Best way to extend wi-fi network for MBP + way to remotely wire it in?

I have a unibody MBP which has been a little touchy with wi-fi (I can get it to work with my AEBs but only if I set the AEBs to N-only/5 Ghz). I moved into a new place and am planning to use the MBP in a room that will position it about 40 feet from the AEBs. I'm wondering what the best way is to make sure it will have a consistent and fast connection. Two questions:
#1 - What are my best options for extending the wi-fi range? I think I could buy an Airport Express right? Or what about third-party wi-fi extenders? Any recommendations?
#2 - Are there any options for actually having a wired connection is a separate room? I thought I read something about the ability to run Ethernet over the electrical wires. If I could wire in from the other room that would be great but it's not feasible to run an Ethernet cable there from the AEBs.
Thanks for any help!

You can use an Airport Express as a bridge. Instructions for that setup are in this kbase article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2044
There are products that run a network over AC power lines:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=211
I'd recommend the AE wireless solution, though.

Similar Messages

What is the best way to extend a Wireless network?

Hi,
We have 3 devices,
1) Our Primary Network Router (which creates our office Network and has DHCP enabled).
2) We have and Airport Extreme, which is used to create our Wireless Network (THIS IS SET TO “Create Wireless Network”), it has DHCP Enabled, its DHCP IP Scheme is set to 192.168.2.x, where the IP Scheme of our Primary Network is set to 192.168.181.x.
3) We have an Airport Express that we are trying to use to EXTEND our Wireless Network.
The most important thing we are trying to accomplish is to isolate the Wireless Network from our Primary Network, so Wireless Clients can access the Internet, but CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Shared Network Volumes AVAILABLE ON THE PRIMARY NETWORK.
At the moment, the Wireless Clients can access the Internet and receive an IP in the range of 192.168.2.x from the DHCP Server in the Airport Extreme. That part of it is working, but the Wireless Clients can unfortunately still SEE and ACCESS the Network Volumes available on the Primary Network. WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE WANT!!
Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
Kalagan

Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
There is no way to do this. Any of the wireless clients of the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) can see any device connected to the AEBS's WAN port. Clients of a subnet can see anything on the supernet.
You could configure you network like this:
Internet-> (WAN) AEBS (LAN) -> Primary router
As long as the Primary router was providing DHCP/NAT the things on the LAN side of the Primary router would be hidden from the AEBS clients.
A better solution may be to have 2 completely separate networks OR invest in some type of network security firewall device to actively isolate your Primary network.
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
WDS is 802.11g's method of wirelessly extending a network.
"Extend wireless network" is 802.11n's method of wirelessly extending a network.
Neither of them require the AirPort Express (AX) to be cabled to the AEBS.

Best way to setup personal cloud network for iTunes and iPhoto media?

Looking for a way to free 1TB storage space on multiple Apple devices, but still have virtually anywhere access to those media files with an easy, quick and reliable interface. Mac Mini Server might be a bit steep at $1000. (for that price you can get an MBA 11" or nearly an iMac)
I purchased a WD My Cloud 2TB, but I do not think iPhoto 09 will be able to organize and access photos from not only a network drive, but one that is not Mac OS X Extended (Journaled).
Network Devices
RCN – Cable Network and ISP – 48 MBPS Down – 6 MBPS Up
RCN Cable Modem – Arris TM722
AirPort TimeCapsule Router A1409 (2TB and USB Port) 3 LAN-1 WAN - Gigabit – a/b/g/n
NetGear Switch GS605 - 5 port Gigabit Switch wired connection to AirPort TimeCapsule
Western Digital My Cloud – (2TB and USB Port) wired connection to AirPort TimeCapsule
Apple TV 2nd Generation – wired connection to AirPort TimeCapsule
Samsung HDTV UN40C6300SFXZA – LAN wired to NetGear switch via CAT6 shows 10/100mbps (Amber Light)
Nintendo WII – wired connection to NetGear Switch
Sony PS3 – wired connection to NetGear Switch
iPhone 4 – iOS 5 - 32GB – Quantity 2 – WiFi Connection
MacBook Pro 2010 6,2 – Mountain Lion 10.8.5 – 320GB HDD – WiFi connection - Sync iPhone – 2 Users
MacBook – Leopard 10.5.8 – WiFi connection – hoping to speed up after freeing space.

