HT204616: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Learn about Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)
Mot Amra
Level 1 (50 points)
Windows Software

Q: Best  way to set up my network

Please help me set up my network. I need wifi in my house and my garage which is about 100 feet away from the house.I have a Dsl modem (Quest M1000) as my gateway In the house connected via ethernet to my primary Airport Extreme 4th generstion which is set to create a wireless network. At the other end of the house is an Airport Express 2nd Generation set to Extend a wireless network. To get  wifi to the garage i have hardwired via ethernet the primary Airport Extreme in the house to another Airport Extreme 5th Generation in the garage which is also set to create a wireless network. One other note. I have an NVR with ip cameras. In order to be able to access the cameras I have done my port forwarding on the Quest modem.

Two  questions:

Should I be setting both Airport Extemes to Off, rather than "create a wireless network"?

I want to protect the network. If I chose WPA2 personaL Do i use the same password and network name on both Airport Extremes as well as the Airport Express?

Thanks

Mot

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), null

Posted on Sep 3, 2015 9:06 PM

by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer
Bob Timmons Bob Timmons
Level 10 (105,018 points)
Wireless
A:

As I already said above......

 

Bottom line.....whenever an AirPort connects using Ethernet, the device must be configured to "create a wireless network". This is a fundamental rule with Apple routers.


So, if both Extremes connect using Ethernet, both must be configured to "create a wireless network".  The network here has four AirPorts that all connect using Ethernet, so all four are configured to "create a wireless network"

Posted on Sep 3, 2015 9:43 PM

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Mot Amra

Q: Best  way to set up my network

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  • Helpful answers

  • by UGADog,Helpful

    UGADog UGADog Sep 3, 2015 9:17 PM in response to Mot Amra
    Level 4 (1,902 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2015 9:17 PM in response to Mot Amra

    Your set up seems good except for the 2nd wireless network with the 5th generation in the garage.  That Extreme should be reset and set to Extend wireless network as well. 

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 3, 2015 9:38 PM in response to Mot Amra
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 3, 2015 9:38 PM in response to Mot Amra
    Your set up seems good except for the 2nd wireless network with the 5th generation in the garage.  That Extreme should be reset and set to Extend wireless network as well.

    This advice is not correct.  "Extend a wireless network" is a setting that is used only if the AirPort Extreme is connecting using a wireless connection.  In this case, the AirPort Extreme is connecting using an Ethernet connection.

     

    If the AirPort connects using Ethernet.....and...the AirPort is set to "extend a wireless network"....this will create a massive feedback loop on the network and effectively crash that portion of the network.

     

    Bottom line.....whenever an AirPort connects using Ethernet, the device must be configured to "create a wireless network".....not "extend a wireless network".....which is only used when the AirPort connects using wireless....not Ethernet.

  • by Mot Amra,

    Mot Amra Mot Amra Sep 3, 2015 9:36 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Windows Software
    Sep 3, 2015 9:36 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hello Bob, you have helped me in the past.

    So then, in the example i have given, both Extremes should be set to "create a wireless network" since they are both hard wired?

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 3, 2015 9:43 PM in response to Mot Amra
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 3, 2015 9:43 PM in response to Mot Amra

    As I already said above......

     

    Bottom line.....whenever an AirPort connects using Ethernet, the device must be configured to "create a wireless network". This is a fundamental rule with Apple routers.


    So, if both Extremes connect using Ethernet, both must be configured to "create a wireless network".  The network here has four AirPorts that all connect using Ethernet, so all four are configured to "create a wireless network"

  • by Mot Amra,

    Mot Amra Mot Amra Sep 3, 2015 9:56 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Windows Software
    Sep 3, 2015 9:56 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob, I understand.

    Now about my second question. If I want to password protect my Extremes using WPA2 Personal, should I enter the same password in both Extremes or just the primary one?

     

    Thanks,

    Mot

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Sep 3, 2015 11:03 PM in response to Mot Amra
    Level 9 (52,347 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 3, 2015 11:03 PM in response to Mot Amra

    Same SSID ie wireless name and same password in all the Extremes. That is what a roaming network must use.. otherwise you setup with different names.. and different passwords if you want.. roaming will then not happen. Generally people want roaming.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 4, 2015 6:09 AM in response to Mot Amra
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 4, 2015 6:09 AM in response to Mot Amra
    Do i use the same password and network name on both Airport Extremes as well as the Airport Express?

    Yes, unless for some reason you want to assign a different network name and password to the second AirPort Extreme.  If you do this, and you want a wireless device to log onto the second AirPort Extreme, you will have to change networks.

     

    It is much simpler to assign the same name and password to all AirPorts, so you have in effect, one "big" network. Technically, as LaPastenague notes above this type of a setup is called a "roaming network".  The theory is that wireless devices can "roam" or move anywhere and pick up the strongest signal from the closest AirPort.

  • by Mot Amra,

    Mot Amra Mot Amra Sep 4, 2015 11:28 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Windows Software
    Sep 4, 2015 11:28 AM in response to LaPastenague

    Thank you!

  • by Mot Amra,

    Mot Amra Mot Amra Sep 4, 2015 11:27 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Windows Software
    Sep 4, 2015 11:27 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thank you for breaking it down for me!