2 1/2 Storey House Airport Extreme or Express?

The Shaw modem is on the main floor and my studio is on the top. It's one of those new Shaw wireless modems for 60mbs or whatever. It's great on the main floor but terrible up here, usually around 10mbs or less download. My question is should I get an Airport Extreme to connect to the Shaw modem an air port express for the second floor and maybe another one for top floor, or would I be ok with just an Airport Express on 2nd floor to improve signal?

My connected Airport Extreme also disappeared, but only after a firmware upgrade that showed up when I fired up the new Airport Utility. Until the firmware upgrade, the new Airport Utility DID see the base station, but presented a warning that I needed to make the update.
I CAN "Configure Other" in the Airport Utility (File menu) to see and adjust everything about my base station, using its known IP address and password, but this does not put the base station into the graphical interface as it was prior to the utility and firmware upgrade.
The Finder has no problem seeing my networked hard drives and USB printer, so obviously the base station IS participating in the network. My internet comes independently from a Uverse wireless gateway: the Airport base station cannot "extend" these networks, only "join" them, so it's now relegated to being a server for those wirelessly networked drives and the printer.
And just as I finish typing this, newsflash: My base station just appeared in the graphical interface! It asked for permission to access my Keychain after the Utility idled for easily 15 minutes looking for a device, then boom, there it was. I quit and restarted the Airport Utility and it's still there.

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Can I boost the DSL signal using my 1st Generation Airport Extreme or Express? Also, can I get wireless printing?

Can I boost the DSL signal using my 1st Generation Airport Extreme or Express?
I just moved into a house where they have ATT DSL and it is really slow in my room. I am hoping that I don't have to purchase a booster and I might be able to use my Airport Extreme or Express to boost it. I don't think they want my Extreme as their router, though. They are PC.
I am also hoping that I can set up a wireless printing situation in my room using the Express or Extreme.
I am running 10.4.11 on my old MacBook Pro laptop, 10.5.something on my old desktop (MacMini).
Thanks for any help ahead of time,
Carole

Can I boost the DSL signal using my 1st Generation Airport Extreme or Express?
I just moved into a house where they have ATT DSL and it is really slow in my room. I am hoping that I don't have to purchase a booster and I might be able to use my Airport Extreme or Express to boost it.
Unfortunately, this won't work especially if you want the connection between the routers to be wireless. The two are just not compatible for configuring an extended network. However, it could work if you can have them interconnected by wire. In that case, you could configure them into a roaming network.
I don't think they want my Extreme as their router, though. They are PC.
This shouldn't be an issue as the AirPorts support wireless clients regardless of which operating system they are running.

I have an airport extreme and express, if I use the extreme as a base station connected to my old router can I use the express to extend the signal while also creating a new network that only I can use?

I have an airport extreme and express, if I use the extreme as a base station connected to my old router can I use the express to extend the signal while also creating a new network that only I can use? Essentially having two wifi connection off the same network? If so how do I set this up?

Extending using a wireless connection always results in a performance compromise.
If the Express is going to extend using a wireless connection, then the Express will need to be located about half way between the AirPort Extreme and the general area where you need more wireless coverage. The more that you have line-of-sight between the Extreme and Express, the better the network will operate.
Remember......the Express can only "extend" the quality and signal speed that it receives, so it needs to be located where it can get a very good signal from the Extreme. Although Apple cleverly uses the term "extend", a more accurate term for the Express would be "repeater".
If the Express will extend by connecting to the Extreme using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection......highly recommended for best performance.....then the Express can be located exactly where you need more wireless coverage. There is no signal loss at all through the Ethernet cable, so the Express gets a full speed signal no matter where it might be located.
Post back to let us know which way to you want to go.

