Creating or extending a wireless network with Extreme + Express?

The range of my wireless internet at home is fairly poor using my Thomson TG784 wi-fi router. I have an Airport Extreme (802.11) and an Airport Express (both from 2007) that I want to use to extend its range. Using AirPort Utility to configure the Airport Extreme first, which of the following options do I want to select to set it up to do so:
1) "Create a wireless network";
2) "Connect to a network using Ethernet to extend the network or create a second network";
3) "Join a wireless network";
4) "Disable wireless and connect to a computer or network using Ethernet"
If I connect the Extreme to my router, is it a problem if that router continues to transmit wirelessly simultaneously, or should it be configured not to transmit (if possible)? In other words, will the Extreme replace the wi-fi transmission of my router or will it extend it?
Once the Extreme is set up, do I configure my Airport Express to 3) Join a wireless network?
Thanks for any advice you can provide!

You will need to connect the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) via Ethernet to your Thomson. Neither the AEBS nor the AirPort Express (AX) will wirelessly extend a network created by a Thomson device.
You could use either option 1 or 2.
Option 3 won't work for the AEBS since a non-Apple device is creating the wireless network.
Option 4 does not make much sense for an AEBS. It does make sense for a Time Capsule.
You basically want the AEBS to be configured to create a wireless network and as a bridge (not sharing a single IP address).
If I connect the Extreme to my router, is it a problem if that router continues to transmit wirelessly simultaneously, or should it be configured not to transmit (if possible)?
If you disable the router's wireless then you wouldn't be using the AEBS to extend the wireless network. You would simply be using the AEBS to create a wireless network.
Once the Extreme is set up, do I configure my Airport Express to 3) Join a wireless network?
You can. In that mode the AX will simply be another wireless client on your network. You can stream music to the AX or print to a USB printer connected to the AX.

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I have installed Airport Extreme on my iMac, but want to extend the wireless network with Airport Express. Everything is fine until I try to select Extend the wireless network. I select Extend Wireless network but have no success. Ideas?

I have installed Airport Extreme on my iMac, but want to extend the wireless to rooms with a weak signal. The internet connection is fine with the basic setup. As soon as I go into Airport Utility to select Extend Wireless Network and fill in what I believe is proper information, I get an error message that Airport Extreme no longer has an IP address, the internet connection is broken, and under Wireless, that there is a wireless network in existence that can't be found. Rebooting the modem only brings the Airport Extreme back to the starting gate so that the internet is once again available. I assumed (naively) that with the All Mac All-the-Time context, adding Airport Express would truly be Plug and Play. I got the plug, but no play. I asked a Comcast technical specialist about it and he said that I needed to reset the Airport Express settings back to their default, factory status. I looked that process up online and found out that the way to do that was to hold down the reset button, then plug Airport Express into the socket and wait for the green light to flash four times. Then wait 45 seconds and the default settings will return. I did all that, only to find out that after the initial flash of green, green never appeared again. I got a fast flashing yellow light, followed by the light going off. Apparently this didn't reset it properly. So, after hours trying to get this system to work, I appeal to someone who can see through this mess and provide the key to success!
highFly376

Let's see if I can get this straight.
You have an Airport Extreme base station that is set to "Create a wireless network" and you have the box checked for "allow this network to be extended"....
Then you have an Airport Express that is set to "Extend a wireless network" which you selected the name of your network in the box...
Correct?
See this Apple document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
The wireless unit on the right of the diagram can be either of the newer Apple base stations.
Extreme, Express, Time Capsule

Extending TC wireless network with AP Express

I just set up a brand new TC last week, and am thinking about buying a new AP Express to extend my wireless network into the basement. I've read through some of the threads here and it seems pretty straightforward, esp. since both devices will be 802.11n compatible.
The one question I have pertains to MAC access control, which I have enabled on my TC. Does the AP Express' AirPort ID need to be added to the MAC access control list on the TC if I'm setting up the AP Express to extend a wireless network? I assume that any devices that connect wirelessly to the AP Express will need to have their MAC addresses added to the access control list as well, just as if they were to connect to the TC, correct?
Also, do I need to make an Ethernet connection from the TC to the AP Express for the initial setup, or is it all done wirelessly? I will have the AP Express in the same room as the TC when I set it up and then gradually move the AP Express to its final location, somewhere between the TC and the basement (probably in the basement hallway near the door).
Message was edited by: plarkin

