Boost my airport extreme signal

I have an Airport Extreme but I don't know the model number (is a about a year and a half old) that is in the basement of my townhouse (where the main Mac G5, cable connection and modem is). My son has an iBook G4 in his room 2 floors above and the signal is unstable and keeps dropping out when it comes to that distance and his laptop. Is there Anyway to boost the signal from the Airport so that he can have a stable connection in his room? It works fine when he uses it on the main floor, but is very frustrating for him to sit at his desk and try and stay connected. The cable company says that if I install another modem for an Airport Express to act as a boost then they will charge me for 2 internet lines.
VERY FRUSTRATED and need help.

You can place an AirPort Express (AX) or another AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) on the first floor. You can then configure that and your existing AEBS to connect wirelessly. The item on the 1st floor will be configured to extend the network provided by the AEBS in the basement.

Similar Messages

  • Airport Extreme Signal Weaker than Before

    My Airport Extreme signal is weaker than it used to be. Nothing has changed except I can no longer connect to the internet without running diagnostics each time I try to use it. It will connect and then stay connected until my macbook goes to sleep. When it wakes up, I have to re-connect using diagnostics.
    I am using it in the same room I always have and never had problems before. But for the past several weeks, it is just not behaving as it always has. I have checked for a firmware update, but airport utility doesn't indicate that one is available. It's running: Version 6.3.2.
    Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It's run great for the past several years. This is a new issue...

    Because I can no longer connect to the internet without running diagnostics each time I try to use it. It will connect and then stay connected until my macbook goes to sleep. When it wakes up, I have to re-connect using diagnostics.
    I am using it in the same room I always have and never had problems before. It will connect without problems in other rooms that are closer to the base station. But from the room where I ordinarily connect, it won't automatically connect anymore.
    I can get it to connect from that room, and it will stay connected, but I can only do so by running diagnostics, telling it to assist me and then selecting the network and and following the steps to connect.

  • I am trying to extend my airport extreme signal to another airport extreme can this be done? I have tried several time using the automated set up but it keeps failing... What am I doing wrong?

    I am trying to extend my airport extreme signal to another airport extreme can this be done? I have tried several time using the automated set up but it keeps failing... I have selected every possible security/password encryption level... What am I doing wrong? If it os possible where can I find step by step instructions? Please & Thank you!

    The challenge with the older round AirPort Extremes are that they are "g" wireless devices.
    When you configure them for WDS, the speed on the wireless network is cut in half...and probably will not have the bandwidth required to stream video reliably from either AirPort Extreme since both are affected by the WDS setup.
    There is not an "automated" setup for WDS. You have to do this manually on both AirPort Extremes. Unfortunately, it is not an easy configuration and it's easy to make a mistake and hard to recover without starting all over again.
    Apple's instructions for WDS are here if you want to give it a try.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262
    It is possible that it might work. Keep us posted on your progress
    Adding a single AirPort Express will unfortunately not help. You have to have "n" wireless devices at all router points.

  • External  signal booster for Airport extreme card

    I'm trying to find a solution to boosting the signal receiving capabilities of my Apple 15" Powerbook G4 with an Airport Extreme Card.
    I live in an area that receives several WiFi non-encrypted signals, which my Airport can detect (weakly), but I need to boost the signal that the airport receives.
    Let me make this clear, I am not attached, or connected to ANY router, or DSL system, I am only receiving open WiFi signals.
    I need to find a signal booster, or directional antenna. (I’d rather not crack open the Power Book to attach the hardware).
    I’ve looked at several 3rd party options i.e. Linksys, Netgear, Hawkings, D-link, most do not support Mac ( so often)
    I currently use a Hawking Tech directional PCI wireless card 802.11 B/G mixed mode. It works well enough with Mac, but it is often buggy, and yes I do turn of Airport when I use it. But I’d rather use the built in Airport with an external booster. I’m open to suggestions, Mac or 3rd Party, though the ‘Pringles can’ doesn’t work. thanks
    Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)
    Powerbook G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

    Hi mkupman:
    Welcome to Apple Discussions!
    Here may be a few options for you! http://www.quickertek.com/

  • Possible to add a non-Apple signal booster to Airport Extreme to improve signal strength?

