Imac in one room, speaker(s) another
in [Mac Systems]
|
From: David Empson on 8 Nov 2009 14:37 Robert Montgomery <info-block(a)northern-data-tech.net> wrote: > David Empson wrote: > > Robert Montgomery <info-block(a)northern-data-tech.net> wrote: > > > > [Snip DE's detailed description of proposed dual Airport Express > > configuration] > > > >> I assume from what you've written above, that you dismiss Michelle's > >> warning that my D-Link router might still cause problems even if I have a > >> second Express in the network, even though my D-Link an 802.11b router > >> instead of 802.11n. > > > > It won't cause any problems as long as your configuration is correct. > > The D-Link's wireless network can simply be ignored. If possible, it > > would be better to turn it off completely (for security reasons, if > > nothing else). > > I can turn it off. On the D-Link's router configuarion page, I'd go to > the Wireless page > Wireless Connection and press the "Disable" button. > Right now the "Enabled" button is chosen. Ah, good. I wasn't familiar with that model, and some wireless routers I've encounered have no way to disable their wireless network. > It sounds like it would be easier to turn of the D-Link's wireless > connection. That way I could use the existing SSID name and one channel > instead of adding an SSID name and using a second channel. > > I assume that this would apply if I buy an Extreme instead of an > Express. (I haven't made up my mind yet about which one to buy.) Yes, they are configured in almost exactly the same way. The Extreme just has a few more options because it supports simultaneous operation on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (e.g. you can select channel numbers for both frequencies, and optionally create networks with different SSIDs on both frequencies). > > It is worth pointing out one advantage of an Airport Extreme here: the > > current model supports "simultaneous dual-band" operation - it can > > create networks on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz at the same time, for maximum > > compatibility with all devices you might want to connect to a wireless > > network. [snip other features] I forgot to mention the Extreme's "Guest Network" feature, which lets you set up a second Internet-only wireless network for visitors, without having to give them the password to your main network. -- David Empson dempson(a)actrix.gen.nz
From: Robert Montgomery on 8 Nov 2009 15:18 Michelle Steiner wrote: > In article <S0ZGm.49995$Db2.13603(a)edtnps83>, > Robert Montgomery <info-block(a)northern-data-tech.net> wrote: > >> After 102 messages have been written in this thread, we still have at >> least two of the top-tier experts here (Sander and Michele) who don't >> fully understand the situation, > > The problem is largely due to the fact that you have not clearly explained > the situation. If I didn't initially clearly explain the situation, then the onus is on you to clearly ask the right questions, given your superior knowledge of computers. Robert
From: David Empson on 8 Nov 2009 23:20 Michelle Steiner <michelle(a)michelle.org> wrote: > In article <m2sJm.51931$PH1.17389(a)edtnps82>, > Robert Montgomery <info-block(a)northern-data-tech.net> wrote: > > > > The Extreme is more expensive than the Express, but the Express would > > > require you connect the Mac as well as the airtunes Express via wifi, > > > because it has only one ethernet port. The Extreme would allow you to > > > connect either or both via ethernet or wifi (or mix one of each), but > > > is more expensive. > > > > I'm considering buy a second Express, but I'm concerned, because you > > just wrote that my D-Link 604+ router, which is 802.11b, may not be > > Airtunes compatible, so you've implied that even with a second Express, > > I might still have problems. > > If you buy a second Express, or if you buy an Extreme, it would be to > replace the D-Link. Just to clarify: A second Airport Express or an Airport Extreme will not "replace the D-Link". It will merely "replace the wireless capabilities of the D-Link". The Airport Express or Extreme will be connected to the D-Link via Ethernet. -- David Empson dempson(a)actrix.gen.nz
