Extend a non Airport wireless network with Airport Express

I want to use an Airport Express to extend a wireless network which is not an Airport network. The wireless is being provided by a wireless router. I tried setting up WDS, but that requires a wireless network. How do I extend the wireless network without it being an Airport Base Station? Can I?
Thanks.

I'm trying to extend an 802.11g network. The base access point is a SpeedTouch which supports WDS. My Airport Express happily connects to the network as a regular node, but I can't get the WDS to work. Do you know of a way to set this up?
Thanks!
JP

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Extending a non-Apple wireless network with Apple Express?

Is it still impossible to use Airport Express to extend a network based on non-Apple router - e.g. Verizon? If not, then can someone explain the source of theis incompatibilty to me?

Is it still impossible to use Airport Express to extend a network based on non-Apple router - e.g. Verizon?
Apple designed their "extend" feature to work with other Apple routers....maybe to get you to buy more Apple routers. Other manufacturers pretty much do the same thing.
There is actually very little compatibility between manufacturers as far as extending a signal wirelessly......for example, Cisco will not extend Netgear. Actiontec will not extend 2-Wire and the list goes on.
A few manufacturers....Netgear is one.....offer what they call a "universal" extender or repeater. How "universal" the product might be is open to question, so if you decide to try a "universal" extender, it might be a good idea to understand the store's return policy before you buy.

Extend wireless network with AirPort Express

How to extend the wireless network with AirPort Express and Belkin PlayMax as the primary router ?

How it work if I have an AirPor Station and 4 Airport Express, I actually also have an old TimeCapsule and an old AirPort Express. Can I cover all my house (around 300 m2). And will the old Airport slow down or convict with the new ones?

HT4259 I have been trying for hours to extend my Extreme Gen 5 network with an Express Gen 2. But no matter what I do or try, it doesn't work. What does happen is my internet gets block somehow when the Express looks like it's set up and 'green' - no in

I have been trying for hours to extend my Extreme Gen 5 network with an Express Gen 2. But no matter what I do or try, it doesn't work. What does happen is my internet gets blocked somehow when the Express is online and looks like it's set up perfect and 'green' - but no internet connection for anything even though the Extreme is green and the modem is good. Once I disconnect the Express, everything is good again.
I've tried LAN, WAN, though a switch, direct connect, Extreme set to Extend the network, the Express set to be an extension. Most of the time I get an error trying to update the Express. But when it seems to be set up perfect, the entire house can't get to the internet. Just when it looks right, it is so wrong.
If anyone can give me exact steps (e.g., "...from the Base Station menu, select the Restore Default Setting option" vice "...just restore the defaults..."), I would greatly appreciate it. I'm left to the conclusion that the Express is faulty. I've been using Airport Utility 6.2 from Mountain Lion on one computer and Airport Utility 5.6.1 from Snow Leopard on another computer (the latter give more control while the former just want you to 'forget' the Express).

I finally got it working. I was trying to set it up ethernet. My biggest mistake was when the new Express came on, I did not select 'Continue' - I went straight to manual thinking that I would get the most setup options in manual mode. So everything I initially tried always resulted in 'wireless'. Even when I would update or restore default settings, the Express would not completely restart. Or sometimes I would get an error. So most of the time I had to unplug it. So when it came back up, none of my changes were retained. But there were a lot of times when everything was green and appeared to be fine. But anytime the ethernet cable was plugged in, no more internet.
So here's the weird part. When I finally tried 'continue' (vice manual), I would get 4 options. One would be 'ethernet' extended. So I would select it, it gave me green lights, all looked good, and still the same problem. This is when I got frustrated. I thought I had exhausted all possible combinations.
But somehow when trying continue again after another restore, I only got 3 options. One was the same ethernet extended option (can't remember what the missing 4th one was). And this time it worked - it gave me the big green circle with the checkmark saying it was successful. I don't know what I did different, but I know now that it won't work if 4 options come up to choose from. It will work if only 3 options come up. And success if only verified by the big checkmark. Had anyone anywhere said the checkmark declaring success is validation, then maybe I wouldn't have gone down so many rabbit holes thinking it should have been successful.
As for which Airport Utility I prefer, 6.2 looks nice, but it would just ignore the Express and would want me to 'forget' it and would not let me edit it. Airport Utility 5.6.1 was the one that I ended up using the most and finally had success with. It still strikes me as odd that there is no manually way to pick ethernet, it can only be choosen following a 'restore defaults', and only from the 3-option list (the 4-option list had the same ethernet choice, but it no worky).
Thanks for the response. I really do appreciate it.
Aiport Extreme Gen5 - internet access and router
Airport Express Gen2 - connected via ethernet, extending my wireless
- configured while connect directly to the Extreme, but now on a switch (16-port hub)
Using Airport 5.6.1
1) Restore Defaults from Base Station menu
2) Following restart, Select Continue
3) Of the 3 option presented, select 'ethernet.... extend network...'
- if 4 options are present, may not work
4) Wait for the green circle with the big white checkmark.
5) Connected Express to the switch where a cable went to other end of house - works.
Dead-zone went from 2mbps to 24mbps.
I probably spent 4 hours chasing my tail in anger. The correct way took about 5 minutes total.
Thanks again.

