Airport Extreme & Express "extended" but signal is still weak

I have a brand new Airport Extreme 802.11n and an old Airport Express 802.11g
Airport Extreme is set to "extend wireless network"
Airport Express is set to "join a wireless network" - green light is on and says its connected to the network.
Airport Extreme is downstairs at home, Airport Express is upstairs. Also have Apple TV upstairs.
Apple TV is only getting a two bar signal at the moment from Airport Extreme (and takes forever to transfer files from main computer downstairs). Want to extend network by plugging in Airport Express upstairs and getting stronger signal for Apple TV.
Yet when I plug in Airport Express upstairs - right next to Apple TV - and the green light is on, etc. Apple TV still is only getting two-bar signal - so it appears it's not picking up "extended network" via Express.
Isn't this how an extended network is supposed to work or do I have it all wrong?
THANKS!

Joining a network using the older "b/g" model will not extend the network.
In the case you describe, your Apple TV is connected to the main base station and so is your Airport Express. The Apple TV cannot connect to the Airport Express.
Also, if you do set up the WDS, you would want to put the Airport Express about half way between your main base station and the Apple TV...
If you want to stay with your old Airport Express, you will have to set up a "WDS" network on both devices. However, the speed of your network will be cut down to 54mbps instead of 130 on 2.4GHz band or 300 on the 5GHz band.
I replaced my older Airport Express units with the newer "n" models.
See this Apple doc on how to set up WDS for the older units.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2044?viewlocale=en_US
Also see this document.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1515

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Can multiple Airport Expresses be connected via ethernet to an Airport Extreme to extend a single WiFi Network?

I am a big fan of both the Airport Extreme and Airport Express. In my work environment, I need to create a good quality single wireless network around 2 large aircraft hangars and some offices at the perimeters. We have a good quality wired Cat5e ethernet network extended between the buildings and offices now. Is this possible and does it seem like a good practical solution? I think that 4 or 5 Airport expresses would easily provide good wireless coverage in the needed areas.

Can multiple AirPort Expresses be connected via ethernet to an AirPort Extreme to extend a single WiFi Network?
Yes, this will work just fine as long as any individual Ethernet cable run will not exceed much over 330 feet or about 100 meters.

I have just purchased and installed a new Airport extreme base station but now the Airport Utility cannot see my old Airport Express. Are their compatibility issues and do I need to purchase a new Express?

I have just purchased and installed a new Airport extreme base station but now the Airport Utility cannot see my old Airport Express. Are their compatibility issues and do I need to purchase a new Express?

When you can, take a look at the old AirPort Express and locate the model number in the faint print on the side of the device.
If you see A1084 or A1088, this is an older Express version that is no longer supported by the current version of AirPort Utility that you are using with the new AirPort Extreme.
If that is the case, your Express is at least 6 years old...probably older...so it is about time to treat yourself to a new version with much faster speeds and more features.

HT5022 How do i use my airport extreme to extend my wireless network, or make the signal stronger

I have a wireless modem/router and want to use my airport extreme to strengthen the signal throughout my house...how do i do that?

Plan to establish a permanent Ethernet cable connection from one of the available LAN <-> ports on your modem/router to the WAN "O" port on the AirPort Extreme. Locate the AirPort Exteme in a central location in the general area where more wireless coverage is desired.
Configure the AirPort Extreme using AirPort Utility to "create" a wireless network using the exact same wireless network name, same exact wireless security settings and same exact password that your modem/router uses.
Finally, the Extreme must be configured in Bridge Mode to operate correctly with the modem/router.
To get everything in the proper sequence on the network....once the Extreme is configured, power off the entire network for a few minutes. Then start the modem/router first and let it run a minute by itself. Then start the Exteme next the same way. Continue starting devices the same way until the entire network is back up.

