Extending a WiFi network...with another base station? P.S. - I'm an idiot

So my mother has a large house and just bought an Airport Extreme, but it is difficult to get a signal in some corners of the house. I bought one for my house, as well, which means that my old Airport Base Station is sitting idle. I want to take my older base station to her house to extend her network. I have gone to the support pages, but I am thoroughly confused with all the setups. Can someone break it down for like you would for a child? Thanks much!~

Just to be sure you get the right set of instructions, what is the exact model of the "older" AirPort base station that you have? Will you be using a Mac or a PC to setup & administer both base stations? What version of operating system will it be running?

Similar Messages

  • Creating an extended network with another base station

    I bought the new 802.11n because I wanted to extend my network into another area where it is getting a weaker signal. I set up the new one as the main one, and selected "extend the network" - then I had my old one (only a few months old) "join the network".
    Is it boosting the signal in a new area? The computer there still shows just as weak of a signal as before. The remote base station is about center between the new base station and the computer.

    Nevermind.. I changed it to "extend the network" and it works much better.

  • I'm trying to extend my wifi network with time capsule but it can't find the existing wifi network

    I'm trying to extend my wifi network with time capsule but it can't find the existing BT wifi network even though it is there with a good signal strength. The Time Capsule is connected to a Netgear router via ethernet.

    You will need to start over on the setup of the Time Capsule as follows:
    Disconnect any Ethernet cables that might be connected to the Time Capsule, but leave it powered on
    Hold in the reset button on the back of the Time Capsule for 8-10 seconds and release. The reset button is located next to the AC power socket.
    Allow a full minute for the Time Capsule to restart to a slow, blinking amber light
    Connect the Ethernet cable from a LAN <--> port on the Netgear to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule.  The Ethernet cable must remain connected at all times.
    Click the WiFi icon at the top of the Mac's screen
    Look for a setting of New AirPort Base Station
    Click on Time Capsule
    The example below shows an AirPort Express. You will see Time Capsule on your screen.
    That will get the setup wizard going. It will take a minute to analyze the settings, then display a screen that looks like this, except you will see a picture of the Time Capsule
    Network Name..........Type in the exact name that the Netgear wireless is using
    Base Station.............Type in a name that you want to call the Time Capsule.  Use something short and simple. Mine is TC, for example
    Password..................Type in the exact password that the Netgear wireless requires
    Verify.........................Verify the Password again
    Click Next
    The setup wizard will configure everything for you automatically.  When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.
    That's it.  Now you have one big "extended" network.  Technically, this is called a "roaming" network.

  • Trouble extending my WiFi network with older Airport Express

    Hi,
    As the question states, I have an older Airport Express which I have dug out to try and extend my WiFi network in a new house.
    I am on Virgin Media (fibre optic) in the UK and get a good WiFi service but one room in the house (which I have just turned into a cinema/media suite) has no reception.
    I have successfully managed to 'create a new network' via the Airport Express and the signal strength is 100% but for some reason if I try to reconfigure the device to extend the existing network I get no improvement at all from the (zero) signal I was receiving before.
    Am I doing something wrong? Or is there an additional step I am missing?
    I could live with having a secondary network but what I would really like to achieve is Home Sharing from my main computer, so that I can access my photos, movies and music etc. from iTunes on the big screen. If the computer exists on another network my iPad, iPhone and AppleTV can't see/use the media from that room.
    Many thanks in advance,
    Colin