Welcome to the discussions!
+Does the AP Express' AirPort ID need to be added to the MAC access control list on the TC if I'm setting up the AP Express to extend a wireless network?+
Yes
+I assume that any devices that connect wirelessly to the AP Express will need to have their MAC addresses added to the access control list as well, just as if they were to connect to the TC, correct?+
Yes, you will need to compile a MAC control list for the AirPort Express
+Also, do I need to make an Ethernet connection from the TC to the AP Express for the initial setup
It's quite a bit simpler and usually more reliable if you do it this way
+or is it all done wirelessly?+
It can be, but this is sometimes confusing for users because the AirPort Express creates a default wireless network that you must log onto to be able to communicate to the device using AirPort Utility. This usually requires you to "switch" wireless networks for the configuration, then switch back again to your normal wireless network after the configuration is completed.
There's no switching involved if you simply temporarily connect an ethernet cable from your computer to the AirPort Express for the configuration and then disconnect it once you have updated the device with its new settings.
+I will have the AP Express in the same room as the TC when I set it up and then gradually move the AP Express to its final location, somewhere between the TC and the basement (probably in the basement hallway near the door).+
That's an excellent plan

Extend existing wireless network with airport express..impossible?

I have tried to extend my existing wireless network with an airport express, but it seemd that I always need a ethernetcable...apple support insured me it is possible but the airport utility software only allows me to extend using a cable it seems....

Couple of thoughts here.......
The AirPort Express will only extend a wireless network if you have another Apple router providing the wireless network to be extended.
Is your "main" wireless router an Apple product? If yes, what model number do you have?
It would also help if we could get the model number of the AirPort Express. Some older versions are not capable of extending a wireless network.

Extending Sky Wireless Network with Airport Express.

I spent most of last night trying to extend my Sky Wireless Network using an Apple Airport Express. The Apple Store salesman told me that it would be simple to set up but he's either wrong or I'm completely stupid!
Does anybody know if this is possible and if so, can they please advise me how I do this. (I am using Windows 7 on my Dell laptop)

I spent most of last night trying to extend my Sky Wireless Network using an Apple Airport Express. The Apple Store salesman told me that it would be simple to set up but he's either wrong or I'm completely stupid!
Unfortunately, the salesman may not have understood your question, or he may have given you incorrect information.
It's possible to have the AirPort Express provide more wireless coverage if you connect it using an ethernet cable permanently to your Sky router.
But, the AirPort Express cannot "extend" the wireless network produced by the Sky by connecting using wireless only. The "extend" feature will only work if you have an Apple to Apple wireless connection. This feature is not compatible with the products of other manufacturers.

Extending Snow wireless network with AirPort Express

I am trying to extend my existing Snow network with an AirPort Express, which I will connect to the Snow (through an unmanaged ethernet switch) via an ethernet cable. I think I know how to do this but if anyone has any hints, they would be appreciated.
In addition to using the AE as an "extender/wireless access point," can I also configure the system to stream AirTunes to the AE through the ethernet cable at the same time?
Thanks

Oops, sorry I misread your post. That should work. Make sure that you disable the "Distribute IP addresses" option on the AX so that it acts like a wireless access point. On the AX, just enable the "Enable AirTunes over the Ethernet port" option on the Music tab.

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How can I extend my wireless network using Airport Express and an Airport Extreme on BT Infinity?

I have BT Infinity and I am using the Time Capsule with Airport Extreme as my router. Working well (even on wireless). I want to extend the wireless network with an Airport Express, but I cannot work out the settings necessary in Airport Utility. I am using Mountain Lion 10.8.2 on a Mac Pro. Please help!

BT,
I've read several of your posts, thanks for taking the time to share your wealth of knowledge.
I'm in a situation similar to the one described by 'scoutusmaximus'. Seeking the flexibility of a standalone router, I finally upgraded my 4-yr old ATT DSL gateway (modem+router) to a Comcast standalone modem + the ASUS RT-AC66U: http://www.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Routers/RTAC66U/
Typically, I stick with all things Apple but the ASUS router seemed fairly superior to the current-gen base station (on paper, anyway; time will tell when it comes to performance) so, for once, I jumped ship. My plan was to extend the ASUS wired/wireless network using my TimeCapsule and 2 Airport Expresses in bridge mode, however, a google search turned up several unhappy customers that claim those devices don't play well with non-Apple routers, especially when it comes to 'extending' a network.
Questions:
1. Can I successfully extend the wired/wireless network created by the ASUS router using the 3 airport devices listed above w/out negatively impacting performance? I'd rather have 1 wireless network as opposed to creating a new wireless network with the TC and then extending it with the AP Expresses... though I'd consider that option down the line if it came to that.
2. Will the LAN ports on the TimeCapsule remain functional?
Btw, my house is wired so, I can reach all 3 devices via ethernet cable coming off of a central, managed switch. Supposedly, you only lose the LAN ports on the TC if you extend wirelessly.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Can I extend my wireless network with my old Airport?

Can I extend my wireless network with my old Airport? I have the airport extreme 802.11n & my old Airport (translucent white) base station. Can I mix the two to expand my range?

