Airport Express as a Bridge

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

Ok, quick question here:
I am moving into a new townhome and will be getting Dish Network. They have the DVR needs internet access and there is no way to run a cable from our living room to where the internet connection enters the building. So, I was thinking of setting up a Airport Express in the family room and bridge it to my 2wire At&T DSL box in the office. Is the possible? I know you can bridge the Express, but I didnt know if it could be bridged to something other than the Extreme.

Secondly, with this configuration, would I be able to send iTunes audio to the Extreme? I didnt know if it needed a direct wireless link to the computer or if it could go through our 2Wire router.

 

[aristobrat]

Your best bet for bridging is to use another Airport [Express, Extreme or Time Capsule].

I've read a few articles on how to make some models of Linksys be able to bridge with Airports, but it seemed a bit hit or miss.

When you get the bridge setup, you should be able to use the AirTunes feature to do the music stuff.

 

[plinden]

WDS is difficult, if not impossible, when connecting to non-Apple routers, but you should be able to connect an N-Express to any router in ProxySTA mode (I haven't done this, incidentally). This is where, using Airport Utility, you setup the Express to act as a wireless client. Connecting any device to the ethernet port will then use the Express' wireless to connect to the router. You could connect multiple devices by including a switch.

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

So, either I invest $200 in two Extremes, or $50-70 in a netgear wireless router and throw it in bridge mode and forgo the iTunes streaming?

That sucks. I'll go the $50 route.

Wow, that was so obvious I can't believe I missed that. Right, no need for WDS to do what he wants.

I just did a some google searching and it says client mode disables the Ethernet port. It only functions as a print server and audio streamer.

From Apple.com-

AirPort Express can function as a full-fledged wireless access point, or it can join an existing network just to offer its wireless print server and audio features. When AirPort Express does that, it is in "client mode."

In client mode AirPort Express does not offer itself as a wireless access point or use its Ethernet port. As a wireless client, AirPort Express is simply a destination for AirTunes and print jobs.

 

[plinden]

ProxySTA and client mode are different. You configure it to "Allow Ethernet Clients" in Airport Utility and the ethernet port is usable.

http://www.macworld.com/article/132754/2008/03/express11n.html

The Express is also the first AirPort Base Station to provide a new feature called ProxySTA. In this mode, the Express acts as a wireless-to-Ethernet bridge, extending your wireless network to wired clients such as a TiVo, a game console, or a room of Ethernet-networked computers. However, unlike an Express configured as a remote or relay base station in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS), which shares or extends your wireless network to both wired and wireless clients, an Express set to ProxySTA does not extend or relay the network wirelessly; it acts only as a bridge. According to Apple, the benefits of ProxySTA are easier setup—the Express acts as a simple wireless client, so you don't have to configure a WDS network—and the potential for better wired-to-wireless performance, as ProxySTA avoids the network overhead of WDS and the potential interference involved with rebroadcasting a wireless signal. In addition, ProxySTA works with both Apple and third-party wireless access points.

Unfortunately, this feature isn’t documented and doesn’t appear by name anywhere in AirPort Utility. To activate ProxySTA, you must set up the Express to join a wireless network and then enable the Allow Ethernet Clients setting; both settings are located in the Wireless tab of AirPort Utility. The feature should work with any wireless network: a, b, g, or n; and 5GHz or 2.4GHz. (Note that the Express, which ships with firmware 7.3, must also be updated to firmware 7.3.1 for this feature to appear.)

 

[aristobrat]

I just did a some google searching and it says client mode disables the Ethernet port. It only functions as a print server and audio streamer.

From Apple.com-

Yeah, I just saw that too. I nuked my original post so not to confuse people who find this thread later down the road. Sorry about that.

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

I'm gonna go the $50 linksys / netgear route and forgo the Airtunes. It wasnt that important anyways.

 

[aristobrat]

LOL. Thankfully plinden found the MacWorld writeup as it doesn't appear to be documented on Apple's site anywhere?!

http://www.macworld.com/article/132754/2008/03/express11n.html

Unfortunately, this feature isn’t documented and doesn’t appear by name anywhere in AirPort Utility. To activate ProxySTA, you must set up the Express to join a wireless network and then enable the Allow Ethernet Clients setting; both settings are located in the Wireless tab of AirPort Utility. The feature should work with any wireless network: a, b, g, or n; and 5GHz or 2.4GHz. (Note that the Express, which ships with firmware 7.3, must also be updated to firmware 7.3.1 for this feature to appear.)

