Setting up a roaming network with AirPort
This weekend I set up an Airport Extreme as the primary base station and two Airport Expresses to establish an extended roaming network. Instructions on this site [Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations ] said to, via Ethernet, connect the AP Extreme to the modem via the WAN port on the Extreme then, via Ethernet, connect the AP Extreme from the LAN ports to the AP Express on the WAN port. The only difference is that I have a 10/100/1000 gigabyte switch in between the AP Extreme and the AP Express.
The AirPort Utility (Windows and iPad) would not recognize the AP Expresses until I changed the Ethernet cable from WAN to LAN on the AP Express. Only then was I able to configure the network -- hopefully correctly. If I attempt to change the cable back to the WAN port on the AP Express, I loose contact with it.
I just want a simple roaming wireless network in my home which is old and big, thus the three units. However, I'm not sure if this setup will work correctly and if so, I lose the LAN port on each AP Express which I had hoped to use with devices at their respective locations.
Thoughts?