Terence,
Any novice friendly, photo management software that you might recommend to achieve a centralized media, personal cloud? (ie Phase One Media Pro 1 or some other)
Maybe Add, Delete and View by many devices, but Editing and Projects on one main computer are the extent of capabilities I would need.
Anywhere, Anytime on Anything, that is what the Apple Ecosystem should be
Freeing up storage on the devices is the wall that we are hitting our heads against. We want to access our old photos while having room to take new ones. SSD drives are great - lighter, thinner, faster, but way less capacity for the price. Add to that the numerous devices that dramatically increase the ability to create content and you have a very foreseeable, major storage bottleneck that Apple has not adequately addressed. They have put considerable resources and marketing into the Apple Ecosystem, and its ease of use and integration. However, they did not create anything to put it all, other than the digital equivalent of boxes in the basement where once a decade you open it up to see what's there.
It just seems like it should not be that difficult to store a thumbnail library on the local to organize the photos by events, faces, locations. Then pull a copy of the photo from the network drive for editing, email, message, etc... then save the photo back to the network when editing is finished. However, if multiple devices can be adding, deleting and editing simultaneously, I guess that would would increase the problem exponentially. Adding, deleting and tagging would be 99% of the activity for consumer level software so it seems there should be a solution.

What's the best way to extend my wifi network w/ airport products?

First off, thanks for your help in advance.
I have a u verse triple play 2wire modem which is my base wifi, which I never use for anything, but it came as part of my uverse. To that I have 2 wifi routers hooked up, a cheap netgear n router and an airport express. Both work great but neither reaches the master suite nor the master bath. I'd like to either move one of those or buy another and wirelessly connect it to my existing network. My thought is if I can I'd like to keep the AX where it is and move the netgear, since I live in FL and the power goes out sometimes for a few minutes. The netgear needs to be turned on again but the AX starts up on it's own. So if the netgear is in a different spot affecting service in the nether reaches of my home, I'll be more likely to turn it on. As it stands now, I usually don't bother with the netgear at all since I've added that AX. If it's on, it's on, but I usually prefer to connect to AX.
I'm not unwilling to purchase another AX or Airport Extreme or even a time capsule.
In my home there are 3 iPads, 2 iPhones, an iMac and a MBP along with 2 dell laptops, an xbox 360, a wii and a PS3.
Any advice would be helpful. I've heard there's something called WDS but I don't know what it is nor how to set it up.
thanks again!
[email protected]

since I live in FL and the power goes out sometimes for a few minutes. The netgear needs to be turned on again
Great how privatised power utilities are rapidly approaching third world standards on power reliability. Power network equipment from UPS.. it doesn't have to be expensive.. a few dollars for SLA battery direct.. amazing how it improves the reliability of networks.
What model netgear? When you say it has to be turned again does it need rebooting or just uses a soft switch and needs power on.. no option to power on automatically after power drop out.. ??
How are the 2 wifi routers hooked up now?? Ethernet back to the uverse router?? Or some other way?
You will have issues.. you cannot do wireless extend (repeater in normal speak) between apple and non-apple equipment.. WDS will cause everything to drop back to G wireless with WEP security.. don't go there.
I'm not unwilling to purchase another AX or Airport Extreme or even a time capsule.
Sorry but that makes wireless extend really hard.. you might get the netgear to extend to the uverse.. since they are not apple products.. but even then you may not find it easy.
What about spending some money.. or is it just apple routers you don't want to buy.
A pair of EOP adapters might do the job brilliantly and give better speed and reliability than any wireless bridging ever can..

Extended router's network for Airport extreme. Works well with MacbookPro. I can print with notebook with XP SP3 and, I can see the USB-harddisc in the Airport service program but, I cannot use it. I have set filesharing etc. What do I do wrong?