    Are these the steps you used?
    To create a wireless extended network, you must place any extended Wi-Fi base stations within range of the primary Wi-Fi base station.
    Start with the device that will be configured as the primary Wi-Fi base station.  Then configure your extended Wi-Fi base stations, ensuring that each is within direct range of the primary Wi-Fi base station.The physical location of extended Wi-Fi base stations will vary according to the building environment and may require some experimentation.
    If you have configured your Wi-Fi base stations in the past, it may be helpful to do a factory default reset of each Wi-Fi base station that will be part of the wireless extended network before you begin.
    Configuring the primary Wi-Fi base station
    Power on all 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra.
    Open AirPort Utility (On a Mac, choose Go > Applications from your  desktop, click the Utilities folder, then open AirPort Utility. In  Microsoft Windows, choose Start > All Programs > AirPort to start  AirPort Utility).
    Select the primary Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, then click Continue. Note: If you see a message appear that indicates that the Wi-Fi base station has been reset, click Cancel to continue.
    Click Manual Setup. Enter the base station password if necessary.
    Click AirPort in the toolbar.
    Click Wireless.
    Choose “Create a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode menu.
    Select the “Allow this network to be extended” checkbox.
    Enter a Wireless Network Name.
    Optional: By default, Wireless Security is set to None so that no password will be required to join the network. We recommend you click on the Wireless Security menu,  select WPA2 Personal, and create a password between 8 and 63 characters long.
    From the Radio Channel Selection menu, select Automatic.
    Click Update.
    The next window may indicate that there are some problems. Resolve the problems, then click Update.
    You are now ready to add extended Wi-Fi base stations to your network.
    Configuring an extended Wi-Fi base station
    Place any extended Wi-Fi base stations within range of the primary Wi-Fi base station
    Ensure that all 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations are powered on and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra
    Open AirPort Utility (On a Mac, choose Go > Applications from your  desktop, click the Utilities folder, then open AirPort Utility. In  Microsoft Windows, choose Start > All Programs > AirPort to start  AirPort Utility).
    Select the Extended Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, then click Continue. Note: If you see a message appear that indicates that the Wi-Fi base station has been reset, click Cancel to continue.
    Click Manual Setup. Enter the base station password if necessary.
    Click AirPort in the toolbar.
    Click Wireless.
    Choose “Extend a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode menu.
    Choose the network you want to extend from the Network Name menu.
    Enter the network and device password if necessary, then click Update.
    The next window may indicate that there are some problems. Resolve the problems, then click Update.

  • HT4259 Trying to set up airport express to extend my wireless network. Primary base station is a time capsule. Even when I plug in the airport express to mac it cannot find it.

    Trying to set up airport express to extend my Wi-Fi network. Primary base station is a time capsule. Tried searching for airport express using Wi-Fi status, no luck. Even tried plugging airport express into iMac, still no luck. Airport express showing solid amber light. Thanks for any help.

    Airport express showing solid amber light
    Unfortunately, this can mean one of two things:
    1) The Express is locked up and will need a Factory Default Reset procedure to try to return the device back to its original default settings so that it can be reconfigured again.
    2) The Express is defective. If you cannot get the Express back to a slow, blinking amber light after a Factory Default Reset, the Express will need to be replaced.
    Try the Factory Default Reset a few times and report back on your progress.
    Resetting an AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule FAQ

  • Trouble extending a wifi network with 2nd Airport Extreme base station.

    I have added a second Airport Extreme in order to extend a network. I connected it to the network via an ethernet cable into one of the three ethernet ports. I have configured it using these instructions (http://systemsboy.com/2009/02/extending-an-airport-network.html). I get green lights for both units.
    My network works until I update the second unit. As soon as I update the second unit, my entire internet connection goes down. Even computers in the office that are connected via ethernet cannot access the internet. As soon as I unplug the second base station, the internet connection is "live" again. I don't know how to proceed. I think my brain is fried. Any advice would be helpful.
    Thanks,
    Rich

    Based on the information in your post, the article that you referenced will not provide the correct configuration that you need for your network. In summary, the information in the article is for extending wireless network using wireless only. You are connecting your two routers together using ethernet, correct?
    To confirm, your post indicates that +I have added a second Airport Extreme in order to extend a network. I connected it to the network via an ethernet cable into one of the three ethernet ports+
    If this is correct, the Wireless Mode for your "main" router should be set to "Create a wireless network".
    For the second AirPort Extreme, you will use exactly the same setting, "Create a wireless network". The network name, security and password should match the settings of your main network exactly. This is probably confusing to you, but these are the correct settings when you have the second AirPort Extreme connected to the first using an ethernet cable.
    It is critical that the second AirPort Extreme be configured as a "bridge" in order to function correctly on your network. When you are in AirPort Utility - Manual Setup, click the Internet icon at the top of the setup page. Look for the Connection Sharing setting at the bottom of the page. This must be set to "Off (Bridge Mode)". The configuration to "bridge" should be the last step before your click the Update button at the lower right of your screen.
    Post back if you need more information or details.

