AirPort Express Extend Wireless Networks (Multiple)

I've got an AirPort Extreme with these wireless networks:
AirPort Network
AirPort Network 5GHz
AirPort Guest Network
I've also got an AirPort Express which I would like to extend these wireless networks with (at least the first two), however the settings only allow me to select one of these wireless network.
I considered connecting the two AirPorts via ethernet, but then thought the two wireless networks would likely clash?
If anyone could advice me as to what I should do, that would be perfect, many thanks.

I've also got an AirPort Express which I would like to extend these wireless networks with (at least the first two), however the settings only allow me to select one of these wireless network.
If you have a "new" AirPort Express with dual band wireless capability, it will both bands using wireless only if you use the same wireless network name for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network on the main AirPort Extreme.
The Guest Network cannot be extended.
If you do have the option to connect the AirPort Express using Ethernet, it can certainly be configured to provide more wireless coverage that way. The networks will not "clash".

Similar Messages

Airport Express extending wireless network issue in bridge mode

Hi,
I have an Airport Extreme (AX) connected to a Cable modem, and it is acting as a router and a DHCP server. To extend the wireless range I'm using an Airport express (AE) connected to the Airport Extreme using a wired gigabit ethernet connection.
I'm trying to set the AE in bridge mode as I don't want to setup another network segment and wireless network, I just want to use the AX as the DHCP server. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work. In this mode, the clients connected to the AE wirelessly can't get an IP address, and even when using a fixed IP address, it can't ping the AX router.
The only way I can set it to work is to set the AE to share a public address and create a new wireless network with a different name.
Original wireless network IP address: 192.168.0.x
Second wireless network IP address: 10.0.0.x
This gives a double NAT warning which I have to disable.
I've tried rolling back the firmware of the AE to 7.4.2 and that didn't seem to help.
Details:
Airport Extreme (Simultaneous Dual-Band II) - running 7.5.2
Airport Express (Wireless N) - 7.5.2 and 7.4.2

but I can't find an option to configure the AE as a "roaming network"
There isn't one. It's a term used to describe a particular type of setup.
Check your ethernet cable for proper operation by connecting a laptop. Turn off wireless on the laptop and make sure that you can get a good Internet connection. If you can, this confirms that the ethernet cable is working correctly. If you can not, you need to trobleshoot the ethernet connection first before you go any further.
On your AirPort Express, check your settings using AirPort Utility - Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the icons
Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Same name as your main router
No check mark needed next to Allow this network to be extended
Radio Mode = 802.11n (802.11b/g compatible) a good choice. Your call here
Channel = Automatic (No need to manually set the channels on either router, but you can if you want)
Wireless Security = Same setting as your main network
Wireless Password = Same password as your main network
Confirm Password
Click the Internet icon
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Update to save settings and the Express will restart in 40-45 seconds. You should have a green light. Important....now you need to restart your entire network.
Power everything down, order is not important. Start the modem first, let it run a few moments by itself. Then start your main router the same way. Then start all other devices the same way.

Airport Express: Extend a network and do Airtunes at the same time?

Hi, I'm trying to organize the people in my apartment building to share an internet connection wirelessly.
The connection is originating from a friend's apartment; he has a Linksys router, probably "g" flavor.
We're going to put one Airport Express in a neighbor's apartment to extend that.
I have an Airport Express connected to my stereo which I use only for Airtunes.
So I'm wondering: can I connect my Airport Express to this network and extend it and ALSO use it for Airtunes?
Also: Can I prevent my neighbors from seeing my Airport Express for Airtunes purposes? IE, I don't want my stereo to show up in the "multiple speakers" drop down of iTunes for other people connecting to the network...
Hope there's a way to work this out...

can I connect my Airport Express to this network and extend it and ALSO use it for Airtunes?
In order to extend the wireless range of the Linksys router, you would have to configure your AX and the Linksys in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS). Unfortunately, very few non-AirPort router are WDS-compatible. The few Linksys models that are reported to be compatible are the WRT54G & WRT54GS.
If you can create a WDS, streaming iTunes should not be a problem.
Also: Can I prevent my neighbors from seeing my Airport Express for Airtunes purposes? IE, I don't want my stereo to show up in the "multiple speakers" drop down of iTunes for other people connecting to the network...
No, but you can establish an iTunes Speaker password so they would not be able to stream to it.

Can Apple TV replace Airport Express as wireless network extender?