I connected the Airport Extreme wireless to the existing network of my router. At the Airport there is connected via USB a Printer and three hard discs. All works well on my MacBook Pro - I can print and use the hard discs. On my notebook and my desktop, both with XP-SP3 I can use the printer only. In the Airport service program - manual set up - hard discs I can see the drives with the correct names but I cannot work with it. I don't find neithe the Airport Extreme nor the drives in the Windows Explorer. Of course I've set 'filesharing' etc. What do I do wrong? Where is the mistake in the set up?

apikoros wrote:
The Utility transferred all of the AE's settings, so I still have to change the password, which leaves me with only 2 other questions, I think:
1) I assume it's just a matter of using the Utility, entering a stronger password and checking for it to be remembered in Keychain Access. But do I have to change the password for each individual unit-- the TC, the Extreme and both Expresses-- or will changing it just for the TC alone work for the entire network?
Resetting the password you will need to do for each device... the utility cannot even see those old units.
So you will have to do it for each one.. think it through.. because as you change passwords the others will lose connection.. so start from the express which are wireless extending .. change those first.. and go back up the chain.. as each one changes it will drop off the network.. until you reach extreme and change that. Then you might need to reboot the whole network to get everything talking again. If something goes wrong.. just pluck that one out of the mix and plug in ethernet.. reset and redo the setup. That is my preferred method anyway.. do everything in isolation one by one. By ethernet and then nothing goes wrong.
2) Who's the treasonous SOB who spilled the beans to you about the ICBM in my back yard?!?
N.Korean hackers.
[Edit] Whoops-- one more question: I want to partition the TC's disk, but Disk Utility doesn't see it. What do I need to do?
You cannot partition a network disk. And apple provided no tools for it in the TC itself. You can pull the disk out and partition it but that voids your warranty. (although done with care who is to know).
Look at Q3 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
Mixing TM and data on the TC is worth planning carefully. They don't necessarily sit happily together.

Is there a way to scan a device/network for the key that's in use? (even if a partial)

We have a way of keeping our installs of acrobat to the same number of actual purchases made, but what we don't have is a good way of making sure that the actual key that was acquired with a PO was actually used on the associated device. Most of this comes from poor management of licenses and lazy technicians that used any key they could find to install the software. So, our reseller provides us a list of all keys that we've purchased as well as the number of volume licenses and such. I would like to know if there is a way I can scan the acrobat-installed devices and compare keys against the list of keys I have been provided. I have about ~100 devices with varying versions ranging from 6 to 11. I'm shooting for having a list of hostnames with their purchased license key and a faster way of creating this list than manually going to each machine.
I want to do this so that I can more easily automate Hardware/OS migrations. If the product is installed with the wrong key, I want to have it reinstalled on the new hardware/OS with the correct key. And also just to have better bookkeeping.
Or can I just keep using the volume key for a product version as long as I keep the install count at or under the purchased count?
We use Symantec Management Platform 7.5 for tracking.

Not directly that I am aware. The product validation in SWTAG files are encoded. Adobe should be able to decode them but that's still going to be a lot of manual work.

HT2275 Do I need to choose "Share this printer on the network" for printers that are not connected directly to my MacBook Pro? I have two HP printers connected to an Airport Extreme (WiFi turned off). I connect by WiFi to another Airport Extreme w cable t

I have three Airport Extreme (AE) routers in my home network.
The main AE is set up for wifi access. The other two are connected by ethernet cables to the main AE. My MacBook Pro connects to the network wirelessly through the main AE. The AE in my office has two HP printers connected to it by ethernet cables. I have a Kodak All-in-one that is connected by USB to my MacBook Pro.
I reset my printer connections on my MacBook Pro and had to add all the printers back to my printer list. I don't know if I understand what the checkbox "Share this printer on the network" in the Print & Fax System Preferences window is for. My guess is that I don't need to share printers unless they are connected to my MacBook Pro by USB, so I should uncheck the "Share this printer on the network" box for the two HP printers that are connected to the AE. I print to them over the network, but they're not connected directly to any computer. I thought if my MacBook Pro wasset to share them and was shutdown, the printers might not be available to my Mac mini or Dell PC, which connect by ethernet to the office AE (which has the two printers connected to it).
What should I do?
For printers connected directly to a Mac (or PC) by USB, check the "Share this printer on the network" box? In my Sharing Preferences, I check "Share Printers."
For printers connected to the AE by ethernet, UNcheck the "Share this printer on the network" box on my Macs (& PCs?) when I add the printers to my printer list? In my Sharing Preferences, I UNcheck "Share Printers?"
FYI
HP LaserJet Firmware Update Utility for HP P2035n is available
Version: 20120105 (19 Mar 2012)
Operating System(s): Mac OS X, Mac OS X 10.5, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.7
File name: P2035_FW_Update_Utility_20120105_v1_4.dmg (3.8 MB)
line: <http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en &cc=us&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=3662025&prodNameId=3662049&swEnvOID=219&swL ang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=lj-94537-3>

