Q: Is it possible to use an 802.11n Airport Express to extend an 802.11g AP Extreme, though I followed instructions on http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259 and ...HT4262. Help!
Is it possible to use an 802.11n Airport Express to extend an 802.11g AP Extreme, though I followed instructions on http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259 and ...HT4262? Help!
I have followed the instructions both ways, and the new 802.11n AP Express still shows as a separate network, and does not access the 802.11g Extreme base station.
Thanks!
Airport Express, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Posted on Apr 14, 2012 10:59 PM
It definitely works. To configure them for WDS, place them both on the same desk - the easier it will be to enter their MAC addresses and to perform the numerous Factory Default Resets that will surely result from mistyping a digit or two several times. When everything is working then disconnect them and deploy them to their permanent locations.
Way down at the bottom of those instructions are the salient points of WDS:
If you choose to do a manual WDS configuration (as opposed to the automatic feature used in the steps above), be sure that all base stations have the same network name, channel, and security (password). Attempting to give Wi-Fi base stations different network names on a WDS network may render the network inoperable. Returning base stations to the network name of the main should return the network to operation.
The "automatic feature" never worked for me, and it was necessary to perform a Factory Default Reset to begin with - another salient point buried earlier in the article.
The disadvantages of WDS are understated:
When you use WDS, part of each Wi-Fi base station's capacity is used as overhead for maintaining the network. This means that if you were to measure the maximum throughput speed of your network, it would be less than it would be when using one base station by itself.
In fact throughput is halved. This didn't matter much when I was using dialup but with broadband it's intolerable.
The 802.11g Extreme will support AirTunes, but I think that when you get a new 802.11n Extreme your older one will gather dust. If you decide to keep it, its function is best suited in a roaming network as an 802.11g access point.
The new dual band Extreme has so many advantages.
If you want to configure a WDS, do so for the sheer fun of it, but then you'll want a new Extreme.
Posted on Apr 15, 2012 12:10 AM