Level 1

21 points

FINALLY decided to come here for help with my 2 airport extremes

so its been years since I have my roaming network set up. It always ran perfect up until about 2 weeks ago. but there were a few things that I never understood, and endless calls to apple still couldn't figure it out. Ill get to my question in a minute, but first let me tell you my connections and setup:

directly from my modem (ONT supplied by Verizon, BUT not the modem/router combo, I know all the issues with that, I have my house wired specifically so I can use my own router with the big ONT outside my house supplied by Verizon, so this is not at all what I'm asking about) so:

on my first floor I have an Ethernet from Modem to AirPort Extremes Wan Port. (latest extreme with latest firmware).

from 1st floor extreme I have ethernet (hardwired) to a second extreme on my second floor. (LAN to WAN). That second floor Extreme is OFF(bridge mode) set to create a network with the same name and password as the first. so in essence, if using a high tech app or something, you would see 2- 2.4 and 2-5ghz networks which I have named EXTREME and EXTREME 5.

dont know if it matters, but let me tell you my complete set up if I want a correct answer..... also coming out of my main router-- I have an ethernet to a gigabyte switch. ( I have a smart home, Homekit, so have over 50-60 wireless/wired devices).

so besides my issue with having a horrible connection over the last couple weeks, ( last few years have always gotten my provisioned speeds of over 80 download and 80 upload), my question is, ......... and its multi parts---- Shouldn't my entire network shut down when main router is either, restarted, unplugged, disconnected, etc.???? it doesn't. Whenever I restart or shut my main router, My secondary router light is still green, still active, and still giving off a signal in which the entire house still has internet. how and why is that?

and why out of nowhere has my entire network gone to ****? I can't see anything that could be causing so much noise and interference, I've always had good signal checking within Macs wifi options. Now I have crazy interference. I checked all other networks around me, and there are no new ones, so can't figure it out.

THANKS TO ALL WHO STOPPED BY AND TOOK THE TIME TO READ.

I just realized something for the first time in 6 years...... Yes when I disconnect primary router, the second one does not shut off, but disconnecting the second router ( the one in bridge mode) DOES disconnect the primary router. I AM SURE MY CONNECTIONS ARE CORRECT,,, only thing I can think is because Im plugged from main router LAN to second router WAN,,,, should I maybe be in the second LAN instead of WAN if its in bridge mode????

Airport Extreme 802.11ac, null

Posted on Jun 6, 2017 5:25 PM

43 replies

Jun 17, 2017 8:43 PM in response to JuSTBLeSSeD

This is the simplest setting, and the one that most users should use, since each device will automatically connect to the signal with the best quality based on its capabilities and distance in relation to the wireless router.

After all, isn't that what you really want your device to do......connect to the best quality signal?

That might be why Apple makes this the default setting for all of their dual band AirPort routers.

But.....best signal quality does not necessarily mean that the device will connect to the fastest signal.....since signal quality is a combination of a number of factors including signal strength, signal noise, and signal speed. So, if connecting to the fastest signal is a priority for a given user, then he should assign a separate name to the 5 GHz network and "point" his device at that network.

5 GHz works great when devices are in the same room or have line of sight to the wireless router, but 5 GHz signals are much weaker than 2.4 GHz signals, so if the signal must pass through an obstruction like a wall or heavy furniture, chances are the 5 GHz signal will be not only be weaker a room or two away from the router, it also may well be slower than the stronger 2.4 GHz signal. If you have told your device to connect to the 5 GHz network, it will stubbornly try to do so, even if the 2.4 GHz signal at that location is stronger and faster.

Good arguments can be made for either case. Some users swear by using separate names for the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz networks, and if they believe that this is the best setting for them, that is what they should use.

And some users just swear when try to use separate names for their networks, since they are forced to manually switch networks frequently as they try to find the theoretical "best" signal as they move their devices around the house.

In general, most users will get better results with a lot less effort if they use the default setting on the Apple router. But, if a user is happy using networks with different names, then no reason to change what is working.

JuSTBLeSSeD Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 21, 2017 5:30 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Ok, I'm going to get a little deep now,in short, the reason this ALL started was because I believe (99.9% sure) that my home, or phone, or internet has been bugged. Sides believing there is some sought of listening device in my home, it's the internet im concerned about. But besides all these new SSIDs that have been appearing out of no where after 10 years, do you see how strong the signal is? How could this be

JuSTBLeSSeD Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 7, 2017 3:33 PM in response to LaPastenague

great, I'm gonna try this,, wish me luck..lol

Jun 7, 2017 3:36 PM in response to JuSTBLeSSeD

Be Blessed!!

JuSTBLeSSeD Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 17, 2017 8:10 AM in response to LaPastenague

Yes thank you. I took 2 pics of connected to each network, but sent the same one twice before.

JuSTBLeSSeD Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 17, 2017 7:13 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Whats your feeling on having the 2.4 and 5GHz channels having the same name (SSID)?

JuSTBLeSSeD Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 19, 2017 4:37 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Does my secondary AirPort Extreme that is set up to extend and in bridge mode, do the ports work where I can plug a switch into them?

Jun 19, 2017 5:30 PM in response to JuSTBLeSSeD

Yes

JuSTBLeSSeD Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 21, 2017 3:07 PM in response to Bob Timmons

BTW, I also have an airport express, could/should I throw this in the mix? Thanks

Jun 21, 2017 3:12 PM in response to JuSTBLeSSeD

Yes, if you want to limit speeds to 100 Mbps at the Ethernet ports of the Express, since that is all that they can handle, assuming that the Express receives a 100 Mbps connection.

JuSTBLeSSeD Author

Level 1

21 points

Jun 21, 2017 3:23 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Sarcastic right? Don't use it at all? Oh oh I know what I wanted to ask you. And I apologize if I already did but do the ports on the Extreme work if in bridge mode?

Jun 21, 2017 3:38 PM in response to JuSTBLeSSeD

Already answered this question for you just a few posts back.

Jun 21, 2017 6:52 PM in response to JuSTBLeSSeD

As LaPastenague has already told you, there is nothing wrong with your network.

We cannot help you fix a problem that does not exist.

We will no longer respond to this thread.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

FINALLY decided to come here for help with my 2 airport extremes