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)
Q: Can I do an Airport Extreme roaming network with an xfinity cable modem/router manufactured by Cisco?
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Aug 13, 2016 6:14 AMby Bob Timmons,Can I create an Airport Extreme (current generation) roaming network with an xfinity cable modem/router manufactured by Cisco (DPC3939 to be exact)?
Yes, if the Airport Extreme will be connected back to the Cisco DPC3939 using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection.
Do I put the Cisco/Xfinity modem router in bridge mode?
No. I you did this, the Cisco/Xfinity device would act only as a simple modem....so it would not be providing wireless service at all.
A note of caution here......the support document that you reference......Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n).......uses examples that are long out of date that do not track with the current versions of AirPort Utility on a Mac or iPhone/iPad.
There is some good general information in the document, though.
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Aug 13, 2016 6:34 AMby smithome,Sorry Bob,
I was not clear in my question. I have multiple Airport Extremes that are new (4 to be exact). I have a large older home that is a bugger to get the wireless to work effectively around the house. I currently have 4 different wireless networks that are broadcasting in different areas of the house with a mix of old style airports and other manufacturers. All of the access points are hardwired back to the Cisco DPC3939. I have the wireless shut-off on the DPC3939 today as Comcast likes to create hotspots automatically for their other customers. My thought was to run only with Airport Extremes and create a roaming network.
What I am unsure of is whether to keep the DPC3939 acting as the router (and bridge off the first as well as the other three Airport Extremes) or to bridge it in its configuration settings and have the first Airport Extreme act as the router and have the other three Airport Extremes act as access points for the same wifi network.
Do you know of a more recent Apple support document?
Thanks Again
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Aug 13, 2016 8:50 AMby Bob Timmons,HelpfulWhat I am unsure of is whether to keep the DPC3939 acting as the router (and bridge off the first as well as the other three Airport Extremes) or to bridge it in its configuration settings and have the first Airport Extreme act as the router and have the other three Airport Extremes act as access points for the same wifi network.
It's simply a matter of preference. If the Cisco device has been performing reliably as the network router, then it will likely continue to do so in the future. In that case, all of the AirPorts would be set up to.....
Create a wireless network
Use the same wireless network name
Use the same wireless network security
Use the same wireless network password
Operate in Bridge Mode, which Apple calls "Off (Bridge Mode)"
This would be the simplest set up.....and there is strong evidence to suggest that the simple setups are more reliable than more complex set ups.
If you are not happy with the performance of the Cisco device as a router, then you might have the option to set up the Cisco to operate only as a simple bridge mode modem...and...have the first AirPort connected to the "modem" act as your main router on the network. In this case, the main AirPort would not be set up in Bridge Mode, it would be setup in a Router Mode of DHCP and NAT. The old support document that you are looking at calls this "Share a public IP address".
I say that you might have the option to set up the Cisco as a simple modem because not all modem/routers have this capability.....and....even if they might, your Internet Service Provider may not support this type of setup. Some ISPs also lock down the settings in modem/routers that they provide to their customers to prevent users from messing things up.
In my opinion, there is no reason to try to have the first AirPort act as the main router for the network, unless there is some special feature or function that would require that the first AirPort act as the router for the network. If you plan to use Back to My Mac, for example, then the first AirPort would need to act as the network router.
Unfortunately, Apple has not provided updated set up examples using AirPort Utility 6.x versions or the versions available for the iPhone and iPad, although both newer versions have been available for over 3 years. This must be a very difficult task for Apple.
The good news is that the setup "wizard" in the new utility does a lot of the work for you automatically. If you have a specific set up question about starting over from scratch, we can probably help on that.
Otherwise, if you already have the AirPorts set up and working, the newer utility should allow you to get into the current configuration settings for the AirPorts, so you can make any changes if needed.
