Can AirPort Express Extend non-Airport WiFi?

The description of the AirPort Express at:
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/features/sharing.html
has this footnote: "AirPort Express can extend the range only of an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express wireless network.”
Is this literally true or just a legalistic disclaimer. Is it possible to make AE work with a Netgear or Linksys router's WiFi? Or not?
One of our user group members does not have a stable connection between her iBook G4 and a Comcast router by Netgear. This is in a townhouse with two floors between them.

Is this literally true or just a legalistic disclaimer. Is it possible to make AE work with a Netgear or Linksys router's WiFi? Or not?
Pretty much. There are only a very very few non-AirPorts that are WDS-compatible. One is the Linksys WRT54G ... and only with a specific firmware version. You can do a quick Google-search, using terms like: Linksys AirPort WDS, and find at least a dozen references.
But, this is not really any different with the other vendors as most of their equipment, if extend-able, only do so with their own.

Similar Messages

Airport Extreme Extending Non Apple Wifi

Hi there, quite simply I want to know if this is possible at all. I have a Wifi network named "XXX WiFi" being broadcast by a powerful 30km+ antena. I want to know if I can use a Airport Extreme 4th Gen to extend that network inside my home?

The Apple Extreme transmits a Wi-Fi signal just like any other router - when connecting a wireless device just match the name and password and security type of the Extreme and you should be fine - I have the same mix that you have and everybody is happy - but keep in mind that it works best if the Extreme is your primary router and you use other Apple products to extend your network - Apple products can not extend non Apple routers wirelessly.

Airport express extend range of wifi

How do I extend the wifi signal in my house with the 2nd gen Airport Express? I have a non-Apple router (Orange) and an old Mac Mini. Thanks in advance. Sang

hello
i want to buy the TP LINKhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E98O7GC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1& smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
and i have a question
i have no longe the normal router. i have the Apple Airport Express ( and I am going to buy another airport express to even more get a better wifi range)
my question is. how can i set the TP link with the airpot express?
regards

Airport Express Extending non-Apple AP

For something that "just works", the Airport series is a real mess if not every single device you own is the most recent Apple product. Thanks Apple.
Anywho, before complaining too much, I'd like to set my problem.
We currently have a main Airport Extreme (lets call it AEX) that is connected to some switches. We also have 3 Airport Expresses, for extending our network and AirPlay for 3 stereos throughout the house. Now, our outter most Airport Express (lets call it AE3) only receives a faint signal or none at all. So I set up a D-Link DIR-615 (lets call it DL) to work as an AP and extend our wireless network, to give the AE3 a decent signal. Now apparantly Apple managed to only let devices extend a network if the network that it is extending comes from another Apple router. Very nifty. Very user friendly. Since everybody uses all Apple devices. Practical.
Of course D-Link != Apple, so AE3 can't extend the wireless signal created by DL (connected directly via LAN to AEX). However, I can set up AE3 to only receive the signal of DL. Works fine! No extension of the network unforunately - but at least it works.
Now for the real issue - another Airport Express (lets call this one AE2) is also in the zone of DL. When the signal of AEX get's weaker or AEX is updated and offline for a second, it somehow pairs with DL instead of AEX. Since AE2 is set up to extend the network and not only receive - since that's what they are made for - this forms errors.
Is there really no way to let it extend even if the signal they are receiving is from DL? I just can't understand how hard it can be. Since we have already been forced to buy a AEX along with our AE's (since we had no clue a full-Apple-network was required for AirPlay), I'd like to avoid buying yet another Airport Express to make a signal cross the room.
Now that I'm ranting anyway, I'd like to express (no pun intended) my dissatisfaction with following issues Apple is causing.
First off, the Airport Utility for Windows hasn't been updated in a long time. It isn't available on all versions of Windows either. On top of that, the new version requires iOS6/7, thus making a first gen iPad really not that useful for network configuration.
Secondly, my compliments to Apple to not make the AEX support NTFS for external hard drives. BRILLIANT move there. I really do want to use FAT16/32 on a 1TB hard drive, so practical for my large files! No I kid, Mac OS Extended is of course better use for a hard drive that big, surely since all the computers in house are Windows. The joy's of using Apple products never ends does it! I understand they want to keep everything all-Mac, but selling routers one does expect somewhat compatibility with non-Apple stuff.

