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Airport Extreme wired AND extend network - Need Input

I just bought 2 Air Port Extreme units (the latest 5th generation). I'd like to use them in the following configuration:



1. Unit 1 connected to my cable modem, providing wireless service and wired to a switch which distributes the connectivity to a few other places in my house via ethernet cable.



2. Unit 2 on the opposite side of the house, extending the wireless signal from Unit 1, and hardwired to the ethernet in the house. Then several other items plugged into Unit 2 for connectivity.



Problem is, I seem to have 1 of 2 choices:



1. Configure Unit 2 in bridge mode. Hardwire to network works and connectivity works, but there is no wireless turned on, hence no wireless extension.



2. Configure Unit 2 to Extend Network. Wireless is extended, and works fine. Items can be plugged into Unit 2 and get connectivity, but I cannot connect Unit 2 to the wired network.



Am I right that I can't get what I want - Unit 2 wired into the internal ethernet network AND extending the wireless network from Unit 1?

AirPort Extreme 5th Gen-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 26, 2012 1:51 PM

Reply
53 replies

Sep 12, 2017 6:38 PM in response to Damager

I have the same issue, and I have a perfect network set up all over my house. The problem is that it still acts as two separate networks. This makes it so that I can operate my Sonos system while on one side of the house, but not on the other, where half of my system resides. I need to “extend” the exact same network to overcome this issue. Help?

Oct 23, 2017 10:02 PM in response to Reuben.Ferreira

If you setup the AE to Join a wireless network.. the ethernet ports are turned off.


What model is the AE?


How is it connected to the network and what mode is it running, bridge or router?


Have you check the connectivity led on the AE.. it should go green?


Also check on Mac if the connection is correct via the Network Preferences.. advanced section.

Oct 26, 2017 11:04 AM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks for your input ,


My AE is AirPort Extreme 802.11n version 7.6.8 and I' m using it in an extended network in bridge mode connected to my ISP Arris router, well that I think so, because the network option is grayed out. The connectivity light is always green, by the way , how I know that I'm connected to the network by means of that AE? Why apple disabled the ethernet ports when not all people is able to wired the whole home? My MAC connection is correct on network settings it got a DHCP address but even though the ethernet ports display the link light when I connect my MacBook Pro I'm not able to see the router.

Oct 26, 2017 11:40 AM in response to Reuben.Ferreira

The problem here is that the AirPort Extreme cannot wirelessly extend the signal from a third party router. Another way to say the same thing is that Apple designed their wireless "extend" feature to only work with other Apple routers.


So, while your AirPort Extreme might have "joined" the network, it does not "extend" the network in this type of setup, so the AirPort will not "extend" the wireless signal, and the Ethernet ports on the AirPort are not enabled.


You have two options:


1) Connect the AirPort to your Arris router using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection. If you cannot run the Ethernet cable, you might be able to use a pair of Ethernet over Powerline adapters to send the signal over the AC wiring in your home.


2) Buy another AirPort router and connect it to your Arris router using a short Ethernet cable. Set up the AirPort to "create a wireless network" and your other AirPort will be able to "extend" that network using a wireless connection. The Ethernet ports on the extending AirPort will be enabled in this type of setup.


These design choices have been made by Apple. We have no control over what Apple might do. If you want to provide feedback to Apple to tell them what features you would like to see in a future product or firmware update, you can do so here:


Feedback - AirPort Extreme - Apple

Feb 26, 2012 1:59 PM in response to Damager

Connect them in a "Roaming" network which is the best wireless network available.


Roaming Network (Ethernet-connected Wi-Fi base stations)

User uploaded file

For 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations, creating a roaming network is by far the best choice. This will provide the best throughput between the base stations and your Wi-Fi devices.


This set up requires that your Wi-Fi base stations are connected via Ethernet.


The primary base station provides DHCP Services, while the extended base station will be configured to use bridge mode.

All Wi-Fi base stations within the roaming network should use the same passwords, security type (Open/WEP/WPA), and network name (SSID).

User uploaded file

These would all use the same "Create a wireless network", same password, same network name, same security, etc.....

Sounds like you can do this with all the cables you have througout the house....


You would not use "Join", "Extend", or "Bridge"..... You would choose "Create a wireless network" on all the base stations.......

May 22, 2012 9:30 AM in response to gdonkers

Someone in the thread asked "Will this work on an airport express as well?" and I would also like to have an answer to that question. I have the 802.11n version of the Airport Extreme set up as my primary Wireless router and would like to extend it's range using an Express (also "n" capable) via Ethernet. However when I set up the Express (using Airport Utility 6.0 - it automatically selects "extend a wireless network via ethernet") I cannot join the wireless network anywhere in the house (the macs "see" the wireless network but won't join it, complaining of a network timeout or something of that nature). If I disconnect the ethernet cable from the Express (which is connected to the LAN side of the Extreme via a network switch) then instantly the problem goes away and I can access the network with no issues. The Express is in wireless range of the Extreme, so I know in this case I am extending the wireless network "wirelessly" (as opposed to creating a Roaming Network) so it's less than ideal. Any suggestions on what I might be doing incorrectly?

May 22, 2012 3:57 PM in response to coleclark

I have the 802.11n version of the Airport Extreme set up as my primary Wireless router and would like to extend it's range using an Express (also "n" capable) via Ethernet.

Yes, you can do this, and yes it can work. And yes I have done this (amoung many other configurations). You can use 6.0, and you will see.. "This AirPort Express is now extending "TimeCapsule (or whatever)" using Ethernet.


Setup Complete.


If you see a solid line from the Extreme to the Express, that represents the connection over Etherent.


Not sure why you are having problems, except for it looks like you added a special kind of SWITCH between the two routers? That would explain some things...

May 22, 2012 6:31 PM in response to HACKINT0SH

Hackint0sh, that is exactly what transpired ("This Airport Express is now extending ..... using Ethernet"). And a solid line is displayed on the display of Airport Utility 6.0 between the Express and the Extreme when connected via ethernet (it is dotted line now because I have the ethernet connection unplugged on the Express). But if I attempt to join the network from anywhere in the house when the Express is connected via ethernet, I get an error message (unable to join because of network timeout or something like that). However, if I unplug the ethernet cable from the Express, it works fine. The switch I am using is a fairly generic gigabit ethernet switch. The Express and the Extreme are of relatively the same vintage and are both set to the same type of wireless security (WPA2 Personal) as well as advertising the same SSID and have the same WPA2 password (I think the Express actually takes these settings from the Extreme when you set it to be in extend mode via the Airport Utility).

May 22, 2012 6:43 PM in response to HACKINT0SH

The switch provides the access to the wired side of the network from each location in the house (I have about 16 ethernet ports in different rooms). I'm going to plug the home run from the room where the Express is located directly into one of the LAN ports of the Extreme and see if that corrects the problem. The topology now is the Cable Modem->Airport Extreme (WAN port)->Switch (LAN Port of Extreme)->Airport Express.

Airport Extreme wired AND extend network - Need Input

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