Airport extreme and express & apple TV

I have an airport extreme and express & apple TV. I'd like to do the following:
1) Extend the network via the express
2) Enable the express to stream music to the stereo from the apple TV
I am sure someone has figured this out but I can't find the answer...
Thank you

Firstly, the easiest bit (although I don't believe you need to do this):
I would try "downgrading" the Extreme station's network type to only b/g (excluding n entirely), but I don't see that option in the radio settings anymore
You will get additional settings if you hold down the option key while browsing the radio settings drop down menu.
Moving on: Unfortunately a dropped connections seems to be a problem with umpteen causes and not only is it difficult to troubleshoot with someone in a forum it can also be made even more difficult because many problems are associated with network settings on a router that the person who is trying to help is unfamiliar with.
However you seem to be convinced your problems arise when your express is running which may narrow things down a little if correct, if not it may actually lead us away from the answer to your issue.
Is it the kind of security I'm running? Should I try WEP or... none at all?
I use WPA and have no problems (password = 8 Characters)
Should I attach it a different way? Perhaps manually set it to "participate in a WDS network" or "extend a wireless network?
I have my expresses set to participate in a WDS network, but that's because I use them for other things other than itunes, I would have thought 'join a network' would be fine.
You could check that all your devices are using independent IP addresses and all are using the same subnet. You could also check that no two devices have the same mac address, I've been told a million times this can't happen, but I've seen it. You may be wise to check these things before and after your devices have been 'kicked off the network", you may even want to write them down to see if any are changing.

Airport Extreme and Express not working well together

I recently got a new Airport Extreme, but still want to use my Airport Express'es to play music throughout my house via airtunes. The problem is that it seems that I can't see the Express anymore - they aren't showing up in the airport utility at all. (Using the recent updated Version 5.1 (510.18)). Anyone with any ideas?
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Had the same issue. The AirPort Express is still looking for the old base station and it's network. (I'm assuming that you upgraded from an old base station). The way I remedied the situation was to do a hard rest on the AirPort Express and run the setup assistant included in the new AirPort software. When I just tries the setup assistant without resetting the AP Express I got nowhere.
give it a try.

Apple TV often drops connection with AirPort Extreme and Express stations

Here's my setup:
- Mac Pro in basement office connected to AirPort Extreme (802.11n) station via Ethernet
- AirPort Extreme station running WPA/WPA2 security and 802.11n (b/g compatible)
- AirPort Express station across basement room connected to stereo expressly for AirTunes purposes
- Apple TV and MacBook Pro on house ground floor, both connecting to the network via WiFi
(unless specified, the software and firmware in my devices is all extremely up to date. I write about Apple news for a living so I know when the updates land and install all of them almost immediately)
Here's what's going wrong:
Since I have one of the first gen Apple TVs with a 40GB hard drive but a 100GB iTunes library, I use streaming almost 100% of the time. The Apple TV can usually connect to my iTunes library for streaming via WiFi, but if the AirPort Express (a b/g device, mind you) is active on the network, the Apple TV and even my MacBook Pro get booted off the network usually between 12-24 hours, if not 48. Sometimes WiFi seems to work itself out and I can get the MacBook Pro back online, sometimes it even needs a full restart, as Mac OS X will start giving me nothing but "there was an error trying to join this network" warnings. Just as frustrating though, the Apple TV getting booted off means I need go through the whole tedious process of connecting it to WiFi again (it doesn't remember the password for some stupid reason), and then manually surfing again through the Sources list just to get back to streaming my media.
What the heck is going on? Is it the kind of security I'm running? Should I try WEP or... none at all? I would try "downgrading" the Extreme station's network type to only b/g (excluding n entirely), but I don't see that option in the radio settings anymore; it's all just flavors 802.11n now. When I set up the AirPort Express to connect to the network just for AirTunes streaming to the stereo, I used the setup wizard that the AirPort Utility provides. Should I attach it a different way? Perhaps manually set it to "participate in a WDS network" or "extend a wireless network?"
Any thoughts or similar experiences are very, very appreciated. My wife and I love this setup, but its unreliability is really getting on my nerves. Thanks in advance.
Message was edited by: bedoughty