Can I use an airport extreme to extend the range of my wireless modem

Can I use an Airport Extreme to extend the range of my wireless modem?
At one end of my house I have a dual band wireless ADSL modem which provides my internet connection and I want to extend (improve) the wireless coverage to the other of the hosue where my Apple TV (2nd gen) is located. I have being trying to extend my wireless network with an Airport Extreme but so far without success. I can get the Airport to join the wireless network, but I suspect that it is only acting as another client and not actually extending the wireless range. There is a setting in the Airport configuration to "extend and existing network", however when I choose this option the Airport no longer connects to my existing wireless network and I am beginning to suspect that this fuction only works with another Apple device (Airport Extreme or Express).
Has anyone been able to extend the range of a third party wireless router / modem with an AirPort Extreme? If so, any advice that you can offer wold be appreciated.
Regards
Michael

Thanks Tesserax,
Your answer has confirmed my suspicions.
Option 1 from your suggested solutions is not a goer because the modem and Airport Extreme are in different parts of the house making it impractical to run a cable between the two devices.
I did try option 2 and bought a Netgear range extender, which according to Netgear it would work with my D-Link modem - not.
However I have managed to work around the problem (sort of) by using the Airport Extreme to create a wireless network between my iMac 27 and my Apple TV. The idea is that the iMac will act as a router between ethernet connected ADSL modem and the wirelessly connected Apple TV.
The good news is that I am now able to play the content from my iTunes library on my Apple TV without interruptions due to a poor wireless connection . Although the connection from the Apple TV to the internet is not working I think this is most likely just a configuration issue and for me it is not really a show stopper.

Use airport extreme to extend time capsule network

I have tc and an airport extreme. I want to use the airport extreme to extend my network and because I can use it to connect my directv receiver directly by ethernet. How do I set up the second router to act as an extension?

Won't using WDS (which is harder to set up) prevent use of 802.11n mode? It's my understanding that WDS is limited to 802.11b/g modes. This would be obviated by simply using the AEBS to extend the existing network and configuring the TC to be extended, correct?
I don't know. I have 1 802.11n Airport Extreme and a Snow 802.11b/g Airport Extreme and an 802.11b/g Airport Express.
I have only experimented with WDS between the Snow and Express so I can not speak about 802.11n.
However, if the Time Capsule and Airport Extreme are still supporting 802.11b/g then they must operate in the 2.4GHz frequence range. This will limit 802.11n performance. This is why I use my 802.11n Airport Extreme in 5GHz ONLY mode servicing just the 802.11n devices, and I use the older Snow and Express in Bridge mode to support my 802.11b/g devices using the 2.4GHz frequences.
The only way I know to properly extend an 802.11n network is to create a *Roaming WiFi Network*. This involves running an ethernet cable from the Time Capsule to the Airport Extreme. Then configure the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule so they have identical SSID, WiFi encryption method, and password. In addition, the Airport Extreme -> Internet -> Internet Connection tab must have "Connection Sharing:" set to "Off (Bridge Mode)" so that the Time Capsule provides all the routing services and there is only 1 subnet in the home.
Of course I'm willing to learn new tricks, so if there is a way to wirelessly extend the 802.11n network and stay in the 5GHz frequences, I am interested, as you never know, some day I will most likely own another 802.11n base station.

HT4259 i connected two airport extremes by extending a wifi network. wifi seems weak...help

i connected two airport extremes by extending a wifi network. all my lights are green, and airport utility confirms connections are excellent. but the extended base station hasn't improved my wifi range in the area i set it up in.

If you have a Mac laptop handy, run the test that I have outlined below to find out if the remote AirPort Extreme is really extending the signal at all.
Here, I assume that both of your AirPort Extremes are the newer "square" versions....not the older "round" version.
Locate your Mac laptop close to the "main" AirPort Extreme
Hold down the option key on the Mac while you click on the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen
Look for the BSSID and jot down the last few characters
The BSSID is the AirPort ID of the AirPort Extreme
Now, move the laptop close the "remote" AirPort Extreme and perform the same test
If you see the same BSSID as the "main" AirPort Extreme, your Mac is picking up from the main AirPort...and the remote AirPort is not configured correctly to extend.
If you see a different BSSID near the remote AirPort, that indicates that the Mac is picking up a signal from the remote AirPort....which is exending the signal correctly.

