Utilitizing "Bridge Mode" on Airports to extend current wireless network

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202056

The next bit I strongly suggest you try again with High Sierra in the Mac airport utility.. it is a far superior tool at this stage.

Plug WAN of second Extreme (Now AE2) into LAN of the first Extreme.. do it right there with a short patch cable.

Reset the AE2 as above.

In airport utility on High Sierra.. it should go like this.

New wifi Device shows.. click the box.

Click the new AE

Airport setup wizard will now try and figure out the setup. Extend is fine.. at this stage. Change the name of the AE2 .. to hmmm AE2 .. short, no spaces and pure alphanumerics. Next

NOW>> IMPORTANT.. top line says Extend xxyyzz using Ethernet. If it says wireless.. start over. It must say by ethernet.

Now it is doing it.. and done.

Solid line on the airport utility between the two airports.

Click Airport to fix errors.

Error is default password.. so I ignore.

Everything goes green.. :)

If you must do this manually..

Internet tab is same as AE1.. DHCP.

Wireless tab is create a wireless network.. same name same password as AE1

BUT.. big fat ugly .. BUTT

Network is bridge mode.

Now do AE3.. exactly the same.. you can leave AE2 in place or remove it and plug in AE3 and go through exactly the same.. Only remember it must have different name.. eg AE3.

johnlockes wrote:

I see, So I do have to create another wireless network rather then just extending my wireless network set by my ISP since the first “router/modem” isn’t Apple?

You are confusing us!! Perhaps I can say LOST taking your character from TV show. We are LOST.

I am operating on your setup details in the first post.

One theory i have in mind is that my ISP mentioned they will try to enable a bridge mode through their own router to allow for further compatibility.

So I am indeed working on the assumption of bridged modem.

That means the first router is Apple. Not the ISP supplied unit.

Bob posted

In addition, since you have a modem/router.....and you indicate that it is providing a wireless network signal.....meaning that it is acting as a router.....not a simple modem......there is one correction that needs to be made in the setup of the Time Capsule that LaPastenague detailed above.

So we are both working from different parts of your question. And Bob got confused that I used a Time Capsule whereas you have 3x AE A1521.. so just read AE1 for where he says Time Capsule. We are getting old you see..:)

If indeed the ISP modem wireless router is in router mode.. the difference will be the AE1 plugged into the ISP modem will be set to bridged. To find that out plug something into modem router and see what IP you get .. something like 192.168.x.x will mean ISP modem is router.

Just follow what Bob has said.

It might be easier if you actually tell us explicitly .. is the ISP supplied modem a router or not. If not and it has wireless turned on.. turn it off.. it should go off in the bridge process.

The other bit you asked.

create another wireless network rather then just extending my wireless network

NO.. you are creating the SAME wireless network.

There is a misunderstanding of Extend here.

Please realise extend simply means more Wireless Access Points (WAP) transmitting the same SSID and using the same password. This is what we are saying you should do. How it is done, over wireless or by wiring each WAP back to the router requires a different setup but gives the same result. Extended wireless.

(There is a major difference in wireless channels used and speed. All in favour of wired. )

All of them create the SAME wireless network and only one router rules the whole lot and all clients to talk to each other.

Apple confuse the situation by allowing Extend by ethernet as part of the setup wizard but don't explicitly tell you what that means.. ie each Airport is creating the same wireless network.

Theory.

See if I can spell it out better. Man I need more coffee.

Extend can operate in two different ways.

You can have multiple repeaters that Extend the signal.. that means they receive the signal from main wireless router and retransmit it. ie Repeat. This is the Apple Extend wireless when used without wires. Mesh does this as well but in a more sophisticated way where they can link multiple times.

Roaming operates by using multiple WAP each one ethernet connected back to the main router and giving wireless on different channels to the WAPs next door. Repeaters can only work on the same channel. As you walk around the building each client joins to the best signal. At least that is the theory. Think of your mobile phone swapping phone towers. You don't change anything on the phone. It automatically detects signal from the previous tower is less and one nearer is better and swaps. But it is all the same network.

If you run through the setup that LaPastenague has detailed and you note that the 2nd and 3rd AirPorts are being set up to "extend using Ethernet" during the process, you are on the right track.

However, once the 2nd and 3rd AirPort are set up and displaying green lights, if you now open up AirPort Utility again to take a look at the settings on the 2nd and 3rd AirPort......and check the setting under the Wireless tab at the top of the AirPort Utility window, you may be surprised to see that the 2nd and 3rd AirPorts were actually set up to "Create a wireless network"......not "extend" it at all.

This is the correct setting. You now have what is known as a "roaming network". This is a network in which all of the AirPorts are connected together using Ethernet and all of them are set up to create a wireless network that uses the same wireless network name, same wireless security and same password. The 2nd and 3rd AirPorts were also set up to operate in Bridge Mode automatically by the setup utility.

