Extending airport network - Express as Base/Main and Extreme as client

Hi,
I have looked around on these forums and can't find the answer to these questions, so apologies if they have been asked and answered elsewhere.
I have an Airport Express 802.11n which I want to plug in to my cable modem as the base station. I have a Windows PC and network storage drive (ethernet cable connection only) in the other room that I want to join to my network (and can't move the NAS for various reasons).
I am considering purchasing a dual band Airport Extreme 802.11n Gigabit router to put into the second room to allow the NAS to be shared with the PC (NAS and PC connected via Ethernet cable to the Extreme) and a laptop connected over Wifi.
I believe I may be able to use the Extreme to extend the wireless network (is this correct? - do I have to hit control in the Airport Utility to get the Extend option?), but am not sure if this will disable the Ethernet ports on the Extreme. Are the Ethernet ports still enabled if the Extreme is in 'extend' mode? (I have downloaded the PDF of the Extreme manual and it doesn't mention this). If so I will need to configure the Express as a WDS Main and the Extreme as a WDS remote(?) - but I believe I will lose bandwidth doing this - correct? In either of these configurations will I still be able to use the Express to stream music to my hifi in room 1?

Welcome to the discussions!
If you configure your AirPort Express(n) (AX) to "Allow this network to be extended", the AirPort Extreme (AEBS) can be configured to "Extend a wireless network" from the AX.
There is some bandwidth loss in this type of configuration, about 10-15%, but far less than an WDS configuration which will result in a 50% loss of bandwidth. The AEBS will need to be positioned in an area that receives a good wireless signal from the AX
The ethernet ports on the AEBS will be active in the "extend" configuration.
Since the AX creates a single wireless network, you will be losing some features on the AEBS, namely its ability to create dual band networks and a guest network. In the type of configuration you propose, the AEBS would only act as an extending device for the AX and provide 3 ethernet ports for devices.
I'm confused by your question on streaming AirTunes to your stereo with the AirPort Express. If your AX is connected to the modem, the stereo connects to the audio port on the AX, so the stereo will need to be close to the AX.
If you need to stream AirTunes to a remote location, it would make more sense to use a 2nd AX and configure it to "extend a wireless network". Then you could connect your stereo to the 2nd AX. If you need more than 1 ethernet port, you could add a simple ethernet switch to the 2nd AX.

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I used Airport Base station and I was able to extend my network using airport express and connect my printers. Now I am using Extreme and I can't extend the network (Express) or the printers nothing shows up. I am using utility 6.3 and Mt Lion What is

I had an Aiport Base Station and extended using Airport Express, where I also connected my printers (network). Now using Airport Extreme off Mt Lion 10.8.4 and Utility 6.3.
I can't extend the network (express) or connect my printers (USB) nor will it find my one wifi printer.
What's up?

For now, leave the AirPort Express powered off.
Power off the entire network....all devices.....in any order that you want
Wait a few minutes
Power up the modem first, and let it run 2-3 minutes by itself
Power up the AirPort Extreme next, and let it run a full minute
Keep powering up devices one at a time about a minute apart until everything is powered up (leave the Express off for now)
Open AirPort Utility and check to see if the AirPort Extreme is visible.
If it's not, click the AirPort Utility menu at the upper left of the screen, then click About AirPort Utility. Post back with the version number of AirPort Utility that you see there....which should be AirPort Utility 5.6.1.
Post back on your progress.

I have already installed airport Xtreme as a base station and airport xpress as amplifier of signal. problem is I couldnt make them talk. Extreme is working properly and Xpress is flashing ambar.

i have already installed airport Xtreme as a base station and airport xpress as amplifier of signal. problem is I couldnt make them talk. Extreme is working properly and Xpress is flashing ambar.

Please describe whether your two AirPort base stations are both 802.11n-capable. Also describe how you configured them. Did you configure the AirPort Extreme to "allow this network to be extended"? Did you configure the AirPort Express to "extend a wireless network"?

