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jacek2008 Author

Level 1

8 points

Can I mix roamed and wirelessly extend in one network?

Hi all,

Can I wirelessly extend an Airport extreme station which is extending via Ethernet another Airport extreme?

I got:

1. Airport Extreme ac (primary)

2. Airport Extreme ac

3. Airport Extreme (5th gen)

4. Airport Express (2nd gen)

The setup I want to do and dont know if it will work:

First extreme ac is connected to internet and is doing DHCP and NAT and is creating a wi-fi network called „house”. Second extreme ac is connected to first extreme via ethernet cable and is set to create the same wi-fi network „house” (same password) running in bridge mode. Third extreme (5th gen) is set to extend wifi network „house” but it is within range of first and second extremes and I dont know which it will connect to? Will it choose strongest signal or only capable to connect to first primary extreme to extend the wifi? Finally express is set to extend wifi „house” but it is only within range of second extreme. Will it be able to extend the wifi? Or it will only extend wifi when in range of first primary extreme? Keep in mind that second extreme is already „extending via ethernet” the first primary extreme.

So the scheme will look like this (each station on one floor of the building):

Internet

extreme ac (DHCP, NAT, creating wifi)

| (ethernet cable)

extreme ac (bridge, creating wifi)

. .

. (in wifi range) . (in wifi range)

. .

extreme 5th gen express 2nd gen

(extending via wifi) (extending via wifi)

Cheers, Jack

Posted on Aug 26, 2015 1:23 AM

Best reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,226 points

Posted on Aug 26, 2015 1:42 AM

Will it choose strongest signal or only capable to connect to first primary extreme to extend the wifi?

It will connect to the strongest signal.

Finally express is set to extend wifi „house” but it is only within range of second extreme. Will it be able to extend the wifi? Or it will only extend wifi when in range of first primary extreme? Keep in mind that second extreme is already „extending via ethernet” the first primary extreme.

It will extend the second Extreme.. to a wireless client or extending router, it makes no difference if you have router or extend by ethernet.

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20 replies

Aug 30, 2015 4:54 AM in response to jacek2008

In theory that will work.

It might not be super reliable.

This is where you do trial and error.. and if it is stable and you are happy with the result great.. but don't invest in it expecting good results.. invest in it as experimental setup where the results might be muddled. You might not be happy with the speed either.. this is going to start introducing some major slow downs.

Tell me if you do try it how it goes..

I do believe if you want stability in the more complex setups.. the trick is more controls on your behalf.

Keep all names.. short.. tiny.. AE1 AE2 AE3 etc.

Keep wireless names and passwords also short..

Fix the channels and fix the links as far as you can.. control everything that Apple has auto..but with possible manual setup.. the end result is better.

Troubleshooting can be a huge pain.. be prepared to use a couple of different wireless names.. so this is not a pure roaming setup.. that will help you enormously figure out where and why stuff is going wrong.

jacek2008 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 30, 2015 1:45 PM in response to LaPastenague

I tested that setup and have to report that it didnt work. Both extreme and express crashed when set up that way. I guess its to many overhead menagement to the extreme to send own wifi data and express wifi data using just one radio connection. Simply put one station cant do work of two stations. I am just testing things, becauce I gonna get a 300 Mb internet connection to my house (fiber optic) and must squeeze everything from my setup. Two extremes ac will be connected via ethernet cable with each other so they should easly pump a 300Mb in the air, but the express with its 100Mb ethernet is problematic, and in my extreme 5th gen WAN port is burned out and not working at all. Just wanna a reliable network, and yes I know running cables and doing roamed is the best option:)

edit: when is Apple going to release a new express with ac and 1000 ethernet? If they plan to release such at all… I guess express now is crippled to 100Mb because other way it would cannibalize the extreme. And I worry next gen express will continue to be crippled to 100Mb.

Aug 30, 2015 4:24 PM in response to jacek2008

I am pretty sure I have run that setup..

I have too many screenshots stored up to locate every variation I tried.. so I put it together again..

Here is the overall setup.

So I have a wireless link between two AE.. and connected to one downstairs is a TC.. and connected to the one upstairs is another AE. (Named AE4)

AE4 is in bridge mode, with create a wireless network.

However I had to do the setup manually.. every time I attempted the setup via the airport utility setup wizard it would crash.

So I just use manual method and it works fine.

Speed across the bridge is obviously going to be limited.. and stability of the bridge.. already somewhat fragile is not going to be helped.

I would not use this as a normal method of operation.. but yes, technically feasible.

and in my extreme 5th gen WAN port is burned out and not working at all.

The express is adjunct device.. it really should not be part of the main network if you need speed or load capable router.. it is for airplay or wireless extend..

The extreme is a good unit.. 5th gen really work well in my experience.

Even with a burned out WAN port in bridge you can use any LAN port instead.. Connections to WAN are not required.

But buy a replacement or two from ebay. in place of express units.. they are not adequate to 300Mbps fibre .. that is for sure.

jacek2008 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 31, 2015 12:18 AM in response to LaPastenague

Even with a burned out WAN port in bridge you can use any LAN port instead.. Connections to WAN are not required.

Thats really wonderful news! I thought that a WAN port is sort of "in" and LAN ports are "out". Even Apples documentation says to connect things like that, while connecting couple of stations together - from LAN to WAN, never read different. That would be cool if worked they way you said, maybe it will work only in scenario when the station is acting in bridge mode. Will the station be able to create wifi network using the ethernet cable plugged into LAN instaed WAN? Gotta try this today when back in the house if it will work properly. That would greatly simplify my setup and solve my dillemas regarding house network.

Aug 31, 2015 3:32 AM in response to jacek2008

In bridge mode WAN is actually applied to LAN.. since bridge has removed routing there is no WAN port..

All ports are available in bridge then to connect.. so you have to think.. routing is a no no.. but ethernet connection in and out is fine.. and wireless is also fine..

The one hassle is the setup can be tricky.. but using wireless it is fine.. and you can do the setup manually if you run into trouble.

Can I mix roamed and wirelessly extend in one network?