I currently have a 1TB Time Capsule plus an Airport Express 802.11n 5Ghz setup as a wireless network extender to the TC. I also use AirTunes on the AE tied into our home theater system. I'm contemplating purchasing an Apple TV and cannot figure out (after browsing forums and Apple.com) if the Apple TV can fully replace the Airport Express for both AirTunes AND as my wireless network extender? In other words, if I buy the Apple TV to I need to have it serve side-by-side with the AE, or can I move the AE to another location to even further extend the network range? Many thanks for any help on this topic!

Yes, that's correct. However, the OP wasn't asking if they could do that. They wanted to use the ATV to extend the network to other devices, and it won't do that. It will connect to the network even if the network runs off a single computer as a opposed to a router. But devices not connected to the computer or router can't connect to the ATV.

Issue w/ Airport Express extending a network (intermittently)

Hi -- I have an Airport Extreme and Airport Express currently configured to "extend" the network that my Extreme base station creates. But its not working right -- here's whats up.
Basically the Extreme is on the ground floor, and I got the Express so that we'd have good signal in our master bedroom, all the way at the other end of the house, upstairs. The Express _definitely_ has good signal from the Extreme. And the master bedroom where the weak signal was is about 30 feet from that airport express I put upstairs.
However, for whatever reason, most of the time in that master bedroom from any computer (macbook pro, imac, and our ipads, iphones) connnect to the extreme downstairs, not the express upstairs. This results in one or no signal bar, and crappy internet access. Hmm.
Green lights are on and steady on both the extreme and express.
I've rebooted the express, reset it, reconfigured it, and the ONLY time I can get it to work properly is right after a reset and reconfigure (choosing "extend a wireless network). Both have the most recent updates.
Any ideas? Is my airport express just not working right ? Any ideas ?

The key here is that if you locate your MBP at the location of the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), leaving the AX unpowered, if it can get a good signal from the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS), then the AX would as well.
The AX can only extend the range of the AEBS effectively if it is within a 25+ dB SNR range of the AEBS. Anything beyond that, you may get a "strong" signal (indicated by full bars), but the actual bandwidth will be useless.
SNR = Signal-to-Noise Ratio = Signal (in dBm) - Noise (in dBm)
You can easily find the Signal and Noise value using System Profiler on your MBP.
ref: Click on the Apple icon on the menu bar > About This Mac > More Info... > Contents > Network > AirPort > Interfaces > en1 > Current Network Information > Find your wireless network > Signal / Noise
While your still in the System Profiler, note the value for Transmit Rate.
These values should be negative numbers. For example, mine currently read: -67 dBm / -95 dBm, with a transmit rate of 27 (Mbps). Plugging in these numbers yield: SNR = -67 - (-95) = 28. My Mac Mini is about four rooms away from my AEBS with about five walls between them. As you can see, the signal is still quite useable ... but the bandwidth is minimal, especially for streaming.
SNR Guideline
40dB+ SNR = Excellent signal
25dB to 40dB SNR = Very good signal
15dB to 25dB SNR = Low signal
10dB to 15dB SNR = Very low signal
5dB to 10dB SNR = No signal

Airport Express! wireless network connection promp need Help!

First time user cant hook up to my wireless network just bought airport express to extend my my network but I keep on get an error say that my wireless network connection is valid any help anyone please on the brink of giving up!

Hi, yonhtna. Welcome to the forums!
Would you mind answering a few questions? I need a little more information about your network setup and about the exact nature of the problem.
1) What type of router is your main router?
2) Do you plan on using the Express to extend the range of your network, or are you only going to be using it for AirTunes or printer sharing?
3) When and where do you see the error message? If possible, can you provide the exact wording?
4) Is AirPort Utility able to find the Express?

Airport express - extend a network or join a network?

I have a Time Capsule as my base station and a number of Airport Expresses installed ( one with a USB printer). All the Express are connected wirelessly. When setting up you are allowed to configure the Express to join a network or to Extend a Network. What is the best choice. My goal is to make sure my printer works, but also ensure the signal is decent throughout the house.
Apple tech when I called gave two conflicting answers. One said it should be Extend the Network. When I called back the next tech said that that was in fact incorrect. He said it should be Connect. He told me that Extend only works where you are hooking up the extra Expresses to an Ethernet cable which is not the case. Who is right?