Is there really no way to let it extend even if the signal they are receiving is from DL?
Unless you want to use a wired connection between Apple and non-Apple routers the extend feature of Apple routers only works with other Apple routers. This is really no different with the other router manufacturers whether it is D-Link, Belkin, Linksys, etc.
(since we had no clue a full-Apple-network was required for AirPlay)
That's not entirely true. One of the requirements for AirPlay is a network, either wired or wireless. The networking hardware that makes up that network does NOT have to be comprised of any Apple products.
For example, since AirPlay requires at least three things: 1) iTunes "server," 2) Network, and 3) AirPlay "speaker," you could have a fully functional AirPlay streaming with the following devices:
iTunes "server": Synology NAS
Network: A wireless network based on D-Link hardware.
AirPlay "speaker: Denon AVR-991

HT4259 Does Airport Express extended network inherits wifi time restrictions?

Hello:
I have created a network with my Airport Extreme and I've set up some wifi access time restrictions based on mac addresses. Now I want to extend this network adding an Airport Express at the living room. Everything went smooth but I'd like to know if I need to set up the restrictions at the Express or does it inherit them from the Extreme.
Thanks!

Inherits from the Extreme as they are determined by the connected devices to the Wi-Fi.

Need to extend/enhance WiFi coverage

Looking to see if there is something I can do to extend/enhance the WiFi coverage in my house from the Actiontect router.

Increasing Wireless Range - By CharlesH
There is a lot you can do to increase the range of your wireless router. Please note, not everything is going to work. If you have brick walls, a couple of frigerators and a big screen TV near the router, this will kill the potential range of your router. Lastly, keep in mind of other devices that could interfere with your router. Wireless A/B/G routers operate at 2.4 Gigahertz, and so do a lot of cordless phones! It is suggested to change the wireless channel on the router first just to make sure you're avoiding any possible interference on the first few channels.
Location, location, location. It is known that the best location of the router is in the middle and highest part of your house. Typically, the wi-fi signal travels like the shape of an umbrella. Depending on how you were installed, it may be hard to change the location of your router. If you are using a coax or MOCA connection, you can connect your wireless router to any existing (and working) coax outlets or use a splitter in conjunction with an existing coax run. So simply changing the location of the router may increase range in your home or business.
Antennas? You can increase the range cheaply by simply purchasing a new antenna. There is a good review of the different types of antennas here: http://www.radiolabs.com/Articles/wifi-antenna.html
For the most part you will see omni-directional & directional antennas in the store. In normal circumstances, you can usually gain 25 feet ~ 75 feet, or even more depending on the antenna.
If antennas still are not working for you, the next device to try is a "wireless repeater". You will see these labeled as range extenders or range expanders. They can help extend the range of any wireless device in the house and are very easy to configure.
Lastly, the last way to get a signal to the other side of the house is using a wall plugged extender kit. They will take the Ethernet signal and send it through your powerline to another outlet. Then from there you could hook up an access point, a router, a computer, you name it. This is the best solution when you have brick walls and a lot of wireless interference.

How: Extend a non-Apple wifi signal with Airport Express

I have a Wifi modem provided by the ISP, Tiscali [Italy] unrelated to Apple. I want to use my AE to extend the signal to another part of the house. The Tiscali router was set up with WPA2. I have Airport Utility 5.6.1 [yah, I know, old; haven't moved up from OS 10.8.5 either, MBk Pro] and the Airport Express is MC414Z\A C86L9K02DV3R. Opening the A Util w the AE powered up [yellow light showing] I immediately saw the AE listed at the left, but now that I go back to the Utility and rescan, it doesn't find the AE, altho Airport is one and lists that AE showing a full signal, properly calling it "gatti.11n." Your advice would be most appreciated and likely will be helpful to many others saddled with a non-Apple wifi router.

Apple AirPorts cannot wirelessly "extend" a signal from a third party product. They can only wirelessly "extend" a signal from another Apple router. Another way of saying the same thing is that if you want to wirelessly extend a network using an Apple router, you need two Apple routers.
You have two options:
Option 1. Add another AirPort Express and install it close to the ISP modem/router using an Ethernet cable and configure the Express to 'create" a wireless network. Then, your other AirPort Express can wirelessly extend the signal from the first AirPort Express. The "extending" Express will need to be located where it can receive a strong signal from the first Express.
Option 2. If you cannot run the Ethernet cable....or....you do not want to add another AirPort Express, then a pair of Ethernet Over Powerline (EOP) adapters might be able to send the Ethernet signal over the existing AC powerlines in your home. These products are also sometimes called HomePlug adapters.
The theory with these devices is that you already have the wiring in place.....you just need the adapters. In practice though, things do not always work as well as the theory might suggest. So, if you decide to try a pair of these adapters, then it would be good idea to understand the store's return policies before you buy.
Any computer / electronics superstore will have a selection of EOP adapters. Ask the salesman what type and brand that he would recommend.

