Airport Extreme As Wifi Extender: Pairing With Motorola

can i pair airport extreme as wifi extender to motorola

The Airport Extreme can be used as a Wi-Fi extender, but it is not 100% compatible with Motorola. To use Airport Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender, you need to connect it to a modem. While it is possible to use Airport Extreme with a Motorola modem, it is not recommended as it can be buggy and cause issues with your network. To set up Airport Extreme with a Motorola modem, you will need to disable the wireless features on the gateway and connect the two devices using an Ethernet cable.

Characteristics Values
Can an Airport Extreme be paired as a WiFi extender to Motorola? It is not 100% compatible but it may work as a universal extender.
Setup Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the WAN port on the base station and the other end into a LAN port on the primary base station.
Setup Assistant Automatically chooses settings for extending your network.
Other Options Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, then tap the name of your base station.
Motorola in Bridge Mode Will not give a WiFi signal.
Motorola Router Buggy in bridged mode.

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Motorola router is buggy in bridged mode

Motorola routers can be placed in bridge mode to connect to another router. This is done by disabling the Motorola router's routing capabilities while leaving the modem capabilities on. However, the Motorola router has been reported to be buggy in bridged mode.

To enable bridge mode on a Motorola router, follow these steps:

  • Disconnect the coaxial cable from the back of the modem/router.
  • Turn off the modem/router, then turn it back on.
  • Connect an Ethernet cable between the modem/router and a computer.
  • Open your browser and type in the IP address: 192.168.0.1.
  • Login with the username "admin" and password "motorola" or the unique password printed on the label at the bottom of the device.
  • Click on "Advanced" in the top right corner.
  • Click on "Wireless", then "Radio".
  • Disable the 2.4 and 5g wireless radios and select "Save".
  • Click on "Status", then "Connections".
  • Find the "eRouter Provisioning" setting and change it to "Bridged" using the drop-down menu.
  • Click "Save".

If you are unable to select "Bridge" mode, ensure that the COAX cable is disconnected and power cycle the modem/router.

It is important to note that placing the Motorola router in bridge mode may cause issues with certain functionalities, such as remote access to non-Xfinity security camera systems. Additionally, the range and speed of the WiFi extender may be restricted when using a Motorola router in bridge mode.

One user reported that their Motorola router worked better in bridged mode with an Airport Extreme, stating that it performed much better in terms of WiFi compared to the Motorola router. However, another user encountered issues when switching their setup of an AE Extreme and an SB with Cox to bridge mode, causing havoc on their system.

Therefore, while it is possible to place a Motorola router in bridge mode to connect to another router, there may be bugs and issues associated with this configuration.

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Motorola gateway: turn off wireless features

To turn off the wireless features on a Motorola gateway, follow these steps:

  • Open a web browser and enter your Motorola gateway's IP address in the address bar. The default IP address is typically 192.168.0.1, but if this does not work, use your correct IP address.
  • Enter "admin" as the username and "motorola" as the password.
  • Click "Login" to access the web interface.
  • On the web interface, click on the "Wireless" tab.
  • Select the "Disabled" option in the drop-down menu for Wireless.
  • Click to save the settings. The changes should take effect immediately without needing a restart.

Regarding your question about pairing an Airport Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender to Motorola, it is possible to use an Airport Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender to boost your wireless network's range. However, when pairing it with a Motorola gateway, you may encounter some compatibility issues and challenges due to double NATing, which can slow down your wireless network.

To set up your Airport Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender, you can use Airport Utility to create a wireless extended network. Connect your Airport Extreme to your Motorola gateway using an Ethernet cable. You may need to turn off the wireless features on your Motorola gateway and use it solely as a modem. This setup may require some experimentation with settings and workarounds, as discussed in the Apple Community forums.

Additionally, consider alternative solutions, such as investing in a mesh system like TP-Link Deco, which can provide a more reliable and affordable option for extending your wireless network.

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Motorola modem in bridge mode won't give a Wi-Fi signal

If you're attempting to pair an Airport Extreme to a Motorola modem, you may encounter some challenges. While it is possible to use Airport Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender, it may not always be straightforward to set up.