Question is - will the 2 networks (using auto channel negotiations) exist well in the same house or will there be interference?
Things will be fine since the AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme will automatically search for a good wireless channel. If you assign a separate name for the wireless network, then devices will need to log in separately to this network. The extending device will need to be configured in Bridge Mode.
My suggestion would be to configure what is known as a "roaming" network in your question #2. In this case, you would assign the same wireless network name, security and password settings to the extending device and configure it in Bridge Mode.
The advantage to #2 is that you will be able to walk your laptop from a location near the Time Capsule and as you move close to the extending device, the laptop will automatically switch to pick up the stronger signal from the extending AirPort.
You are actually creating a separate network in #2, so you have the advantage of maximum bandwidth for both the TC network and the AirPort network.
Question - does the Airport Express have to be directly connected to the TC or can that connected be through a switched network?
I'm assuming that you are asking about an Ethernet switch here, correct? The AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme can connect to the Ethernet switch, or directly back to a LAN port on the Time Capsule, whichever is easier to setup.
Question 2 - assuming I can connect the Airport Express to the TC over a switched network, will "extending" the network using the Ethernet network still reduce my overall wireless bandwidth?
Connecting the remote device using Ethernet is by far the best way to extend a wireless network because it maintains maximum bandwidth on the network. This is the way that any good commercial network is designed.
Post back if you need any tips to get things setup.

Trouble extending my wireless network via (4) Airport Express'

I am having difficulty extending my wireless network - I have a Airport Extreme as the base station - I was hoping to daisy chain the express devices throughout the home but I'm losing signal strength as I get further away from the base... is it possible to link each device so that i can have one network running with multiple Airport Express' wirelessly? Any help you can provide would be appreciated...
Thanks
Steve

If you have the newer AirPort Extreme 802.11n and newer AirPort Express 802.11n devices, it is not possible to "daisy chain" the AirPort Express devices. That's because each AirPort Express communicates directly to the "main" AirPort Extreme....not to another AirPort Express.
The "extend" setup is like the hub and spokes of a wheel. Your AirPort Exrreme is the "hub" and each AirPort Express resides at the end of a "spoke".
The "best" way to extend any wireless network is to run Ethernet cabling to the location of each AirPort Express. If it is not possible to run the Ethernet cable, your next option would be Ethernet power line adapters to send an Ethernet signal over the AC power lines in your home.

This AirPort base station was unable to extend the wireless network.

I have an AirPort Extreme in the lounge connected to BT infinity.
I also have an airport express in the kitchen connected to a stereo system.
I have had this set up for around 12 months.
The airport express will not extend the wireless network.
I reset it, restart, factory reset etc and it will work fine for around 3 days, then I get the same error message saying
This AirPort base station was unable to extend the wireless network. Make sure the wireless network you’re trying to extend was set up and is working correctly, that you entered a matching wireless network password into this device, and that this device is in range of the wireless network.
The express is situated easily within range of the extreme. And the airplay between those two, my iMac and two apple tv's works pretty much as it should.
Can someone please shed some light on this?
Maybe I have it in a wrong setting or summut....

G Beach wrote:
I am also experiencing a recent failure in my Airport devices no longer extending my wireless network.
My Aiport Express and second Airport Extreme were extending my wireless network for more than a year
The only change that has taken place lately is that the firmware for both devices was upgraded to 7.6.4, however the upgrade was only in response to trying to resolve this problem. Needless to say, the firmware upgrade did not resolve anything.
If I didn't know better, I'd have thought I wrote the above.
I have a TC from a few years ago (last one before the tower, I think), plus the older AEBS that it replaced extending the network, plus a 1-year-old Express also extending. I had upgraded them all to 7.6.3/4 when it came out, but reverted them all to 7.6.1 when everything went crapways (others having the same issues of the LAN regularly croaking), and didn't bother upgrading again since.
Today I just tried 7.6.4 on all of them, and it seemed OK at first with green lights all around in Airport Utility. Then I made one change, which was to enable 5Ghz on the main AEBS/TC only (the express doesn't need it, and the older AEBS can't do it).
The latter two started flasing amber and giving the "unable to extend wireless network" error message.
So I'm wondering if you are similarly using 5Ghz?

