I need to set up a network with ten or more wifi connections in a motorhome with a bunch of iDevices, apple TVs etc. and want to have an outside web connection for all those devices. Most of the bandwidth will be internal data and not to/from the web.
I can set up a personal hotspot but am limited to 5 connections.
Is there any way to set up something like an airport express for all the wifi connections and have an ipad on the system as the only Internet connection, since the 10/100 of the hub will not be connected?
Using ipad as Internet connection in a wifi hub
Networkwifi
Related Solutions
If you plug any cellular enabled iOS device with Personal Hotspot turned on to a Mac via USB, the Mac will automatically open a network connection using the Personal Hotspot.
So yes, your Macbook Air will be the 1 connection you see.
The second part of your question is a little trickier and the answer is both complex and confusing but I will try to explain as best I can.
.
Based on older knowledge with other multiple interface *nix systems is that it will be a complete toss up as to which connection your Mac will use since both active connections could possible provide the same route to the destination for any network query.
I have even seen, on both Windows and Unix networks, traffic coming in on one network connection and going out on another, which rarely works well.
To get round this, in the Network panel you could disable the "iPad USB" in your default location, but then set up a new location where your "iPad USB" is not disabled.
Finally, the order of your devices should mean that if your wifi is above the iPad USB device in your list when both are enabled, it will get priority over the hotspot, but there are still caveats and this could still use cellular data, but of a lesser amount.
AirPlay uses the following ports:
- TCP 80 - http
- TCP 443 - https
- TCP/UDP 554 - rstp
- TCP 3689 - daap
- UDB 5353 - mDNS
Data from https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202944 - TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products and TCP and UDP ports and protocols used by Apple TV
Here's how to test ports and also an AirPort centric setup guide
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Best Answer
Unfortunately none of Apple's routers can use the iPhone or iPad tethering as a source internet connection.
It looks like it might be possible using certain builds of the DD-WRT custom firmware with the Linksys WRT160NL, but based on that link, it looks like it will likely require a fair bit of hacking, beyond just installing the custom firmware (i.e. it needs to be certain versions, and it looks like further drivers need to be compiled/installed).
If you have a Mac handy, you could tether the iPad to it (with USB or Bluetooth), then use the Mac's Internet Sharing to share to the other devices over Wi-Fi.
Alternatively, you could look into getting a 3G/LTE hotspot device from your wireless provider. It would likely entail some additional cost, but it would be most suited to what you're wanting to do. Some providers offer some data plan sharing amongst devices as well, so the additional costs might be minimal.