Multiple Airports via ethernet... can I do this?

[whyrichard]

Hello wise mac peeps,


I need some help reconfiguring my home network, so that the lady and I can zoom simultaneously...

Currently I have my Verizon Fios connected to my airport extreme via ethernet, and then i have multiple airport expresses around the house. Supposedly the expresses are set to "extend" the network, but i don't notice that they make my wifi any more robust at all. (any tricks here?)

I am thinking of hard wiring the following setup:

Verizon Fios (no wi fi router) -----> Ethernet -----> Airport Express (to reach a part of the house which has poor signal) --------> Ethernet ------> Airport extreme (to use as my main wifi point)------> ethernet -----> Music Server mac mini.

I am hoping that if i can set this up without too much trouble, the two airports can give out wifi where I need it, and my music server won't drop out so often....

How do i set this up???

Thanks,
r

 

[techwarrior]

Wireless extending with Airport is a hot mess. The radio on AP devices split uplink and client connection bandwidth, resulting in a loss of up to 50% of the capacity for each wirelessly connected AP.

Your plan is right, use ethernet to connect the secondary access points.

Setup on the Expresses is similar, but you "Create a WiFi network" rather than "Extend ...".

Internet Tab: DHCP
Wireless Tab: Crate a WiFi network (use the same SSID and password, and security on all devices.
Network tab: Router Mode - Off (Bridged Mode) on all Expresses.

Generally, the Extreme should be the router, it has more throughput. But if Fios service supplies a router, all of the Airport devices can be the satellite access points setup like above. If Fios router also provides WiFi, turn it off on the Fios router so the Airports can do all of the wireless bridging.

Interference from too many access points\routers can also kill performance. Less is more, so start with one Airport, note where signals are too weak for use, add an Express there, and retest.

Also, wherever possible, use ethernet connections for devices that support it. The fewer devices using WiFi, the more bandwidth available to the rest of the devices.

 

[satcomer]

Just remember on Mac OS Airport to put a Airport device in Bridge Mode if a main router (just behind another Main router doing NAT for the whole network! This will in Airport turn off NAT shen it’s behind a main router already doing NAT!

Also in other wireless routers this same principle stands too with other routers behind other main routersalready doing NAT.

Lastly Roth is is why in OS X and Mac OS you always gotten that dreaded “double NAT” errors over the years!

 

[whyrichard]

Thanks all... so let me try to get this straight...

I updated my original post to perhaps clarify my intended setup... note there is no fios wifi router, and the express that gets a remote part of the house is between the fios modem and my main airport extreme, the extreme being in a centralized location and serves as my main wifi source...

so that said, i'll try:

"Create a WiFi network" rather than "Extend ...".

Internet Tab: DHCP
Wireless Tab: Crate a WiFi network (use the same SSID and password, and security on all devices.
Network tab: Router Mode - Off (Bridged Mode) on all Expresses.

And it should work????

Thank you!!!
will give it a shot when my kiddos are off their devices and get back to ya.

r.

 

[iGobbleoff]

If its any help, I use EOP devices to a couple of rooms then setup the Airports from that. It extends the wifi with no issues. EOP aren't the fastest of devices, but they help.