What is the best way to extend a Virgin wifi network in a thick walled house?

I have a Virgin Netgear wifi router in a downstairs room at home and get a relatively poor signal in adjacent rooms and none in non-adjacent rooms (i.e. at least one intervening room); it is an old (deep) victorian house with many small rooms!
If I wanted to use Airport Express as a solution, would I need to plug one AE unit into the router and then have one in an adjacent room and then another in the next adjacent room, and so on, creating a "chain" to extend the wifi signal, or would I be better off with a plug-in wifi extending solution via the electric ring mains? For the latter option, I note that I have separate electric circuits for downstairs and upstairs plug sockets (as I believe is normal in most UK homes).
If I do go for an AE chain, I presume that teh lasta nd intervening AE units woudl provide wifi cover?
I am new to Apple and to computer technical issues (having just retired) and so no longer have access to office IT folk.
Thanks in advance.

Apple's extend a wireless network feature works like the hub and spokes of a wheel. The "main" AirPort Express would be the "hub", so it would need to be located in a central area in the home. Other AirPorts....located at the end of separate "spokes".....could extend the wireless signal.
Each extender must communicate directly to the "hub"....not to another device at the end of another "spoke", so your idea of a "chain" to extend the wireless network signal would simply not work.
Since you have thick walls, it is also unlikely that a wireless setup....even with devices placed at optimum locations....would allow the network to perform well.
The best solution in situations like this is always to run Ethernet cabling to other routers from a main router. This way, devices can be located in the exact areas where they are needed to provide more wireless coverage.
Ethernet powerline adapters might be an option if you cannot run the Ethernet cabling. In theory, you already have the wiring in place, you just need the adapters.
In practice, things do not always work as well as the theory might suggest. The bottom line with devices like this is that you cannot know how well.....or if.....they will work until you try them out in your home. Older wiring may not accommodate these devices.
For these reasons, you would want to understand the store's return policy to test a couple of adapters to see how well they perform at various locations around the house.
If they work well during your "tests", then you can purchase more adapters and add AirPorts or other routers to set up the network the way that you want. I am not necessarily recommending that you use Apple products. Virgin might have some solutions that would be much easier to install and configure.
Having one of the IT guys come out to survey your home and offer some suggestions...even if you have to pay a fee.....would be very wise thing to do before you proceed with any potential plan.
The IT guys may spot a potential problem.....something that you have not thought off yet.....that will help you avoid delays and heachaches in the future.

Best way to extend g and n networks with ethernet and AEBSn

Can anyone suggest the best way to extend both b/g and n wireless networks using a dual band AEBS, an AEBSn and AXs b/g?
I have two areas of the house served by cat5. Right now I have a wired AX set "Join wireless network" and an AEBS n wired and set to "Join wireless network". Wondering if that is the best way to do the b/g.
I have an extra AX. Wondering if I could do AEBS Main to cat5 to small switch in other part of house with cat5 to AX set to "join wireless network" to extend the b/g and cat5 to the AEBS set to "extend network" to extend the n component of the network in the same space?
Thanks,
Jim

Yes "Solution 3:" is what you want to use.
Yes your MacBook will pick the "best" base station to connect to at any given time. Only Apple's engineers know the algorithm used to determine which offers the "best" connection.