Hi Bob,
After searching all over the internet, I found your answers to be the most informative
Would appreciate if you can comment on my situation:
Room Outlay:
I have a single-story 3,000 square-foot house with the Study on one end of the house and two other key areas of the house, the Family Room and the Master Bedroom, at the other ends of a "triangle" (Note: the Master Bedroom is a little closer to the Study than the Family Room is to the Study).
Original Environment:
1. in the Study: Cable Modem (Comcast)
2. in the Study: Time Capsule (MB276LL/A 500GB) ethernet connection to Cable Modem
3. in the Study: iMac ethernet connection to Time Capsule
4. in the Family Room: iPhone, iPad, and Laptop wireless usage
5. in the Master Bedroom: iPhone, iPad, and Laptop wireless usage
Original Issues:
Particularly in the Family Room (the most important of my remote areas), the devices (iPhone, etc.) seemed to drop in and out of the wireless network connection. I measured the wireless signal strength to be between 30-40% (Note: it was 45-50% in the Master Bedroom).
New Environment (additions)
6. in the Family Room: AirPort Express (MB321LL/A) Unit 1
7. in the Master Bedroom: AirPort Express (MB321LL/A) Unit 2
Impulsively reacting to various internet posts regarding extending wireless range with the AirPort Express, I went out and bought 2 units with the hope of improving the wireless signal strength in the Family Room and the Master Bedroom. I followed the instructions to have them "extend" the existing wireless network, and I now measure the wireless signal strength to be between 55-70% (vs. 30-40%) in the Family Room and 60-65% (vs. 45-50%) in the Master Bedroom.
Concerns/questions:
Further research turned up a bunch of posts that claim "extending" a wireless network the way I have significantly reduces the overall wireless network performance (cuts the throughput in half for each extender?).
Q1. Is this true? How does this relate to the improved signal strengths I measured.
Q2. If so, if I scrap the unit in the Master Bedroom, will I get better throughput in the Family Room?
Q3. In general, is there a better way to configure my network (e.g., not using "extend", etc.) to get better coverage in the Family Room (and ideally the Master Bedroom) without compromising throughput?
Q4. Although it appears the Time Capsule does not easily support a booster antenna, I did see some convoluted "do-it-yourself" kits that seem to have positive results for people. Is this something I should consider?
Thanks in advance,
Steve

Airport Express Join Wireless Network Disables Ethernet

I have one of the the older Airport Express (firmware 6.3) and I'm trying to use it to connect a non-wireless machine to an existing network.
Act as a single Wi-Fi interface to any computer or almost any other devices such as game consoles that has an Ethernet port but doesn't itself have built-in Wi-Fi
If I choose "join a wireless network" it appears to disable the ethenet port. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong.
My Setup
ADSL Modem ------ Time Capsule ---[wireless-g]--- Airport Express ---[ethernet]---Computer

Unfortunately, the Ethernet port is disabled when you configure the older AirPort Express version that you have to "join a wireless network"
It can be enabled in the newer 802.11n version, which uses firmware 7.x.x. Sorry, not possible up update the Express that you have since hardware changes were made in the 802.11n model.

By creating wireless network with Airport Express, original wireless network stops functioning

I want to use the Airport Express to create a second wireless network downstairs. Upstairs I already have a wireless modem/router (Draytek 2850). The signal downstairs however is to weak. When I create the wireless network on the Airport Express, this works perfectly. However after the creation, the wireless part of the Draytek modem/router stops functioning. The wired part keeps working, but when I connect to the wireless part I access anything. Why is that?
The Express is set to Bridge modus and under TCP/IP I've selected that the IPV4 configurations has to go via DHCP.

I set the Network Name the same as the SSID, security type on the router is Mixed(WPA/WPA2)/PSK, which on the AX is WPA/WPA2 - personal I guess. The password is the same as the DrayTek.
Yes, WPA/WPA2 Personal on the AX is the same as the Draytek's wireless security option.
The radio channel of the Draytek router is 6, the channel of the AX is 11. Do I miss anything here?
No, it looks like you have all of the right settings as far as I can tell ... and you already stated that the AX is in bridge mode, i.e., Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode) ... correct?
If so, I would recommend performing a complete power recycle of your networking components, as follows:
Power-down the DrayTek, and AX. Order is not critical.
Power-up the DrayTek; wait at least 10-15 minutes to allow it to stablize.
Before powering-up the AX, verify that you can gain Internet access via a wireless connection to the DrayTek. If so, continue.
Power-up (plug-in) the AX; wait at least 5-10 minutes to allow it to stablize. It should have a steady green status light. If not, use the AirPort Utility to determine the reasons why it doesn't from the Status page of the Utility.

My iPhone wont recognize Airport Express as wireless network. Any Suggestions?

Yes, I have wireless turned on. My phone sees my AT&T router from the basement, but it doesn't see the AE at my feet.

Is the AE operating at 802.11n Mode ? If yes, then iPhone will not recognize it...

