hallorandom

Q: Connecting Airport Express to switch disables wireless

Hi experts! Here's my current configuration:

 

Comcast router -> Airport Express -> 8-port switch -> in-wall ethernet cords -> Airport Extreme -> Smart TV, Xbox, Sonos, etc.

 

I have my network set up with the Airport Express as the primary base station in my basement next to the Comcast router and 8-port switch which is connected to all of the in-wall ethernet cords for the rest of the house. Upstairs, next to the TV, is the Airport Extreme which is set up to extend my network.

 

My goal is to connect the switch to the Airport Express downstairs so that I can add other devices in the other rooms of the house, but as soon as I connect it to the switch, the network goes down and I can no longer connect to the internet. As soon as I unplug the switch, I'm back up and running.

 

Have I done something wrong in my set up? I need the Airport Extreme to be near the TV so I can connect my other devices (Xbox, Smart TV)

 

Please help!

AirPort Extreme 802.11n (2nd Gen)

Posted on Sep 8, 2014 6:59 AM

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Q: Connecting Airport Express to switch disables wireless

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2014 5:46 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 10 (105,338 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2014 5:46 PM in response to Loner T

    Unfortunately, with AirPort Utility 6.x....."A" will be a disaster, even though it might seem right to most users.

     

    Please see my post above for the correct setup, which AirPort Utility will automatically display when it "sees" the Express connected using Ethernet. The "A" option will not even appear......is what we are trying to say.

     

    "A" would be correct if the Express were being set up with a simple modem.....not a router.

  • by hallorandom,

    hallorandom hallorandom Sep 9, 2014 5:49 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2014 5:49 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    @Bob, that didn't seem to work. It saw the Express, but never recognized that I was connecting via ethernet and never got through the setup completely.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2014 5:55 PM in response to hallorandom
    Level 10 (105,338 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2014 5:55 PM in response to hallorandom

    Then there is a problem somewhere. I just did this setup a few minutes ago to confirm again. Please reset the Express again and use a spare Ethernet cable that you know is good.

     

    An iPad or iPhone is lot more reliable than a Mac for this type of setup, if you have one handy.

  • by hallorandom,

    hallorandom hallorandom Sep 9, 2014 5:55 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 9, 2014 5:55 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    It seems like I could set it up to extend the network (B), but I'm confused as to what [Wireless Tab > Network mode: Off] means. Is that "Bridge" mode referred to in the outdated documentation?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 9, 2014 5:58 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 7 (24,770 points)
    Safari
    Sep 9, 2014 5:58 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Apologies, Bob. On AU 5.6.1, I always create a network and set it to bridged. Thanks for stepping in. I have 6.3.1 running on another machine. I will check what it says.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2014 6:08 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 10 (105,338 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2014 6:08 PM in response to Loner T

    No problem. Since AirPort Utilty 6.x is now about 3 years old.....Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks......it is pretty safe to assume that most users are referring to 6.x when they mention AirPort Utility unless there are hints otherwise.

     

    What was "right" using AirPort Utility 5.6.x doesn't really transfer directly to 6.x. For example, if you try to use 6.x to "create a network" during the guided setup, which you must use, nowhere in the setup is there an option to use Bridge Mode.

     

    It is really unfortunate that Apple has provided virtually no documentation on AirPort Utility 6.x.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 9, 2014 6:25 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 7 (24,770 points)
    Safari
    Sep 9, 2014 6:25 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    I checked two of my dual-mode 4th Gen TCs. This is what they have, using AU 6.3.2.

     

    AU6.3.2-CreateNetwork.png

     

    AU6.3.2-BridgeMode.png

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2014 6:46 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 10 (105,338 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2014 6:46 PM in response to Loner T

    I am not doing a very good job of explaining my point.

     

    Both of the screenshots that you have posted from 6.3.x are for a product that is already set up.

     

    None of these screens appear when are trying to set up a new device using 6.3.x.  Instead, you must use a setup "wizard" to get the product configured.  There is no Manual Setup option during the setup in 6.x.

     

    Once a product is set up......only then, can you open up AirPort Utility and see the actual configuration screens that you posted.

     

    I would not ask you to reset your Time Capsule back to factory defaults and then try to set it up again using 6.x.....but if you did this, you would see that what I say is true.