    Good day to you all.
    This might seem like a weird question. I've just rencently purchased my first ever MacBook Pro to enter the Mac family
    With it, I also bought an AirPort Extreme. Like others today, I've had a lot of trouble trying to get the thing set up. I somehow managed to get it working, but the signal strength in the far room of the house is too weak.
    I suppose I could just get a better Wi-fi adapter for that computer to pick up the better signals, but, my question is:
    I have a signal booster (repeater?) from Cisco/Linksys that I used for my Cisco/lynksys router. It would connect to the network and bounce that signal from that base off to improve the signal strength to the rest of the house. It worked like a charm. So, my question is is it at all possible to connect a non-apple booster like this to the network to bounce the signal?
    I assume it would work, but thought I'd ask anyway just to be sure; to check if anyone else knows about this. I'm going to try sometime soon if this works, but would love to know what others think.
    Thank you very much for your time and help!!

    Ah, yes. Good idea. Well, in a few year's time, we'll probably move on to better devices, but, for those who do have something that isn't Apple...I encourage you to try it.
    I'm using the Cicsco/Lynksys Range Extender that I believe is simply called RE1000; mine was refurbished, too.
    Anyway, it came with a set up disc that I'm not entirely sure if it works on a Mac computer. I didn't try it.
    You'll run the set up disc (somehow), make sure you follow the instructions on the screen, and it should allow the RE1000 to find the network you created using the AirPort. Once the set up is complete, it'll ask you to move the RE1000 to another electrical outlet in your house that can take the signal and bounce it to a wider area of your house, and presumably the neighborhood (secure your network).
    Seemed to work without a hitch. So, if you're not using an Apple range extender (another AirPort type thing), hopefully this helps you. It did work for me, otherwise I would have taken the AP Extreme back for a refund haha

  • Boost Internal Airport Extreme's signal

    I have an Intel iMac running OS X 10.4.11 w/ an Airport Extreme card pre-installed. My iMac is connected via a CAT5 to my DSL router. I use my intermal Airport Extreme to create a home network that I connect to with a Macbook Pro. The Airport Extreme's firmware version is Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (4.170.46.9).
    I would like to know how to find out if there are any firmware updates for it and how to boost it's signal.

    Sorry but the iMac does not create a wireless network which is compatible with the ability of the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) to wirelessly extend a network.
    If you want to use an AEBS, an AirPort Express (AX), or a Time Capsule to wirelessly extend the network, you would need to create the wireless network with an AEBS, AX or Time Capsule.

  • How to increase Airport Extreme signal strength

    I post this in the way of advice, which anyone is free to accept or ignore.
    I recently switched to Comcast ("triple play") from an in-complex Ethernet internet system. On my Mac Pro (MP), using speedtest.net, I attained download speeds of at least 22 Mbps. Very fast, I must say. However, I noticed that my Mac Book Pro (MBP) speeds were considerably slower, sometimes only a tenth of those on the MP. I am happy to report that after some reconfiguration I'm attaining almost identical speeds between the MP and MBP. What did I do?
    I had initially configured the Airport Extreme (AEx) to operate at 802.11n with 5 Ghz only. Using iStumbler, I discovered that my signal strength was a bit under 60% and the "noise" was 13%. Other wireless devices appearing in the iStumbler window (we live in a downtown apartment complex) showed the "noise" levels at 9%--across the board. I fiddled with the location of my cordless phone (5.4 GHz) and even disconnected it. There was no change in the noise level. I moved the MBP up against the AEx and, while the signal strength increased, upwards of 70%, the noise level remained the same--at 13%.
    So, I reconfigured the AEx to 802.11n (b/g compatible). Voila. Not only did the noise drop to 9%, just like the other devices, but the download speeds on the MBP zoomed to around 20 Mbps, or just about the same as the MP.
    Too boost the MBP speeds even further I set up an Airport Express (AE) right next to where I use my MBP. I configured it to extend my wireless network.
    By the way, I have my MP connected directly to the AEx via Ethernet. The AEx is directly connected to the cable modem. I configured my wireless network as "closed," using interference robustness. I left the multicast rate in default mode, which is 2 Mbps. Transmit power is at 100%.
    What I seemed to have learned from this experience is NOT to use the 5 GHz only setting on an AEx, if one wants maximum Internet download speeds. (This seems counterintuitive, I know, because the theoretical limit of 5 GHz is 300 Mbps under 802.11n and "only" 54 Mbps using the 2.5 GHz setting.)