Doubly extended Airport network has become unstable

I have an ethernet-wired Airport Extreme generating a wireless network, extended twice by Airport Express units, with a TiVo wireless adapter getting feed from the 2nd AXpress. TiVo is located about 120' from AXtreme; that's the full length of the network. TiVo currently is receiving an IP address most of the time but is not receiving TiVo information, reporting "Gateway not found" (it has connected reliably in the past). All the Apple equipment is glowing green, both on the equipment itself and on the Airport Utility. All AX are running v7.6.3, my OS is 10.6.8 on a 2008 Mac Pro.
All stations are n-capable. AXtreme is currently set up to "Create a wireless network"; "Allow this network to be extended" is checked, Wireless security is WPA2 Personal.
Relay AXpress is set up to "Extend a wireless network." Should it be "Join a wireless network" or "Participate in a WDS network" instead? "Allow wireless clients" is checked. Security is WPA/WPA2 Personal.
Remote AXpress is set up identically to Relay; should it be different?

I have an ethernet-wired Airport Extreme generating a wireless network, extended twice by Airport Express units, with a TiVo wireless adapter getting feed from the 2nd AXpress.
You cannot extend twice. Apple's "extend a wireless network" function works like the hub and spokes of a wheel.
Your AirPort Extreme is the "hub" and each AirPort Express resides at the end of a "spoke". The devices at the end of a "spoke" communicate directly to the "hub".....not to another device at the end of another "spoke".
You can have multiple devices extending, but each one resides at the end of a separate spoke, since it must communicate directly to the hub.
In your case, the 2nd AirPort Express cannot "extend", but it can "join" the network. It provides no additional wireless coverage when it joins, but the Ethernet port is enabled if you clicked that option in AirPort Utility.
The Express that is "joining" is going to have a tough time unless it is quite close the 1st AirPort Express so that it can get a good signal. If you think about it, you will realize that the wireless signal has to make two separate "hops" to get to the 2nd AirPort Express. Not good.
If you want the 2nd AirPort Express to "extend" the network, it must be physically located closer to the AirPort Exteme than it is to the 1st AirPort Express.
Never use the WDS option, (which Apple tries to hide for good reason) as it only operates at slower "g" wireless speeds and each relay or remote on the network cuts the bandwidth on the entire network in half. So, with a base station, relay and remote in a WDS setup, your network runs at about 14 Mbps. That's about where wireless "b" operates....very, very slow....about 10 times slower than a basic "n" network.

Airport Network status says Internet failed and I can not connect wirelessly. Ethernet connection works fine. Why can't I connect?

A few days ago, my Airport Express wireless connection stopped working. The network status lights for Internet and Servers are RED and indicate failure. My Ethernet connection works fine. Any idea what my problem is?
Thanks,
LivingSuccess

You could try a Safe Boot - restart holding down the shift key until the grey progress bar appears. When it's booted restart as normal from the Apple menu.
If that doesn't help you could try an SMC reset:
SMC Reset
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer’s power cord and disconnect peripherals.
Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
Release the power button.
Attach the computers power cable.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.

Airport Network - Card vs Base Station?

G'day,
I have been considering setting up an airport network in my home for some time. The devices I'd want to network are:
eMac
G3 Powerbook (with airport card already)
USB Canon Pixma printer
Motorola Cable Modem (ethernet connection)
From what I gather, the easiest option is an Airport Extreme base station, HOWEVER I've just been using my Pismo (G3 laptop) to allow my Nintendo Wii to go online. That made me wonder - why couldn't I simply get an airport card for my eMac (which usually has the modem hooked up to it), and then do like what I did for the Wii - share the connection via its card.
Given that my Pismo could talk to the Wii from one end of my house to the other, I assume the eMac should be able to do likewise...
Is there any serious problems with this option Vs using an actual Airport "base"?
Thanks
cosmic

o The highest level of wireless security will be WEP, which is no longer considered secure.
You might find that not even this is possible if you want to connect the Nintendo Wii
Another issue is that the eMac would need to be directly connected to the internet, whereas if you had a wireless router you would at least have the benefit of the router using NAT and therefore hardware firewall protection.
The problem with sharing your internet is that it then becomes complicated running a software firewall.
I would recommend getting a wireless router of some kind.
iFelix