Best way to extend wireless via airport express and time capsule

best way to extend wireless via airport express and time capsule
i live in a two storey house where i use my airport express to create a wireless network in the main floor, and time capsule to extend it in the upper floor, where my room is. i have like 16 mbps in the main floor, and 2-3 mbps in the upper floor after having speediest.
i used time capsule in the upper floor because i use wireless backup daily and don't want to put internet down while i im doin it and consequently my parent can have internet access in the main floor, am i right? or do i have make just the opposite in order to have a good internet speed?
secondly, while checking airport express wireless mode on airport utility, there is like 4 different type of radio mode(802 11n bg comp, 802 11n 2.4, 802 11n a comp, 802 11n 5ghz) which i have no idea what they mean
what do you recommend?
we have like iphone4, iphone 3g, mbookpro, ipad, ipad 2, samsung tv and a sony vaio laptop in the wireless network
thank you

What you have would appear to be working but I can comment how I would redefine your setup. Note that both Airport Express and Time Capsule can function as wireless base stations so you do have wireless everywhere and at all times — using the Time Capsules for backups doesn’t mean your parents won’t have internet access regardless of the where the base stations are located.
You appear to have devices to connect to your network that use the 2.4 GHz band with 802.11g such as the iPhone 3G and perhaps the 5 GHz band with 802.11n such as likely the Macbook Pro if it’s a recent model. The iPhone 4 can use 5 GHz and 802.11n. Can’t comment on the Sony and Samsung but you can check their specs.
Now the Time Capsule (if it’s a recent version), can simultaneously supply 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band signals, but the Airport Express (if it’s recent) can only use one of those bands at one time. Likely the lowest common denominator for your devices is going to be the 2.4 GHz band since the devices that are capable of using 5 GHZ also support 2.4 GHz. If you don’t use 5 GHz, you won’t lose much in a two-storey home because likely it’s the 2.4 GHz band is better signal anyway because 5 GHz signals drop off quickly with several walls/floors to penetrate.
You also didn’t mention if the Airport Express is used to support a printer and/or AirPlay (using iTunes to play on remote speakers via the Airport Express connection) but that might also be a factor in the best location to place the Airport Express. Although the printer could be switched between the Time Capsule and the Airport Express if needed, only the Airport Express will support your remote speakers.
Recommend you use the Time Capsule as the Base station. When using Airport Utility to define the network, after you name your network, etc., select the Wireless tab, check the box “Allow this network to be extended” and set the Radio Mode to "802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)”.
Using the Airport Utility, click on the Airport Express; after you define the device and network name, select the Wireless tab, define the Wireless Mode as “Extend a Wireless Network” and check the box “Allow wireless clients”.
Hope that helps.

Best way to extend Airport Extreme signal

Like most folks, I had no idea what a poor choice it was to let my internet service providor install my DSL connection in the far corner of my home. So until I install a phone or cable jack in the middle of my place, half my signal is wasted in the back yard, while the other end of my house is out of range.
(iPad 2, iPhone 4S, Macbook, etc)
My question is... what's the best way to extend my Airport Extreme wireless signal? I tried using my Airport Express as an extender but recently read that this actually weakens the signal. If that's wrong, how should I configure them to work?
Does anyone know of a better way to extend my wireless signal to the rest of my house? Short of moving my router?
Thanks in advance!

Please check out the following Apple Support article for details on the various options available to you with using multiple base stations for extending a wireless network. If you have any questions or need further assistance please don't hesitate to post back.

Best way to extend Airport Extreme range in urban dwelling?

Greetings all.
I have a problem with the range of my Airport Extreme. It is likely due to the fact that I live in a large loft with metal studs between the walls, and a lot of masonry as well. It also might have to do with the fact that there are about 12-20 networks I can see at any time, and I live above an AT&T hotspot as well.
I am looking for a way to make my Airport Extreme broadcast stronger.
Is the best way to do this to add an aftermarket antenna? Is it to use one or two Airport Express-es? Is it to add another Airport Extreme entirely?
The linear feet I need to cover is about 30' more from where my base station is at currently... however, given the potential interference as well as the steel walls... I am thinking MORE is better.
I have a very secure network, and do watch to ensure no other devices are logged onto my AE.

