I just got Frontier DSL internet and it comes with a Netgear 7550 modem & wireless router. I would like to use my Airport Extreme to extend the wifi range to the front of my house and also hook up my Airport Express to print wirelessly and play music. How can I do this? I know nothing about networking. Thank you!
MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10)
Ask Frontier to replace your modem/router with just a modem so you can use your own router. Or, if the device has an Ethernet port for the computer, then connect an Ethernet cable between the port on the modem/router and the World port on the AEBS. Confiture the Frontier device so that the wireless radio is turned off. You should be able to extend the AEBS' wireless using your AEX to print and play music.
Apple network devices do not extend networks from non-Apple routers unless you can run Ethernet cables to the remotely located Apple devices.
Unless you plan on connecting the AirPort Extreme to the new Netgear gateway with an Ethernet cable, you will NOT be able to use it to extend the Wi-Fi range of the gateway. That is because they would be incompatible for this. However, if you can have them connected by Ethernet, then you would have the basis for a roaming type network.
With this type of network a wireless client can literally roam between wireless routers. It does require that all routers be interconnected by Ethernet and that each must broadcast its own Wi-Fi network ... but since each wireless network will use the same network name and wireless security type & password a roaming client will only "see" one network to connect to.
You can still use your AirPort Express to join this roaming network to meet your goals.
They will not replace with a non-router modem. I will try turning wireless off next and connecting it to the AEBS.
I connected the AEBS to the Frontier via ethernet and set up the roaming network with matching IDs, etc and it will work, but very intermittently - occasionally dropping the internet (displaying red instead of green on the modem) or ceasing to function but still appearing fine regarding the display lights. The AEBS will switch from green to orange lights occasionally as well. Very inconsistent and strange. I can't figure it out.
How old is the AEBS and what model??
Some of the older ones will be 5-8 years old now and the ethernet can play up.
Even the new ones do have issues with the WAN port.. in bridge you can swap the ethernet to a LAN port which I have found more reliable.
You can also setup the AEBS in static IP mode and I found this more successful and reliable in my setup.
See https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5981989?answerId=25135547022#25135547022&ac_cid=tw123456#
I would not use same wireless .. ie routing.. I would setup with different wireless so each is able to connect by choice to the correct router.
It is model A1521, the latest.
Even the new ones do have issues with the WAN port.. in bridge you can swap the ethernet to a LAN port which I have found more reliable.
Can you explain in layman's terms what you mean here?
You can also setup the AEBS in static IP mode and I found this more successful and reliable in my setup.
See https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5981989?answerId=25135547022#25135547022&ac_cid=tw123456#
I would not use same wireless .. ie routing.. I would setup with different wireless so each is able to connect by choice to the correct router.
Same here, please explain a little more? Like I said, I know nothing of networking. Thank you!
Bridge is how the AEBS is setup when plugged into another router.
Give me a screenshot of the AEBS setup summary from your computer's airport utility. Just click on the icon of the AEBS and I can then suggest what is wrong.
However the meaning of the comment is that Airport Extreme has issues of reliability when plugged into a router by its WAN port.. unplug the connection and plug in via a LAN port.
Do you understand WAN and LAN??
Same here, please explain a little more? Like I said, I know nothing of networking. Thank you!
The exact method to setup is in the thread I referenced.. if you cannot follow it.. put in the too hard basket.
Extend DSL router?
