Sonic.net

What's the best way to setup Apple's AirPort Extreme + Airport Express to the Pace modem?

i read previous posts, but still can't get the best and easiest answer. I'm planning to use the Pace modem and plug in ethernet to Extreme unit. Then use the Express as extension for WiFi. Goal is to extend the WiFi to back of house.
I tried the "Extending Wireless Network" for Extreme and giving it the Static IP address, Subnet Mask, Router Address, and DNS Servers (secondary) that all match from Sonic's Pace modem. Used same WiFi name from Pace and pswd as well. Still get orange light on extreme, says it can't find the wireless network.

Does anyone know benefits of using Extreme as router vs having Pace handle all the handoffs? I use AppleTV close to the Pace modem and Extreme, but the Extreme and Pace are pretty close to each other.

Any help would be appreciated.

Got help from sonic.

To extend your network with apple products (Extreme and Airport), I just plugged ethernet line into LAN port (Extreme or Airport). From there, under Airport Utility and Extreme/Airport, had following settings:
Internet tab ==> Connect using DHCP
Wireless tab ==> Network Mode set to "Create a wireless network"
You'll need to set Wireless Network Name and Password to same as Pace.

Network tab ==> Router Mode set to Off (Bridge Mode)

Somewhere along way, you need to connect to your Pace modem (gateway.sonic.net) and make sure your Extreme/Airport use the same subnet mask and router address.

Everything works now! Thanks to sonic.net support (Andrew M).

I was able to get my Airport Extreme running with no issues. My old setup -- I had Airport Extreme plugged into Comcast cable modem. That modem did not have WiFi so the Airport Extreme ran my home's wifi network. I also plugged Apple TV and a BluRay player into the Airport Extreme ethernet ports.

When the new Sonic/ATT Pace modem was hooked up, I simply plugged the Airport Extreme into that and everything worked right away (sort of). In Airport Utility, it reported I had a "Double NAT" problem. (I have no idea what that means) And I could tell Airport to ignore it, or to solve it, use "Bridge Mode" (discussed in this thread). I also have no idea what means, but it turns out I don't have to! I did have an issue with the 5GHz WiFi network not showing up a choice anymore on my mac, but I solved that by changing the "channel" is uses from Automatic to one I randomly selected. (Again, no idea what these things mean :)

I did not change the name of my AIport WiFi network to match the ATT/Sonic WiFi network. Both are operational, though if I get around to it I will disable the ATT/Sonic one. All my Wifi devices in the house (tablets, PCs, phones) continued to work with no issue.

Just got fiber in the avenues in SF (Sept 2016)

Ground Floor: Sonic Pace Router Model 5268AC FXN DEVICE 1
-turn off SSID

Ground Floor: Airport Extreme (Model: A1521 / 802.11ac / latest) DEVICE 2
-SSID Set for house (SSID and PW Same for all apple products)

First Floor: Airport Express (Model: A1264 - 802.11a/b/g/Draft N) DEVICE 3
-SSID Set for house (SSID and PW Same for all apple products)

Second Floor: old Airport Extreme (MB763LL/A) DEVICE 4
-SSID Set for house (SSID and PW Same for all apple products)

First Attempt:
-disconnect Ethernet from Comcast model, plug into designated slot on Sonic pac
-Double NAT issue / Click OK
-Ethernet speeds all over large house, 800Mbps++ down / 105Mbps up
-Wifi speeds: less than 15 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up

Huh?

Second Attempt
-Airport Extreme connected to Sonic Pace Router - put in bridge mode (turn off DHCP / eliminate Double NAT)
-NOTHING WORKS

QUESTION: What should settings be on the settings on DEVICE 2, 3, and 4?

ARE there SETTINGS on DEVICE 1 I should have changed?

Called Customer service (42 minute wait) and the guy on the phone suggested I just use DEVICE 1 for my WHOLE house. Told him the signal won't work, he continued to have NO ANSWERS when I told him there was confusion and no real answer on any chat rooms. Seriously, where is the awesome service I used to have from Sonic when I had their DSL service (left for comcast as I was 4,700 feet away from the DSLAM / Distribution Point)....

I think a good first step would be to disconnect Airport routers one at a time and run tests to see what's bottlenecking at 15Mbp/s. The Airport Express with the Model:A1264 looks like a likely suspect. I'd recommend disconnecting that from the network and see if speeds improve even without the coverage it adds.

Since my Sonic router is not called Pace, I am not at all certain that anything anyone is contributing applies to my Smart/RG router. In any case, my Airport Extreme shows up in the Airport Utility, connected by ethernet cable to the Sonic router, which is connected to the internet; but my Airport Extreme is not connected to the internet. The light on the Extreme and on the Utility blinks amber. Any setting changes generate errors and I am invited to "forget" the Extreme. I "forget" it. It disappears. Repeat. I have still found no place on Sonic with a step by step clear account of how to get my Airport Extreme to connect wirelessly to my Smart/RG (not Pace) Sonic router.