Q: Home Network Setup Configured with 3rd Party Router, Time Capsule, and AX

I've read numerous compatibility issues with 3rd party routers and apple's WDS.

Since you will have all the routers interconnected by Ethernet a WDS (Wireless Distribution System) is neither required or desired in this situation.

Can anyone tell me the exact settings for each router or if this will even work with a 3rd party router?

Using the third-party wired router in this example, this router would be configured as a router with both NAT & DHCP enabled. Most likely, its default configuration. All other routers connected back to this router by Ethernet should be configured as bridges (NAT & DHCP disabled.) This network configuration is known as a "roaming" network. In this type of network you can use routers or wireless access points from different manufacturers.

Should I just use an Apple express?

You could, but I would use the most feature-rich router as your "main" router. In my case, I use a Cisco wired router for my "main" router as its firewall & security functions exceed any of the Apple router offerings.

Also, will a 3rd party router affect any Time Capsule backups of my iMac (whether or not I connect to the internet wirelessly or physically connected to a wall port and then to the 3rd party router).

No.

Is there a way to physically connect via the patch cable but also have the TC back up my computer wirelessly?

You can, of course, connect the iMac via Ethernet, but the iMac can only support ONE network connection at a time and that would be based on the order of that connection as listed under System Preferences > Network on the iMac.

Hiya.. very clear now.. I do not remember your last effort.

A 3rd party router of decent quality without wireless is usually now in the Cisco type category.. everything is now wireless and you should buy it and just turn off the wireless. It is not a problem.

Let me suggest a router that can handle 3rd party firmware.

The Netgear WNDR3800 is a bit hard to get hold of but excellent unit with often poor wireless.. which is fine for you. It has a 680mhz processor.. and that is what you want.

Or the TP-Link WDR3600 which is less than $80 here.. should be cheap in US and reasonable in Europe.

It has a 560mhz processor but that is still adequate.

Either of those routers .. load gargoyle firmware.. this is easy as.. simply download the correct firmware.. and use the standard firmware upgrade.. wait a suitable length of time.. voila you have a new router with a different and far superior firmware. It is very much designed to work with any OS so is fine with Macs.

Whichever way you go, you are going to have one flat network.. so that router will be the only one in the network.. setup the TC and the Express in bridge mode.

Setup the wireless for roaming.

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260

Only in this case both Apple routers are bridged and setup to roam and the main router can have wireless left off if you like, although I would still run it.

Same ssid.. ie wireless name.. same security setting.. same password.

Only issues is wireless channels if they don't co-operate set it manually.. try first on auto.

Let me see if I can answer the specifics.

Alternatively, I thought I could possibly purchase an Apple Express instead of a 3rd party wired router.

No, it is really underpowered. Something like gargoyle has excellent controls.. plus vpn plus qos plus quota plus tracking of usage plus parental controls. It is just a lot more powerful.

I've read numerous compatibility issues with 3rd party routers and apple's WDS.  Can anyone tell me the exact settings for each router or if this will even work with a 3rd party router?  Should I just use an Apple express?

You do not need WDS.. this is not a wireless extend setup.. since you have wired ethernet this is roaming with multiple AP setup.. very different. Avoid WDS or apple extend if possible.. it will just slow things down.. that is why you wired the place.

Also, will a 3rd party router affect any Time Capsule backups of my iMac (whether or not I connect to the internet wirelessly or physically connected to a wall port and then to the 3rd party router).  Meaning, my iMac will be in a different room than my TC.  I can choose to connect to the internet wirelessly via my TC or I can run a cat 5e patch cable to a wall port in my office room.  My thinking if i run a patch cable is that I will bypass the TC and go directly to the 8-port switch which is basically the 3rd party router.  Is there a way to physically connect via the patch cable but also have the TC back up my computer wirelessly?

You are worrying about something that doesn't exist in the proposed system.

A bridged TC is still part of the network... it makes no difference which way you access the system.. as long as you follow the guide and setup roaming with only one router.

Let me explain.. the imac gets an IP from the main router.. say 192.168.1.100 and basically it does not deal any longer with the main router for internal LAN work.. It discovers the TC at 192.168.1.202 and happily does its backup.. Now it matters not one whit if the computer gets that IP from wireless.. or ethernet or direct line plugged into the back of the TC or express or any where else on the system.. It is one flat network, with all resources accessible to any client.

Speed is obviously lower on wireless.. and ethernet should be plugged into gigabit ports rather than 100mbit ports.. but all will work fine.

Simply post again if you run into issues and we can sort it for you.

**For some reason I've got a hunch my imac is trying to connect and get internet signal from the 3rd floor AX instead of the TC that is 15 ft away.

The signal can be blocked from the TC unless you have a clear path.

Try turning off the Ax .. can you now force the connection.. or use ethernet if it is 15' .. or use different wireless names.. again so you can force the connection. The iMac does not have a big non-metallic area in which to send wireless so it may be a bit restricted if you have a mirror or something in the way.

Basically, I can connect the modem to the 8-port switch directly.  Does this sound right.  To dumb it down, the rep was saying I should be able to connect a computer directly to the modem without any router to connect to the internet.  I always thought I router was required.

You must have a router. But the cable modem may also have router function built in .. which means you are double NATting.

If you plug a computer directly into the modem does it get an IP.. 192.168, or 10.0. or something like that.

If so yes, you can remove the TP-Link router and just use the cable modem router.

Wireless is a strange beastie.. the signal at the router and signal at the computer can be very different depending on the route they each take. The fact that with the Ax turned off the TC disappears tells you there is an issue.

Sometimes small changes in location can have big effects.. move the routers about a bit.. even a few feet can make huge difference if you have something clearly blocking signal path.