  • Just bought new time capsule- need help setting up WiFi network with another router

    Here ismy situation.
    I had a wireless network setup up at home using a Belkin wifi router.
    I have 2 macBooks (1 pro, 1 air) and 2 iphones that connect wirelessly and a desktop PC that is hard wired to the ethernet port.  In addition, I have a Verizon wireless network extender plugged in by ethernet.  All of the hard-wired gear is in our 3rd floor attic office (and the wireless signal was strong throughout the house).
    The Belkin wifi router was plugged into a wall ethernet jack that is in turn wired into a Linksys router in the basement (along with multiple other ethernet ports througout the house) and is hardwired to the Cable modem next to it.  All of the hard-wired ethernet stuff (including the router in the basement) was there when we bought the house, and I have no clue in the tangle of wires how to sort them out (but don't really think I need to)
    I just purchased a TimeCapsule to do wireless backups of my 2 macbooks, and tried to set it up alongside the existing wireless modem.
    Needless to say, this did not work well. I called  AppleCare, and was told that the TimeCapsule needs to be the "1st" wireless adapter, so I went into the basement, and connected the time capsule directly to the cable modem, and then out to the basement router.  The Belkin router still needs to be in the attic to supply the PC and the Verizon adapter (so it is near a window for GPS signal). 
    If I try to name the WiFi network the same SSID on both the TC and the belkin router (to have dual signal strenth coverage) the whole thing gets messed up and the TC cannot be "found" by the aiprort Utility software.
    What I have done now is that I have 2 side-by-side wireless networks with 2 unique names (actually 3, because I enabled the 5Ghz signal on the TC), but our wireless devices do not "switch" automatically from one SSID  to another stronger signal SSID as we move through the house
    Here's the question: How do I name them the same so that the devices will switch effortlessly to the stongest signal?  I understand it involves switching the "channels" but don't know how to do it right now.  Currently, everything works, so I don't want to mess it up tinkering.  Another caveat- there are several other wireless networks from neighbors houses that I can "see".  I jsut downloaded a program called iStumbler that shows the channels, but not sure what to do with that info.
    Any advice would be appreciated.

    Here's the question: How do I name them the same so that the devices will switch effortlessly to the stongest signal?  I understand it involves switching the "channels" but don't know how to do it right now.  Currently, everything works, so I don't want to mess it up tinkering.  Another caveat- there are several other wireless networks from neighbors houses that I can "see".  I jsut downloaded a program called iStumbler that shows the channels, but not sure what to do with that info.
    Any advice would be appreciated.
    OK.. sounds like a mess.. or at least messy and the previous people should have left a log book with all the IP address info in it.. you have far too many routers.. but from here it is impossible to tell how they are configured. Most are probably just setup as AP.
    Naming rule for wireless.. Same SSID same security different channel.
    SSID ie wireless name to work on the PC side should have no spaces and no special characters. TC name should also follow that rule. So the devices need to all set with fixed channels.
    Don't worry too much about iStumbler and what is outside your house.. there isn't enough channels at 2.4ghz anyway. And you are going to need to use them all. There are only three non-overlapping channels. 1, 6, 11 so set each device to one of those channels. The TC should be as close as you can to where you normally use the MacBooks.. and turn on the 5ghz. You will have to leave it to automatic name so the Macbook can also roam across from 2.4 to 5ghz. But if you care to use a different name and force it onto 5ghz the speed is much better as long as you are in the same room.
    Roaming is great in theory.. often in practice it just doesn't work.. you need to step in and turn off wireless and then turn it back on.. you can quickly see which router it is connecting to by hold down the option key when you click the airport fan in the top menu area.. and look at bssid.. you will have to figure out which number MAC address relates to which router.
    Also do not be surprised if Lion gives you issues. It seems to often drop out and lose connection to the TC as a backup device even if internet is still working.