     

    This was not the case using AirPort Utilty 5.x, when you could use a Manual Setup option and work with the actual screens as you proceeded through the setup. This is not possible in 6.x during a new product setup.

     

    I think that this where you are having the most difficulty understanding the differences between the utilities.  They are similar......with a product that has already been set up.

     

    They are totally different when you start from scratch and set up a new product.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 9, 2014 6:53 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 7 (24,770 points)
    Safari
    Sep 9, 2014 6:53 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob Timmons wrote:

     

     

    I would not ask you to reset your Time Capsule back to factory defaults and then try to set it up again using 6.x.....but if you did this, you would see that what I say is true.

     

    This was not the case using AirPort Utilty 5.x, when you could use a Manual Setup option and work with the actual screens as you proceeded through the setup. This is not possible in 6.x during a new product setup.

     

    I think that this where you are having the most difficulty understanding the differences between the utilities.  They are similar......with a product that has already been set up.

     

    They are totally different when you start from scratch and set up a new product.

    Ah that makes sense now. I will teach myself the innards of 6.x. Thank you for that lesson. I needed that. I have an old 802.11n (1st Gen) lying around that I can play with on 6.3.2 without impacting the rest of the network.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2014 6:58 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 10 (105,338 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2014 6:58 PM in response to Loner T

    You will either love or hate the "wizards" that you must use to set up a product from scratch.

     

    We've asked Apple for a Manual Setup option or Expert option a number of times....but so far....no luck.

     

    Keep us posted.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2014 7:13 PM in response to hallorandom
    Level 10 (105,338 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2014 7:13 PM in response to hallorandom
    It seems like I could set it up to extend the network (B), but I'm confused as to what [Wireless Tab > Network mode: Off] means. Is that "Bridge" mode referred to in the outdated documentation?

    If you will follow the exact instructions that I provided, you do not have to worry about things like Wireless Tab > Network Mode > Off.

     

    The setup wizard will set things up for you correctly and automatically. If this does not happen, then there are problems elsewhere that we need to find.

     

    Please set aside any of the printed documentation or support documents that you might have there, as it is all 3+ years old, and I think it is really confusing you.

     

    I'll be back in my office tomorrow, and will provide step by step screenshots if you need them.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 9, 2014 8:09 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 7 (24,770 points)
    Safari
    Sep 9, 2014 8:09 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob Timmons wrote:

     

    Keep us posted.

    After hearing screams of anguish, some choice expletives from family members (i did not know they had such an exhaustive vocabulary of four-letter words) for the last 15 minutes, all order (aka household WiFi) has been restored. I can vouch unequivocally that Bob's procedure works.

     

    Following my suggestion would have earned the OP monikers of very uncivilized kind, used to denigrate a fellow human being and reduce a person to utter shame.

     

    Thanks for the quick tutorial, Bob. (This was verified on AU 6.3.2 - Mavericks.4 and 6.3.4 - to-released-OS and AU 5.6.1 Snow Leopard.8)

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 9, 2014 8:13 PM in response to Loner T
    Level 10 (105,338 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 9, 2014 8:13 PM in response to Loner T

    I can vouch unequivocally that Bob's procedure works.

    It is not mine. It is Apple's.

     

    I am simply following the setup wizard in AirPort Utilty....nothing else.

  • by hallorandom,

    hallorandom hallorandom Sep 10, 2014 6:59 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 6:59 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks for your help, Bob (and for throwing yourself on the sword to verify, LonerT)

     

    I'll give it another go this evening and report back with my results.

     

    Just to double-check before I try again, my steps should be:

     

    1. Factory reset Express

    2. Connect <--> on Express to <--> on Extreme (Primary base station, already functioning)

    3. Open APU, wait for connection via ethernet

    4. Move Express to final location

    5. Connect (O) on Express to in-wall Ethernet port (which is connected to switch)

     

    Done?

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Sep 10, 2014 8:13 AM in response to hallorandom
    Level 7 (24,770 points)
    Safari
    Sep 10, 2014 8:13 AM in response to hallorandom

    hallorandom wrote:

     

    Thanks for your help, Bob (and for throwing yourself on the sword to verify, LonerT)

    Here is an image gallery of the sequence of steps. I suggest Bob verify it before you take a shot at it later tonight.

     

    http://imgur.com/a/KOZJx/all

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