Extended Airport network

A=TimeCapsule connected to Internet
B= AirportExtreme, connected to A, secondary station
C= AirportExpress, new secondary station
According Apple http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259?viewlocale=en_US
any secondary station must connect to the primary base station, hence to A
Problem:
when for C the signal of B is stronger than from A, then C connects with B. So connection is A -> B -> C.
When this happens C becomes useless, even when its LED turns green. Any device, even when in closest neighbourhood of C, does not connect with C, it tries with B or even A if possible.
C could connect with A, but B overrides with better signal strength and establishes the connection.
How can I force a network where C connects with A, not B?

@Tesserax - I am sure you are correct. I ran iStumbler on one of my MacBooks and found that in the area of the house where the AXn is located, signal strength from the AEBSn was somewhat weak - around 35% or so on both 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz bands, with a good deal of noise from external sources (neighbors' phones and access points, etc.).
It's a bit of a quandary as I'd also like to have the AXn located near a sound system in that part of the house for Airtunes. BTW, streaming over Airtunes (via iTunes or Airfoil) works, but the noise will occasionally knock it out for a few seconds as well. The noise spikes are clearly visible in iStumbler.
I see that the only iron-clad solution is to run an Ethernet cable from the AEBSn to the AXn, but unfortunately that entails a nasty trip into the crawl space under the house, which just creeps me out - all that fiberglas, dirt and spider webs - yuck! It might be worth it in the end, as it would certainly do the job.
For right now, I am just using the AXn for Airtunes, joined to but not extending the network. I'll crawl under the house when the weather is hot and I've had a few beers...

Can you mix roaming and extended airport networks as such:

I have my main aebs connected to the cable modem. I want to conenct several airport expresses to the aebs via powerlien adapters to form a roaming network. One airport express I cant connect conveniently to powerline so I want to set it up to extend the wireless network as well as acting as a a wireless to ethernet bridge (to connect a Tivo). Any pdroblem mixing these two types of networks?

Several is a lot.. there isn't really enough wireless channels free to make several viable unless you are running 5ghz. You can extend wireless and use the express as ethernet bridge. But it might be worth thinking if you use roaming network naming for the rest of the network.. at least use a different name for the unit you extend.

Why won't my WPS printer and Tbox connect to my extended AirPort network?

I have an AirPort Extreme (7.6.4) in my home network and recently added an Airport Express to improve the signal coverage. Most devices connect quite happily to the extended network (iPad, iPhones, iMac, Windows PCs).
However, my Epson XP-200 (WPS) printer and Telstra Tbox refuse to connect when the Express is on. If I turn off the Express they both connect fine.
What do I need to do in the AirPort Utility to allow these devices to connect with the Express on?

Are you using the guest wireless network?
Sorry but the solution to some of these things is usually arcane.. if you are not prepared to reset and try again.. it is really hard to suggest other things to do.
But here are some of them.
1. Set specific channels for 2.4ghz wireless.. Do not use 12 or 13 even though allowed in Australia because often US drivers are unaware of those channels.
2. Remove all wireless security.. only as a test.. do the printer and Tbox work if there is no security. You are only testing briefly and do not need to reset everything.
3. Do not use WDS to setup the printer. Plug the printer in by USB to the computer and redo its setup manually from scratch using the utility that came with the printer. This is often much more successful than using WDS with apple stuff. You will need to remove all the existing setups of the printer in the computer and start over.
4. You can also always export the settings.. just change the AE and Express back to factory defaults.. and do as little setup as possible.. you don't have to change anything else except the one computer you use for the setup.. if it fails.. simply restore the settings. If it works you can then change the settings on all the rest of the equipment.. is it really that big a hardship??
5. Why don't you extend using ethernet.. and see if you have the same issue?? You setup using the roaming network method.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260
If the issue is only when you extend wireless then it at least gives you a headstart to complain to Apple about their multiple incompatibilities.

