NZMac.com - Supporting the New Zealand Mac community

I notice in the first pic the extreme has the same host name as the wireless network name, make these different.
Also the second pic has a different wireless network name
The important bit is that both extremes have the same wireless network name.

Matt

celtickiwi wrote:
I think this is what you are after
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=52002
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/DesigningAirPortNetworks0190271.pdf page 49
...

Matt

Thanks for the lookups. I already had one of those manuals and failed to understand it as applied to my situation. The other (p49) is leaving out big gaps of assumed knowledge. It also talks about items like "Click Network" where there is none. (We're not even on the same page

However the roaming concept is exactly what I need. Getting there between the acronyms and techtalk is another story.

It helps to bang your head against the desk when dealing with acronyms. Doesn't increase the understanding, but gives an explanation for the headache.

I thing the document is a little out of date. but the concepts don't change.

Ignore the WDS stuff

celtickiwi wrote:
I notice in the first pic the extreme has the same host name as the wireless network name, make these different.
Also the second pic has a different wireless network name
The important bit is that both extremes have the same wireless network name.

Matt

Unfortunately when I did those changes it completely knocked out the main base, and I also can't rescan both. A reboot looks necessary and after having reset them about a dozen times each now I am mightily discouraged. I will retire to bed and think about the fish shop job.

A reboot looks necessary
That's a good point. I remember needing to pull the power (Hard reset) on the airport after it saved and rebooted its self. Also I needed to reboot the Mac after any changes to the extreme as well. occasionally the main router as well.

Try this
Switch one off until the first one is working properly in bridge mode.
Then switch that one off.
Then configure the second one to work in bridge mode.
You may need to watch out for channels they are using.
If they both work independent of each other, they should be fine together, just like hot... (I'm sure Phil would delete that remark and tell me off if I left it in).

You should start with temporally disabling the use of security encryption etc. Add the security measures last. I've had a lot of trouble using WPA2 between my macbook and the extreme.

TIP
Holding the ALT/OPTION key when clicking on the Wireless ICON in menu bar, this will list the strongest signal from top to bottom, plus give the base station mac address, and force a scan of networks.

Matt

Apple may, believe it or not, be your friend here....

My guess, is you need to take the router out of the loop, remember the Airport Extreme is a very good router as well as just providing wireless...

I assume that your router is an ADSL modem/router? Or do you have cable with TelstraClear? Doesn't matter as it sounds like you have the internet bit sorted i.e. your router is happily piping the internet out.

You need to plug things in like this,

Internet/Router ---> WAN Port Airport 1.

PC ----> LAN Port Airport 1 (not your router, this is the bit that may be tripping you up).

If your router is supplying the internet then your Airport 1 can supply that on it's own DHCP server to all of the clients in your house. Anything else you had plugged into your router can instead be plugged into your Airport 1 LAN ports.

If you have things this way (i think) you will find that the Airport Utility will behave more as you expect.

So, steps to take.

1. Hard reset both Airports. Turn off Airport 2.
2. Plug things in as above.
3. Setup Airport 1 via Airport Utility to create wireless network and allow extending. I would recommend using the auto configuration (Apple is your friend)
This will ensure that your setup is vanilla and as expected by the next part of the process.

Despite the fact they are for the OS X version , follow the instructions from step 16 of this page (windows version will be the same, just not as pretty looking...)
http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=147

4. Check you have wireless internet with your iPhone.

If all is well then you can now try and setup the network extension stuff.

5. Turn on Airport 2.
6. Rescan with Airport Utility.
7. Hopefully you will now see your Airport 2.

Now at this point I am going on memory. Apple may allow you to have the option of "Join an existing wireless network" for the Extreme on their auto config screens, i.e if you just press continue.

If they do then follow the instructions from that point.

If not then you will have to dive into the manual setup again, but you should hopefully find things work this time.

If the autoconfig doesn't allow "join an existing network" then in the manual settings of Airport 2 you should double check your channels are the same and make sure you enter the network name of your Airport 1 network exactly right and any passwords exactly right.

9. Update settings.

10. Cross fingers. And toes. Wait for the green light of love on Airport 2.

Hopefully this info helps.