  • Extending a wifi network with a time capsule

    My broadband router (BT) can only go in my office and is the same room that my iMac is located.
    Is there any way that I can connect my Time Capsule to either my BT wireless router or my iMac via WiFi and us the Time Capsule as another wifi base station.
    Idelaly I want the Time Capsule in the hallway so that I can connect via WiFo from my living room.
    Currently the living room is too far from my office to connect to my BT router via WiFi.

    Is there any way that I can connect my Time Capsule to either my BT wireless router or my iMac via WiFi and us the Time Capsule as another wifi base station.
    Unfortunately, no...unless you want to connect the Time Capsule to the BT router using a wired Ethernet connection or by using Ethernet over Powerline (EOP) adapters.
    You need two Apple routers to be able to "extend" using wireless only......since this feature only works among Apple wireless routers.
    If you connected an Apple router to the BT router using a wired Ethernet connection and configured the Apple router to "create a wireless network", then you could use the Time Capsule to "extend" that same network using wireless only.

  • Designing a network with 6 base stations and an Access control lists

    I have 6 airport extreme (802.11n) base stations setup in my studio.
    I'm a little concerned about security as they're all setup individually (wireless mode: Create a wireless network) with the same Network names (mystudio) and WPA/WPA2 personal password so my roaming users don't have to keep entering passwords / experience dropouts etc
    i have lots of freelancers who are in and out of the studio and there isn't anyway for me to monitor who is currently connected to my wifi network.
    i'd like to setup a wireless network that only allows you to connect to the WIFI network only if your MAC address is on the access control list.
    is this possible with Apple Airport extreme base stations or would it be a better idea for me to invest in a 3rd party product?
    all the base station are connected to an Ethernet point and have static IP's assigned to them.
    whats the best way to deploy such a solution;should i keep the setting as they are and manually enter the mac address for 30 portable machines on each base station or is there a more pragmatic solution...
    any help / input would be much appreciated.
    Thank You

    When employing Access Control in a roaming network configuration, the MAC addresses would be required to be entered atr each of the base stations ... as there is no means (unfortunately) to have them "automatically" migrate amongst them.
    However, one important thing to note. Only wireless security, using WPA or WPA2, will actually secure the wireless network. MAC addresses can easily be spoofed. Someone, determined to do so, can still access your network ... even if secured by Access Control.

  • Extend Time Capsule network with another Time Capsule

    Hi guys.
    Like the title says: I want to extend the wireless network of the dual-band Time Capsule (2TB) with a first generation Time Capsule (500GB).
    So, I opened AirPort Utility, selected the older model and completed the logical steps (extend another network wirelessly), but it doesn't restart. It hangs there, with the orange light blinking...
    What should I do to make it work?
    Thanks.

    Welcome to the discussions!
    Check your settings as follows:
    On the 2TB Time Capsule, open AirPort Utility - Click Manual Setup
    Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
    Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
    There must be a check mark entered next to Allow this network to be extended
    On the 500GB Time Capsule, open AirPort Utility and click Manual Setup
    Click the Wireless tab
    Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network
    Wireless Network Name = Same name as your 2TB Time Capsule
    Enter a check mark next to Allow wireless clients
    Wireless Security = Same setting as your 2 TB Time Capsule
    Wireless Password = Same password as your 2 TB Time Capsule
    Update to save settings

  • Ist it possible to extend a wifi network with sevral Airport Express's?

    Hi, I live in a house with 3 floors. My router and my timecapsule are located on the 2nd floor and I want to extend my network wirelessly to the first floor and the ground floor by adding several (2) Airport Express stations to my network. Is this possible?
    Basically like on the picture linked:
    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g8mvrbgo4r38lzr/5uCsbQ5E2w?v=1mci
    Somehow it works brilliant but, once I add the second AE my MacBook won't sign into the second AE but will stay in the first. Resulting in just not extending my network.
    Thanks

