Level 1

15 points

using airport express as travel wifi

Hello,

I'm considering bringing my iPad2 as my sole computing device to the UK this summer. My room has Ethernet but no wifi, and of course the iPad has wifi but no Ethernet. I use an Airport Extreme at home but have no experience with the Airport Express. I am considering bringing an Airport Express to set up a small local wifi network to connect my iPad 2 to. The main question is will I need to have my MacBook to set this up (or a borrowed MacBook Air)? How can I set up the network security/password? Can I do that with the iPad2 or will I need to have/borrow a MacBook/Air to do it. I presume that once the wifi network is up and running I'd not need any computer to monitor or maintain it?

It is so tempting to leave my beloved MBP at home and just bring the iPad 2 and a bluetooth keyboard instead!

Many thanks!

MacBook Pro/Intel, Mac OS X (10.6.5), IPad 2 64GB GSM, iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, MobileMe

Posted on Apr 27, 2011 1:13 PM

31 replies

SFMacNewbie Author

Level 1

15 points

May 15, 2011 4:37 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Hello again, Bob,

as I suspected, it is Sunday again, the first chance I've had to address this issue since you last posted. I plugged in the Ethernet cables to the Airport Extreme and to the Airport Express, then plugged the latter into the power strip, and what do you know? I got a flashing amber light. And it interfered with my Airport Extreme WiFi connection. Hmm. That didn't happen the previous Sunday. I open up Airport Utility and I find a a DHCP conflict error (or was it range error?). Anyway, I unplugged the Express so I could use the WiFi and downloaded our conversation here and then got ready to try again. I was just about to call Apple Support and eat the $49, when I decided to try going through your last post item by item. Lo and behold the issue was at "Connection Sharing". The Express was NOT set to "off" (Bridge Mode). Now, I've no idea what that setting means, but the moment I changed it and the Express updated the settings, everything became good, the light turned green, and both my iPhone and iPad can connect to this second network.

So while I'm sure I can find some information about Bridge Mode elsewhere, since you've been so incredibly helpful perhaps you could explain it to those of us who don't know what it is and why one would choose one setting in that choice rather than another?

And while we're discussing all of this, as far as having a "hidden" network, yes, absolutely, of course, any teenager with the right equipment could locate my "hidden" network, but I see no reason not to make them work a little bit harder to locate it.

Do you have any idea what the range (distance) the Express has (of course there are variables like what walls and floors are made of and how thick they are, etc., etc.)? And is there a limit to the number of devices that can connect (if I choose to share)?

You've been incredibly helpful and kind. Many thanks!

Kris

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,096 points

May 15, 2011 5:05 PM in response to SFMacNewbie

perhaps you could explain it to those of us who don't know what it is and why one would choose one setting in that choice rather than another?

Without going into a lot of detail, the real world application is this: You never want two devices trying to perform routing functions (DHCP and NAT) on a network because it will cause conflicts. So, when you have two routers, the first router performs the DHCP and NAT service and the second router is configured in Bridge Mode. In "bridge", DHCP and NAT are turned off, so you have one router controlling the entire network keeping everything straight.

any teenager with the right equipment could locate my "hidden" network, but I see no reason not to make them work a little bit harder to locate it.

Trust me, most 14 year old males with a laptop already have the applications on their computer. They're free. Most of the kids know about all of this stuff. Keep your network "closed" if you prefer, but the only thing that will slow down the bad guys is WPA2 Personal Security and a long, non-dictionary password.

Do you have any idea what the range (distance) the Express has (of course there are variables like what walls and floors are made of and how thick they are, etc., etc.)?

As you point out, it's virtually impossible to predict wireless performance in advance. The signal should travel through a a few typical sheetrock and 2 x 4 walls in a home before it loses about half of its signal strength, but the signal will fall off with distance as well. The more you minimize obstructions, the better.

The AirPort Express will allow up to 10 users to connect when it is set up to provide a wireless network. But, they can't all be downloading a large file at the same time without things slowing to a crawl.

SFMacNewbie Author

Level 1

15 points

May 16, 2011 6:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks, Bob. Your explanation of "bridge mode" makes good sense. The second router functions as a bridge to extend the network rather like an highway bridge connects an island to the mainland.

The fact is that without your generous help I'd never have been able to set this up properly. I wonder why there aren't "templates" here at Apple that explain the settings required, step by step, as you so patiently did, on how to set up the Express as a travel router (or whatever one is trying to accomplish). I did look first before landing in your lap. It would be so helpful.

You are so right about using WPA 2 and a difficult password. I cringe when I think of family and friends who use a single word password and at WPA at that. I've at least been able to convince a few to use a program such as 1Password to generate and securely store for simple retrieval difficult passwords, especially for important things like online banking and network security.

I do realize network flow is rather like water in a hose - too many sprinklers running off of it and each slows to a trickle! There won't be streaming of large video files on my portable network and I doubt I'll share it with any of my neighbors anyway. It will be nice if I can sit I'm the garden outside my room and connect but that remains to be seen.

You've been incredibly kind. A true Southern gentleman. And you've rescued this lady in distress. I'm very grateful. Cheers!

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,096 points

May 16, 2011 7:00 AM in response to SFMacNewbie

Glad that things are working for you! Let us know how the AirPort Express is working when you travel.

It's getting more difficult to find hotels with Ethernet ports these days, as wireless seems to be taking over.