To be honest, the best option is to return the second Extreme and swap it for one of the Airport Express (n) versions. Not sure who told you it was appropriate to get a second extreme. For what you seem to be wanting to do it's probably overkill...

The utility is more designed to use the Expresses to extend an Extreme network and you will definitely find things go smoother.

Best of luck

alsta,

Thank you for such detailed instruction! I really appreciate your time, and that of others here.

I have taken a couple of days to come to grips with your clear steps. I've tried all sorts of different setups following your advice, and sadly still can't figure it out. I'm going to need other hands on the machine.

When I bought the second Extreme from the Mac shop in Wellington, I too suggested the Express (based on my research) if only for the audio, but the guy said an Extreme acts more as a booster because of its greater power. I don't mind the extra cost and it seemed to make sense.

You suggested I use the WAN/LAN after the hard reset first, but there is only one such outlet on my PC and that's used for the router. When I remove that, both the PC and Ultility tries to reset or reports a problem.

There is a lot of confusion in many of the manual's options. For example, in Utility the wireless mode gives 4 options, to extend or create a wireless network, join a WDS network or off. None of those are explained fully to apply for either the main base or the satellite unit. I've given up trying to make them work because of the multitude of configurations (4x4x4x4) to work through.

The worst part is selecting an option which doesn't work. Then it's a reset and another 5 minutes setting up again. I've done that a dozen times at least.

I also started the project by crossing my fingers, but that made it hard to type

I've had a lot in my Mac (15 years) and PC (7 years) life. Generally when I can't make something work, the experts I bring in have a hard time too.

So there is an inherent problem here and I'm very annoyed about it.

PS. I believe Apple is my friend too. The problem is like trying to mate a mouse with an elephant.

Kevin, there is nothing inherantly unusual with what you are trying to do....don't give up just yet....


1. How do you get your internet? Is it via ADSL or cable (telstraclear). If ADSL does the phone line plug into the router or the PC?

2. What model router do you have?

3. What is plugged into the router, other than the pc and airport?

Kevin, have looked at a couple more things, WDS is the way to go for you...

These are the instructions taken directly from the apple help, pretty simple.

Key things,

1. Setup up one of your airports first (airport no. 1 from here on in) just like you originally did when all was well and you could wirelessly surf with your iPhone.

2. Hard reset airport no. 2. Plug it in to wall and place it beside the first airport. Don't have any cables connected.

3. Follow these instructions. You are doing all of this to airport no. 1. Airport no. 2 will automagically be setup for you.
You will be changing the setting "Create a wireless network" to "Participate in a WDS network"

Setting up multiple AirPorts for wireless distribution:


Open Airport Utility. Select your Airport that you already have working.

1. Click Wireless in the toolbar, and then choose "Participate in a WDS network" from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu.
2. Click WDS and then choose "WDS main" from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
3. Select the "Allow wireless clients" checkbox if you want client computer to connect to this base station.
4. Click the Add (+) button and enter the MAC address of the base stations you want to connect to this base station.
If there is a base station listed that you would like to remove from the list, select the base station and click the Delete (-) button.
5/ Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.

By default, the "Allow wireless clients" checkbox is selected. If you deselect the checkbox, and later want to change the settings on the base station, you must connect to the base station's LAN port with an Ethernet cable. You will not be able to connect to the base station wirelessly.

The MAC address is printed on a label on the bottom of the Airport (may be labelled Airport ID). Enter the one on Airport no 2.

Theoretically, this should now mean you have one Uber wireless network. You can place the second airport anywhere you like, but it will need to be in range of the first airport. So maybe if you want coverage to 4th floor and office is on the ground then put it on the 3rd...

This info was all taken from this page which seems to be designed for your situation! See apple is your friend....http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305293

alsta wrote:
Kevin, there is nothing inherantly unusual with what you are trying to do....don't give up just yet....

The tough get going when the going gets tough... are you sure you and Matt are not life coaches in your main jobs?

1. How do you get your internet? Is it via ADSL or cable (telstraclear). If ADSL does the phone line plug into the router or the PC?
ADSL. Phone line plugs into the router.

2. What model router do you have?
D-Link ADSL2 router.

3. What is plugged into the router, other than the pc and airport?
Wife's PC.