I am unable to see my Airport Extreme/Express on my MacBook via Airport Utility

I have two issues:
1. I am unable to see my Airport Extreme and my Airport Express via my MacBook Air's Airport Utility when I scan for Base Stations. However, the computer is happily connected to the wireless network of my Extreme (the Express is used to extend range)
2. I am unable to see a HDD that is connected via USB cable to the Airport Extreme.
Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks

Further info:
Setup
MacBook Air running OS X 10.5.8
AirPort Extreme Base Station
AirPort Express used to extend range
AirPort Utility v5.5.3
The MacBook Air is actually connected to the wireless network provided by the two AirPorts!
Oddly, I see both AirPorts just fine when using my older PowerBook G4 with an older version of the AirPort Utility.
In addition, I cannot see the external HDD connected to the AirPort Extreme Base Station, and my wireless printer (HP D410a) suddenly stopped working via the MacBook Air. However, it works just fine from my iPhone, which is connected to the same AirPort Extreme/Express wireless network.
Recently, at the request of Sky Broadband, I switched to fixed IP addresses instead of DHCP, as I was having issues with the DHCP set-up.

HELP! Problem with setting up Airport Extreme in "extend wireless network mode"!

So I am trying to put my AirPort extreme in extend a wireless network mode. So I factory reset it, plugged it in, and went into Airport Utility to set it up. So it finds the device, and I set it up to extend the network. It does everything, and it gets set up. But there is an error message that says it was unable to extend the wireless network. Then 1 minute later, the Airport Extreme drops out, and the Airport Utility says device not found. I tried this multiple times, and it keeps happening. What should I do?

Unfortunately, the AirPort Extreme will not be able to wirelessly extend a Netgear product. That feature will only work if you are connecting the AirPort Extreme to another Apple router.
If you want the AirPort Exteme to provide more wireless coverage, you will need to plan to connect it to the Netgear router using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection.

When using an airport extreme to extend a wireless modern, will the lan ports work?

When using an airport extreme to extend a wireless modern, will the lAN ports work?

The AirPort Extreme can extend the wireless signal from another Apple wireless router. When it does, the Ethernet ports on the extending AirPort router are enabled.
Apple's "extend" feature appears to be a proprietary Apple function, so it would be extremely unlikely that an AirPort Extreme...or any other Apple router....could extend a 3rd party router product wirelessly....if that is really what you are asking here.

I am trying to hook up a second airport extreme to extend my network. Can I do this without having another ethernet connection?

I am trying to hook up a second airport extreme to extend my wireless network. Can I do this without having a second ethernet connection?

Yes. Apple's instructions to do this are here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259

Few questions about Airport Extreme/Express

I have a few questions about Airport extreme/express:
1 Can you access hard drive trough express?
2 I have cable NOT wireless modem. What would be the best option (speed-wise) to connect to internet- connect modem to Extreme and access internet wirelessly from it? To connect modem to Extreme and imac?
3 How fast is read/ write from hard drive connected to Extreme?
4 How many hard drives can you connect to Extreme (or Express if that is possible)?
5 Can you remotely sync Ipod nano/ shuffle using Extreme?
I really hate wire clutter around my desk. What I intend to do is to connect hard drives and printer to Airport Extreme and access them remotely. That would leave empty desk:).
Thanks

1. You cannot connect a hard drive to the Airport Express USB port.
2. The speed of wireless networking is faster than the speed of most cable internet services. Therefore, you won't notice any difference in your internet connection speed between (a) a cabled connection directly between Mac and modem or (b) a wireless connection between Mac and base station and modem.
3. Apple has not published any specs on the speed of hard drive access for the Airport Extreme N Base Station. Several people have posted their own measurements (do a search in this discussion forum), and generally those results are not very good.
4. Apple has not placed a limit on the number of drives you can attach to the Airport Extreme N Base Station (with use of a hub). How many do you want to connect?
5. You cannot remotely sync an iPod using the Extreme Base Station.

HT4628 Using an Airport Express and a second Airport Extreme to extend network; will proximity to AEX vs. AE make a real world difference in speed

I have set up an extended network (thanks go to Bob Timmons for his assistance) using an AE as a base station and a second AE and an Airport Express to extend the wireless signal. Comcast provides, so they say, 50 Mbps. The AEX is located in the bedroom where it is used more often and the AE is in the pantry (for occasional use in the garage.) Would I get better speed/signal strength if I switched the two devices; i. e., placed the Airport Extreme in the bedroom and the AEX in the pantry?

