Why Are Ethernet Ports Disabled When Extending WiFi

Question

Level 1

15 points

Why Are Ethernet Ports Disabled When Extending WiFi

I have an airport extreme (latest model) and have just bought a time capsule (latest model).

My extreme works as my primary WiFi and router, however I'm a fair distance from it and only get 100 meg WiFi link at best. I had hoped to connect the new Time Capsule as a wireless extender on the other side of the room where signal strength and quality are improved, and hard wire into the unit - so my backup would be quickest and the 100 meg wifi plenty for my internet browsing.

Sadly when I setup the TC to extend the WiFi it disabled the ethernet ports - is their any reason for this? it seems completely unnecerssary from my understanding of the technology and comparable products on the market, like the netgear universal extenders which have a 4 port switch to connect to the wifi on.

Can we expect a firmware update to address this or is this just plain old arrogance at it's best?

AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Gen), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 16, 2014 3:25 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 16, 2014 4:19 AM in response to Justern

This is long standing setup that when an apple router joins the wireless of another router it will turn off ethernet ports. That includes another apple router.

But this is simply a case of wrong setup for you.

Somehow you have chosen join a wireless work.. and you should have chosen extend a wireless network. In extend wireless the ethernet ports still work..

Apple have given a reason for the lack of ethernet bridge in join wireless.. but it is fairly complex.. and seems unnecessary. The Extend wireless is proprietary method and apple was able to get around whatever the issues were.

Extend wireless on the TC.. create a wireless network on the AE.. should work ok.. I do have it running fine with Gen5 AE and Gen4 TC so previous generation.

Please give screenshots from the airport utility if you cannot figure it out.

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 16, 2014 9:33 AM in response to Justern

Sadly when I setup the TC to extend the WiFi it disabled the ethernet ports

Something is wrong with your setup or the TC, as the Ethernet ports are enabled when the device is configured to "extend a wireless network".

Did you use the setup "wizard" to configure the TC?

Reply