    Somehow it works brilliant but, once I add the second AE my MacBook won't sign into the second AE but will stay in the first. Resulting in just not extending my network.
    That's because you can only wirelessly "extend" the network one time, not two.
    Apple's "extend" setup works like the hub and spokes of a wheel. The Time Capsule would be your hub. There can be multiple AirPort Express devices, but each Express resides at the end of a separate spoke...and it communicates directly to the hub....not to another device at the end of another spoke.
    The second extender is "joining" the network, but it provides no additional wireless signal coverage when it "joins".
    You will need to move the second AirPort Express closer to the Time Capsule.....to the point where the display indicates that both Express devices are connected to the Time Capsule.
    Another approach might be to move the Time Capsule to the central area on the 1st floor, then locate an AirPort Express above and below that area. That would work.
    If that is not possible, then you will need to think about a wired Ethernet connection from the AirPort Extreme to the location of the second AirPort Express.

  • Airport utility no longer recognizes my Airport Extreme Base Station, which had been set up to extend a wifi network

    Hi.  In November I set up my airport extreme base station (5th generation I believe) to wirelessly extend the wifi network we use at home to see if it would increase download speeds.  Before doing that, I did a factory reset of my airport extreme, and the owner of the airport extreme to which the ethernet cable is attached made changes to his network to allow it to be extended.  I folllowed all the directions from the apple support pages, and finally got it to work.  I could even access a portable hard drive which I attached to the airport extreme base station being used as the extension.  Then a week or so ago I noticed that my laptop would no longer connect to my base station.  I did not have time to look into it until this week.  Airport utility, either on my Mac or iphone no longer recognizes my base station.  My mac is running OS X 10.10.1  and my iPhone is running iOS 8.1.2  I have tried both hard, soft and factory resets of my base station to no avail.  The only thing that has changed after doing that, is that when I do a soft reset of my base station, a neighbors airport express appears when it never did before.  I can't actually connect to it, but it does try.  Then after approximately 5 minutes, it disappears from my list.
    Today I went and pulled out my OLD AIRPORT EXTREME base station... you know, the one that looks like a space ship and is running wifi 802.1 b/c?  airport utility DOES locate and display that, but airport utility returns a message stating that it cannot be set up by this software.  I am attaching an image of that.
    Thank you,
    John
      Does this have anything to do with the fact that 'Back to My Mac' is probably enabled?

    I think the initial problem is that your iPhone was connected to an open network that wasn't yours.
    Go to Settings > WiFi and "Forget" the network created by that AirPort Extreme, it's older than dirt. Forget your neighbor's network also.
    Perform the equivalent actions with your Mac: System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced... Delete every network that appears, including your own.
    Then, connect to your own network on all your devices, after which you ought to be able to use any of them and configure your Extreme without any difficulty. You may need to start over with a "hard reset" on both the main AirPort Extreme and the one extending its network.
    Does this have anything to do with the fact that 'Back to My Mac' is probably enabled?
    Not exactly, but using iCloud Keychain will populate all your devices with the names of preferred networks that any of them connect to, no matter where they are. I don't know why Apple considers that a beneficial feature.

  • Is it possible to share networks with another mac (MacBook)?

    Is it possible to share networks with another mac (MacBook)?
    I want to be able to create a document on my computer and save it on both my MacBook Pro and another MacBook. Also, I want to be able to open documents saved only on the MacBook on my MacBook Pro. Is that possible on the same wirelss?
    Thank you!

    You would not want to use ad hoc networking if you also need to access the internet. I'm not even sure it is possible.
    How are you accessing the internet from these Macs now? If you have a wifi (or wired) network that you both access in your work location, you should be able to use File Sharing across that network, so you shouldn't need the ad hoc network.
    Some general observations:
    You'll need a plan for how to keep straight which Mac holds the most current version of a file. That should probably be to keep each file in only one place (your Mac, the other Mac, a local file server, a cloud server). Even in our home, with one person doing most of the file accessing, I find a central location works best for this; in my case, that's a desktop system that stays on all the time, but a disk attached to my AirPort Extreme base station, a Time Capsule, or a NAS would serve.
    If you make use of the portability of the MacBook[Pro]s to work in different locations, you'll also need a plan that includes that working away from the main work location. If you often work with common files while away from your main work location, a cloud solution may be best even with just two of you. Depending on the size of your files, one of the free cloud solutions may suffice; most offer paid expansion as your needs grow.

