cjfreitag
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Q: Bridge vs. Extend - advice?

My current setup is an Actiontec router (Verizon FIOS) connected by ethernet to a TC that creates a wireless network. Upstairs I have two AE units that extend that same network. The current setup works OK, but the WiFi is sometimes slow.

 

Both of the AE units upstairs are near cable outlets. I have a couple of MoCA units that I could connecy via coax. So I could do a system in which both AE units are connecte via ethernet. Then I would have each of those units in bridge mode create a network with the same name and credentials as my primary network.

 

Would the bridge system provide any advantages in terms of bandwidth?

OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 20, 2013 8:57 AM

by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer
Bob Timmons Bob Timmons
Level 10 (105,398 points)
Wireless
A:

I assume that you also have the TC in bridge mode, so it would not matter where the Express devices connect in that case since everything is on the same network.

 

If you have setup the TC to act as another separate router on the network ( in other words, the TC is not in bridge mode), then the Express devices would need to connect directly to the TC.

Posted on Nov 20, 2013 9:17 AM

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cjfreitag

Q: Bridge vs. Extend - advice?

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  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Nov 20, 2013 9:07 AM in response to cjfreitag
    Level 10 (105,398 points)
    Wireless
    Nov 20, 2013 9:07 AM in response to cjfreitag

    If the AirPort Express devices are extending the TC network wirelessly, there is always a compromise in performance with this type of setup.

     

    This is because the Express can only extend the network bandwidth and speed that it receives. The signal has already lost a good deal of bandwith by the time that it reaches each Express.

     

    If you can connect the Express devices back to the TC using an Ethernet connection over co-ax, then you will have full network bandwidth reaching the Express. This will provide noticeably better wireless performance in the areas where the Express devices are located.

     

    You really don't have to worry about configuring the Expess devices when you do this, as AirPort Setup will literally configure the Express devices automatically with the correct settings.

  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax Nov 20, 2013 9:07 AM in response to cjfreitag
    Level 9 (54,874 points)
    Wireless
    Nov 20, 2013 9:07 AM in response to cjfreitag

    Would the bridge system provide any advantages in terms of bandwidth?

    When base station are interconnected by Ethernet you have a roaming network. This type of network typically offers better overall bandwidth, and thus, data throughput over an all wireless extended network.

  • by cjfreitag,

    cjfreitag cjfreitag Nov 20, 2013 9:11 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 9:11 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks. Does it matter that my TC is downstream from the Actiontec router? In other words, do the MoCA units connect via house coax connect to the Actiontec, the TC, or does it even matter?

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Nov 20, 2013 9:17 AM in response to cjfreitag
    Level 10 (105,398 points)
    Wireless
    Nov 20, 2013 9:17 AM in response to cjfreitag

    I assume that you also have the TC in bridge mode, so it would not matter where the Express devices connect in that case since everything is on the same network.

     

    If you have setup the TC to act as another separate router on the network ( in other words, the TC is not in bridge mode), then the Express devices would need to connect directly to the TC.

  • by cjfreitag,

    cjfreitag cjfreitag Nov 20, 2013 9:27 AM in response to Bob Timmons
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    Nov 20, 2013 9:27 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    No, the TC is set in bridge mode already, so it should work as you suggest. I'll switch things over and report back with my success.

  • by cjfreitag,

    cjfreitag cjfreitag Nov 23, 2013 6:14 AM in response to cjfreitag
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    Nov 23, 2013 6:14 AM in response to cjfreitag

    I went ahead with the setup change and everything worked as advertised. However, in looking at the setup in Airport Utility I realized that some wireless devices were still connecting to the TC node, not the closer Airport Express nodes. After some reflection I decided to set each AE as a separate wireless network to take better advantage of the MoCA bandwidth.

     

    This way I can connect my streaming media players (which don't need to "roam") to a specific target network. It's easy enough to switch my iPad or laptop between the networks as needed.

     

    It's not what I originally intended to do, but it's working like a charm!

  • by Bedrock99,

    Bedrock99 Bedrock99 Apr 18, 2014 5:43 AM in response to cjfreitag
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 5:43 AM in response to cjfreitag

    Have a similar issues. Did your setup work? Also, if it did are you able to connect a printer to one of the express units?

  • by cjfreitag,

    cjfreitag cjfreitag Apr 18, 2014 6:36 AM in response to Bedrock99
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    Apr 18, 2014 6:36 AM in response to Bedrock99

    The setup works fine. I ended up with a sort of hybrid; I created three individual WiFi networks on the 2.4 band and a single WiFi network on the 5Ghtz band (separated by channel on each Airport device). I did not connect a printer so I can't tell you how that would work.