Apple TV 2 stalls over extended Airport network?

Hello. I have an Apple TV 2 in my basement, right next to an Airport Express (802.11n) that extends my Airport Extreme (802.11n) network - which originates upstairs, in my office. ATV2 reports a signal strength of "five bars" in this configuration. However, if try to access a large video file on my computer (via Home Sharing), it chokes.
Now here's the fun part.
If I unplug my Airport Express, the file plays perfectly. Starts in a few seconds, no skips, no hitches, nothing. Plug the Express back in, and ATV2 chokes on the large file again. I can reproduce this every time. My iPhone/iPad tell me that the signal strength is one tiny bar (and are faster over 3G from this location), yet the files stream seamlessly to Apple TV 2 via home sharing.
Anyone experience similar? Anyone able to configure a similar network that works in this capacity?
I've tried reconfiguring my network, playing with multicast rate, googled for solutions. Can't figure it out. I'd really like to have the Express working with the Extreme; my network coverage in my basement (on the laptop, iPad, iPhone, I mean) is spotty otherwise.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
jjd

Although the "extend" feature does not impact overall bandwidth significantly, it does use up some bandwidth for extended network administration. What you may be experiencing is that there just enough of a bandwidth loss using the extended network that is affecting the quality of the streams to the Apple TV.
If you prefer to use the Express to extend your wireless network, I would suggest that you try relocating the Express. Even a small distance (inches) can make a difference. At 2.4 GHz, the wavelength is around 5 inches. Better still, to help find the "sweet spot" of where to best place the Express, you can calculate the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the Extreme's signal at the Express' location.
SNR (in dB = Signal (in dBm) - Noise (in dBm). You will want the SNR value to be 25-30+ for the best performance. If you have a Mac laptop (running Leopard or Snow Leopard) handy, you can easily make this calculation using OS X's System Profiler.

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.

Trouble extending Airport network

I have an Airport Express that works great. I bought an Airport Extreme (mostly for the storage connection). The Extreme is a refurbished unit from Apple. When I configure the Extreme to extend the Express, "bad things" happen. I've been through this several times, resetting the Extreme to factory settings.
The last time the Airport Utility lost touch with the Airport Express entirely. When I reset the Extreme, I have no access to the Express at all. I have to power cycle the Express to get back to a working state. I think this has happened more than once, but I'm not sure.
1) Do I have a bad Extreme?
2) Should I be able to use Airport Utility to configure devices over the ethernet?
3) What else should I be trying?
FYI: Both devices are connected to an internal LAN behind a firewall. I've tried the Extreme connecting to both the "single port" and the "set of ports".
Thanks
David

Well, they warrantee them, but that doesn't mean it that's perfect. Given the "it just works" nature of most Apple products, it's been a less than happy experience, so I want to consider that possibility.
Well, as long as I have two wifi units, I'd /like/ to have them make a larger wifi. Granted, I haven't noticed a range problem before with my Express, so maybe I shouldn't care about that. The primary goal is to have the extreme provide hard-disk storage for Time Machine.
Yes, the computer I'm using to configure them (MacBook Pro) is behind the firewall. It's normally not on the ethernet, but I have connected it at various times during this adventrue.

Extending Airport Network w/ DVD??

Ok, I've been able to set up a wireless network at home that connects my Apple hi/fi to our Airport Express w/ Airtunes. What I'm wondering is if I can connect my hi/fi to my optical connection on my DVD, then use an RCA out Y cable to the Airport Express unit so I can play both Itunes and my movies.
Anyone?

The Express mini-plug is for connecting either to the audio of your stereo or to audio output for powered speakers.
At this point, and someone may prove me wrong, there are several products out there like Miglia or El Gato, ADC that will allow you to provide a signal to your computer which you can view. I have a Miglia Max TV that takes cable input and allows me to watch it on my television. I am sure that it can be adapted to allow DVD input but no to stream wirelessly to a television. The only system that I know that allows you to do that is Apple TV but you must use iTunes as the source or the iTunes Store but you can stream directly to Apple TV from your DVD player at least not today.

