Airport Extreme: Wds Support And Compatibility

Apple Airport Extreme is a networking device that allows users to extend their Wi-Fi connection at home. It is possible to use the Wireless Distribution System (WDS) to extend the wireless range of an AirPort Extreme base station without using wires. However, Apple has not included a WDS setup option since the introduction of the 6.x.x versions of AirPort Utility. Therefore, it is not possible to use the WDS function with an Airport Extreme and another brand of router.

Apple Airport Extreme and Netgear R7000 router compatibility

The Apple AirPort Extreme and the Netgear R7000 router are not compatible for wireless connection. Apple uses proprietary software to "extend" the network using a wireless connection, which has been designed to only allow other Apple devices to "extend" the network using a wireless connection. This means that the AirPort Extreme cannot be set up to "join" any network, Apple or otherwise.

However, it is possible to use the AirPort Extreme to extend the Netgear R7000's network by using an Ethernet cable to connect the two devices. This is a wired connection, and it requires that the Ethernet cable remains connected at all times.

Some users have reported success in using the AirPort Extreme as a wireless bridge to connect to the Netgear R7000. This involves resetting the AirPort Extreme to factory settings, connecting it to the Netgear R7000 via Ethernet, and then using the AirPort Utility to have the AirPort Extreme "join an existing network".

It is worth noting that Netgear has not included a WDS set-up option since they introduced the 6.x.x versions of AirPort Utility. Therefore, if your Netgear router requires WDS-type settings, the AirPort Extreme will not work.

WDS vs. universal repeater

Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is a way to extend the wireless range of an AirPort or Time Capsule using another AirPort or Time Capsule without the need for wires. It is the "official" way to do this, requiring configuration at both ends. WDS supports a single Main and up to four Remotes or a single Main, up to four Relays, and up to four Remotes connected to each Relay.

A universal repeater, on the other hand, is a form of NAT (Network Address Translation) where the repeater impersonates its clients. It does not need to be configured at both ends and will work with a normal client/station connection to the access point it's repeating. However, it has severe limitations, such as the inability to assign an IP to a MAC address of anything behind the repeater.

When deciding between WDS and a universal repeater, it's important to consider the specific use case and the hardware involved. WDS is generally considered the preferred option if both devices support it, as it provides a more seamless connection between access points. However, WDS requires identical or nearly identical hardware, while a universal repeater can work with different routers from different brands, making it a more flexible option in some cases.

In the case of Apple's Airport Extreme, it appears that Apple has not included a WDS setup option since the introduction of the 6.x.x versions of AirPort Utility. Therefore, if you are using a recent version of the AirPort Utility, WDS may not be an option, and a universal repeater may be the only way to extend the network.

WDS and Apple's extend feature

Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is a way to extend the wireless range of an Apple Airport Extreme or Time Capsule router by connecting it to another Airport or Time Capsule router without using wires. This setup can be used to extend the range of a wireless network in a rectangular-shaped building or a squarish building.

There are two types of WDS setups: static and dynamic. The static version can only operate in 802.11g mode, which means it is limited to a maximum bandwidth of 54 Mbps. It also has a hefty bandwidth penalty—for each base station added to the WDS, the overall bandwidth is halved. The dynamic version, on the other hand, supports much higher bandwidths thanks to 802.11n and has a less severe impact on performance.

Apple's "Extend a wireless network" feature is a type of dynamic WDS setup that can only be used if all of the routers are newer Apple "n" devices. It allows faster "n" speeds on a network with minimal bandwidth loss and is easy to configure.

If you have any older "g" routers on your network, you must use the WDS setup, as the "Extend" feature is not compatible with these devices. To set up a WDS network, you will need to follow the steps outlined in Apple's support documentation, which includes connecting the remote and relay base stations to the main base station by Ethernet during the setup phase.

It is important to note that Apple's "Extend" feature is proprietary and designed to only work with other Apple routers. It is not possible to use WDS with other brands of routers, such as Netgear.

Static WDS setup

A static Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is used to extend an AirPort's or Time Capsule's wireless range with another AirPort or Time Capsule without using wires. This type of WDS supports a single Main and up to four Remotes or a single Main with up to four Relays connected to the Main, and up to four Remotes connected to each Relay.

A static WDS is applicable for the following scenarios:

• Both of the base stations are 802.11b/g models.
• One of the base stations is an 802.11b/g model, and the other is an 802.11n model.

Note: A dynamic WDS should be used when both base stations are 802.11n versions.

To set up a static WDS, it is recommended to temporarily connect the Remote and Relay base stations to the Main base station by Ethernet during the setup phase. Once complete, the Remote and Relay base stations can be relocated to their desired locations. Be sure to note down the AirPort IDs (wireless MAC addresses) for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS.

Main Base Station Setup:

• Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as the Main base station.
• Open the AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
• Select the Main base station, then choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
• Enter the base station password if necessary. If using the default password ("public"), you will not be prompted for a password.
• Click Wireless in the toolbar, then choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu. (Note: For the 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn), the 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn), or the Time Capsule (TC), you will need to hold down the Option key to get this option.)
• Click WDS and then choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
• Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox if you want client computers to connect to this base station.
• Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the base station you want to connect to this base station. Depending on your WDS requirements, you can add up to four Relay or four Remote AirPort IDs.
• Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.

Remote Base Station Setup:

• Open AirPort Utility, select the Remote base station, then choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
• Enter the base station password if necessary.
• Enter the same network password as the Main base station, if necessary.
• Click AirPort in the toolbar, then click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then choose the same channel as the Main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
• Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
• Enter the AirPort ID of the Main base station in the WDS Main field.
• Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.

Relay Base Station Setup:

• Open AirPort Utility, select the Relay base station, then choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
• Enter the same network password as the Main base station, if necessary.
• Click AirPort in the toolbar, then click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then choose the same channel as the Main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
• Click WDS and choose “WDS relay” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
• Enter the AirPort ID of the Main base station in the Main AirPort ID field.
• Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the Remote base station that will connect to this Relay base station. You can enter up to four Remote base station AirPort IDs.
• Click Update to transfer the new WDS settings to the Relay and Remote base stations.

Using an older Airport Extreme in a WDS network

To use an older Airport Extreme model in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS) network, you will need to first identify the model of your Airport Extreme and any other routers, modems, etc. that are used in your current network. This is important because the setup process may vary depending on the specific models you are using.

Once you have identified your equipment, you can begin the setup process. If you are using a combination of 802.11b/g models and/or 802.11n models, you will want to use a static WDS setup. This type of WDS supports a single Main and up to four Remotes, or a single Main with up to four Relays connected to the Main, and up to four Remotes connected to each Relay.

• Connect the Remote and/or Relay base station(s) to the Main base station temporarily using Ethernet cables during the setup phase.
• Jot down the AirPort IDs (wireless MAC addresses) for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS. These can be found on the label on the bottom or side of the base station.
• Open the AirPort Utility on your computer.
• Select the Main base station and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
• Enter the base station password if necessary.
• Click Wireless in the toolbar and choose "Participate in a WDS network" from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu. You may need to hold down the Option key for this option to appear.
• Click WDS and choose "WDS main" from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
• Select the "Allow wireless clients" checkbox if you want client computers to connect to this base station.
• Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the base station you want to connect to this base station.
• Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
• Repeat the process for setting up the Remote and/or Relay base stations, following the specific instructions for each type.

It is important to note that WDS capability is not supported in the newer Time Capsule and Airport Extreme models. Additionally, you may need to use an older, unsupported version of AirPort Utility to configure your Airport Extreme, and you may encounter performance issues with your network even if you get everything to work perfectly.

Frequently asked questions