P.S. Perhaps I did not explain well; The EXTEND A WIRELESS NETWORK, pic above was not (at the time) connected via Ethernet.
So, only when a Airport Express is connected to the main Router/Modem via Ethernet cable, it works, but on the Create a Wireless Network Mode using the same wireless network name and password as the existing WIFI, from the main Router/Modem.
So my NetComm Wireless Router/Modem is connected via ethernet cables to 3 Airport Express, each in different rooms of house, 'cause there are too many walls and therefore interference. Hence the need to extend the WIFI network to other parts of the house.
Hmmm. For some reason I'd got it into my head that you only wanted the Expresses for Airplay.
If you need them in order to get WiFi all over your house, unfortunately the "extend" option is not reliable, as you have discovered. I guess it probably works if you have an all-Apple network, but in my experience it doesn't work well with non-Apple routers. As such, although slightly annoying, you need to connect all three to your main router via Ethernet, and give each WiFi signal that your Expresses are producing, a unique name. i.e., in the Wireless tab, select "Create a wireless network" and in the "Wireless Network Name" select a name that is unique to each Express. You could make the names based on location, e.g. "Kitchen", "Den" , "Attic" etc., as you will need to decide manually which to connect to from your laptop, so knowing which you are physically closest to at any particular time is helpful.
If you are using an Apple laptop, unfortunately they are not good at selecting the best WiFi signal to connect to (mine often selects a weak signal, and the WiFi display always shows maximum bars, even when connected to a weak WiFi signal, so I have to pay attention to which signal it's chosen and sometimes override that choice)
In the Network tab, you should select "Off (Bridge Mode)", otherwise you will get double-layer NAT, and that can often create odd problems.
On the Airport Express, WiFi channels can be set by going to the Wireless tab, and then clicking on the "Wireless Options…" button. You'll need to consult the manual for your ISP's router to find out how to set its channel.
So my NetComm Wireless Router/Modem is connected via ethernet cables to 3 Airport Express, each in different rooms of house, 'cause there are too many walls and therefore interference. Hence the need to extend the WIFI network to other parts of the house.
you need to connect all three to your main router via Ethernet, and give each WiFi signal that your Expresses are producing, a unique name. i.e., in the Wireless tab, select "Create a wireless network" and in the "Wireless Network Name" select a name that is unique to each Express.
1 - Yes, all three are connected to main router via Ethernet.
2 - On the Base Station tab, each Express as a different name i.e 1, 2, 3 etc.
3 - On the Wireless tab, Network Mode selected is Create wireless network,
4 - On the Wireless Network Name: I read above to choose same WIFI Network (and password) as the WIFI from NetComm Router.
But you say to create a different Wireless Network Name?
So, in this method, if I'm correct, each of the (Apple) laptop, 3x, will be in a different network and not 'talking' to each other, correct?
Also, 2 of the laptops (connected to separate Express' Network) will not able to print to a Canon printer that is connected to Express 1, via USB?
But if all have same Wireless Network Name (as No. 4 above), I won't have to "need to decide manually which to connect to from your laptop" and each laptop may print to the printer (as above), 'cause it's on same Wireless Network Name.
So my NetComm Wireless Router/Modem is connected via ethernet cables to 3 Airport Express, each in different rooms of house, 'cause there are too many walls and therefore interference. Hence the need to extend the WIFI network to other parts of the house.
you need to connect all three to your main router via Ethernet, and give each WiFi signal that your Expresses are producing, a unique name. i.e., in the Wireless tab, select "Create a wireless network" and in the "Wireless Network Name" select a name that is unique to each Express.
1 - Yes, all three are connected to main router via Ethernet.
2 - On the Base Station tab, each Express as a different name i.e 1, 2, 3 etc.
3 - On the Wireless tab, Network Mode selected is Create wireless network,
4 - On the Wireless Network Name: I read above to choose same WIFI Network (and password) as the WIFI from NetComm Router.
But you say to create a different Wireless Network Name?
So, in this method, if I'm correct, each of the (Apple) laptop, 3x, will be in a different network and not 'talking' to each other, correct?
No, just because the wireless names are different, does not separate them into their own subnet invisible to others. Regardless of which WiFi signal you connect to, everything will be on the same underlying network (managed by your NetComm router) and will be able to see each other. The reasoning behind using a different network name is so you can tell at a glance which network your laptop has connected to - as I mentioned, macOS is pretty poor at selecting the strongest signal - it will often select the most-recently connected-to signal, rather than the strongest. And on top of that, there's a bug that means that the WiFi indicator in the menu bar doesn't accurately show signal strength - mine shows maximum 4 bars on a signal that is so weak that the link speed is 1 Mbps (megabit per second), rather than a more usual 27 Mbps or 54 Mbps for a more healthy connection. With a link speed of 1 Mbps, real-world throughput is pretty-much non-existent.
