Can I use MacBook as a base station and airport express to extend?

I currently have my ethernet cable plugged in to Airport Express to provide WiFi in my house. However, the signal doesn't always reach upstairs. Can I plug the ethernet in to my Macbook downstairs and use the AE upstairs? Or how can I make the signal stronger upstairs?

Can I plug the ethernet in to my Macbook downstairs and use the AE upstairs?
Unfortunately, no.
You are asking about configuring the AirPort Express to "extend" a wireless network from your Mac. It cannot do this.
It can only extend a wireless network when you have another AirPort base station. In other words, it always takes a minimum of 2 AirPort routers to extend a wireless network.
If you add another AirPort Express approximatel half the distance from your "main" Express and configure it to "extend a wireless network", you will have more wireless signal coverage upstairs. Here, I' am assuming that you have the "n" wireless versions of the AirPort Express.

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