HT204616: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Learn about Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)
ronkoz

Q: setting up extended roaming network

I have an Airport Extreme and a new Time Machine. Because of the logistics of my house, the Airport Extreme base station must be the primary connection. When I go to set up Connection Sharing on it I get a conflict message stating that the IP address conflicts with that of the base station and the network does not work.

 

If both the A.E. base station and the Time Machine are set to Off (Bridge Mode) the network works fine.

 

I do not know how to configure an IP. Can the network function as it is (both devices set to Bridge Mode) or must I change the IP for the base station?

 

 

 

(computers connected --- Older Mac Pro (no wireless or bluetooth --- connected via ethernet cable) plus two iMacs and a MacBook and phones connected wirelessly)

 

 

thanks
Ron

Posted on Feb 17, 2013 8:23 PM

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Q: setting up extended roaming network

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 18, 2013 6:36 AM in response to ronkoz
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 18, 2013 6:36 AM in response to ronkoz

    It sounds like you have a modem/router or gateway device "upstream" from the AirPort Extreme. That "upstream device is acting as your main router for the network.

     

    You never want two devices both trying to act as routers on a network, so the correct setting for both your AirPort Extreme and the Time Capsule is Bridge Mode.

     

    If you are looking at Apple's instructions about configuring a roaming network, unfortunately that information is only correct if you are using a simple modem which is not performing any routing duties on the network.

     

    Apple should have added more informtion to tell you that if you were using a modem/router or gateway type of device ahead of the AirPort Extreme, that the AirPort should be configured in Bridge Mode.....not Share a public IP address.

  • by ronkoz,

    ronkoz ronkoz Feb 18, 2013 8:20 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2013 8:20 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob

  • by Robert Kamphuis,

    Robert Kamphuis Robert Kamphuis Apr 11, 2013 2:12 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2013 2:12 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    hi

     

    The situation described sounds a lot like the setup I have been thinking about for my home.

     

    I have been reading the forums and apple's articles about the roaming network - this seems clearly the way to go if you can have the cabling, and you need more than one Airport basestation for better coverage and/or airtunes speakers.

     

    However, in my home, I do not want the airport extreme to be providing the dhcp services.

    The reason is that in this case (as I understand HT4260) I need two LAN cables to the primary airport extreme (=AE1) - one from the adsl-Modem+router to the AE1, and another cable from this AE1 back to the switch. From that switch I can reach the other Airport Extreme and Airport Express via the LAN cables. But, I don't have two cables available from a reasonable location where the AE1 can be placed with some useful coverage. I can set it up as described, but then the AE1 is stuck away in a closet with lots of concrete around it in a place where I don't really need coverage - wasting one AE1.

     

    So... what I would like to do is the following:

    -           phone line with adsl

    \ and =  cat 5/6 LAN cable

     

    ------ ADSL+router ============= (wan) AE1      (create the same network; internet as bridged)

             (runs DHCP)

                   \       \============== (wan) AE2       (create the same network; internet as bridged)

                    \

                     \================= (wan) AX3       (create the same network; internet as bridged - add the speakers)

              add more as needed

    and Optionally:                                AX4               (extend - so wirelessly - the same network; internet bridged - add the speakers)

     

    My questions:

    a) Would this create a good roaming network?

    b) Would this create a good roaming network on both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz - assuming AE and AX are both the latest models?

    c) Would the optional AX4 - which is not wired to the main switch - be able to extend this network - just so that I can get the music in the room I like - actually outside on the terras; of course in parallel to the other AE/AX at the same time? 

    d) Would this wireless extension slow down any of the other connections? Or only the clients of AX3 (as an example) to which AX4 connects wirelessly?

     

    I am trying to get some feedback before buying one or more AE or AX to replace/extend my old 1st gen n model Airport Xpress.

    Which leads me also to:

    e) will the 1st-gen-n A xpress work nicely with n-speeds on the 2.4 band together with all the other ones?

         Obviously I would loose my 5Ghz network and guest-networks in the area covered by this older AX?

         (I very likely use this older as my "AX4" in the example above.

     

     

    Thanks for your help!

    Robert