kevrenee235
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Q: 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?

Posted on Sep 29, 2014 10:03 AM

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kevrenee235

Q: Setting up a roaming network with AirPort

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  • by kevrenee235,

    kevrenee235 kevrenee235 Oct 1, 2014 6:44 AM in response to Bob Timmons
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    Oct 1, 2014 6:44 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I'm not so proud as to say that I couldn't have made a mistake in the initial set up but for whatever reason, we seem to be good now.  Thanks again.

  • by Jason Smith5,

    Jason Smith5 Jason Smith5 Oct 16, 2014 7:19 PM in response to kevrenee235
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 16, 2014 7:19 PM in response to kevrenee235

    My brain is racked. I'm knowledgable in enterprise class network deployments, but this Mickey Mouse stuff is not working.

    1. Apple 2nd Gen Time Capsule (family room)

    1a. Pakedge 24 port 10/100/1000 switch

     

    2. Apple 2nd Gen Airport Express (master bedroom)

    2a. Arakins 100 series 8 port 10/100/1000 switch)

     

    I have the TC set to DHCP/NAT and to create a WiFi network on both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. This has been working fine (well with out some problems of blowing out the wifi network and having to restart frequently)

     

    In the mater bedroom AE-02 I have it set to "join a wireless network so I can use the AE to connect to a small switch in my master bedroom to get network activity up there. It uses the 5Ghz frequency to bridge the upstairs to the downstairs, but with this the throughput is not fast enough and has hiccuped more then a million times on several occasions. So I decided to pull a wire up there, terminated it, successfully (10Gbe Belden 10GX wire), residential qualified the connection for full 10GbE data throughput/rates.

     

    I connoted my Arakins 8 port 100 series switch to the wall and now I have a full 8 port network up there. Awesome. This will work just fine for me... but.....

     

    I wanted to extend my already crappy range WiFi by using the AE as a - you guessed it hardwired AP (access point) so I can have some RF signal up there.

    BUT it's not playing nice and this is my problem.

     

    I am doing "Extend a wireless network" when I plug i the cat6a cable, the AE blows my other devices offline and then I have to unplug it. As soon as I unplug it, the network is self healing and back up - online. But this not what I want to do. I don't want to use the wifi to bridge the communications between the AE & TC. I want to use the hardwired 10/100/1000 to make that extend the wireless.

     

    The second I plug it in (even tried it directly to the TC in the same room) it goes offline.

     

    I'm lost as to why this unit - when supposed to be able to "extend a wireless network" Support KB article HT4260, doesn't want to play nice. Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Oct 16, 2014 10:35 PM in response to Jason Smith5
    Level 9 (52,984 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 16, 2014 10:35 PM in response to Jason Smith5
    I am doing "Extend a wireless network" when I plug i the cat6a cable, the AE blows my other devices offline and then I have to unplug it.

    You cannot extend wireless and plug in ethernet.. you created a loop.. with both ethernet and wireless operating to connect the device to the network.

     

    When you use ethernet connection you always create a wireless network of the same name as the main unit.

     

    So you are working with the express now as a WAP.. not as repeater. (extend wireless is just Apple's name for repeater).

     

    You do not plug a repeater into ethernet.. you plug in a WAP.

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