 

[plinden]

If you want to hold off on this for a couple of hours, I'm actually planning to do this myself later today, assuming BestBuy actually has one of these in store (they didn't when I tried to buy one last week)

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

ProxySTA and client mode are different. You configure it to "Allow Ethernet Clients" in Airport Utility and the ethernet port is usable.

http://www.macworld.com/article/132754/2008/03/express11n.html

sweet! thanks
Apple... here comes my credit card number!

If you want to hold off on this for a couple of hours, I'm actually planning to do this myself later today, assuming BestBuy actually has one of these in store (they didn't when I tried to buy one last week)

Will do! I'm in no hurry. I have a week or two before we move.

 

[plinden]

Acutally, I just did it (BestBuy is only five minutes down the road).

Pretty simple set up. I connected it via ethernet to a Mac, ran Airport Utility and followed the automatic steps to join a wireless network. Then made sure "Allow Ethernet clients" was checked in the Wireless tab ... it was already checked, but I'm not sure if that's default. I'm hoping it will give a more reliable (and N-speed) connection to the computer under the TV. It beats threading cable through a crawl space and cutting holes in the wall.

 

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

Acutally, I just did it (BestBuy is only five minutes down the road).

Pretty simple set up. I connected it via ethernet to a Mac, ran Airport Utility and followed the automatic steps to join a wireless network. Then made sure "Allow Ethernet clients" was checked in the Wireless tab ... it was already checked, but I'm not sure if that's default. I'm hoping it will give a more reliable (and N-speed) connection to the computer under the TV. It beats threading cable through a crawl space and cutting holes in the wall.

awesome! Thanks. I'll give it a try with my Dish Network box when they come to install it.

 

[skidmcmarx]

I had this setup for months with an xbox 360. Configured it exactly as detailed above. Worked like a charm. My exact setup is below. The only problem i had is, i used WPA2 Enterprise on my network for a while. This encryption cause the Express to lose the connection every time it was unplugged. This problem does not occur when using WPA2 personal or WEP.
Hope this helps....

 

[ScubaRLP]

iTunes streaming too? How about multiple Ethernet?

I'm trying to set something up for a friend and I have a couple of questions on this solution.

A.) By selecting "Allow Ethernet Clients" does that disable iTunes streaming? Or can you still connect to a Stereo Receiver as well?

B.) Can a router added to the Ethernet port on Express? Or even a hub? The DirectTV box and the Plasma shouldn't need Ethernet at the same time.

My friends requirements sound similar to needs discussed earlier in the thread. Her current setup is an Airport Extreme base station upstairs plugged into DSL. I would like to solve two issues for her.

1.) grab the wireless network downstairs and provide two Ethernet cables for CirectTV box and PlasmaTV

2.) push iTunes Audio to here Receiver.

 

[jagooch]

I had this setup for months with an xbox 360. Configured it exactly as detailed above. Worked like a charm. My exact setup is below. The only problem i had is, i used WPA2 Enterprise on my network for a while. This encryption cause the Express to lose the connection every time it was unplugged. This problem does not occur when using WPA2 personal or WEP.
Hope this helps....

What version of Airport and Airport Express firmware did you have? I don't have the "ethernet client" checkbox with Airport 5.4.3 and AE firmware 6.3. I wish I did! I want wireless audio along with the AE proving internet access for my xbox , which is downstairs from my PC, cable ethernet, and wireless router.

 

[Pressure]

What version of Airport and Airport Express firmware did you have? I don't have the "ethernet client" checkbox with Airport 5.4.3 and AE firmware 6.3. I wish I did! I want wireless audio along with the AE proving internet access for my xbox , which is downstairs from my PC, cable ethernet, and wireless router.

I lost this functionality today.

My parents were having problems with their internet at home, so I took my main AirPort Express with me to see if theirs were broken. I factory reset it, which I back home realized were stupid.

I had it set up as a WDS network with another AirPort Express (both G) and it had been working great for the last 3 years.

The main AirPort Express were hooked up to my ADSL router. The second were hooked up through ethernet to my Mac Pro and also had AirTunes enabled to my stereo. I cannot restore it now to its former glory

Update: Tried one more time and finally it worked again

 

[canadameds2010]

Airport Express as a Bridge

AirPort Express can act as a arch in three altered ways:

If you accept an absolute active network, it can arch this arrangement to wireless clients.

If it is set up as a WDS alien or broadcast station, it can arch the wireless arrangement to active clients.

If it is set up as a WDS alien or broadcast station, it can arch the wireless arrangement to wireless audience (or "wirelessly extend" the ambit of the network).