Airport express extending - n AND g

I have an airport express extending a dual band airport extreme network. The extreme has one band on n (for laptops) and one band on a/g (for iphones and an older laptop). The airport express extends the network, connecting wirelessly to the extreme in another room, and sharing its connection with an iphone and an old laptop.
My question is this: will the airport express connect with the airport extreme (receiving its internet connection) at n speeds, but then connect with my iphone and old laptop (sharing its internet) at a/g speeds? I know the express is not dual band and thus cannot share its connection on different bands, but can it connect on a different band than it shares?
Thanks!

From what I've tried the Airport Express will only extend as it connects to. I've tried and it doesn't seem to "auto-convert" from one to another.
Also, you might want to look at the 802.11n 5ghz and 802.11n b/g/n 2.4ghz. Set this in your Airport Extreme accordingly (which you already might have), and let Airport Express automatically extend the 802.11n b/g/n 2.4ghz. This way, the iPhone will connect as fast as it can and the older laptop can connect.
BTW here is my "poor man's dual band" setup if anyone's interested:
DSL modem is connected to Netcomm 802.11b/g/n wireless router. This supplies the 802.11b/g/ 2.4ghz N signal for iPhone, Xbox360, and anything else.
Then, I connect via ethernet from Netcomm wireless router to my existing Airport Express. Airport Express supplies a pure 802.11 5ghz N signal for my Mac, iPad2, new iPad and AppleTV.
This way, the Mac, iPads and AppleTV always "see" only the Airport Express network, hence WiFi iTunes syncing as well as AirPlay streaming is great, and the 5ghz network with maximum N speed doesn't suffer interference and/or dropouts such as when my microwave is running.
As for the iPhone, I'll just use a cable when I need to, but this way my iPhone and Xbox360 can access the Internet as needed without degrading the connectivity of the Mac, iPads and AppleTV. I don't play online games, I only need connectivity to update or download stuff on Xbox360.
Yes, the disadvantage is double-NAT, but I haven't encountered issues yet.

How do I know "Roaming Network" is working with Airport Express and Airport Extreme and should I use extended wireless network for third Express?

Attempting to eliminate a dead spot in Wifi coverage [and implement AirPlay] have one Airport Extreme 802.11n and two Airport Express 802.11n's.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145
The Airport Extreme is of course connected to cable modem and Ethernet switch, and one Airport Express is connected to the Ethernet network. As per instructions for creating a "Roaming Network", Airport Express is set to same SSID, security type, and Password.
Questions:
1. How does the client device know which Airport to connect to? In other words, will it switch to the closer WiFi transmitter automatically? The WiFi reception problem is intermittent in the fringe areas so what I do not want it for it to stick with the more distant Airport Extreme in the basement when the Airport Express which is closer will work better.
2. How can I tell which of the Airports the attached client device is using?
The third Airport Express will be in a third location - I was planning on using it also for expanding coverage but after reading the warnings about performance suffering when purely using WiFi for the expansion in this location ("Wireless Extended Network" without an ethernet connection) I have figured that the single wired Airport Express will be adequate and will use the third Express to do Airplay only.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Question: Can I use this second Airport Express to extend the wireless network via "Extended Wireless Network" while the other two are in "Roaming Netowrk" configuration? Without bogging down??
Mitch

1. How does the client device know which Airport to connect to?
The Mac computer will automatically connect to the wireless access point with the strongest signal...which is probably the closest AirPort. An iPhone or iPad may not do this and will tend to stay connected to one AirPort.
2. How can I tell which of the Airports the attached client device is using?
On a Mac, open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility. Click on one of AirPorts. In the area to the right, locate the AirPort ID and jot that down. Then do the same for your other AirPort.
Move your Mac near one of the AirPorts and log on to the wireless. Hold down the option key on the Mac while you click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen. Look for the BSSID. That is the AirPort ID of the device to which you are connected.
If you are close to the "remote" AirPort, and you see the AIrPort ID of the "main" router when you are testing, then you know that the network is not configured correctly.
Can I use this second Airport Express to extend the wireless network via "Extended Wireless Network" while the other two are in "Roaming Netowrk" configuration? Without bogging down??
There will be a modest 10-15% bandwidth loss with the "extend" setup, assuming that the Express is located where it can receive a strong wireless signal from the AirPort to which it is associated. You can avoid the bandwidth loss if the Express is also connected via Ethernet as part of the roaming configuration.

I have installed Airport Extreme on my iMac, but want to extend the wireless network with Airport Express. Everything is fine until I try to select Extend the wireless network. I select Extend Wireless network but have no success. Ideas?