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.

Do I have to use airport extreme to be a main network if I want to use Airport express extend my wifi range

Do I have to use airport extreme to be a main network if I want to use Airport express extend my wifi range.

You cannot extend wifi from a different brand router..
Only apple to apple.
But the apple router does not have to be the main router.. it can be in bridge.. as long as it is creating a wireless network it will work fine.

Will airport express extend the range of our wifi?

We have wifi through Comcast in our home. The range, however, is at about 20 yds. I exchanged the router that was supplied (monthly rental from) from Comcast without any change. We have an Airport Express device, 802.11n, purchased in the last year in an effor to improve this, but was never connected as the instructions are beyond me. I just tried to research it again, and I don't have a clue if it will help, and how to hook it up. Help!

An Apple AirPort Base Station can only "wirelessly extend" a wireless network created by another Apple AirPort Base Station.
You can add the Express to your network as an additional wireless access point, as long as you connect it directly to the Comcast router with an Ethernet cable.
This Apple Support document explains how to do that: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)
The AirPort Utility screenshots are outdated, but the wiring information shows the general arrangement you would require.
Otherwise, you would need to purchase an additional Apple AirPort Base Station, connect it to the Comcast router, and use your Express to "wirelessly extend" the wireless network created by the new Apple AirPort.

Extended Time Capsule WiFi network using Airport Express - Result: SLOW internet

Hi everyone,
I have a little issue with my wireless internet.
Currently I have a 2Mbps down and 256Kbps up internet home. My ISP modem is connected directly to my Time Capsule (TC) and I don't have any problem when using the WiFi from the Time Capsule.
Recently, I wanted to extend my TC WiFi Range and bought an Airport Express to do that job. I've configured everything using the default/recommended settings.
The WiFi range was correctly extended but the problem is now, when I'm using Internet in the extended zone; it is REALLY slow!! I have done some speed tests in the extended zone with different devices (iPad, iPhone, PC, Mac...), and as result I have in average 128Kbps down and 50Kbps up!! You can imagine how this is annoying!
I tried to see the configurations of the Time Capsule and the AirPort Express and I didn't find anything that could explain that.
So, could someone please help me to fix that problem?
Thank you all in advance,
Mathieu
P.S.: FYI, The radio mode used for the wifi is 802.11n (802.11b/g compatible).

I'm not sure I necessarily agree at this point, as the two walls could cause significant Wi-Fi interference to prevent the extended network to perform well beyond the room the TC is in.
One way to quickly determine this is to make a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) calculation at the location of the AXn. SNR (in dB) = Signal (in dBm) - Noise (in dBm) and it represents the signal quality at that location from the router providing the wireless network.
To get an accurate picture, you will want to temporarily power-down the AXn since we only want to calculate the SNR for the TC at the location of the AXn.
You can get the Signal and Noise values directly from your Mac. Of course, it would be easier if your Mac is a laptop version, so I will assume at this point that it is.
While placing your Mac laptop near the AXn, open up the System Profiler. (ref: Apple icon in the menu bar > About This Mac > More info ... > Contents > Network > AirPort Interfaces > en1 > Current Network Information > Find your wireless network > Signal / Noise)
A SNR of 25+ dB would be desirable. For HD streaming performance, you will want an SNR of 35+ dB. Please post back your results.