SFMacNewbie Author

Level 1

15 points

May 16, 2011 7:25 AM in response to Bob Timmons

I will. I don't leave until mid-July however. It is my one trip of the year. Honestly, I'm happy to have any broadband though I suspect wired with my own network is more secure.

One last query, if I may. I presume that if I wanted to share the network and add an authorized MAC address while there (I know, humor me about the closed network...) that I can use any other Mac with Airport Utility to make that change (won't know anyone traveling with a PC and I'd have to add AU to begin with, but Macs come with it)?

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,096 points

May 16, 2011 10:03 AM in response to SFMacNewbie

Macs come with AirPort Utility. If you have access to a PC, you can download the Windows version from here:

http://support.apple.com/downloads/#airport

There's nothing wrong with using a closed network or MAC Access filtering.....I'm not telling you not to use it.

Just want to make sure that you understand that the days of these items as security "features" passed us by about 5-6 years ago. I do agree that it will keep a few honest neighbors from seeing your network name.

FeldurPV

Level 1

12 points

Oct 23, 2011 2:53 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I have a somewhat different architecture I'm trying to make work - I want the AX to receive the hotel WiFi, and use it to create another WiFi network with its own NAT so I can link in multiple devices. Is there a way to do that? I've tried several combinations of options against my home wireless, but none worked. (and, of course, I'd also need to solve the hotel authentication page problem too)

Thanks

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,096 points

Oct 23, 2011 5:18 PM in response to FeldurPV

I want the AX to receive the hotel WiFi, and use it to create another WiFi network with its own NAT so I can link in multiple devices. Is there a way to do that?

You can do this....but it will take two AirPort Express devices to do it...one to "join" the wireless signal and provide an Ethernet feed to the second AirPort Expess, which is configured to "create" a wireless network providing DHCP and NAT services.

Hotel authentication is not a problem...you configure the "joining" Expess with the wireless network name and password (if required). That is the only device that the hotel router will "see", so you are charged for only one connection.

You can connect up to 10 wireless devices to the second AirPort Express and hotel folks will never know. Works just fine.

SFMacNewbie Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 29, 2011 4:56 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

I just realized that I've not reported on my use of the Airport Express as a travel wifi device. thanks to your patient explanation here in this thread it worked splendidly! I had no trouble setting up a portable wifi network in my room at an Oxford college as well as in various hotels that didn't offer it. I cannot thank you enough. It was a huge help, and being able to use my iPad 2 and an Apple Bluetooth keyboard was just wonderful. Many Thanks!

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,096 points

Oct 29, 2011 5:36 PM in response to SFMacNewbie

Thanks for posting back. Glad that things are working well for you! 🙂

TokyoTony

Level 2

377 points

Dec 12, 2011 4:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob (or others who may be able to help),

I read the above posts with interest since I too will be traveling to Malaysia and the hotel I will be staying at will only be wired internet access. I resetted my Airport Express with a variety of settings (using my home as a test), but wanted to check a few....

1) I asusme I want to create a new wireless network...

2) I'll want the Airport Express to set up in bridge mode:

3) And here's the final screen showing the set up:

Does this all look correct?

Thanks,

Tony

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,096 points

Dec 12, 2011 5:05 AM in response to TokyoTony

Your settings are correct for most applications.

But if you have multiple wireless devices and the hotel wants to charge you for each device separately, you will need to try the "Share as single IP address using DHCP and NAT" setting at the hotel.

This setting will likely not work on your network at home without some further tweaks if you are trying to test on your own network. When you try this setting at a hotel, you will likely get a message about Double NAT. Click to "ignore" that.

TokyoTony

Level 2

377 points

Dec 12, 2011 6:03 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

When I go to the hotel, I don't plan on taking a laptop with me....only my iPad. So, in case I have to change settings, I did a test to see if I could set it up via the iPad (if I have a problem after setting it up at home, I could always do a hard reset and set it back to factory default settings) by selecting Settings-->Wi-Fi (as "Set up an AirPort Base Station" heading appears and then it shows my AirPort Express), and here is what transgressed....

I turned off the modem and back on but the Airport Express is still blinking yellow.

My questions:

1) What did I potentially do wrong with the above? I want to be able to set up the AE at the hotel if I have to with my iPad.

2) I didn't see any option to select "Bridge Mode" or "Share IP". Any idea why it skipped this step? And, can anything be done to select one or the other if I set it up via the iPad?

Thanks.

Tony

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,096 points

Dec 12, 2011 7:35 AM in response to TokyoTony

Sorry,I can't install AirPort Utility on my older iPhone version to check this, so can't answer questions well in that regard.

Just looking at the screen shot however.....appears you have the Express setup to "Extend a wireless network". This basic setting would be "Create a wireless network" for what you are trying to accomplish at the hotel.

Probably best for you to start a new post on the setup using the mobile version of AirPort Utility.

TokyoTony

Level 2

377 points

Jan 6, 2012 2:12 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

Just to close the loop on this, I did not have to set up or change any settings on the Airport Express via the iPad. All the settings you helped me with above worked fine. I plugged the Ethernet cable into the Airport Express and then started up my iPad browser. The hotel message came up to ask me to accept their terms and conditions. I did so, and then I was using the internet via Wi-Fi. So could my son on his iPod Touch following the same process.

So, thanks for your help.

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using airport express as travel wifi