iOperatingSystem
Level 1 (4 points)

Q: Advice on setting up Roaming wireless network

I am planning to setup my wireless network using an Airport Time capsule and and Airport Extreme using the guide in the link http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT4260 . "Roaming network"

Here is how I get my internet connection from my ISP; I have fiber to home or FTTH connection, the fiber line connects to the Huawei Echo Life HG8247 Gateway which is my modem and also acts as a wireless access point.

My plan is to connect a LAN cable from the Huwaei gateway to the WAN of the Airport time capsule and then connect a LAN cable from one of the ports from the time capsule to the WAN in the Airport extreme. Also I would like the Airport Time capsule to act as my router, and not the Huwaei gateway.

 

  1. 1. I have already disabled the Wifi in the Huwaei gateway, what else do I have to configure on this device in order to use the Time capsule Airport as my sole router.
  2. 2. What should be the settings on the Airport time capsule and on the Airport extreme.
  3. 3. Would it be better to connect both airport devices to the Huwaei gateway? or follow the setup above (in the plan)
    1. Or maybe I don’t have to change anything on the Huwaei gateway and I don’t have to use the Airport time capsule as a gateway.

 

Finally, in your opinion what is the best stable setup for a wireless network using my scenario above.

 

Thanks in advance

Airport, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), Airport extreme time capsule

Posted on Feb 8, 2015 4:22 AM

by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer
Bob Timmons Bob Timmons
Level 10 (105,388 points)
Wireless
A:

No changes need to be made the Huwaei modem/router.

 

The preferred setup is to connect both AirPorts to the Huwaei gateway. The reason for this is that it makes any troubleshooting easier. If the Time Capsule has a problem, for example, it will not affect the AirPort Extreme.

 

You can connect the Time Capsule (Bridge Mode) to the Huwaei gateway and then connect the AirPort Extreme (Bridge Mode) to the Time Capsule if this makes it easier to run the Ethernet cables.  The downside to this setup is that if the Time Capsule has a problem, then the AirPort Extreme will also have a problem.....and you will have to figure out where the problem really is.

 

If the 2nd option is the better one, what mode should each Airport device have?

The 2nd option will work, but option 1 would be preferable.  In both option 1 and option 2, the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme must both be in Bridge Mode.

 

The outdated support article that you are viewing assumes that you are using a simple modem that is not providing DHCP and NAT service, so the illustration in the support article indicates that the Time Capsule should be set to DHCP and NAT and the AirPort Extreme set to Bridge Mode.

 

But.....you do not have a simple modem like the one used in the support article.....you have a modem/router that is doing DHCP and NAT, so both the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme must be in Bridge Mode, no matter whether you use option 1 or option 2.

 

Apple made a huge mistake in their support article by not including an additional example where there was a modem/router at the head end of the network. They only show a simple modem in the document. Most users now have a modem/router that has been provided to them by their service provider.

Posted on Feb 8, 2015 7:09 AM

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iOperatingSystem

Q: Advice on setting up Roaming wireless network

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  • Helpful answers

  • by iOperatingSystem,

    iOperatingSystem iOperatingSystem Feb 8, 2015 4:47 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 8, 2015 4:47 AM in response to iOperatingSystem

    Both Airport devices are the latest model.

  • by iOperatingSystem,

    iOperatingSystem iOperatingSystem Feb 8, 2015 5:04 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 8, 2015 5:04 AM in response to iOperatingSystem

    If I connect both airports to the Huwaei gateway, do I have to set both Airport in Bridge mode?

    network.png

    http://www.dafacto.com/wp-content/uploads/dafacto/2013/network.png

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 8, 2015 6:12 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    Level 10 (105,388 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 8, 2015 6:12 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    If I connect both airports to the Huwaei gateway, do I have to set both Airport in Bridge mode?

    Yes

  • by iOperatingSystem,

    iOperatingSystem iOperatingSystem Feb 8, 2015 6:17 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 8, 2015 6:17 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hi Bob, since you are the expert in the Airport section , what do you advise me to do in terms of my setup?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 8, 2015 6:19 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    Level 10 (105,388 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 8, 2015 6:19 AM in response to iOperatingSystem

    The setup looks fine.  Was there a particular question that you had?

  • by iOperatingSystem,

    iOperatingSystem iOperatingSystem Feb 8, 2015 6:49 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 8, 2015 6:49 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Ya, ok, which setup is better and more stable

     

    1. directly connecting both airport devices in bridge mode to the Huwaei gateway, or
    2. Connecting the Airport Time Capsule to the Huwaei gateway and then connecting the Airport extreme to the Airport time capsule.

     

    If the 2nd option is the better one, what mode should each Airport device have?

    the guideline in apple's support article is using an outdated version of airport utility, so in the new version what should be the settings.

    Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n) - Apple Support.

     

    I also read something about using the primary station as the router, since I already have the Huwaei gateway, which I assume is already acting as a router, do I have to do any changes there.

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 8, 2015 7:09 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    Level 10 (105,388 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 8, 2015 7:09 AM in response to iOperatingSystem

    No changes need to be made the Huwaei modem/router.

     

    The preferred setup is to connect both AirPorts to the Huwaei gateway. The reason for this is that it makes any troubleshooting easier. If the Time Capsule has a problem, for example, it will not affect the AirPort Extreme.

     

    You can connect the Time Capsule (Bridge Mode) to the Huwaei gateway and then connect the AirPort Extreme (Bridge Mode) to the Time Capsule if this makes it easier to run the Ethernet cables.  The downside to this setup is that if the Time Capsule has a problem, then the AirPort Extreme will also have a problem.....and you will have to figure out where the problem really is.

     

    If the 2nd option is the better one, what mode should each Airport device have?

    The 2nd option will work, but option 1 would be preferable.  In both option 1 and option 2, the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme must both be in Bridge Mode.

     

    The outdated support article that you are viewing assumes that you are using a simple modem that is not providing DHCP and NAT service, so the illustration in the support article indicates that the Time Capsule should be set to DHCP and NAT and the AirPort Extreme set to Bridge Mode.

     

    But.....you do not have a simple modem like the one used in the support article.....you have a modem/router that is doing DHCP and NAT, so both the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme must be in Bridge Mode, no matter whether you use option 1 or option 2.

     

    Apple made a huge mistake in their support article by not including an additional example where there was a modem/router at the head end of the network. They only show a simple modem in the document. Most users now have a modem/router that has been provided to them by their service provider.

  • by iOperatingSystem,

    iOperatingSystem iOperatingSystem Feb 8, 2015 8:48 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 8, 2015 8:48 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    one more question, under the "Wireless" tab, there is network mode, what do i have to set this as?

     

    1. Create a wireless network
    2. Extend a wireless network
    3. off

    What option should i choose for both types of setup for each Airport device?

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 8, 2015 9:01 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    Level 10 (105,388 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 8, 2015 9:01 AM in response to iOperatingSystem

    As I already confirmed above, your illustration is correct. "Create a wireless network" is the correct setting for all AirPorts that have an Ethernet connection.

     

    "Extend a wireless network" is only used when the AirPorts connect using wireless.  You are connecting using Ethernet in a Roaming network.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 10.52.45 AM.png

  • by iOperatingSystem,

    iOperatingSystem iOperatingSystem Feb 8, 2015 10:01 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 8, 2015 10:01 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hey Bob, thanks for the help. I was able to set up my wireless network and everything is working well and stable.

    FullSizeRender.jpg

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 9, 2015 5:13 AM in response to iOperatingSystem
    Level 10 (105,388 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 9, 2015 5:13 AM in response to iOperatingSystem

    Nice work!