Thanks for your response. I set up the wireless network because running Cat-5 was cost prohibitive. My internet connection is very good for general purposes but I ask the question, somewhat academically, because Wi-Fi Explorer shows the Max Rate of the network devices as follows:
Airport Express (located in the bedroom): 144 Mbps @ 2.4 GHz
Airport Extreme (in the pantry): 217 [email protected] GHz
To reiterate, If these two changed locations would I get better speed/signal in the bedroom location? Does it even really matter since Comcast is "only" sending me 50 Mbps? Just a couple of questions to keep my mind active (and confused).

Airport Extreme & Express both wired, but one network?

Ok, I looked to see if this was answered but I wasn't very sure what to search for. If this has been answered please point me in the right direction.
I have an Airport Extreme Base Station that broadcasts my wireless network and is the router for my wired network throughout my house. My den is on the very edge of the AEBS wireless network but the wired network is in this room. Instead of having the Express extend my wireless network wirelessly, could I instead use my wired network from my AEBS directly to the Express? Then have the Express broadcast the same wireless network?
Essentially instead of;
Cable Modem >---(Wired)---->AEBS>~~~~(MyWiFi)~~~~>Express>~~~~(MyWiFi)~~~~
Could I have;
Cable Modem >---(Wired)---->AEBS>---(Wired)---->Express>~~~~(MyWiFi)~~~~
I still want both the AEBS and the Express sharing my one WiFi network, I just don't want the express to "piggy-back" to do it.
Please let me know what I can do to set this up, or if this has been answered before, point me in the right direction.
Thank You very much.

Rachard1, Welcome to the discussion area!
Yes that is possible.
Configure the AirPort Express (AX) to create a wireless network. Configure it to use the same network name (SSID) and encryption type/level/password as the AEBS.
Configure the AX to use a different channel than the AEBS to reduce interference between the two.
Configure the AX to operate as a bridge (not sharing a single IP address, DHCP server disabled).

Airport Extreme / Express: join/extend/wireless/ethernet

Greetings,
I have large house with a bunch of rooms, two home offices, 12+ devices(Mac's, iPad's, iPhone's, PC's & printers) that connect daily.
I have two Airport Extreme's (5th Gen). Primary is downstairts in office hooked directly to cable modem. Second Extreme is upstairs setup to extend Primary network hooked up through Gigabit Ethernet. I get good coverage all over the house with this configuration. Near each base station I get as high as 450 mbs on my 2011 MBP, none of my Mac's get below 144 mbs anywhere in the house. You may be thinking this is all good so what is the question?
My question relates to my 3 Airport Express's (latest model) that are used primarily for AirPlay Music (works great). Right now all 3 Aiport Express's are configured to join my wireless network. I recently had some work done at the house and had Gigabit ethernet drops put in most rooms of my house.
Would there be any benefit in hooking up my Express's to Ethernet to extend the coverage and make it even stronger.
I have read that an optimal wireless network should be as simple as possible to reduce overhead, etc. Would this help, hurt, or have no implact on my network performance? If I could boost my wireless speed in my weaker zones from 144 to + I will get the cables and make it happen. If not, I will just keep it as it is.
Thanks for any input, advice, experience.

I thought about that and was very suprised the AEx did not support Gigabit (I guess it has been out a while with not update). Thinking along those lines, it wouldn't buy me anything and may slow things down. Guess we can hope they release a new AEx with Gigabit support.
I know there are many other range extenders out there that I could buy and would suport Gigabit but I'm not sure how well they would play with all my Apple Network gear (plus my range is fine just wanting close to base station speed)? My question now is should I just leave it alone, would I really see any gains in speed, and would it tax my network performace if I added extra gear anyway.
Leaning towards just leaving it alone - 144mbs in the worst spot is still pretty good I guess
Thanks for the fast response!

Airport Extreme & Express "extended" but signal is still weak

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