AirPort Extreme extends my network and has worked well for three months. Now it can no longer extend the network and flashes Amber. I have restored to factory settings moved it closer to time capsule and rebooted the system without luck

i have a blinking Amber on my extreme now and it cannot extend the network. It was working fine and nothing has changed. I have restored to factory settings moved it to another room and rebooted the system without luck. Any suggestions

What OS are you running?
Please give me a screenshot of the current AE setup..
I strongly recommend if you have issues.. take control of all the variables. Apple routers have too much auto..
Here is a list that I use for setups when using Yosemite.. but it relates to any OS.
You will need to factory reset again to get going.
Factory reset universal
Power off the AE.. ie pull the power cord or power off at the wall.. wait 10sec.. hold in the reset button.. be gentle.. power on again still holding in reset.. and keep holding it in for another 10sec. You may need some help as it is hard to both hold in reset and apply power. It will show success by rapidly blinking the front led. Release the reset.. and wait a couple of min for the AE to reset and come back with factory settings. If the front LED doesn’t blink rapidly you missed it and simply try again. The reset is fairly fragile in these.. press it so you feel it just click and no more.. I have seen people bend the lever or even break it. I use a toothpick as tool.
Then redo the setup from the computer with Yosemite or whatever you are using.
1. Use very short names.. NOT APPLE RECOMMENDED names. No spaces and pure alphanumerics.
eg AEgen5 for basestation.
Use AE24ghz and AE5ghz for wireless on each band, with fixed channels as this also seems to help stop the nonsense.
2. Use all passwords that also comply but can be a bit longer. ie 8-20 characters mixed case and numbers.. no non-alphanumerics.
3. Ensure the AE always takes the same IP address.. this is not a problem for router but if the AE is bridged you can have trouble.. Try using the static IP method or control it via the main router dhcp reservations.
4. Check your share name on the computer/s is not changing.. make sure it also complies with the above.. short no spaces and pure alphanumeric..
5. Make sure IPv6 is set to link-local only in the computer. For example wireless open the network preferences, wireless and advanced / TCP/IP.. and fix the IPv6. to link-local only.
6. Set up the extend to the Express using 2.4ghz and then see how good or bad the connection is.. this is better in the old v5 utility but if you hover your mouse over where it shows connection an extra chunk of info comes up.
I have specifically used 5ghz to make the extend.. because by testing it works better.. but do not be fooled.. this good connection is poor.. the RSSI.. which is difference signal .. at -79dbm is down the bottom of the stable.. and it drops out on a daily basis.. you want to see that signal around -60dbm at min.
There is a lot more jiggery pokery you can try but the above is a good start.. if you find it still unreliable.. don't be surprised.

Airport Express Won't Extend my Network

I've had my AirPort Express for around 3 months now and it was working fine and extending my network with my base station as the Apple Extreme just fine, until 2 weeks ago. Suddenly, it started flashing amber instead of green, and even though I reset it, disconnected it and re plugged it in, and placed it in another room, it didn't work, so I called Apple. Keep in mind that the whole time this is happening, the light for the Apple Extreme was working, and so was the wi-fi, just the Express which I use as an extender wasn't. I was on the phone for 2 hours with them and eventually they got it to work by resetting the Apple Extreme and setting it up as a completely new network, which was tedious and annoying, but it worked. Now, I have the same problem again, and I have tried the same steps I used before, and it still isn't working. Is there any way I can get it to work without having to reset the Apple Extreme?

yes, you can first do it with a short eth cable so you're still next to your extreme and then run the longer cable when you're ready to put it where you want it
before you connect the eth cord to the express, fully reset it
unplug express
hold in reset and keep holding it down while plugging power back in - only release reset when amber light flashes after 10-20s
now plug in the eth cable
your airport utility should auto see that you're trying to extend your extreme via your express on a wired connection

Extending airport network - Express as Base/Main and Extreme as client

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