    Purchase another Apple AirPort Base Station such as the $99 Express to "wirelessly extend" your AirPort wireless network.

  • 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.

  • Need helps on weak airport extreme signal

    Please bear with me - as I posted here twice
    I really need a help, get very tired with this airport extreme card with my brand new Mac Pro.
    I bought the machine with bluetooth installed (confirmed that the BT wire connecting with the bluetooth card) and working just fine. I bought the airport extreme card and installed by the shop (there is no apple shop in HK). The IT guy connected only the wire 1 to the card, I questioned whether he needed to connect cables of 1 and 2 together, and he confirmed that only 1 was needed.
    Brought the machine home and set up with WiFi with my apple extreme and time capsule (both N), the signal showed a level 4 signal (strongest) but after a minute it dropped to 1 even disappeared despite I placed the time capsule just next to my Mac Pro.
    Open the case and connect the cable 2, but it did not show any improvement. Tried the 2 & 3 together - even worst.
    Is that a common problem and can't be solved, if so, if I connected the time capsule with Mac Pro via ethernet, would it works? I had tried it but did not work, do I need to do some special setting on time capsule for this connection (Airport extreme (modem) -> time capsule -> Mac Pro (via ethernet)

    Have a check of the wiring with the following link
    http://web.mac.com/ryemac3/RyeMAC3/Welcome/Entries/2008/4/17Airport_ExpressUpgrade.html
    but make sure wire no.3 on top and wire no.1 at the bottom ... cover the wire no.2 with the plastic tube that it came with

  • Airport loses my network, but not airport extreme signal

    Since upgrading to leopard (10.5.1), my wireless network of computers (I am using an imac & mac pro book and a new airport extreme 802.11n base - all of which have worked without problems since networking them 6 months ago), will sometimes not show my own network as a network option in the airport status indicator in the menu bar (this happens sporadically with no apparent regularity). I have 4 bars of airport signal reception and I can even see the networks available around me, but mine will not be there. Usually it will pick it back up if I turn airport off and then reopen it but sometimes I have to restart the whole computer. This doesn't seem to be systemic in that one computer may lose the network while the other is working fine....any ideas. I have seen a lot of postings about wonky airport performance with the new leopard OS, but I couldn't find an answer to this.

    Hi, (Sorry this is the first time I've posted on a forum)
    I had a similar problem. I had successfully set up a network with 2 window computers, running XP and Vista,and an airport extreme. Works great so long as I don't upgrade the firmware on the basestation to 7.2.1.
    Recently I saw the light and purchased an Imac with Leopard and Bootcamp. Couldn't connect to my network. Did recommended changes like turning off IPv6 in the imac's airport utility, and changed the basestation IPv6 mode to local link only. Tried to manually setup DNS server address etc on th imac. Went thru the usual stuff with the Apple helpline. No luck.
    Found the only way to connect to the network was to switch off the basestation, get the network diagnostic on the imac to start searching for any networks, then switch back on the basestation. Worked.
    Then I read on the forum about trying different radio channels on the basestation, rather than leaving it on the default setting "automatic". I tried Channel 11 and (I guesss it it Xmas!) it works perfectly.
    Hope this is of help.

  • 4th Generation Airport Extreme signal is too weak?

    I have a 4th generation Airport Extreme and have 2 Apple TVs.  The Airport Extreme is tied to my office where I do most of my work and would like to keep it here.  The problem is that the signal is not reaching the basement TV and it takes at least 15+ minutes at times to load up movies from my iTunes Library (located on my main floor) to stream to our basement theater.  Should I just invest in another Airport Extreme to help carry the signal down to the basement?  If so, to save money should I just buy another 4th generation or bite the bullet and get a 5th generation?
    Thanks!

    Also, can I just buy an Airport Express instead of an Extreme if I am just using it as a repeater? 

