Airports chained in Bridge not working with DHCP?

If there's a way to have it be the router of its "sub-network" that would be just fine with me.

You would use a Router Mode of DHCP and NAT for this, then click on the Network Options button in AirPort Utility to select the IP address range that you want to use with the Extreme.

Since the gateway is using 10.0.x.x, I would use the 192.168.x.x or 172.16.x.x range on the Extreme. (You cannot use a 172.10.x.x range on any of the AirPorts)

You will likely need to restart both the AirPort Express and Extreme to get the Internet working on the "sub" network.

AirPort Utility will advise of a "Double NAT" condition, but there is an option to "ignore" the Double NAT so the Extreme will display a green light rather than an irritating blinking amber light.

Technically, LaPastenague has the better setup, since it avoids the Double NAT, but it is a bit more complicated to set up.

richard.lesothan wrote:

I didn't know about the bad latest firmware issue. Might have to downgrade then. Which other device than the express do you recommend to make a mid-chain bridge?

Firmware is well worth downgrade..

Click on the Express in the airport utility.

Option click on the version number and you will see the listing of available versions.. select one and downgrade.. it is simple process.

As far as repeaters or extenders or bridge (same thing mostly) you actually want something that matches the xfinity gateway as closely as possible. I am not local to US.. so you might do better just with google to various boards with suggestions.

best wifi extender that works with Comcast gateway... - Xfinity Help and Support Forums - 2933387

Not all extenders can work as a bridge but most by definition will.

Look at units from TP-Link or Netgear. Make sure they list wireless bridge in their specs.. in the past TP-Link could be relied on.. not so much now unless it is sold specifically as wireless bridge.

Even Xfinity have a pod system .. probably won't work as a bridge but it might work better than your current setup.. but check reviews.

Xfinity xFi Pods WiFi Extenders

It will depend on which Xfinity gateway you have .. since the name is generic and are supplied by several companies in several different spec levels.

Wireless Gateway Overview and Feature Comparison

It is hard to give specifics from here.. but IMHO anything you can do to remove the wireless bridge is going to make things a lot better. That is why I suggested using powerline adapters.. as they tend to work better and more reliably than wireless bridges.

It is a messy setup .. you need to give it a kick occasionally.. like turn off all the routers.. start up the Xfinity.. wait about 2min.. then the Express .. wait another 2min and then the Extreme..

It will probably work ok for an hour or two. Maybe more.. but it will definitely not work well long term.

You really should not be using wireless bridges except in the most difficult circumstances.. Even if you cannot wire with ethernet at least try out powerline adapters between the Xfinity and straight to the Extreme.. the Express is a toy router.. it is an end of the chain device.. ie mostly for airplay.. not a middle of chain where its operation is vital to the network.

There could be some improvements made.. if you absolutely must use a wireless bridge.. there are better devices than express.

It is also possible to trick the system with Extreme in a different mode. ie DHCP server with static IP. Borrow part of the range from the Xfinity.. and best if you remove that address range from Xfinity if that is possible.

eg.. the Xfinity is 192.168.1.1 with DHCP set to 192.168.1.2-254 then reduce it to 2-149 and use the range in the Extreme..

Make sure both the Express and the Extreme have fixed IP in the same range.. so say Express is 192.168.1.2 and Extreme is 192.168.1.3 ..

See this for how to setup this on the Extreme.

No DNS error, Airport roaming network

Do not use 7.8 firmware on the express.. go back to 7.6.9 or even 7.6.8

Tell me all the IP addresses if you need more details.

- xFinity Gateway connected to internet in Routing mode

- Airport Express connected to Xfinity Gateway using WiFi in Bridge Mode (ipv6 in link-local only)

- Airport Extreme connected to Airport Express using ethernet and creating WiFi network in Bridge mode (ipv6 link-local only)

Is is necessary for you to have the AirPort Extreme create a wireless network that uses the same wireless network name and password as the Xfinity gateway?

If yes, then LaPastenague has an excellent suggestion for you using the DHCP Only setting on the AirPort Extreme.

If no, then you have another setup option on the AirPort Extreme. Post back if you are interested and we'll go over the details for a Double NAT setup that technically "breaks the rules", but works just fine whenever I have used it with an AirPort Express and another AirPort.