Q: Help needed: Airport Extreme Roaming Network
Hello all,
I have set up a wirelss roaming network with a Cisco router and two AE (4 Gen) precisely as described in http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260.
Network backbone: Gigabit wired, 5e/6 Cat.
AE #1 WAN port connects to router, LAN port connects to WAN port of AE #2.
Same SSID, same WPA2, different channels for all three radios.
The issue is:
1) When I place a Macbook Pro (OS 10.8.2) 50 cm away from AE #1 I get a 300 Mbps connection. I can back-up "wirelessly" 60 GB in approx. 2 1/2 hours.
2) When I move the MBP away from AE #1 and to a distance of 50 cm to AE #2; the MBP sticks to AE #1 despite the fact that the Transmit Rate drops to much below 10 Mbps. (the connected AE can be identified by holding the option key and clicking the Finder's WIFI menu)
3) When I move the MBP from AE # 1 to the Cisco router the MBP immediately connects to the Cisco's radio signal.
4) when I switch the MBP's airport card off and back on it connects correctly to the "closest" AE with the best connection.
Is this behavior state of the start or just typical for Apple's Airports ?
It is actually not what I understand by a roaming network. I need a solution that maintains a permanent conenction in order not to corrupt back-ups.
I would be very grateful for help, I have experimented for days to no avail.
Regards,
Twistan
Mac mini (Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.7.3)
Posted on Mar 9, 2013 12:27 AM