  • Airport extreme signal with SDL

    Hey guys, My friend has DSL with SBC in california and everything was fin. He just got an airport extreme base station to hook up a box that browse and stream music from Rhapsody (i forgot the name of that box) to play in the speakers around the house but I coudnt set it up properly.
    From the DSL modem I went to airport extreme base station to the one with the little symbol, then I went to airport utility and I set up a network with pass for the house, right? after that the three computers in the house and the music box see the new network, so I selected in all of them but neither the computers or the box can go online. I see full signal everywhere but it cannot connect to the network. Also, in airport utility he has version 7.3 and 7.4 was available but everytime I tried to download it didnt do it.
    what am I doing wrong?
    can anyone please let me know how to finish this for him?
    thanks a lot guys!
    Edit: his dsl modem is speedstream 5100 from sbc
    Message was edited by: demariai
    Message was edited by: demariai

    demariai wrote:
    Hey guys, My friend has DSL with SBC in california and everything was fin. He just got an airport extreme base station to hook up a box that browse and stream music from Rhapsody (i forgot the name of that box) to play in the speakers around the house but I coudnt set it up properly.
    From the DSL modem I went to airport extreme base station to the one with the little symbol, then I went to airport utility and I set up a network with pass for the house, right? after that the three computers in the house and the music box see the new network, so I selected in all of them but neither the computers or the box can go online. I see full signal everywhere but it cannot connect to the network.
    In AirPort Utility's Internet panel, "Internet Connection" tab, did you set "Connect Using" to "PPPoE" and fill in the login details?

  • My Airport Extreme Signal output graph is jumping up and down like crazy, is this normal??

    The Airport Extreme base station is the 5th Gen, and is about a week old.
    All clients and the airport itself aren't moving.
    Is this normal? To me it looks really strange. The graph should be smooth line if nothing is moving right?

    The biggest problem I see that you will have is that both the 2.4 & especially the 5 GHz radio signals will have a difficult time penetrating through the concrete walls ... so I would suspect only the wireless clients in the same room as the AEBSn will be successful with a wireless connection with sufficient bandwidth.
    If one of your network clients is a Mac laptop, you should use iStumbler again to get the signal and noise reading of your AEBSn in both of the rooms that are on the other side of the concrete walls from the AEBSn.
    Better still; use iStumbler's Inspector feature (select Edit > Inspector from iStumbler's menu) to determine the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) at these locations. Within the Inspector, note the values for "signal" & "noise" at these locations. Start with your laptop near the AEBSn, note the readings, and then, choose the locations where where you have each of your wireless clients.
    SNR is the signal level (in dBm) minus the noise level (in dBm). For example, a signal level of -53dBm measured near an access point and typical noise level of -90dBm yields a SNR of 37dB, a healthy value for wireless LANs.
    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 
    If the SNR is 25dB+ at each of these locations, then you should be getting reasonable performance for the wireless client from the AEBSn. If less, try relocating either the AEBSn or the wireless clients until they are within a 25dB SNR range.

  • Is airport express a booster to airport extreme

    i need a booster shot for my airport extreme...is airport express  a booster?  thanks

    Not really a booster but a distance extender.
    An Airport can "extend" the WiFi created by another Airport.  It can not extend a non-Apple WiFi.  You need TWO Airport units, one to function as the main radio and the other to function as an extender.  I used two Express units.
    Configuration is simple if you start from a factory default condition.  Connect the main Airport to AC power and finally to the Internet modem (or modem/router).  Open Airport Utility on your Mac or other computer and accept all of the recommendations.  After confirming that it works, insert your desired administrative and WiFi passwords.
    Then connect the extender to AC power.  As before, open Airport Utility on your Mac or other computer and accept all of the recommendations.  No need to add password info.
    Do not expect the Airport to respond instantly to the configuration commands.  BE PATIENT!

  • AirPort Extreme signal not strong enough

    I have an AirPort Extreme. The signal is strong everywhere except in the kitchen, 15 meters but one story  below...thick walls, concrete. Can I extend it using a simple Fritz Box (AVM Fritz wireless LAN 300E)?

    Yes, follow the directions in KB 107454, AirPort Extreme and Express: Using WDS to create a network from multiple base stations.

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