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 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.

Establishing a wireless network with airport express

Can someone please help me setting up a wireless network?
I'm using netgear DG834GT and want to set up a wireless network with my airport express. Unfortunately i cannot set it up and need someone to help.
Thank You

If you want to configure an Airport Express to work with the existing wireless network created by your DG834GT wireless router, then follow the advice posted here by David Lovel (the advice is applicable to both Mac and PC users):
David Lovell, "Airtunes for XP with a Wired/Wireless network" #1, 09:05pm Jan 8, 2005 CDT
I hope you really did mean to say you were using an Airport Express. Don't confuse an Airport Express with an Airport Extreme card - the Airport Extreme card is the name of the wireless adapter built into your Powerbook.

Expanding wireless network with Airport Express but without Airport Extreme

Hey guys,
I was wondering if I can expand my wireless network with my Airport Express without Airport Extreme base station. I have a Netgear wireless router. Is it possible? Can you give me tips on how to set it up?
Thanks a lot!
Marc

marcribeiro, Welcome to the discussion area!
No that is not possible. The Netgear is not compatible with Apple's WDS.

Extending a (non-Apple) Wireless Network through Ethernet with AirPort Expr

I have two Airport Express base stations and a Linksys Wireless Router/Modem - I want the AE's to extend the network in locations the Linksys can't reach.
I'm currently doing this through having the AE's set to "Create a wireless network" and set to "Bridge mode", they have the same SSID and WPA password as the Linksys.
Despite this, when I walk from one to the other, my laptop can't seamlessly hop from one to the other. I have to turn off AirPort and search again.
Can anyone help make this work?

Power everything down and then start the modem first and let it run a few moments, then start the Linksys the same way, your AirPort Express next, etc., and finally your computers.
If no luck, you might try matching up with WPA2 Personal. That is a more compatible setting among routers.
I assume that you are using the exact same Radio Mode on all devices. For example, 802.11 b/g
Sometimes security settings are just not compatible between different manufacturers. That may be the case here if you continue to experience problems. I've had the same problem that you have now in the past except with a Netgear router and the AirPort Express. The only way I could solve it was to replace the Netgear with an AirPort Extreme.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Extending my Linksys Wireless Network with AirPort Express

I would like to add an Airport Express to my wireless network to extend my wifi range and add AirPlay to my home theater system. Can Airport Express be used to extend my current wireless system that is not an Airport Extreme devise?
Also, by adding the Airport Express does this now limit the number of devices I can have on my wireless network to the 10 even if the Linksys supports 50?
Thanks for any advise...

Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of Wireless Distribution System (WDS)...so it very unlikely that your non-AirPort router can be extended wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX).
The few that are known to work are:
another Airport Express Base Station
802.11g Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS)
802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn)
Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not v5)
Belkin F5D7230-4 and F5D7231
BT Voyager 2091
Netgear WGR614 v6
Buffalo WGR-G54

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

How to extend range of my wireless network with an Airport Express connected by ethernet with Airport Utility 6.0

Hi everyone,
I have AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Gen) firmware 7.6.1, that is connected to my main wifi base station (a TimeCapsule) by ethernet. I would like to extend the range of the Wifi Network but am not clear on how to do so using the new interface of Airport Utlity 6.0.
Does anyone have any tips on how to do this?
BR
AK

