Q: 2nd Airport Extreme replaces an older AP, is it connected via wifi or ethernet?

Let's back off on the terminology for a bit, since terms like "extend", 'bridge" and "access point" can mean different things to different people.

You have an AirPort Extreme at the present time that is producing a wireless network signal, correct?

You want to add another AirPort Extreme to your existing AirPort Extreme network, correct?

You want the new AirPort Extreme to connect to the existing AirPort Extreme using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection, correct?

You want the new AirPort Extreme to use the same wireless network name and password as your existing AirPort Extreme, correct?

This is the confusion that I have. I thought that the new Airport Extreme would use it's own SSID if it was connected to Ethernet but it appears that I am wrong. I found this info https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT2…

Unfortunately, I cannot open the link that was included here, so do not have the details that you were asking about.

If you used Apple's setup "wizard" for the second AirPort Extreme, the wizard would have automatically set up the second AirPort Extreme to use the same wireless network name, same password, same wireless security as the first AirPort Extreme.  The second AirPort Extreme would have also been automatically set up in what is known as Bridge Mode.

You can confirm all of this if you are able to access the settings of the second AirPort Extreme using AirPort Utility.  Post back if you are not sure how to do this.

All Wi-Fi base stations within the roaming network should use the same passwords, security type (Open/WEP/WPA), and network name (SSID).

 

This sounds like a bit of magic that the Airport Extreme(s) will negotiate which will connect to the device.

Again....terminology can easily confuse.  Now you have added another term....."roaming network".

If you used the setup "wizard" to set up the second AirPort Extreme, both AirPorts are now part of what some folks call a "roaming network." Other folks call this an "extended network using Ethernet", and there are other terms as well.

It seems that it's setup OK?

It is, if you used the setup wizard to configure the device. You can confirm by using AirPort Utility to go back in and look at the settings for the second AirPort.

But I do have another question. Does anyone that has access to the wifi and airport utility have the ability to change settings

Yes, if you only used one password when you originally set up the first AirPort Extreme. Anyone connected to the wireless can access the settings for either AirPort in AirPort Utility.

No, if you set up a separate "Base Station" or device password for the AirPort Extreme and a separate wireless network password. If you did this, then a user could be connected to the wireless network, but they would not be able to access any of the settings for the AirPorts in AirPort Utility unless they knew the "Base Station" or "device" password.

Thanks for the corrected link.  We know this document well.  It has both some good and bad advice.

Unfortunately, Apple has not really updated this document in almost 4 years, so the terminology and illustrations in the support documents do not track with the newer versions of AirPort Utility that have been out now for over 3 years.

The 'wizard" will set up most things correctly, but if a user tries to follow the old support documents with newer versions of AirPort Utility, then confusion is great.

You would think that Apple would have the means to update their support documents after 3 years.

1. Do shared SSIDs struggle sometimes negotiating between them?

No, unless both access points are too close together.....in the same room or shared area, for example. But, wireless devices......iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad can have difficulties with this.

iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad have little to no ability to be able to choose correctly between two different wireless access points using the same SSID. Try to keep iOS devices close to one access point or the other.  If you try to move an iOS device from an area near one access point to another area near another access point, the iOS will not usually automatically "switch" to change access points......while a Mac laptop will.

So, when you are moving an iOS device from one area to another, you will need to get in the habit of temporarily turning off the WiFi on the IOS device. Then, once the iOS device is at the new location, turn the WiFi back on and the device will usually pick up a signal from the closest access point.

Nature of the beast with iOS, I am afraid. 

2. Is it possible that I have setup the 2nd Extreme which is connected to Ethernet as a wireless extension, or is that not possible if it was connected to Ethernet during the setup?

Possible only if the Ethernet cable was not working during the setup. Did you confirm the setup using AirPort Utility? If the 2nd Extreme is set up to "create a wireless network" and it is in Bridge Mode, then it is set up correctly.

3.One resolve may be for me to setup the 2nd to have it's own SSID and set the iPad to forget the new one.

That is an option. But, you will need to remember to manually switch access points with other wireless devices if their location changes.

Would I need to do a reset of the Extreme to make this change or through the Utility?

No

I already gave you the check(s) to confirm that the 2nd Extreme is set up correctly.  Post back when you have checked the settings.

In AirPort Utility......

Wireless Tab > Network Mode > Create a wireless network.

Network Tab > Router Mode > Off (Bridge Mode)

If you see different settings.......unlikely, but possible.....report on your findings.