New Wifi problems

Uverse modem > Time Capsule (Bridge Mode) > various ethernet connections to different devices, including an Airport Extreme.

Thanks for the reminder.

Your Uverse modem is a gateway as you posted first. ie it is also the router.. what you need therefore is NOT another router but AP (or WAP.. wireless access point). When you ran the TC in bridge it became a WAP (plus storage on network). The Extreme also is used then as AP only.

The current setup with the TP-Link as second router after the Uverse is causing you access problems to the TV.. as per your comment.

All of my devices are working except the DirecTV wired connection, but I will contact them about that.

This is double NAT and not ideal. Even if the TP-Link does not have bridge mode.. (check also for AP or WAP mode) it can be setup to avoid this problem.

So you want the TP-Link merely as AP.. the solution is called WAN bypass. It is easiest to explain if I have the IP address of the Uverse LAN and the TP-Link LAN.

A quick check shows the Uverse typically has home IP of 192.168.1.254 and the TP-Link is typically 192.168.0.1

It does not matter for the example.. but please do put your IP in correctly otherwise it won't work.

Setup of the TP-Link

I don't have a TP-Link handy but I will use web emulator.

Check under Advanced if it has AP mode. If so just select it and save.. Easy Peasy.. this is AX10 so typical modern TP-Link.

Doing this removes most of the router functionality.. and you simply plug the TP-Link into the uverse and then you will need to use its IP on the network to find it.. this is a bit messy but the uverse should have a dhcp listing and show you the new IP which will be something in 192.168.1.x range.

If not then you will need to reset the TP-Link and set the IP before you start.

Next bit if your TP-Link is missing this wonderful transformation.. and has only router option.

Go to the Advanced, LAN, DHCP server.. and uncheck the enable box. If you get errors try to work around them.. but save the setting.. it is essential.

Something like this might work.

Then set the LAN IP to match the Uverse range but must not be identical.. ie use something like 192.168.1.253 from my example with uverse at 254 which is top address.

Then plug LAN on the TP-Link to LAN on the Uverse.. ie bypass the WAN port.

This can be tricky as I found newer TP-Link are not happy with this setup and if you plug anything into WAN it will auto revert to router.. so don't forget and plug something into WAN port.

You can then access the TP-Link on the network at the ip you set.. 192.168.1.253.

Setup the wifi to match your old setup ..

You can also then plug in the Airport Extreme.. set it as you did before to bridge and create a wireless network of the same name.

You can also plug in the TC purely for backup with same.. bridge and wireless OFF..

Tell me if you run into trouble.. screenshots are worth 1000 words.

Would I need to change anything in the settings for Airport Extreme? For example, Airport Utility shows Router Mode Off (Bridge Mode) and the Wireless tab is listed as Create a wireless network under Network Mode. Beyond that, I don't see anything I would need to mess with. So, anything I should change?

No .. but the names should match exactly as should the passwords.. case sensitive.. maybe.. but really do keep things identical.

when I open Wifi Explorer in the part of the apartment closest to the Airport Extreme, the app lands on the TP Link not the Extreme.

The wireless in your phone or laptop should be turned off (airport mode) and back on again.. because it is still connected on the device.. opening the WiFi Explorer does not force the wifi to change AP..

This is where mesh systems uses proper 802.11 k, v, r protocol work much better than old Apple routers or even the TP-Link.

This is where mixing and matching equipment from different suppliers fails.. they are set to different standards.

As btw

What model is the TP-Link?

Why don't you use the wifi in the Uverse Gateway?

It is likely the TC is in need of replacement.

You can reset it to factory and reconfigure it again.. just to check. The TC always seem to survive for shorter span than the Extreme due to heat build up from hard disk filling up most of the interior space.

Apple no longer make routers so it is time to move to something more modern.. AX (WiFi6) being the new standard on the market.

Time Capsule is unique.. nothing else on the market fills that niche.

Although a great concept the actual TC was rather flawed.. Apple consider it a consumable.. buy AppleCare on your Mac or iDevice or Apple TV and get extended warranty.. at the end of which buy a new one. As rule of thumb 5 years is about the lifespan of disks (reliability drops dramatically after that) in any NAS setup.

So

A You cannot use airport utility it is also unique. All routers have built in HTML setup... Actually I need to revise that statement.. since mesh arrived on the scene you do need to use some sort of cloud setup stored on a server who knows where.. but probably China.

If that is unacceptable.. it sure is to me.. make sure your choice has built in setup.

I see very few people point this out but here is one reviewer who stuck his neck out.

https://dongknows.com/web-interface-vs-mobile-app/

He is talking about a particular velop mesh set (which is the only brand wifi router Apple now sell in their stores).

It has a hidden internal setup..

B Most mesh now includes ethernet backhaul in addition to wifi. But be careful.. not all do.

Again I consider it essential to include wired network as option. That also means you can buy better grade products.

I do recommend you consider not just home/domestic products like most mesh available today but also SME type brands e.g. Ubiquiti and TP-Link Omada series. These come with proper controllers so much like the Airport Utility you have a central management to your whole network. They are more complex and do require learning but for network aware folk are a good choice.. otherwise stick to mesh products with built in setup management.

I'll check out the AX router.

AX is new wifi spec. You will find literally hundreds of routers now comply with the standard.

Again let me suggest you read Mr Dong reviews and his whole site is packed with useful info. He is even aware that Macs exist.. which is one step up on the average.

Dong review mesh wifi 6.

https://dongknows.com/best-wi-fi-6-mesh-systems/

mesh wifi 5

https://dongknows.com/best-wi-fi-5-mesh-systems/

Since Apple routers have never entirely worked for me due to PPPOE failure to authenticate I have always used them as adjunct to main router .. out of which I have tried LOADS of brands.

From domestic products my favourite are Asus and Synology. Sadly the later have given no indication of adding a wifi6 router to their lineup and I think the AC models are way overpriced now. But do consider their NAS for Time Machine backup on your network.

The ubiquiti router also failed on my particular ISP when I tried it.. and I would say unless you have the time to spend learning it .. don't use them... But you can still buy the wireless Access Points (AP) and a manager. Same with Omada series.

Use any router you like and use a couple of AP.

Dong has a review of older omada system.

https://dongknows.com/tp-link-eap245-v3-omada-poe-access-point-review/