Problem with airport express extending wifi from extreme

My setup is an airport extreme wired to the internet with two iMacs connected by wire and an airport express to extend wifi from the extreme to the further parts of my house. When originally installed about a year ago this arrangement worked perfectly, but I noticed a few weeks ago that neither my iphone, ipad, nor my MBP 13" is connecting to the aitport express anymore and the network extension is not working as intended.
Last night I investigated the isue and found that the express is connected wirelessly to my extreme because when I wired my MBP to the express and turned off the wireless connection it could still reach the internet. But, even with the express sitting plugged in next to my iPhone I could not get it to connect to the express - it always uses the extreme and while I'm in range there is no problem. The problem is that my house is old and the wals tend to cause problems with reception and I can't get wifi in the garden and some parts of the house.
I have the express and the extreme configured to allow access only by the client macs that I have provided and it looks like the two devices share this information when they are in extend mode (but not sure about that). When I set up the system I added the aitports mac addresses to the approved list in the access control screen, which seemed to be necessary then though I removed them (the airport mac addresses) fromt he list last night to see what effect this had and biefly the airport did connect to my MBP. But after returning it to its location where it usually is I have not been able to reconnect to it.
In brief; I have an airport express extending an airport extreme wifi, it used to work, but now all wifi clients will only connect to the master. I have a suspicion that a recent airport update has caused this (both airports are up-to-date) but can't be sure. I have the express correctly configured to extend the wifi of the extreme as it was originally working.
One thing I have noticed - I had the express set to use a fixed IP by setting 'static' in the internet screen - this is not the current setting (it's reverted to DHCP) and I cannot force it to update to and remain set to static.
Does anyone know how I can restore the correct functioning of the express as an extension of the wifi network?
Thanks
Damon

Perform the Factory Default Reset one more time. Hold the reset button until the amber light has been blinking rapidly for 8-10 seconds before you release the reset button
Run the setup wizard, and wait for screen similar to this to appear, then click on Other Options:
Select the Add to an existing network option, then click Next and follow the prompts.
If you are still having difficulty, try running the setup utility on an iPhone or iPad, since Yosemite has a number of bugs in the setup process.

How can I set up a guest WiFi network using Time Capsule and Airport Express extension?

How can I set up a guest WiFi network using Time Capsule and Airport Express extension?

Sorry, but it is not possible to "extend" the Guest Network using either wireless or an Ethernet connection.

Trouble with Airport Express extending WiFi

I am trying to use a new Airport Express (MC414LL/A) to extend range of my Time Warner provided Arris DG860A modem/WiFi and to set it up using either my iPhone 4S or MacBook Air both using latest operating systems . I get to the point where all seems well (I tell the express I want to extend from an existing base station, successfully enter the base station password and get the Express connected to it, name the Express, set a password for the Express, the Express does set up stuff for awhile and then flashes to solid green for about a half second and then goes back to flashing amber light. What to do?

Unfortunately, the AirPort Express can only wirelessly extend a signal that is being provided another Apple router.
It is not compatible with the Arris modem/router that you have, or any other third party modem/router for that matter.......unless......you connect the AirPort Express permanently to the modem/router using an Ethernet cable, which must remain in place at all times.
Another way to say the same thing is that if you are trying to wirelessly extend the network, it will take at least two Apple routers to do it.

Airport express extending wifi extremely slow

Hello,
I have a time capsule creating a wireless network and a airport express extending the wireless network.
When I'm connected to the time capsule I have around 12mbp of speed but when I am connected to the airport express I have around 0.2mbp
In the airport utility it says the connection is good she connected to the airport express.
Everything was working fine a few days ago.
I was reading the the forum that it may be interference from a neighbour and to change the channel but I can fine where to change the channel.
Is changing the channel the solution? How can I access where to change the channel?
Or is there another solution?
Anyone knows how to fix this speed problem in airport express?
Cheers
Francisco

What is the distance between the Time Capsule (TC) and the AirPort Express Base Station (AX)? Are they in the same room, different room, different floor from each other? If in different rooms/floors, what is the basic building material used in the walls/floors/ceilings?
It is important to understand that the AX can only extend the TC's wireless network at the same bandwidth that it receives it. If you are only getting around .2 Mbps at the AX, then either there is too much distance between routers or there is some form of Wi-Fi interference (other Wi-Fis or the builiding material) between them that is preventing the AX from getting a strong enough signal to extend.
Changing channels is one possible solution. You would do so using the AirPort Utility. If you are using version 5.x of that utility, you would change channels as follows: AirPort Utility > Select the AX > Manual Setup > AirPort > Wireless tab > Channel. By default Channel is set to "Automatic." Click on the up/down arrow to the right of the Channel window to get the other channel options.
If this doesn't resolve the problem, please check out the following AirPort User Tip for details on how to best place each base station for maximum bandwidth in an extended network.

Can AirPort Express Extend non-Airport WiFi?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for