So I just set up my new (used) Airport Extreme (model # A1354). Everything went well. I was just wondering if any of you have some tips to make it more secure or so that I'm getting good speeds and such. It's on DHCP with WPA2 Personal. I will usually have around four users on the network at any given time. A mix of Mac and Windows. Any suggestions or is the defaults good enough? Thanks.
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New Airport Extreme Home Network set-up. Any tips??
- Thread starter bigpoppamac31
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You might want to get the guest network running if you have many users and are likely to have 'drop-ins'.
Use CAT6 or 5e with full gigabit gear for wired devices and connecting airport expresses.
Preferably have the AirPort Extreme run your DHCP server and NAT. This means run the modem as a bridge only and not as the DHCP server. You can set the modem to bridge and/or disable the server in the modem admin web page login usually. It's not an absolute necessity to run the modem as a bridge but it does work well if the Extreme is responsible for everything.
Use CAT6 or 5e with full gigabit gear for wired devices and connecting airport expresses.
Preferably have the AirPort Extreme run your DHCP server and NAT. This means run the modem as a bridge only and not as the DHCP server. You can set the modem to bridge and/or disable the server in the modem admin web page login usually. It's not an absolute necessity to run the modem as a bridge but it does work well if the Extreme is responsible for everything.
I changed my DNS server that you might want to consider for a slightly faster speed. I used this link to find a faster DNS server.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16372/find-a-faster-dns-server-with-namebench/
209.244.0.3 Now using on my Extreme
65.32.5.111
65.32.5.112
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
207.22.166.61
207.22.166.2
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16372/find-a-faster-dns-server-with-namebench/
209.244.0.3 Now using on my Extreme
65.32.5.111
65.32.5.112
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
207.22.166.61
207.22.166.2
I don't really know what any of that stuff means. I just have the ISP's modem connected to my Airport Extreme. That's it. I just want to make sure it's secure.
Also I notice that whenever I wake up my Mac and log in it doesn't recognize my AE right away. I have to select it from the drop down list in the menu bar. Why would that be? I'm the one who set it up from my Mac.
Also I notice that whenever I wake up my Mac and log in it doesn't recognize my AE right away. I have to select it from the drop down list in the menu bar. Why would that be? I'm the one who set it up from my Mac.
If you want it to be secure then you should change/create some better Passwords for your WPA2 security. Use a phrase at least 10 characters long with a mixture of odd characters and upper/lower case and numbers. e.g. !h6^V>;P0. Also think about hiding your SSID (still easy to crack, but at least hidden)
What networks do you have listed in System Preferences>Network>WiFi>Advanced>Preferred Networks ? Do you have a 2.4Ghz and a 5Ghz network listed ?
So when I go in to my network settings all I have is mine and my dad's network listed. He does not live in the house or nearby but when I go over I can connect automatically cause it will remember his network. How do I check which network bands are listed and which one I'm using? Also my settings show my network as WPA personal not WPA2 Personal. The latter would be better right?
Yes, WPA2 personal is much better.
System Preferences will list only the SSID names, in order of preference, so make sure your own network is first in the list. You should give a different SSID to the 2.4Ghz and to the 5Ghz band and list both. This might explain why your iMac can't auto find your network.
Yes, look in Airport Utility. In Wireless there are options for the name of the SSID (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz - look in Options) and for hiding the SSID name (look in Options - Create Hidden Network). Also for Security Settings.
For preferred networks and the order of preference, look in System Preferences>Network etc under wireless
Okay so I've managed to get both bands going. But what would be the point of hiding the router name? Also my 2.4Ghz band is WPA and the 5Ghz band is WPA2 Personal. I can't seem to get both to be WPA2 Personal. WPA2 is chosen as my wireless security option in AirPort Utility but it doesn't seem to stick. There's an option for WPA/WPA2 Personal. Would that make a difference? I'm using Airport Utility 6 which is a different layout then previous versions.
You're not hiding the router name - you're hiding the SSID name. It just makes it a bit more difficult for hackers to get into your WiFi if they also don't know what your WiFi's name is.
On my AUtility 6 there's WPA2 Personal and WPA/WPA2 Personal as settings. Chose the first one.
Well I'm still trying to get WPA2 on my 2.4Ghz band but it still won't stay. I also clicked the "create hidden network" box but once I did that the router disappeared from my AP Utility window and I could not select it from the drop down in the menu bar. I had to select my 5Ghz band to access the router again and be able to uncheck the box.
Side note: Something I just thought of. My password is all numbers (10 digits). Would that make a difference in my being able to use WPA vs WPA2?? My 5ghz band is on WPA2 no problem.
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Shouldn't matter if your passphrase is all numbers (but not as safe as mixed characters). Maybe you should do a reset and set it up again using a LAN connection.
You're suggesting I set it up wired from my Mac to the AE? What would that difference make?
That way any issues that you might have about the WiFi connection would be side stepped. You can set it up easier this way and then test the WiFi connection afterwards. Just a thought for set up.
Hmm interesting. So I'd just connect an ethernet cable to my Mac and one of the LAN ports and follow the set up as I did before?
Well the ISP modem would be connected to the WAN port so I'd only have the other three to use.