net to allow the client to client comm

Whoever told you this provided incorrect information to you.

If your iPhone or iPad can back up to your Mac using wireless, then WiFi devices are communicating correctly. What happens when you back up the iPhone or iPad?

If things work, then you don't have to tell the landlord anything, since the router there is working just fine.

In that case, you will need to start your troubleshooting with the printer.

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Answer 5

Jun 9, 2019 12:51 PM in response to Jinxson1

BUT, the router is in the Off or Bridge Mode.

That is the wrong setting. Please note above that I said that the AirPort creating the network must be set up as a router using DHCP and NAT as the network mode.

After you have configured the AirPort that is creating the WiFi network, the AirPort will display a slow, blinking amber light. Don't worry about that for now......there is a way to tell the AirPort to display a green light.

Power off the AirPort that is creating the network after you have configured it to provide DHCP and NAT service.

Wait a few minutes

Power up the AirPort again and check the network

If you are still having problems, power off both the AirPort that is joining the network and the AirPort that is creating the network. Then, restart them. It may also help if you can get the landlord to power off the main router for a minute, then power it back up again.

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Answer 6

Jinxson1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2019 1:41 PM in response to Jinxson1

Thanks again, Bob. You’re very patient and helpful. I didn’t ignore your earlier admonition to not set the new router as a bridge, but I got all sorts of “double NAT” warnings and/or lost contact with one or both airports when I tried to set it up properly—that I gave up that approach. I did restart both my airports, but haven’t been able so far to convince the landlord to let me at his router to restart it... or even look at the set up.... but I’ll keep trying. In the meantime I’ll pursue your latest suggestions, thanks. Fingers crossed.

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Answer 7

Jinxson1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 7, 2019 6:03 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Unfortunately, none of my devices can communicate with each other — much like I’m typically unable to communicate wirelessly with another customer in a restaurant. I’ve run into this before in servicing a Café/B&B customer who wished to add a printer client to their WiFi net on a temporary basis, and when I attempted to add an Airport Express to the ntwk and connect the printer & client computer thru the AE, I couldn’t get it to work. I was later advised in a discussion like this that Apple wouldn’t permit that sort of connection, but I’ve always suspected it was peer to peer blocking in the router that precluded getting around the block this way.. I’ve just recently run up against this same thing in a vacation rental, hence my query. All the devices involved worked perfectly together at my residence (on an unblocked, off the shelf router) prior to being transported to this new site.

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Answer 8

Jinxson1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 8, 2019 4:03 AM in response to Jinxson1

thanks... I'll give it a try. I've done something like that, albeit a bit simpler, in that situation, that allowed multiple devices -- but I'm not convinced that it will permit peer-to-peer communications among them. Worth a try, though.

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Answer 9

Jinxson1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2019 12:24 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks to your advice, I have some success to report — but some remaining problems, unfortunately. If you have the time, I’d like to look ask the gift horse some questions, to see if I can complete my task.

The present situation: I’m using two Airport devices — an Express to wirelessly connect directly to the appartment internet signal, tied by ethernet to an Extreme that is set to create a new wireless network, on which I hope to connect our 2 macs, 2 iPads and 2 iPhones. After my initial set up (via one of the macs using a temporary ethernet connection), I have the printer, my mac and my iPad, but the other devices won’t connect. (All devices are in relatively close proximity to the Express - the HP printer being the furthest away at about 20 ft. or so,, and all devices are up to date as far as soft/firmware goes.)

In looking at the setups using Airport Utility, the Express shows:

DCHP connection, wirelessly joining the appt network

The Extreme shows:

DCHP connection also, wired connection to the Express, iPv6 config. to local link only, creating a new wireless network in 802.11n mode…BUT, the router is in the Off or Bridge Mode. Ion trying to sort this out and get the new network router out of the Bridge mode, I manage to lose connection with even the two devices previously working on the newly created network.

I’m trying to work with the technophobe owner/landlord to let me speak with his "IT guy" -- who may be no better — to rid the internet access of blocking and get back to a pure intrastructure arrangement that will allow my devices to communicate with each other and avoid all the game playing — it was set up that way the last time we were here — but I’ll keep plugging away at your fix in the interim.

Thanks again for your help, Bob!

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Answer 10

Jinxson1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 9, 2019 4:46 PM in response to Jinxson1

Done and dusted, as we say in Ireland! I was so close last time, but gave up when it seemed to hang up at the "Double NAT" warning statement. Encouraged by you, I went through all the steps once again, and was about to give up once again, when I decided to elect to ignore the Double NAT warning.... and it all started working. I should have figured that out earlier, but gave up too soon. Thanks again, Bob, for your advice and patience... I'll try to pass this scheme on to others that may encounter similar situations.

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Answer 11

Jun 9, 2019 9:48 PM in response to Jinxson1

If you will review what I said earlier, I said to not worry about the blinking amber light (Double NAT) and that there was a way to tell the AirPort to "ignore" the issue.

Looks like you have discovered this yourself.

Nice work! I think you will be pleased with how well things will work for you now.

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Answer 12

Jinxson1 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 10, 2019 5:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons

I am pleased, thanks to you, Bob...and my packrat tendencies to hold onto extra gear (the two airport devices) is justified.

I do a lot of minor Apple repair & mtce for our little town in Ireland and banged my head against this same issue at a small cafe/B&B run by a friend there. I tried a similar approach using airports, but without your advice and encouragement... and gave up too soon. I can offer a working solution when I return later this summer!

Thanks again!

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