Permanent drop in internet connection from airport express

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Permanent drop in internet connection from airport express

Hi,

Around 6 months ago, I set up a wireless network composed of an airport extreme - as the main base station, connected to a router - and an airport express to extend the network into the other room. During this time, it worked successfully. But, today, out of a sudden, the internet speed, when connecting through the airport express slowed dramatically, independent of which device (macbook pro, iPad, android smartphones, Apple TV...) is used. The point is the problem only occurs when connecting through the airport express. If I move the laptop to the adjacent room and connect through the airport extreme, it works perfectly.

Has anybody dealt with such a situation? It does not appear to be related to wi-fi channel interference, since a wi-fi scan showed that the airport express has been operating in a channel not used by any other router.

Thanks.

Airport Express (Second Generation)-OTHER, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jan 29, 2013 8:04 PM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

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Jan 30, 2013 9:06 AM in response to Pedro Cezar

Around 6 months ago, I set up a wireless network composed of an airport extreme - as the main base station, connected to a router - and an airport express to extend the network into the other room.

Just to be sure I understand your current network configuration, are all of the following true?

Both AirPorts are 802.11n models.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) is directly connected to the "main" Internet router by Ethernet.
The AEBS is configured as a bridge and to allow it to be extended.
The AirPort Express Base Station (AX) is connected to the AEBS by wireless.
The AX is configured to extend the AEBS' wireless network.

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Answer 2

Pedro Cezar Author

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Jan 30, 2013 12:17 PM in response to Tesserax

Tesserax,

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, both AirPorts are 802.11n models - AirPort Extreme 802.11n 5th Generation and AirPort Express 802.11n 2nd Generation;
Yes, the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) is directly connected to the "main" Internet router by Ethernet;
No, the AEBS is configured as DHCP and NAT - this was set up automatically;
Yes, the Airport Express Base Station (AX) is connected to the AEBS by wireless;
Yes, the AX is configured to extend the AEBS's wireless network.

I decided to change the physical location of both AEBS and AX. The internet connection oscillated widely and has since stabilized around the contracted broadband speed. But I am not sure it will continue steady as it is now: it recorded from 2.0 Mbps to 122 Mbps, stabilizing in 50.0 Mbps, which is what was contracted.

Thank you.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

148,441 points

Jan 30, 2013 12:37 PM in response to Pedro Cezar

No, the AEBS is configured as DHCP and NAT - this was set up automatically

Correct, that would be the default configuration for the AEBS.

Unless this is your networking design goal, the AEBS should be reconfigured as a bridge. This will allow the upstream router that it is connected to to provide both the NAT & DHCP services so that network clients connected to any of the routers will be on the same network subnet. When two or more routers connected in series have NAT eanbled, you will have what is known as a "double-NAT" condition. This is not necessarily bad in itself but does cause other complications.

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Answer 4

Pedro Cezar Author

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Jan 31, 2013 9:15 AM in response to Tesserax

Tesserax,

If any inconsistency occurs in the following days, I will reconfigure the AEBS as a bridge.

Thank you.

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