connect Airport Extreme to existing Wifi router

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Flipsken Author

Level 1

9 points

connect Airport Extreme to existing Wifi router

Hi

I am confused about the setup of the Airport Extreme.

I have an existing modem/wifi router box from my ISP (bbox2). However this one is only 802.11g

and I would like to replace it with the AEBS.

I was reading this setup manual

http://www.macinstruct.com/node/97

and I am confused about the setup.

At the start of the setup there is a choice between a) create new wireless network and b) replace existing base station.

Option b) looks obvious here. It would read the settings of the existing wifi modem/router and use them. But will this automatically

disable the routing and wifi functionality of my exisitng base station. I would believe having 2 routers or 2 wireless signals

would cause interference.

Option a) however creates a new wireless network where you can choose an SSID, authentication protocol, password, ...

But I already have one setup up. So should I select new network instead?

When choosing this option, again I have a crossroads:

a) bridge mode b) share single ip address ...

what is the difference here?

bridge mode would allow the existing modem from my ISP to still manage DHCP, PPoE, ... ?? second option would let this be handled

by the AEBS??? Which one would be preferred ?

Thanks for your inputs. ...

Rgds

Filip

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 13, 2013 12:15 PM

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Answer 1

Flipsken Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 14, 2013 6:57 AM in response to Flipsken

any info or suggestions ? ...

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Answer 2

JoeMY

Level 1

120 points

Feb 14, 2013 10:10 AM in response to Flipsken

Not sure what bbox2 does but the first thing I would do is to turn off wifi on the bbox2. You dont need it really.

Setup the AEBS as create a new network and connect a LAN cable from one of the LAN ports on bbox2 to the WAN port of the AEBS. Use bridge mode and let bbox2 handle the internet side meaning under,

Airport Utility > Internet > TCP/IP > Using DHCP

In this manner you dont have to change anything around how bbox2 connect to your ISP.

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Answer 3

Flipsken Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 14, 2013 12:38 PM in response to JoeMY

Hi

Thanks for your info.

In fact, bbox is the modem/wireless router from my ISP.

I am just trying to understand the different setup possibilities, how they work, and which one would be preferable.

I see in some screenshots of the Airport Utility that you have a choice between create a new network and replace existing base station.

Would it be correct to assume that the replace option would take over the settings from my ISP router and set them up in the APE? Would this automatically disable wifi and routing settings (DHCP, ...) in my ISP router? Having both turned on would create redundancy and errors I think.

Using create a new network>bridge mode would let the ISP router still manage routing and DHCP. Is there a difference than letting APE do this in terms of speed or stability?

Choosing create new network>share ip would let both routers work together, and then I would have to manually disable it in one of the 2 routers ?

Thanks for helping out ...

I know I could try to select either option and see what happens, but I do not have the APE yet. First trying to decide if it would be an improvement over my current setup, and gather the knowhow to not waste time or loose connectivity once I bought it ...

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Answer 4

hood49

Level 1

0 points

Apr 17, 2014 12:25 AM in response to Flipsken

Hi,

I have the same issue here. I have the BBOX2 but the wireless is so slow that it is almost impossible to use a NAS. So I bought an Extreme and an Express. I have connected the BBOX with the Extreme using a ethernet cable from one of the ports on the BBOX to the WAN of the Extreme. I used the bridge mode and have disabled the wireless from the BBOX. The connection to the NAS is faster but not as it should be.

How have you solved this?

Thanks in advance!

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