Hi Everyone!
Many thanks for the tips. I have downloaded 5.6 and have set my Airport Express in the "Extend a wireless network" mode. I was still having a few problems with the quality of the wifi connection in different parts of my apartment (by no means a very large one, but walls seem to be made of extra dense concrete here in Singapore) and went out and bought a few powerline adapters by TP Link (http://www.tp-link.sg/products/details/?categoryid=1862&model=TL-PA211#spec).
If you don't mind a slightly long post, I would be very grateful for any tips:
My setup is now as follows:
Main room
Time Capsule - connected to a Cisco DPC3925 Modem (http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/modem_DPC3925.html) both connected to a TP Link adapter 1.
iMac - connected via Ethernet to TP Link adapter 2 and wifi enabled
Airport Express 1 - connected by Ethernet to TimeCapsule (and thus TP Link adapter 1) used to stream audio to a stereo that doesn't have an optical cable input. Since it is an Ethernet connection, I have wifi turned off.
Apple TV 1 - connected by Ethernet to TimeCapsule (and thus TP Link adapter 1)
Bedroom A
Airport Express 2 - connected via ethernet to TP Link adapter 3
Bedroom B -
Apple TV 2 - connected by Ethernet to a TP Link adapter 4
After following the tips on setting up the extended wifi network, I find that when I use a wireless client (e.g. iPad, Macbook air, etc) in either Bedroom B or Bedroom C (both don't have wifi in the room) the connection is very poor. Even more odd is that the connection in Bedroom A, one that does have Airport Express 2. To be clear when I mean very poor, I mean Skype/facetime skips frames and freezes... this doesn't happen when I am in the main living area.
I would be very grateful for tips on how to set up the most robust network given the configuration above. Specifically, I am wondering about:
When I select Extend a wireless network option on Airport Utility 5.6 the summary page states that it is connecting using "Wireless Network" vs what I would expect it to say "Ethernet connection".
Is there any advice on whether to enable 5Ghz network and if so, should I try to use that for the various wifi clients?
Does anyone know if I can somehow use Apple products to extend the reach of the Cisco DPC3925? Frustratingly the signal is quite strong (compared to Apple routers), but I cannot properly stream audio/video if that wifi network is used (as my iMac that hosts the content is on the Apple one... and I'd have to walk over to switch it to the Cisco one).
Any other tips would be much appreciated!
Cheers!
AK

Extend Linksys WRT160N wireless network with Airport Express

First off, I'm a network simpleton, so please keep that in mind!
I've seen similar posts, but I'm not sure definitively if this is possible. Trying to extend the wireless network from a linksys wrt160N with the airport. Is this possible without a phd in network engineering? If so, are there step by step instructions someplace that can help me?
I really appreciate any direction!

Welcome to the discussions!
I'm assuming that you are trying to do this using wireless only.
Apple's "extend a wireless network" feature will only work if both the main router and extending device are Apple "n" devices. Unfortunately, this feature is not compatible with devices from other manufacturers.

Extend Time Capsule Wireless Network with Airport Extreme

I tried to install two base stations in my house. The first one is the Time Capsule which I use as my main router connected to the DSL modem by Ethernet and which has the main wireless network. The second is an Airport Extreme Base Station which tries to connect wirelessly to Time Capsule to extend the wireless network. I use WPA2 Personal as a security mode and it says there is an error at the end when it reconfigures the Airport Base Station --- questions: does it normally work with these two devices in that order? What process to make it work?”

use Airport Utility manual set up button and place the secondary router in bridge mode then configure your wireless setting.

Can't extend my Apple Wireless network with Airport Utility 6

I have an Air Port Extreame and an Air Port Express and am trying to extend my network and since I upgraded to Air Port Utility 6 it will only let me join the network and not extend it. I can not find the option to allow this network to be extended anymore within 6 on the extreame. Is anyone else having this issue as well or am I just missing where to choose to allow my network to be extended like I did in 5?

It would be hard to say, at this point, if this option was "missed" or became "automatic" when another AirPort is configured to extend a wireless network. I would tend to agree with you that it is the former.
As you know this is a user-to-user community. Although Apple employees occasionally visit the forums, there is no guarentee that they would act on any of the suggestions users place here. Instead, you should submit your suggestion to the following Apple site.

Extend a non Airport wireless network with Airport Express

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