What is the difference between extend and join a wireless network

You'd have established a very small local network with exactly two devices in it: the base station and your laptop for example.

If you want the base station to offer a wireless network and also itself to connect to the internet wirelessly, you'll have to extend an existing wireless network which is connected to the internet. Note that the further you stretch this, the slower your data throughput will become. Speaking anecdotally, extending a network by one hop typically works fairly well though. Sign up to join this community.

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Learn more. Ask Question. In the activity that follows, you will explore the different ways to build a network by working through scenarios. One last note before we move on to the activity - in the examples above, and in the activity that follows, the diagrams focus on building networks across rooftops or from building to building.

This is generally the best way to build networks that cover neighborhoods, towns, or communities. Keep in mind that these rooftop routers may not provide connections to users on the ground, or in buildings. A good way to provide these connections is by attaching Access Points to an Ethernet port on the rooftop router.

This indoor Access Point can be set up to use the rooftop network as the source of connections to the Internet, or to provide access to applications and servers on the network. A detailed look at this is below:. Since there are so many ways to build wireless networks to cover your town or community, we recommend working through these pen-and-paper activities.

Download the network worksheets and example solutions and try your hand at designing wireless networks. There are three types of routers you will use: Omnidirectional. These can send and receive wireless signals in every direction. These send and receive wireless signals in a limited arc.

Limit the connections these routers make to a wedge-shaped area. These send and receive wireless signals in a narrow beam. Limit the connections to a single thin line. You have a limited amount of equipment available for each network. Each worksheet has icons of the types and number of pieces of equipment.

The example below provides three omnidirectional, one sector, and one focused router:. You can assume that all of the wireless equipment in the examples are within range of each other - the signals will reach. Remember that Clients can only connect to Access Points. APs cannot connect to each other wirelessly, Clients cannot connect to each other wirelessly, and Mesh nodes cannot connect to APs or Clients wirelessly. Many Clients can connect to a single Access Point. Ad-hoc mesh devices can have connections to multiple other mesh devices at once.

This way devices that normally cannot connect wirelessly can still be networked. Now download and print out the worksheets and example solutions , and try out some designs!

It is a partner document to Wireless Challenges , and can be done before or after that activity. Introduction Community Wireless Networks can be designed in many ways. The three wireless roles are: Wireless Clients Station Devices such as computers, tablets, and phones are common Clients on a network.

Access Points Master Most wireless networks are made using Access Points - devices that host and control the wireless connection for laptops, tablets, or smart phones. What connects to what? Access Points cannot connect to each other wirelessly: Clients cannot connect to each other wirelessly: Clients cannot connect to Ad-Hoc Mesh devices wirelessly: Access Points cannot connect to Ad-Hoc Mesh devices wirelessly: Wireless devices in networks Treat the three types of roles above - Clients, Access Points, and Ad-Hoc nodes - as the building blocks for large networks.

Access Point - Home or Office network Wireless networks used in your home or office are generally a combination of a router and a wireless Access Point AP. In the diagram above: 1 represents the connection to the Internet Optional - networks can function without the Internet. Point to Point link - Long Distance Connections Wireless networks can be used to connect distant buildings or areas.

Omnidirectional Access Point and Client Link 1 represents computers connected with Ethernet cables to the wireless devices. You can configure AirPort Express wireless routers to work as standalone devices, connecting your computers wirelessly to your internet modem and other networked devices.

You can also use multiple AirPort devices, including AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme routers, to extend your wireless network across your home or office. Connecting the devices by Ethernet usually gives the best result. Generally, the WAN port on a router connects to the device that connects it to the internet, while the LAN port connects to other local devices.

Once the devices are wired together, make sure they're all turned on. Then, open AirPort Utility on a computer. Dec 26, AM in response to enricof86 In response to enricof Simple smart solution! I love these Apr 5, PM in response to enricof86 In response to enricof What I would like to know is, does this maintain the same connection with seemless handoff?

I'm transferring a file lets say, and move throughout the house with my device, will it maintain the transfer or does the connection drop and then reconnect? Apr 5, PM. Apr 5, PM in response to poissonish In response to poissonish. There will be a momentary drop and reconnect as you move from one AirPort area to another. Normally, you will not notice this, and usually, this does not cause a problem Nothing is perfect. If you have a large important file to download, it would be smart to leave your laptop in one place until the file transfer is complete.

Then, move your laptop. I was recently "encouraged" to upgrade my Xfinity cable modem to one that includes a wireless router. Was using an old Airport Extreme the Now, the new Arris 3 makes that redundant. Can I extend my Arris3 wireless network using the Airport to serves as either a WDS relay, or remote node, with the Arris 3 as the base station?

Jun 8, PM. Question: Q: what is the difference between join a network and extend a network More Less. Communities Get Support. Sign in Sign in Sign in corporate. Browse Search.

Ask a question. User profile for user: Sam Katz1 Sam Katz1. Question: Q: Question: Q: what is the difference between join a network and extend a network Hi.

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