Firstly, the easiest bit (although I don't believe you need to do this):
I would try "downgrading" the Extreme station's network type to only b/g (excluding n entirely), but I don't see that option in the radio settings anymore
You will get additional settings if you hold down the option key while browsing the radio settings drop down menu.
Moving on: Unfortunately a dropped connections seems to be a problem with umpteen causes and not only is it difficult to troubleshoot with someone in a forum it can also be made even more difficult because many problems are associated with network settings on a router that the person who is trying to help is unfamiliar with.
However you seem to be convinced your problems arise when your express is running which may narrow things down a little if correct, if not it may actually lead us away from the answer to your issue.
Is it the kind of security I'm running? Should I try WEP or... none at all?
I use WPA and have no problems (password = 8 Characters)
Should I attach it a different way? Perhaps manually set it to "participate in a WDS network" or "extend a wireless network?
I have my expresses set to participate in a WDS network, but that's because I use them for other things other than itunes, I would have thought 'join a network' would be fine.
You could check that all your devices are using independent IP addresses and all are using the same subnet. You could also check that no two devices have the same mac address, I've been told a million times this can't happen, but I've seen it. You may be wise to check these things before and after your devices have been 'kicked off the network", you may even want to write them down to see if any are changing.

Airport Extreme and Express - connecting both via Powerline?

Hi
Recently moved to Virgin and now have a Superhub 2 Modem/Router. However, still want to use my existing Airport Extreme (4th Gen) and recently purchased Airport Express (2nd Gen).
I can put the Superhub 2 into Modem only mode so the Airport Extreme is only router. I currently extend the network around the house with the Airport Express.
Is there anyway I can connect the Extreme to the Express via a Netgear Powerline? If so, will this work with both 2.4 and 5.0 networks.
Thanks in advance.
Matt

Is there anyway I can connect the Extreme to the Express via a Netgear Powerline? If so, will this work with both 2.4 and 5.0 networks.
Yes on both. Note however, when interconnected by Powerline adapters, it would be the same as though they were connected by Ethernet. The type of extended network would not be an "extended" network but a "roaming" one. Both basically do the same thing.

Airport extreme and express not acting as i would expect

i have a virgin media super hub which won't transmit my wireless all around my house so i have set this to modem only mode and have connected it to a 4th gen extreme via a cable and connected 1 desktop pc to the extreme also via a cable. All works perfectly and i get the full 60mb broadband that i pay for and all wireless devices also connected to the extreme achieve this speed. Unfo although better it still isn't enough to transmit through the whole house.
To rectify this i have bought a new express and connected it all up which as expected was a doddle, the problem is that when i connect to the express i get a speed of between 2 and 12mb but never any more. When i spoke to the guy in store i was told that i would get the same speed from the express as i got at the extreme so is this not the case or have i got a setting wrong?

1. EOP (Ethernet over Power) Sometimes called Homeplug. When you don't know stuff.. google it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HomePlug
Get trained by little kids on youtube..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i72DM0dbGpc
They are readily available from any of the big computer stores.. in every brand under the sun. Including ones you have heard of and some probably not.. internally they are all about the same.
2. The old roaming instructions are the last apple produced.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4260
Here is my take on it.. with lots of screenshots.
Problems with Airport Extreme Ethernet roaming setup
Here is a joint effort from users here.
Setting Up Roaming - New AirPort Extremes and Utility
Main things to notice.. This is simple. Follow the instruction in my thread above.. and it works.. but I find the airport utility might need a bit of a kick now and then to get the right setup.
3. Make it easy on yourself. You are trying to do too many things at once.
Reset the express.
Plug it into the Extreme by a patch ethernet cable.
Do the setup.. as per..
Problems with Airport Extreme Ethernet roaming setup
Once you complete the setup.. take the express upstairs and plug it into the EOP adapter.
If it fails.. plug a computer by ethernet into the EOP adapter and see if you are connected.. you might be blaming the wrong thing.

