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Time Capsule on N-only with Airport Express

Le Big Mac

Le Big Mac

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jan 7, 2003
2,905
522
Washington, DC
What I'd like to do is the following:

1) Use a Time Capsule as my primary router on a home network, which is also wired.

2) Have an Airport Express (older b/g model) for additional wireless as well as airtunes on the network.

3) With this provide wireless access for b, g, and n devices, but keeping n only on the time capsule to improve speed.

I think the setup is as follows, but please let me know if I've got it right and can do this.

A) Plug TC Wan port into cable modem. Plug network switch into one LAN port on TC.

B) Connect wired devices to switch for wired access.

C) Plug AE LAN/WAN into wired jack and connect it to stereo.

D) Set TC for distribution of IP addresses. Turn off all routing on the AE so that IP addresses are assigned by TC.

Questions:
1) Will this create two separate network access points so that I can set a computer (or tivo) to access only the b/g network on the AE or a computer with N to access only the TC wireless point so that it will have optimal speeds?

2) Can each access point be given a different name so that it's easy to tell which is which when accessing?
 
That's pretty much how I have my network setup.

Put your AE in bridge mode, and set it up with a network name (ssid) that's different than your TCs.

When done, you should have two separate wireless networks in your house. :)
 
aristobrat said:
That's pretty much how I have my network setup.

Put your AE in bridge mode, and set it up with a network name (ssid) that's different than your TCs.

When done, you should have two separate wireless networks in your house. :)
Click to expand...

Cool. Thanks.

One subnet, right? In other words they'll all get DHCP addresses in the same range?
 
Le Big Mac said:
Cool. Thanks.

One subnet, right? In other words they'll all get DHCP addresses in the same range?
Click to expand...
Yup. When you put the AE in bridge mode, the TC will provide DHCP to both wireless networks (so everyone will end up on the same subnet).
 
aristobrat said:
Yup. When you put the AE in bridge mode, the TC will provide DHCP to both wireless networks (so everyone will end up on the same subnet).
Click to expand...

kay, so I have this working.

Big question: How can I set my MacBook to join the N network by default? It seems to pick up the b/g antenna from the AE instead.
 
Le Big Mac said:
kay, so I have this working.

Big question: How can I set my MacBook to join the N network by default? It seems to pick up the b/g antenna from the AE instead.
Click to expand...
In the networking area of System Preferences, you can connect the order in which your Mac joins wireless networks. Move the N one higher than the B/G one. I think that's all you need to do. :)
 
aristobrat said:
In the networking area of System Preferences, you can connect the order in which your Mac joins wireless networks. Move the N one higher than the B/G one. I think that's all you need to do. :)
Click to expand...

Except that it's all one network. All I see is "Golden Arches" since I have it set up for only the TC to distribute IP addresses, but either to host a wireless client.
 
Le Big Mac said:
Except that it's all one network. All I see is "Golden Arches" since I have it set up for only the TC to distribute IP addresses, but either to host a wireless client.
Click to expand...
I didn't set my network up like that. I gave the Time Capsule 'N-only' wifi network a different name than my 802.11 b/g network. So I have two separate WiFi networks in my house, but both of them connect to the same TCP/IP network (one of the routers is in bridge mode).

So other than speed, it doesn't matter which network you connect to. (i.e. all devices can talk to each other regardless of the wireless network)
 
aristobrat said:
I didn't set my network up like that. I gave the Time Capsule 'N-only' wifi network a different name than my 802.11 b/g network. So I have two separate WiFi networks in my house, but both of them connect to the same TCP/IP network (one of the routers is in bridge mode).

So other than speed, it doesn't matter which network you connect to. (i.e. all devices can talk to each other regardless of the wireless network)
Click to expand...

Hmm, okay. Maybe I don't have things set up right then. My first objective is to have everything on the same subnet so there are no issues with that, meaning only the TC assigns IP addresses.

I have the TC acting as a router on a wired network as well. I've plugged the AE into an ethernet jack so that I can have n-only on the TC. But I did not see a way to configure the AE so that it created a different network, or when I tried it refused to do it. Is it as simple as giving the network a different name within AE?

Tips? Because I want your setup not mine.
 
Cool, I use my TC as the main router too, and also for a wired network.

I have an older UFO-style Airport Extreme running the b/g network.

I can't remote control into my house from work or I'd snag you a screen shot, but all I did for the Extreme was to put it in bridge mode (I think that's on the Internet tab, but not 100% sure), and then gave it a different wireless name.

I'll post one when I get home if it's still giving you grief.
 
aristobrat said:
Cool, I use my TC as the main router too, and also for a wired network.

I have an older UFO-style Airport Extreme running the b/g network.

I can't remote control into my house from work or I'd snag you a screen shot, but all I did for the Extreme was to put it in bridge mode (I think that's on the Internet tab, but not 100% sure), and then gave it a different wireless name.

I'll post one when I get home if it's still giving you grief.
Click to expand...

thanks. I'm at work anyway. so i'll play around tonight and post or pm if I can't get it worked out.

ETA: Found this article, which seems to describe what I'm trying to do as well. I'm almost certain my settings aren't this way, so I've done something wrong.

http://tj.tntluoma.com/apple/notes-on-a-dual-mode-airport-extreme-network
 
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