AVHappy

Q: Two AirPort express and time capsule connectivity challenge

Dear readers,

 

I've got an Time Capsule 802.11 ac connected to my ISP router and this is the base router which provides DHCP addresses etc. In our living room I have an airport express (2nd gen) connected via wireless and this works fine too. Now I rencently got a second AE (2nd gen) and want to put this at the attic floor to get a stronger signal via Ethernet to my TC. When I connect to a LAN port of the TC to the LAN port of the AE, the living room AE gets disconnected. When I add the AE Ethernet cable into the WAN port both t he AE at the attic and TC get disconnected. Currently this is also connected via wireless and this is working, but will ofcourse loose throughput as it still needs to go through the different floors via the air versus a stronger signal via Ethernet.

 

Question I have, can I connect one AE with an Ethernet cable (and how to configure the AE or TC accordingly) and one AE via wireless (being the exsisting set-up which works, but let me know if this requires configure changes too)?

 

Your help is much appreciated.

AirPort Express 802.11N (2nd generation)

Posted on Aug 13, 2016 9:26 AM

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Q: Two AirPort express and time capsule connectivity challenge

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 13, 2016 10:21 AM in response to AVHappy
    Level 10 (105,055 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 13, 2016 10:21 AM in response to AVHappy

    Question I have, can I connect one AE with an Ethernet cable (and how to configure the AE or TC accordingly)

    Yes, but you will need to start over and reset the AE back to default settings. Then, connect the Ethernet cable from a LAN <--> port on the TC to the WAN "O" port on the AE before you attempt to configure the AE.

     

    The problem that you are having now is likely caused by connecting an Ethernet cable to an AE that has already been set up to "extend a wireless network". When the AE is set up this way, it expects a wireless connection....not Ethernet. When Ethernet is applied, this creates a huge feedback loop on the network that can cause all kinds of issues.

     

    Apple's setup wizard does most of the work for you. Just click the WiFi icon at the top of the Mac's screen and then click on AirPort Express under the heading of New AirPort Base Station.

     

    New AirPort Base Express.png

     

    When you click on AirPort Express, that will start up the configuration "wizard". It will take a few seconds to analyze the network, then present a screen that looks like this:

     

    Extend Ethernet 1.png

     

    Type in a device name that you want to call the AE, then click Next.  Watch the next screen very carefully....see illustration below....to confirm that the AE is being set up to "extend using Ethernet".  That will confirm that the wizard has picked up the Ethernet connection between the TC and AE, and will apply the correct settings to the AE.

     

    Extend Ethernet 2.png

     

    When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done and you are done.

     

    If the "other" AE is already set up to extend, then no additional changes will be needed on that device.

  • by AVHappy,

    AVHappy AVHappy Aug 13, 2016 10:23 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 13, 2016 10:23 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob,

     

    Many thanks this solved my problem, I have now indeed one AE connected properly via Ethernet and one via wireless!

     

    You deserve all the points you have on your profile :-).