No problem; ask as many questions as you need to.
How do I reconfigure the Snow as a bridge to allow the AEBSn to continue to provide both NAT & DHCP services for the entire network?
I don't have a Snow to verify this, but it should be similar to the later base stations when using the AirPort Admin Utility.
To set up the Snow base station as a bridge, either connect to the Snow's wireless network or temporarily connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to the Ethernet port of the Snow, and then, using the AirPort Admin Utility (located in the \Applications\Utilities folder), make these settings:
Network tab
o Distribute IP addresses (unchecked)
o Apply the new setting.

Can I use my airport express to extend a wireless network with a non-apple router?

I have been trying to extend my wireless network in my house. Right now I have a dsl modem/router provided by Century Link and an older AirPort express (not sure how old but it uses AirPort utility v5.6). I want to be able to share my printer and use AirTunes. Currently I have the AirPort plugged into the router and setup to create a new wireless network. I would like to combine them so I don't have to switch between to print and play music. I am not really sure where to start or if it even possible. Any info would be great!

If you keep the Express connected using Ethernet and configure the Express to "Create a wireless network" using exactly the same wireless network name, exact same wireless security and same wireless password as the Century Link network.....everything will behave as one "big" network, and you will have additional wireless coverage near the Express.
If you do not need extra wireless coverage, you can turn off the wireless on the Express.
The Express must be in Bridge Mode.
Most users know the name of their wireless network and password, so the really tricky part of doing this is that you must know exactly what type of wireless security settings the Century Link router is using....and then match up the same settings on the AirPort Express.
If the settings do not match up exactly, then you wind up with two separate networks that will each require their own log on.
If you can check the setting for wireless security on the Century Link router and provide that information to us, we can tell you how to set things up the way that you would like.

Unable to extend existing wireless network with new TC

I have an original 500GB Time Capsule that I've been using successfully for a long time. It is plugged into my modem/router (which acts as a DHCP server) in bridge mode.
As the TC is getting full (and the number of Macs in our house is increasing!), I decided to buy another TC - this time the latest 2TB model. I have set it up so it extends my existing network. However, as soon as I plug it into my network my Internet connection breaks (or goes very slow) and the modem/router activity light flashes like crazy. As soon as I unplug the new TC from my wired network, I get my fast Internet connection back and the modem/router goes back to normal.
I've tried using the LAN and WAN ports on the new TC to connect to my wired network but the result is the same.
Has anyone any ideas what the problem is? Is there a problem using the latest TC to extend the wireless network of an older model TC?

Welcome to the discussion area!
If you are connecting your Time Capsules using an ethernet cable, you would connect from one of the LAN ports on the "main" device to the WAN port on your new 2TB device.
The 2 TB device must be configured as a "bridge".
You would configure the 2 TB device to "create a wireless network" using the same network name (SSID), security setting and password as your "main" device. (The "extend" setting is only used if you are connecting your devices using wireless only...and you are using ethernet).
When you "create" the wireless network on your 2 TB device, you are configuring what is known as a "roaming" network. Your laptop will automatically connect the device with the strongest wireless signal depending on where it "roams".
To configure your 2 TB device as a bridge:
AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Internet icon > Connection Sharing setting = Off (Bridge Mode).
Please post back on your results.

Extending Gen 1 Time Capsule Wireless network with Airport Express N

I am having difficulty setting up my new Airport Express w/ 802.11N (SKU# MB321LL/A) to extend the wireless network from my Time Capsule (SKU# MB276LL/A).
My setup is as follows:
Time Capsule is connected to Cable modem with the following wireless settings:
Wireless mode -> Create a Wireless Network
Allow this network to be extended -> Checked
Radio Mode ->802.11n (5Ghz N only)
Wireless Security -> WPA2 Personal
The issue is the when I attempt to setup the AE to extend the network. I match the settings to the Time Capsule:
Wireless Mode -> Extend a Network
Select the Time Capsule Network
Allow wireless clients -> Checked
Wireless Security -> WPA2 Personal
However after I reset the AE the LED glows Amber and the following problem is reported:
+Wireless Network+
+This AirPort wireless device is set up to join a specific wireless network that can't be found. If you don't see the network that you want to join in the Network Name Pop-up menu, enter the network name and network password if necessary to try again.+
When I check the Airport->Wireless tab the settings were as before.
Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

Welcome to the discussions!
Have you tried to position the AirPort Express close, say 10-15 feet, as a test to see if it will connect that way?
If so, then move it back another 10-15 feet, etc.
5 GHz signals do not travel well or penetrate surfaces very well, so my first thought was that the signal was not strong enough for the Express to pick it up where you had it located.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Extend FiOS wireless network with Time Capsule

I have a FiOS wifi router and a 1TB TC (with latest firmware 7.6.3). I'd like to extend the wireless network to cover some dead zones. I've run ethernet from the LAN port on the router to the WAN port on the Time Capsule, and it's getting an IP and internet connectivity. However, when I follow the Apple instructions to extend a wireless network, I get the warning error "unable to extend network" and the flashing orange light. I've confirmed the SSID and password are correct and match the FiOS SSID and password, and I've confirmed that the TC is in bridge mode. I've also logged into the FiOS router and confirmed it's assigning IPs to the wired and wireless componets of the TC, and recognizes the wireless is in bridge mode. Any suggestions?
I've got it working currently as a separate SSID, but it's just a pain to have to jump from weak-network1 to TC-network2 whenever I'm in a dead zone. Thanks in advance!

