Mesh vs. whatever Apple does

so have latest gen time capsule router in office closet, 2nd gen airport express in living room, , old airport express in garage. connected ethernet. i've setup 2nd gen airport express extend wireless network, 1st gen apx client airplay.

understanding devices connect whatever stronger signal sees depending on it's location, whether tc or 2nd gen apx. not mesh network? should devices not roam between two? despite not working want to, not correct?

issue of devices seem connect tc, though it's further away , many more walls away 2nd gen apx, on other side if wall, strangling throughput. why this? shouldn't devices connecting closest ap device? can't discern rhyme or reason of devices connect ap. further, connect @ 2.4, @ 5ghz either of aps. changing channels has had little affect.

thoughts?

 

so, might wording, if 2g apx extending network, implies connecting wirelessly router in apple terminology.

in ap utility\apple terminology, "extend" wirelessly, or "create" wireless roaming network. since state connected wire, proper setting on 2g apx "create wireless network" on wireless tab, , "off (bridge mode)" on network tab.

extending puts wireless radios in dual function mode, 1 part upload\download data between router , apx, other client connections. in short, cut throuhput in half. so, clients see router signal better option, tc has stronger radio split function makes more desirable of 2 signals. in case, ethernet not used, despite being connected. further, tc broadcasting 802.11ac/n on 5ghz, , 802.11a\b\g\n on 2.4ghz. 802.11ac far outperforms 802.11n, clients support ac favor tc router's wifi signal.

so, start changing 2nd gen apx wireless network mode "create" enable full wifi signal handle client connections , ethernet handle router uplinks.

force cliients use 5g, try naming ssid different. example, network , network5g. then, on clients can use 5ghz, join ssid, , "forget" 2.4ghz ssid.

since 5ghz range less 2.4ghz, may need join both networks on devices roam further distances tc. tend join 5g before 2.4g, not true tend keep acceptable connections reliability.

finally, put distance between access points. if 1 access point (the tc) adequate entire home, unplug apx. if needed extend range, put far enough away router there clear choice clients, , minimal overlap. in wifi world, less better.

1st gen apx, if used airplay, can done in 2 ways. 1 turn wireless off instead of client mode. in setup, network > router mode should off (bridge mode). airplay enabled, music stream on ethernet , radio off avoid interfering other signals. second way leave wireless setting in client mode , unplug ethernet. apx connect router or other apx wirelessly , streaming use wireless connection. link should more adequate music streams use 1-3 mbps of bandwidth. have done in both modes, both work equally well, reducing wireless signals improves performance other devices.

--- post merged, nov 17, 2017 ---

oh, , no, not true mesh network. mesh wifi uses different radios between access points preserve client connection capacity. have advanced algorithms understand network better , find best path. apple not support mesh technology, , virtually every vendor has it's own variation on mesh implementations, standard pretty lossely defined. in smaller spaces, mesh little other drain pocketbook.

 

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