  • Having trouble with Airport Base Station

    Hello,
    I am having a problem with getting a base station configured correctly. I am new with working on Apple networks. Currently, there is a communication problem between one of the base stations and the network. I cannot get an Internet connection. One question that I have is if I reset the base station, does it automaticallly go to a default IP address? I keep seeing a 10.0.1.1 address, but I believe that this address is assigned to another base station that is on another floor of the building.
    I have gone into the airport setup manager and have tried to set up the base station from there without having success. Do you have any suggestions on how I can set up this base station to get Internet connection?
    I see another base station listed on the server that I did not see before, but I'm not sure if this is the correct base station since it has a different IP address. I'd appreciate any help you could provide on this issue.
    Thanks

    One question that I have is if I reset the base station, does it automaticallly go to a default IP address? I keep seeing a 10.0.1.1 address, but I believe that this address is assigned to another base station that is on another floor of the building.
    Yes, if you perform a reset on the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS), it will default to 10.0.1.1.
    I have gone into the airport setup manager and have tried to set up the base station from there without having success. Do you have any suggestions on how I can set up this base station to get Internet connection?
    Try connecting directly, using an Ethernet cable, to the AEBS you want to setup.
    I see another base station listed on the server that I did not see before, but I'm not sure if this is the correct base station since it has a different IP address. I'd appreciate any help you could provide on this issue.
    To set up multiple base stations, you will want to use the AirPort Management Utility, which is part of AirPort Management Tools. But, more importantly, what is the desired network that you are trying to achieve? You can connect additional AEBSs to extend the range of a wireless network, either wirelessly or via Ethernet. When done wirelessly, this is known as Wireless Distribution System (WDS); as wired, it called Roaming.
    It sounds like your building has a wired network and that your are using AEBSs at multiple locations throughout the building, but all connected to the building's Ethernet network...correct? This would be a roaming configuration. If this is true, then:
    - Each AEBS would have it's LAN port connected to the building's Ethernet ports on the same subnet.
    - Each AEBS would have a unique Base Station Name.
    - All AEBSs would have the same Network Name and Password.
    - Each of the AEBSs would be set up as bridges

  • I have an Airport Extreme Base Station and have recently upgraded to Mountain Lion. Now airport utility won't work with my base station so I bought a Time Capsule. For the life of me I can't make the substitution work and only see a blinking amber light.

    I have an Airport Extreme Base Station and have recently upgraded to Mountain Lion. Now airport utility won't work with my base station so I bought a Time Capsule. For the life of me I can't make the substitution work and only see a blinking amber light. Can anyone who has made this change offer some advice?

    apikoros wrote:
    The Utility transferred all of the AE's settings, so I still have to change the password, which leaves me with only 2 other questions, I think:
    1)  I assume it's just a matter of using the Utility, entering a stronger password and checking for it to be remembered in Keychain Access.  But do I have to  change the password for each individual unit-- the TC, the Extreme and both Expresses-- or will changing it just for the TC alone work for the entire network?
    Resetting the password you will need to do for each device... the utility cannot even see those old units.
    So you will have to do it for each one.. think it through.. because as you change passwords the others will lose connection.. so start from the express which are wireless extending .. change those first.. and go back up the chain.. as each one changes it will drop off the network.. until you reach extreme and change that. Then you might need to reboot the whole network to get everything talking again. If something goes wrong.. just pluck that one out of the mix and plug in ethernet.. reset and redo the setup. That is my preferred method anyway.. do everything in isolation one by one. By ethernet and then nothing goes wrong.
    2)  Who's the treasonous SOB who spilled the beans to you about the ICBM in my back yard?!?
    N.Korean hackers.
    [Edit] Whoops-- one more question:  I want to partition the TC's disk, but Disk Utility doesn't see it.  What do I need to do?
    You cannot partition a network disk. And apple provided no tools for it in the TC itself. You can pull the disk out and partition it but that voids your warranty. (although done with care who is to know).
    Look at Q3 here.
    http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
    Mixing TM and data on the TC is worth planning carefully. They don't necessarily sit happily together.

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