Extending AirPort Range Via Ethernet Question

Hey all
I have a Time Capsule in my main office, and I will need network access in a new addition we're adding way on the other back side of the house (this addition will also be 2 stories). My Time Capsule will not reach the distance I need it to go, so heres's what i was thinking to do as we begin build the new addition...
1. Attach an ethernet cable to an open network port on the back of the Time Capsule.
2. Run this cable all the way through the attic and into the forthcoming closet/area in the new addition (this run will be over 300 feet).
3. Get an AirPort Express and plug the ethernet cable into the Express' network port.
4. Everything on that side of the house will now connect to the Express for wireless AND be on the same network as everything else on the other side of the house.
Will this work? What type of AirPort station does the Express need to be setup as?
Thanks,
Maury

Welcome to the discussion area!
Your proposed plan should work fine.
You are just about at the limit of a recommended ethernet run for CAT5e or CAT 6 cable, which is 100 meters.
You would want to configure the AirPort Express as a "bridge" to create a wireless network using exactly the same wireless network name, security and password as your Time Capsule network.
If you have a newer dual band Time Capsule and would like to provide the same dual band wireless network on the back of the house, you could use an AirPort Extreme instead of an AirPort Express..which can only provide one band.
The AirPort Extreme would also provide you with 3 ethernet ports in the event that you needed to connect ethernet devices at that location.
Post back if you need step by step configuration details.

Similar Messages

Question re AEBS Connected to Airport Express via Ethernet

If I have an AEBS that is being used to extend the range of my wireless network, if I connect an Airport Express via Ethernet to this AEBS for purposes of itunes airtunes will this work and will the wireless network remain wireless-n?

Yes, it will.
You also have the option of (a) completely turning off the radio on the Airport Express or (b) leaving it on, and using it to create a b/g point of access to your LAN thus allowing you to run the AEBSn in n-only mode for your n-capable wireless clients.

Airport Express wil not extend wireless network via ethernet

I need maximum bandwidth in a area with poor signal. No matter what I do, the AE will not extend my APEBS dual band via ethernet. It will alway connect wirlessly giving me half the speed. I have 1 main network to extend. I have tried to extend the 5 GHz wide channel as a seperate network but this wont work either.(but thats what I want really. Please help. I have been at this a couple days already and I need to figure it out before my return policy wears out. Thanks!

If you are connecting the Airport Express to your AirPort Extreme via ethernet, the AirPort Express should be configured as follows:
Open AirPort Utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab just below the row of icons
Wireless Mode should be set to "Create a Wireless Network"
Wireless Network Name would be the exact name of the main network that the Extreme is creating, same security, password.
Radio Mode must be set the same as the main network on the Extreme
Channel should be set to be least 6 channels apart from the channel that the main network is using on the Extreme.
Click the Internet icon above and look for Connection Sharing at the bottom of the page. This should be set to "Off (Bridge Mode)".
Update to save settings.
For more info reference page 42. http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Apple_AirPort_NetworksEarly2009.pdf

Connecting to Airport Express via Ethernet Cable

Dear Apple Support Community,
My setup at home is such that all my devices are in such close proximity to the Airport Express, and therefore I connect everything to the Airport Express via ethernet cables (NAS, Apple TV, PS 3).
The final step in my network setup would be to connect my Macbook to the Airport Express to connect to the internet using the Ethernet Cables, instead of using the wireless connection - because my Macbook is positioned right next to the Airport Express.
However, I am struggling to get the Macbook to connect to the Internet via the Ethernet Cable through the airport express. Is there a special way to set this up if this can be done. I know Wireless would be the answer, but the problem is, when I download movies etc, I write the files directly onto the NAS which happens a lot quicker than doing so via WiFi.
I hope the above question makes sense.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Regards
ST

Hello Brian Hunt1. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I have an old PowerBook G3 and I do not have a wireless card for it. My plan was to connect it, via Ethernet cable to my airport express which is on my home wireless network (DSL to Mac Mini to AirPort Express via built-in AirPort).
Unfortunately, the network configuration your describing, where you would use OS X's Internet Sharing feature to share the Mac Mini's wired Internet connection wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), won't work.
If I cannot connect my laptop this way, could anyone suggest a wireless card that is compatible with this slightly antiquated, yet very useful machine?
Only the "Pismo" PowerBook G3 is capable of using the original AirPort card. If you have this model, then the following DIY instructions will show you how to install it.
If this isn't your model, then check out the following vendor offerings:
o QuickerTek
o hField Technologies' Wi-Fire

Connecting 2 Airport Extremes via ethernet if my intent is to improve wireless signal in a different area of my home

Connect the second Airport Extreme via ethernet, all is good. However, question is; do I use the same Wireless name as main Airport Extreme or do I need to name is differently? And if differently, how do devices connect to the strongest signal?