Check to make sure that you have the TC configured to.....
Create a wireless network (not "extend".....as that is only used for wireless extension and you are using Ethernet)
Use the exact same wireless network name (SSID) as the FIOS router
Use the exact same type of wireless security that the FIOS router is using (Make sure that this is not WEP) It should be WPA2 Personal or WPA/WPA2 Personal.
Same wireless password as the FIOS
Bridge Mode configuration
Unless everything matches up correctly, you will have two separate networks that require two separate log ons.
Configured correctly, you will have a "roaming" network. Your Mac will automatically switch over to the wireless access point with the best signal quality as it moves from one area to another.

Extending home wireless network with 802.11b/g Airport Expresses

Home Setup: iMac with iSight G5 2.1GHz PPC, OS X Leopard 10.5.8, 2.5GB memory, 2 Airport expresses-802.11b/g.
Up to just recently, I was able to use my AE's to create a whole house wireless network: one as my main network connected to my cable modem, and the other as a wireless network extender. My extender got pulled out one day accidentally, and when I went to plug it in it wouldn't reconnect to my network...and so the problems began. Airport Utility used to give the option of "Extending the Wireless Network", but no more.
I've done a lot of searching through the forums regarding this issue, read through the sage advice by superusers Tesserax and Bob Timmons, and attempted to set up my main AE as my "WDS Main" AE and the other as my "WDS Remote". The WDS main connects fine to the internet, but the WDS remote continues to show a flashing amber light and inability to extend my wireless network. I've done soft and hard resets to the remote AE (which transiently gives me a green light, then back to flashing amber), network diagnostics using the Airport utility, but still no luck. The AE wireless extender continues to flash amber and is nonfunctional.
AE Wireless extender settings reported:
-WIreless Mode: Create a wireless network
-Connect using: Ethernet
AE Errors reported:
-Ethernet Unplugged
-Default Settings
I setup the AE Wireless extender as a WDS Remote, it resets and shows "Normal" without problems reported in the summary window of Airport Utility. Connection indicated as "Airport (WDS)" and Wireless Mode reads "participate in a WDS network", but the AE is still flashing amber and will not connect to the internet or Main WDS wireless network.
Went to the Genius Bar at the local mac store...they couldn't help at all.
I'm out of answers...help?!
Allan

There are basically two "flavors" of WDS that the AirPorts support: static & dynamic.
o A static WDS allows for a main, relay, and remote base stations in the configuration. This only operates in the 802.11g radio mode. Its advantage is it is well suited when you are trying to cover a considerable linear range ... like a rectangular house where the Internet connection comes in at one of the shorter sides and you want wireless at the other end. The biggest disadvantage of this type of WDS is that for every base station added, you lose half the overall bandwidth.
o A dynamic WDS allows for only a single main and multiple remotes. Think of a wheel with the main at the center and the remotes as spokes of the wheel. The advantage of this type of WDS is it operates in the 802.11n radio mode and doesn't suffer a significant bandwidth loss like the static version.
As a minimum, a dynamic WDS requires two 802.11n AirPorts (or Time Capsules). You can create a static WDS with either all 802.11g AirPorts or a mix of 802.11n & 802.11g AirPorts. Note; however, you cannot create a dynamic WDS with mixed mode base stations.

How can I extend my wireless network with the Time Capsule?

I recently bought a Time Capsule and set it up, backed up all my data, etc. It is currently plugged in to my AT&T Uverse wireless router via a LAN CAT5e cable. I am wondering if it is possible to wirelessly extend my preexisting network with the Time Capsule so I can move it somewhere else in my house where it can still pick up the signal but extend it. And if possible, how so? Or does it ALWAYS have to be wired'connected to my router for the internet to work?
Thanks in advance.

I am wondering if it is possible to wirelessly extend my preexisting network with the Time Capsule so I can move it somewhere else in my house where it can still pick up the signal but extend it.
Sorry but no. Extending using only wireless would require that the Time Capsule connect to another Apple router that is producing the wireless network.
Another way of saying the same thing is that you must have two Apple routers to be able to extend the signal wirelessly.

Creating or extending a wireless network with Extreme + Express?

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