Also, 2 of the laptops (connected to separate Express' Network) will not able to print to a Canon printer that is connected to Express 1, via USB?
All laptops should be able to see and print to the USB-connected printer, even with different wireless network names.
The key is "Off (Bridge Mode)" in the network tab of all three Airport Express units.
All laptops should be able to see and print to the USB-connected printer, even with different wireless network names.
The key is "Off (Bridge Mode)" in the network tab of all three Airport Express units.
...after testing, all work best if: Wireless Network Name: Is same WIFI Network (and password) as the WIFI from my NetComm Router and Off Bridge Mode.
Otherwise is sluggish, specially printing (so, so slow)! And personally, there is no point having different Wireless Network Names, just to find out to which Express you're currently connected to!? For that, I just look at the clients shown on each Express
So briefly;
All three Express are connected to main router via Ethernet. 1 - On the Base Station tab, each Express as a different name i.e 1, 2, 3 etc.
2 - On the Wireless tab, Network Mode selected is Create a wireless network,
3 - On the Wireless Network Name: sameWIFI Network and password as the WIFI from my main Router.
.Otherwise is sluggish, specially printing (so, so slow)! And personally, there is no point having different Wireless Network Names, just to find out to which Express you're currently connected to!? For that, I just look at the clients shown on each Express
Are you saying that with different network names, things were slow? If so, that is... weird. It really shouldn't make any difference.
As I said before, my laptop is rubbish at selecting the best network to join, often joining the weakest of the four networks available to it. If all four of my networks had the same name, how would I tell which one I should be connecting the laptop to?
If your setup is working for you now, I'm pleased; but I maintain for anyone else reading this, unless you have a true mesh setup, give each of your WiFi networks different names so you can easily tell them apart from one another.
...give each of your WiFi networks different names so you can easily tell them apart from one another.
All our laptops switch automatically to each (closest) Express wifi, and each Express shows which wireless client (laptop) is connected to. And this way works the best for us. I understand your situation may be slightly different and requires different setup, but not necessary for most? Anyways, thank you for all your replies/help. All the best
Comments
Hmmm. For some reason I'd got it into my head that you only wanted the Expresses for Airplay.
If you need them in order to get WiFi all over your house, unfortunately the "extend" option is not reliable, as you have discovered. I guess it probably works if you have an all-Apple network, but in my experience it doesn't work well with non-Apple routers. As such, although slightly annoying, you need to connect all three to your main router via Ethernet, and give each WiFi signal that your Expresses are producing, a unique name. i.e., in the Wireless tab, select "Create a wireless network" and in the "Wireless Network Name" select a name that is unique to each Express. You could make the names based on location, e.g. "Kitchen", "Den" , "Attic" etc., as you will need to decide manually which to connect to from your laptop, so knowing which you are physically closest to at any particular time is helpful.
If you are using an Apple laptop, unfortunately they are not good at selecting the best WiFi signal to connect to (mine often selects a weak signal, and the WiFi display always shows maximum bars, even when connected to a weak WiFi signal, so I have to pay attention to which signal it's chosen and sometimes override that choice)
In the Network tab, you should select "Off (Bridge Mode)", otherwise you will get double-layer NAT, and that can often create odd problems.
For maximum robustness, you also need to try to select non- (or at least minimally- ) overlapping WiFi channels, if possible (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels#2.4_GHz_(802.11b/g/n/ax), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels#5_GHz_or_5.8_GHz_(802.11a/h/j/n/ac/ax) , and https://pixelprivacy.com/resources/best-wi-fi-channel/ )
On the Airport Express, WiFi channels can be set by going to the Wireless tab, and then clicking on the "Wireless Options…" button. You'll need to consult the manual for your ISP's router to find out how to set its channel.
Good luck!
All laptops should be able to see and print to the USB-connected printer, even with different wireless network names. The key is "Off (Bridge Mode)" in the network tab of all three Airport Express units.
Otherwise is sluggish, specially printing (so, so slow)! And personally, there is no point having different Wireless Network Names, just to find out to which Express you're currently connected to!? For that, I just look at the clients shown on each Express
So briefly;
1 - On the Base Station tab, each Express as a different name i.e 1, 2, 3 etc.
I understand your situation may be slightly different and requires different setup, but not necessary for most? Anyways, thank you for all your replies/help. All the best