Broadband pppoe to Airport Extreme to Express

I am using pcs but have an Airport Extreme in my office just outside me home, extended via hardwire to an Express in my home. We are rural and have been using best available sat service. The network setup has been wonderful. I switched to Skynet boradband via towers - internet (much better) last Friday. Skynet uses pppoe, and in trying to reset the Apple devices with pppoe I have not been successful.
The Skynet connection works great connected directly to my computer, but the AEXT does not connect, username and pw for the pppoe server has been entered in the Airport Utility. Resets and attempts at various utility settings have failed.
I am sure the Express will need settings tweaked when the Extreme is up and running.

Thanks Bob - no solutions yet - but thanks for your time so far.
The desktop and laptop I was using both have wireless cards and both showed connection to the AEXT - Apple Network via wireless. The AEXT - though connected and configed for the pppoe connected - never recognized the connect - UN and PW correct and cable functioning.
I completely deleted the bb pppoe connection from the desktop computer and tried again.
I was using the old sat connection direct to the laptop for previous communication but now have the ppoe connected to the desktop and using it for this compostion - working well.
The old sat is connected to the AEXT now. Laptop and 2nd desktop receiving wired (desktop) and wireless signal (laptop) - working well. The problem seems to be in connecting the ppoe to the AEXT, and no recognition of the pppoe by the AEXT.
New Situation: The Express in the home is reconnected to AEXT via ecable fed by the old sat service and powered up. The Express is not showing on the Airport Utility menu for config - but the light is green. An additional laptop and tablet in the home are not receiving wireless signal from the Express.
I would like to dump the sat service ASAP but will not until I get the whole sysem working again - my wife is a facebook addict and is complaining about her lack of in house wireless signal. Are you in TX? Donde?
Message was edited by: txlandlord

Loss of download speed using airport extreme and express.

I have Wifi using an Airport extreme base station and an airport express extender. However, the download speed drops from 21 Mbps to 8 Mbps. Any suggestions to boost the express other than an ethernet connection which would be difficult.

Temporarily, power down the AirPort Express and take speed measurement at that exact location.
Whatever that is.....likely in the 8-10 Mpbs range......is what the Express will try to "extend".
In other words, the Express can only extend the bandwidth or speed that it receives. It cannot make the connection that it receives go any faster. In that regard, the term "repeater" is probably a more accurate description of what the Express is trying to accomplish.
If you want the Express to extend faster speeds, then it must be located closer to the AirPort Extreme. In addition, anything that you can do to reduce any obstructions in the signal path between the AirPorts will help.
Ideally, you want a line-of-sight relationship between the AirPorts to help reduce the amount of speed loss that occurs with any wireless connection.

Can't get Airport Extreme and Express to join same network

I recently bought an Airport Extreme so I could create a wireless network with my Airport Express. THis way I could browse the internet and stream music to my stereo at the same time. After spending hours trying to get both AP Extreme and Express linked together in a WDS network, I have failed time and time again. I have no problem setting the AP Extreme as the WDS main. My iMac and laptop connect to the AP Extreme just fine. I can set up the AP Express to stream music via iTunes to my stereo without problems. But to get them working together in the same network has got me stumped.
I've set the AP Extreme as WDS main and Express as WDS remote. They are both set to same wireless channel. Where am I going wrong? Is it a 802.11n/802.11g compatibility issue?
I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks.

adrian,
I have done this a dozen time today with different base stations like yours.
The only thing I can think of is this:
1. With the WDS Main, make sure you have the address of the Remote in the box.
2. With the WDS Remote, make sure you have the address of the Main in the box.
3. Make sure both base stations have the same network name in the wireless tab.
Then restart both base stations.
Let us know what you find out.
Joseph Kriz

Setting up a home network: AirPort Extreme & AiPort Express

I'd like to setup my home network with both my new Aiport Extreme and my existing AirPort Express.
Ideally, the setup would be as follows:
Ethernet Network Connection + External HD via USB --> AirPort Extreme
Home Speakers --> AirPort Express
I know that I want my Extreme to act at the main, then the Express to operate on the same network as a relay or remote. I've tried to follow all of the online support documentation to manually configure a WPA. No matter what configuration I use, I run into trouble.
Any advice?
MacBook 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Mac OS X (10.4.9) 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