From: Robert Montgomery on 9 Nov 2009 12:18 David Empson wrote: > David Empson <dempson(a)actrix.gen.nz> wrote: > > [snip] > >> The specific issue with WiFi in your old D-Link router (from what nospam >> said - I haven't looked up the specifics of your router) is that it has >> a very old implementation of it. Specifically: >> >> 1. It only supports 802.11b, which is the oldest and slowest of the WiFi >> standards in common use. >> >> For decent performance, you want to be using 802.11g, or with newer >> devices 802.11n. 802.11b is slow enough that it may limit the >> performance of your Internet connection and/or streaming music to the >> Airport Express. >> >> 2. It only supports WEP for encryption, which is the oldest and least >> secure method of protecting a wireless network. It is now regarded as >> completely useless - software is readily available which allows anyone >> to hack into an 802.11b WiFi network, probably in a few minutes or >> faster. > > Sorry - slightly bad wording there. Second sentence should start "WEP is > now regarded as completely useless..." > >> For decent security you need to be using WPA2/AES encryption, though >> WPA/TKIP is still "good enough" to require major effort to crack. >> >> In order to use 802.11g/n or better security methods, your base station >> must be new enough to support these features. I assume that if I buy an Extreme or additional Express to connect to the D-Link router, and I deactivate the WEP security for the D-Link, I would activate network-wide WPA2/AES security in the Airport Express settings of that Extreme or additional Express? (I can't see the security settings of my current Express now because most of them are grayed.) Robert (
From: Robert Montgomery on 9 Nov 2009 12:32
David Empson wrote: > Robert Montgomery <info-block(a)northern-data-tech.net> wrote: > >> David Empson wrote: >>> Michelle Steiner <michelle(a)michelle.org> wrote: >>> >>>> In article <251020092008084122%nospam(a)nospam.invalid>, >>>> nospam <nospam(a)nospam.invalid> wrote: >>>> >>>>>> How could I set up the D-Link 604+ router to create a wireless >>>>>> network? >>>>> google says that's an old router which only supports 802.11b and wep. >>>>> >>>>> you would be *far* better off hardwiring the airport express to your >>>>> existing network and using the airport for a wifi network, particularly >>>>> if you have the latest 802.11n version of the express. even if you have >>>>> the older 802.11g version, you are *still* ahead. >>>> The problem with that is that he AE needs to be in the other room to >>>> connect to the speakers. >>> Upgrading to a more modern wireless router and getting the Airport >>> Express to join its network (as I described earlier) would be the best >>> solution. >>> >>> If the Airport Express creates a wireless network and the iMac is >>> connected to both that network and the D-Link, you may be able to get it >>> working reliably, but everything has to be configured carefully. >>> >>> You will effectively be setting up two separate IP networks. The D-Link >>> and Mac form one network, and the Airport Express and Mac form a >>> separate network. The two networks must use different ranges of IP >>> addresses so the Mac knows which interface to use. >> I think I'd rather buy a new router. > > You will just need to make one setting change on the Airport Express, > and possibly one on the iMac. > >>> (I'd expect the LED on the Airport Express to be blinking orange in this >>> configuration, because it will be complaining about not having anything >>> plugged into its Ethernet port.) >>> >>> The key question: what IP address range is the D-Link supplying via its >>> DHCP server? >> The D-Link 604+ configuration > Advanced page for DHCP says: >> >> Starting IP address: 192.168.0.2 >> Ending IP address: 192.168.0.33 > > Given that, you need to configure the Airport Express to NOT use > addresses starting with 192.168.0. Pick any other option, such as > 192.168.2 (just to avoid any possible conflict with a future router you > get which might use 192.168.1). You could also use any address range > starting with 10. > > I suggest configuring the Aiport Express DHCP server to alocate > addresses in the range 192.168.2.2 through 192.168.2.99 (for example). > The Airport Express will be 192.168.2.1. > > That gives you the option of being able to configure the iMac's Airport > interface to use a static address of 192.168.2.100 (up to > 192.168.2.254), if it turns out this is necessary for reliable > operation. So do you mean that all I'd have to do would be to change the existing range of IP addresses listed on my DHCP page from the current: Starting IP address: 192.168.0.2 Ending IP address: 192.168.0.33 to: Starting IP address: 192.168.2.2 Ending IP address: 192.168.2.99 and then restart the router and then configure Airport Utility again? Robert |