blaqink
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Q: Time Capsule as bridge, want to extend range with airport express

I have a Motorola Surfboard SBG6580 a time capsule (3rd gen) and an airport express (2nd gen). I currently have the time capsule connected to the surfboard router by ethernet and have it iset to bridge mode. i would like to use the airport express to extend the network because as i get to the back of my apartment the range of the wifi signal starts to degrade. however when i try to extend the network with the express i am unable to.
both apple routers are on latest firmware

 

 

would there be any alternative way to configure these 3 devices for best performance / range

Posted on Aug 7, 2012 7:35 AM

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Q: Time Capsule as bridge, want to extend range with airport express

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 7, 2012 8:38 AM in response to blaqink
    Level 9 (54,874 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 7, 2012 8:38 AM in response to blaqink

    You could configure both the Time Capsule (TC) and 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) for an extended wireless network ... but it would be a separate wireless network from that provided by your Motorola Gateway device.

     

    The other option would be to connect the AXn to the Motorola as well and configure all three routers into a roaming network.

  • by blaqink,

    blaqink blaqink Aug 7, 2012 9:10 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 7, 2012 9:10 AM in response to Tesserax

    thank you for the response.

    so in order for the AXn to allow me to extend the network i had to tell the TC to create a new network, but gave it all the same network name and password as my existing motorola network. and then i was able to use the AXn to extend the network, however the speeds were even worse when i did that

     

    my question is, if my TC and motorola modem are both transmitting a wirless signal will it cause a problem. or when the TC is in bridge mode it should be setup as a new network.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 8, 2012 7:52 AM in response to blaqink
    Level 9 (54,874 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 8, 2012 7:52 AM in response to blaqink

    It sounds like you configured a combination roaming/extended network. Remember in a roaming network, all routers would need to be interconnected by Ethernet. This is what you have with the Motorola and TC. In this case the TC would be in bridge mode, but broadcast a separate wireless network with the same network name & security type as the Motorola's. It appears that is what you already have done.

     

    The choice then is to either connect the AXn back to the Motorola via Ethernet to "extend" the roaming network or to configure the AXn to extend the TC via a wireless connection.

     

    As far as both the Motorola & TC transmitting a Wi-Fi network, the issue would be that you would want to provide as much radio channel separation as possible to prevent Wi-Fi interference between these two routers.

  • by Chamgea,

    Chamgea Chamgea Dec 11, 2012 8:23 AM in response to blaqink
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 11, 2012 8:23 AM in response to blaqink

    @blaqink

     

    Have you figured this out?

     

    I am looking to accomplish the similar feat. I have the Motorola Surfboard SBG6580, Time Capsule (Gen2) and Airport Express. I would like to use the Motorola as the main wireless signal because it appears to be better. But I still use the TC for backups and time machine, then I use the AX to extend the signal.

     

    So, how can I use these 3 in unison? TC connected via ethernet to Motorola and set in bridge mode? Then extend the AX signal? Any detail setup info you can provide will help..thanks!