From your post, I assume you have the new square 802.11n Extreme. Download the Airport Utility (it is not the same as the Airport Admin Utility) from the disk that was provided with the Extreme. It is a little round icon with a blue Airport Symbol in the center and is below Airport Admin Utility in your Utilities Folder. You may have to do a factory reset on the Extreme and I know you're going to have to do one on the Express.
Set your system up on the Extreme first after factory reset. Choose the type of security you wish to use. Call the system something different than your original system like putting use "New" before the system name. You can't carry forward either system names or passwords to the new system. Then when you set the password for security I'd use something different than the original password.
Once your system is built, do a factory reset on the Express by using a paper clip or ballpoint pen. Unplug the Express, push in on the reset button with the paper clip or pen point. The while still depressing the reset button, plug the Express back into the outlet. You'll get a few quick green light flashes, then several rapid blinking amber lights. Wait until the amber light stops blinking then you can stop depressing the reset button. It takes a few minutes for the Express to come on line.
Go to the Airport Utility and you should see your Extreme as the base station and then the Express will come up with the factory ID.
Configure from there.

Setting up TC on N (5 GHz), with older AirPort Extreme and Express on B/G

Hi there,
I've done a search through the forums (and the net) to see if I can find a solution to my query, but the answer currently escapes me so I thought I'd ask outright....
I have recently purchased a Time Capsule. Previously my wireless network relied on an AirPort Extreme Base Station (one of the older white models that looked like a UFO) over 802.11 b/g which was extended by an AirPort Express (again, non-N).
What I would very much like to do is create a setup that has the Time Capsule running 802.11 N only over 5 GHz, with the AirPort Extreme connected to it over Ethernet and still running a B/G network out with the Express.
There is a diagram here, which shows exactly what I want, but their instructions are far from complete or up-to-date with the current AirPort Utility software: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/03/31/exploringtime_capsule_wifi_802_11n_and_the_5ghzband.html
However, I can't for the life of me work out how to do this. If someone could help me out I would very much appreciate it.

For the TC, I suggest that you change the Radio Mode to: 802.11n only (5 GHz) - 802.11n only (2.4 GHz).
For the AEBS & AX, I am assuming that you still want them as an extended wireless network ... correct? If so, all that would need to change is the following for the AEBS:
o Connect the AEBS directly to one of the TC's available LAN (opposing arrows) ports by Ethernet. Connect this Ethernet cable to the WAN (circle-of-dots) port on the AEBS.
o Reconfigure the AEBS as a bridge. (ref: AirPort Utility > Select the AEBS > Manual Setup > Internet > Internet Connection > Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode))
o You may want to rename the AEBS/AX wireless network with a new Network Name (or SSID). This is totally optional, but may prove helpful as a reminder that you only want non-"n" clients to connect to it. For example, and with absolutely no imagination on my part, you could name your TC's wireless network: My Really Fast Network, and the AEBS/AX's: My Not So Fast Network.
o Finally, you will want to be sure the the AEBS/AX wireless network is at least 3-5 channels away from the 2.4 GHz network provided by the TC. This will prevent any Wi-Fi interference between them.
The WDS settings created earlier when you configured the AEBS & AX for an extended network should remain the same.

How to setup airport extreme vs express at WDS mode?

How to setup airport extreme(Main) vs express(Site) at WDS mode?

Please check out the following Apple Support article on how to configure a WDS.

Why can't I see airport extreme or express on computer

Why won't airport extreme (part of a time capsule) respind when I turn it on after being off for a few days? Airport express too.

OS X Lion comes with the AirPort Utility already installed. There shouldn't be a reason why you would want to install it from the CD. You can also download the latest version directly from Apple here.

2 1/2 Storey House Airport Extreme or Express?

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