Firstly, to use an Airport Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender, it needs to be within good reach of the existing Wi-Fi network. Additionally, during the setup process, you may encounter issues where the default option is to "set up a new network" rather than "add to an existing network." To address this, you should perform a manual setup and choose "Extend a wireless network" from the Wireless Mode menu.

Now, regarding the issue of the Motorola modem in bridge mode not providing a Wi-Fi signal, this could be related to the specific model of the modem and the bridge mode settings. Motorola models starting with the letters MB (7220, 7420, 7621, and 8600) are known as Bridge Modems and are already in Bridge Mode by default, requiring no further configuration. However, for other models, such as the MG7700, users have reported difficulties in accessing bridge mode settings.

To disable bridge mode on the Motorola MG7700, you need to log into the router's admin panel using the IP address 192.168.100.1 or 192.168.0.1 with the correct credentials. If the default username and password don't work, you may need to reset the device to factory settings. Once logged in, navigate to the gateway or LAN settings to locate and disable bridge mode. Disabling bridge mode will enable the modem to function as a router and integrate with a Wi-Fi mesh system.

Additionally, when connecting an Airport Extreme to a Motorola modem, you may need to turn off the wireless features on the modem and run an Ethernet cable from one of the WAN ports to the Airport Extreme. This will allow the Airport Extreme to act as the primary router and extend the Wi-Fi network.

It's important to note that the compatibility between the Airport Extreme and Motorola modem may not be perfect, and you might encounter issues with double NATing, which can slow down your wireless network. In such cases, you may need to explore alternative solutions, such as a mesh network setup, to achieve better performance and coverage.

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Motorola and Airport Extreme: double NATing can slow wireless network

While it is possible to pair an Airport Extreme to a Motorola router, there are some challenges that you may encounter. One of the main issues is double NATing, which can slow down your wireless network.

Double NATing occurs when two devices, in this case, the Motorola router and the Airport Extreme, are both acting as routers on the same network. This can cause a number of problems, including slowed connections, difficulty connecting between devices, and slower internet browsing. In some cases, double NATing can even lead to a loss of connection between devices on the network.

To avoid double NATing, you will need to turn off the wireless features on the Motorola router and run an Ethernet cable from one of the WAN ports to the Airport Extreme. This will allow the Airport Extreme to act as the primary router and extend your wireless network. However, this setup may not be compatible with all Motorola routers, as some models, such as the Motorola/Arris SB61XX series, have been known to have compatibility issues with Apple routers.

Additionally, it's important to note that the Airport Extreme may not perform as well as a dedicated WiFi extender. While it can extend the range of your wireless network, its speed and range may be limited, especially when compared to newer WiFi extenders or mesh systems.

If you choose to proceed with pairing your Airport Extreme to your Motorola router, it is recommended to refer to official support articles or seek assistance from networking experts to ensure a proper setup and avoid potential issues.

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Motorola and Airport Extreme: issues with IP passthrough

Motorola routers have been known to be buggy in bridged mode, with Comcast actively trying to prevent this by disabling the option in their routers. This has made it difficult for users to run their home networks using the Airport Extreme.

One user with a Motorola NVG589 and Airport Extreme experienced passthrough problems, with their network only seeing about a quarter of their available download speed. They were advised to disable all automatic configuration of settings on the AE from the NVG589. This involved going to the router's settings page, writing down the IPv4 addresses, navigating to the Firewall tab and the IP Passthrough subsection, and ensuring that 'Allocation Mode' was set to 'Passthrough' and 'Passthrough Mode' was set to 'manual'.

Another user with a Motorola MB7621 and Airport Extreme experienced speed drops on their WiFi, with their modem delivering around 450mbps on a 500mbps plan.

When connecting an Airport Extreme to a Motorola router, it is important to consider the number of ports available on each device. The Motorola router has four WAN ethernet ports, while the Airport Extreme only has three. This means that bridging the cable modem router will prevent the use of any ports on it except to connect the Extreme.

In conclusion, while it is possible to pair an Airport Extreme with a Motorola router, there may be issues with IP passthrough, download speeds, and port availability. Users should carefully consider their networking goals and seek technical support if issues arise.

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