Welcome to the discussion area!
+I am looking for a way to make my Airport Extreme broadcast stronger.+
Since the Transmit Power of the AEBS is set at 100% by default, I doubt that you have lowered this setting, correct?
You won't be able to do anything about making the broadcast from the AEBS stronger, but you may be able to extend the existing signal using an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme.
The "best" way to do this is to run an ethernet cable from your AEBS to the extending device and set it up to duplicate your network. This type of setup preserves the bandwidth on the network more effectively than other wireless methods and will yield the best results. Is this a possibility?
Ethernet powerline adapters might be an option if running the ethernet cable is not possible. These devices transmit an ethernet signal over the AC powerline and generally work quite well.
For a potential wireless only solution, you could make use of the Apple's "extend a wireless network" feature using an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme. There will be some bandwidth loss using this "wireless only" method, but it may help extend the signal.
Since the AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme have the same broadcast power, it would be simplest and also the most economical to use the AirPort Express. The compromise here is that the Express is a single band device and your AirPort Extreme may be a dual band device. If your device is a newer dual band version and you want to "extend" both bands, you will need to use an Airport Extreme.
Given the challenge of your very crowded airways there, unfortunately, there's going to be no assurance that adding another wireless device will really help your situation. If wireless interference from other networks is an issue now...and I suspect that it may well be...adding another device to extend your wireless signal may or may not help.
If you cannot get a good, stable signal with your laptop at 15-20 feet from the AirPort Extreme now, you have an interference issue, not a signal strength issue at that position.
If you decide to try an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme, either using ethernet or wireless, it would be wise to understand the store's return/credit policy in case things don't work out as hoped.
Let us know if you have any questions, etc.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons
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What is the proper way to extend 2nd generation time capsule network to 2nd generation Airport Express?

I have a Simultaneous Dual Band Time Capsule. Up until now, I have been extending the network with the Airport Express (2nd Gen, the 802.11n model). Since it was not simultaneous dual band, it was extending over the 2.4 GHz band so as it could extend b, g, and n and support my iPhone at 2.4 n as well as my iPad and MacBook Pro at 5 GHz.
I just bought the new simultaneous dual band unit, which theoreticalkly should be able to extend both bands.
Now, it is not that simple. I also run a guest network, which I assume also gets extended when WDS is on. I also still have the old Express which I have relegated to another part of the house.
When I set up the new Express, it asked me which one of the networks I want to join, either <SSID> or <SSID 5GHz>, the automatically generated name for the the 5 GHz band on the Time Capsule. Which one do I join? How do I know that both are extended? When I connect to the <SSID 5GHz> now my iPhone can see that one and connect to it, so I am assuming it is NOT going at 5 GHz.
And I have no idea at all what the guest network is doing....
Does anyone have any insight into tthe proper way to configure all the units, and what I can expect? My network is as follows:
Airport Express (Simultaneous Dual Band)
Cable Modem > Time Capsule (Simultaneous Dual Band) >
Airport Express (802.11n, last gen)
I want to run guest network (hopefully simultaneous dual band) and personal network. I want the new express to run both bands just like the Time Capsule, and for the old express I want to know which of the two bands I am extending.
Thank You!

I also run a guest network, which I assume also gets extended when WDS is on
Unfortunately, the Guest Network cannot be extended.
When I set up the new Express, it asked me which one of the networks I want to join, either <SSID> or <SSID 5GHz>, the automatically generated name for the the 5 GHz band on the Time Capsule.
This likely indicates that the Time Capsule has been setup to use separate names for the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands, instead of the default, which uses the same wireless network name for both bands.
In order for the AirPort Express to be able to extend both bands, the Time Capsule will need to be configured so that both bands use the same wireless network name.
Then, configure the AirPort Express to extend the wireless network name of the Time Capsule, and it will extend both bands. At least, that is the way an AirPort Extreme works, and I assume that the Express is the same. I don't have an Express here to test, but will in another day or two.
The location of the Express is important, since the 5 GHz signals are not as strong as 2.4 GHz signals. You may need to experiment by placing the Express closer to the Time Capsule than normal. With an AirPort Extreme, I find that the Extreme must be located no more than about half the distance from the main router to the area that needs more wireless coverage.
If you continue to use the previous model Express to extend as well, it too must be configured to extend the wireless network name of the Time Capsule. Configured this way, the Express will extend the stronger of the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz signals, so it will likely extend the 2.4 GHz band unless it is located close to the Time Capsule.
To find out which band the previous model Express is extending, locate a Mac laptop close to the Express and hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the AirPort icon at the top of the screen. The info displayed will indicate whether you (and the Express) are connecting using 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

Best way to extend wi-fi network for MBP + way to remotely wire it in?

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