I have installed Airport Extreme on my iMac, but want to extend the wireless to rooms with a weak signal. The internet connection is fine with the basic setup. As soon as I go into Airport Utility to select Extend Wireless Network and fill in what I believe is proper information, I get an error message that Airport Extreme no longer has an IP address, the internet connection is broken, and under Wireless, that there is a wireless network in existence that can't be found. Rebooting the modem only brings the Airport Extreme back to the starting gate so that the internet is once again available. I assumed (naively) that with the All Mac All-the-Time context, adding Airport Express would truly be Plug and Play. I got the plug, but no play. I asked a Comcast technical specialist about it and he said that I needed to reset the Airport Express settings back to their default, factory status. I looked that process up online and found out that the way to do that was to hold down the reset button, then plug Airport Express into the socket and wait for the green light to flash four times. Then wait 45 seconds and the default settings will return. I did all that, only to find out that after the initial flash of green, green never appeared again. I got a fast flashing yellow light, followed by the light going off. Apparently this didn't reset it properly. So, after hours trying to get this system to work, I appeal to someone who can see through this mess and provide the key to success!
highFly376

Let's see if I can get this straight.
You have an Airport Extreme base station that is set to "Create a wireless network" and you have the box checked for "allow this network to be extended"....
Then you have an Airport Express that is set to "Extend a wireless network" which you selected the name of your network in the box...
Correct?
See this Apple document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
The wireless unit on the right of the diagram can be either of the newer Apple base stations.
Extreme, Express, Time Capsule

Multiple AirPort Express - Extending Networks

Hello
I have been at it all morning trying to get it to work, no luck thus far.
The network I have at the moment consists of
Adsl modem > (cat5) Airport Extreme > (wirelessly extended by) Airport Express 1F > (wirelessly extended by) Airport Express 2F
I am running this network in a 3 storey building
Ground floor - Airport Extreme
First floor - Airport Express 1F
Second floor - Airport Express 2F
The Express on the first floor picks up the network created by the Extreme on ground floor and successfully extends it to the second floor.
This is the part that is giving me a world of trouble.
The Express on the Second floor picks up the network being extended by the Express on the First floor, but fails to extend it.
The green light is on and everything, settings are correct (identical to 1F).
Though when I am on the second floor and start to venture away from the limits of 1F, the 2F doesn't seem to boost the signal or extend the network, after walking 5 meters away I lose connection to the network.
Can anyone help?

As I have 3 Airport Express' all up, would I theoretically set it up so that 2F would "Join a wireless network" > allow ethernet clients then plug the third Express (3F) to 2F. Then setting 3F up to create a wireless network? clients would have to reconnect between the two, but it would be a temporary fix until I can have a network cable installed to connect the Extreme with 2F.
You could leave AirPort Express 2F in the "extend a wireless network" configuration because the ethernet port is enabled in this type of setup.
Then connect an ethernet cable to 3F from 2F and configure 3F as a "bridge" (Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)) to "create a wireless network" using the exact same wireless network name, security and password as the main router. Then, computers would not have to reconnect as they move around the house.
If you configured the network this way, you would not need to connect AirPort Express 3F all the way back to the AirPort Extreme. But, you would have better bandwidth if you did connect it directly to the AirPort Extreme.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Airport Express as very slow in "extend wireless network" mode

Hi!
I am using a Airport Extreme (fourth generation) as a wireless router and a Airport Express 802.11n in "extend wireless network" mode.
I've set the Airport Extreme mode to 802.11n only - and all devices connect to the Airport Extreme as 802.11n Clients properly.
But as soon as they connect to the Airport Express, they only work in 802.11b/g mode (although they are capable of n)
and the connection is very slow - around 1Mb/s:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/804/bildschirmfoto20111211u.png/
Can i force the Airport Express station to accept only "n" connections to speed up my file tranfers?
Thanks for any help!
matt

Where is the AirPort Express located in relation to the area that needs more wireless coverage?
Ideally, it would be at a point that is about half the distance between the AirPort Extreme and the area that needs more wireless coverage....and....there would be no obstructions like walls and/or ceilings in the signal path....tough to do in most homes, so do the best that you can.
Avoid placing the Express down low on the wall and use an extension cord to get it up as high as possible with a free look into the room.
The Express will normally "extend" what it receives, but you could try the following to see if it helps:
Temporarily, change the Wireless Mode setting on the AirPort Express to "Create a wireless network" and change the Radio Mode to "802.11n only".
(You may have to hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the Radio Mode selection box to see the "802.11n only" choice). Then change the Wireless Mode back to "Extend a wireless network" and Update.

AirPort Express Extend Wireless Networks (Multiple)

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