LaPastenague, who lives in Australia, may not have seen your reply, so I will answer in a way that I am sure he will approve.

The setup of the Time Capsule depends on where it is located in relation to your ISP modem/router. If the Time Capsule will be located close to the modem/router, then you would not want to have two different devices providing a Wi-Fi network that uses the same name or SSID.

Why? Two devices in close proximity to each other each providing the same wireless network will result in interference between the two devices, and your other Wi-Fi devices will not know which router to connect to. The result.....intermittent and lost Wi-Fi connections.

Assign a different name to the Time Capsule network if this is the case, or better yet, simply turn off the Wi-Fi signal provided by the modem/router since it will not be used or needed.

However........if the Time Capsule will be located at least a room or two away from the modem/router........then the rules change, and you can set up the Time Capsule to produce the same Wi-Fi network as the modem/router.

So......to avoid further confusion.....we will need to know where you plan to locate the Time Capsule, since that will determine the correct set up of the Time Capsule.

In addition, since you have a modem/router.....and you indicate that it is providing a wireless network signal.....meaning that it is acting as a router.....not a simple modem......there is one correction that needs to be made in the setup of the Time Capsule that LaPastenague detailed above.

That is that the setting for the Internet Connection / Connection Sharing needs to be Bridge Mode, which Apple calls "Off (Bridge Mode)".

My guess is that LaPastenague assumed that your modem/router was set up in Bridge Mode, so that it would act like a simple modem only. In that setting, the "Share a public IP address" that LaPastenague detailed above would be correct.

As I mentioned in my first reply, it is important to get the Time Capsule set up first and working correctly......before....you attempt to set up the other AirPort routers. Keep those other two Airports powered off for now and report back when the Time Capsule has been set up and is working well.

Ok.. you will still do a lot better on the Mac configuring this.. but if you wish to use the 5.6 utility in windows it is possible.. I will use 5.6 utility on a Mac which looks and functions basically the same.

You need to know if your main cable router is actually working in bridge or router mode.. since the ISP has told you they put it in bridge lets assume bridge.

Step 1. You must turn off your main cable router for half an hour to release the public IP.

Step 2. Remove all the Airports except the first one connected to the cable modem.

Step 3. Reset it to factory using the reset button held in for 10sec.

Step 4. It makes life easier if the computer is connected to the Extreme by ethernet.

Open airport utility. Go to the reset AE.. I am using a Time Capsule but same difference. Click on manual setup.

You get a warning message.. press continue.

Type in a name for your AE.. short no spaces and pure alphanumerics. Passwords same rules but longer.

You should deselect setup over WAN. It is on by default where it should be off.

Click wireless

Create a wireless network. WPA2 Personal security. The other settings are wrong so don't fiddle. This is where you need v6.

Don't worry about guest access or control for now.

Click the next icon Internet in the upper menu area.

Set to share a public IP. address The other units you will select bridge.. see below.

Click TCP/IP. I have it setup double NAT but yours should get a public IP via the modem. DHCP is generally correct.

Click on DHCP.. this is your local DHCP to the local LAN. Leave it on defaults.

Click NAT.

Nothing should need changing.. now click on update.

Fix up any errors on the manual setup first tab .. so the indicator shows green.

You have now finished the hard part.

These guys were great and had my mesh system, all airports on wi-fi but along with some back hauling form one, set up in a flash

Impressive, especially since Apple has not ever offered any type of AirPort "mesh" system. They have offered both "extended" and "roaming" type systems though, which you apparently of thinking of as "mesh".

Ironically, the strong growth of "mesh" systems is what forced Apple out of the WiFi router business.

Hopefully Apple gets returns to selling wi-fi stations again

Yes, you can dream......but it's not going to happen, for reasons that you already know......low margins and high support requirements. Apple strongly prefers high profit items, and WiFi routers are about as low margin as you can get for a manufacturer.

As we already pointed out above, Apple's "extend" feature is not a mesh system. For that reason, the term "mesh" does not appear anywhere in the Apple support document.

Apple does now sell a mesh system in their stores and online, but it is not an Apple product.....it is a Linksys product for which Apple provides no support or service.

Bob, we know.

Honestly, your best option is to call Apple and ask for an Airport specialist. These guys were great and had my mesh system, all airports on wi-fi but along with some back hauling form one, set up in a flash. Nothing but praise for them.

Airports are still a fine option and the firmware is kept up to date by Apple as recently as a few months ago.

I now run the last Extreme, the last Express, and a 2007 Extreme I was ready to donate as a mesh in a small home. Mainly to fill in dead spots the Extreme on its own can't get to due to dorky 1950s construction.

Hopefully Apple gets returns to selling wi-fi stations again. Airport iPod with Wi-Fi 6? I'd buy two (as long as I can keep integrating it with old ones too. Well, at least the newer Extreme and the Express).

Hey, I can dream can't I?