Aribia wrote:
Connect the second Airport Extreme via ethernet, all is good. However, question is; do I use the same Wireless name as main Airport Extreme
Yes. If you want your wireless devices to "see" only one wireless network, specify the exact same wireless network name, security and password for the second Extreme.
And if differently, how do devices connect to the strongest signal?
If you choose to specify different names, and your Network Preferences are configured to not "ask to join new networks" your Mac will automatically switch from one to the other, but it does not do this just because one becomes stronger than the other as you move your MacBook Pro away from one and toward the other. It will switch networks when the wireless signal falls below a threshold that is not user-selectable. It will do that whether or not you specify different wireless network names.

Connecting aiport extreme and airport express via ethernet cable ?

Is it possible to connect an airport extreme to an airport express via ethernet cable, I ask because I want to expand the range of my wifi network to the basement of my house, the floors are really thick concrete so I installed some ethernet cable runs, I hope somebody can help me, thank you.

+How do I do it ? Do I connect the modem to the airport extreme and then run the ethernet cable from one of the extreme's ethernet ports to the express ethernet on the basememt and a second cable from another of the extreme's ethernet connectors to the express on the second floor+
Yes, this is exactly correct.
To configure each AirPort Express (AX)
Open AirPort Utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab below the icons to name your device, assign a device password and adjust time zone settings. Give each Express a separate name so you can identify then easily.
Click the Wireless tab
Wireless Mode...Create a Wireless Network
Wireless Network Name...Exact same name as your AirPort Extreme network
Radio Mode 802.11n (802.11b/g compatible) if you want to use 2.4 GHz
Channel...Automatic
Wireless Security...Exact same setting as your AirPort Extreme network
Wireless Password....Exact same setting as your AirPort Extreme network
Click the Internet icon
Change the Connection Sharing setting at the bottom to "Off (Bridge Mode)"
Click Update at the lower right and the AirPort Express will restart in 20-30 seconds
I think it is easier to configure each AirPort Express with AirPort Utility by temporarily connecting it to your computer with a short ethernet cable. Once you have saved the configuration, you can move the Express to the location that you need.
Please post back on your progress.

Connecting Two Airport Express Via Ethernet

I have a unique situation in which I would like to connect two airport express via ethernet. Here is the situation: I can connect the first AX directly to the internet and set up a WDS for the second AX. Unfortunately, the second AX signal does not reach where I need it to go. I can run an ethernet cable between the two. Is this setting valid for a WDS? Or does the WDS have to be wireless? If I can set up the WDS using an ethernet, will the relay AX broadcast the internet wirelessly then?
Are there any specific settings I should know about?
Any help would be great.
Thanks in advance,
Debbie

I currently have an old snow basestation at this location. Can I plug an ethernet cable into it and connect it to the AX?
Yes that will work.
My understanding was that the older basestation could not do this?
I think you have it confused with extending a network wirelessly. That is not possible with the snow AirPort base station (ABS).

Network mode: Create a wireless network vs. Extend wireless network via ethernet

Can some one tell me the difference between configuring AirPort Utility : Network mode: Create a wireless network vs. Extend wireless network via ethernet? I connect my cable modem to my Airport Time Capsule to a network switch via ethernet. The switch contacts to three Airport Express (AE connects to two Apple TVs via Ethernet) and another TC. Which is the best mode to configure my network?
Thanks

Create a wireless network is used only when the Airports have an Ethernet connection. If you are using the setup wizard.....the setting will read Extend using Ethernet during the setup. If you go back in using AirPort Utility to check the Network Mode setting.....you will see that it is really Create a wireless network.
Extend a wireless network is used only if an AirPort is connecting to another AirPort using wireless.......not Ethernet.
Every one of the Airports on your network must be configured to Create a wireless network.
If you do connect an Ethernet cable to an AirPort that is already set up to Extend a wireless network......that will create a massive feedback loop that will crash the network until you remove the Ethernet connection to the device.
The bottom line here might be if you are using the setup wizard, it will make the correct choice for you.

Extending wireless network via ethernet

Hi all: I have a first gen Airport Extreme and an Airport Express. I am having a hard time getting my wifi network extended via the Airport Express. My goal to to have an extended wifi network with the source data delievered to the Airport Express via ethernet and then broadcasted, not repeating teh wifi signal from the Airport Extreme. The two devises are seperated by several walls which does not allow the wifi signal to propogate between them.
I can see both devices via our ethernet wiring (I turn off wifi on my laptop and plug into the network). The Airport Express is connected to directly to one of the Airport Extreme ethernet ports (and not the WAN port). I then setup the Airport Extreme first and test it - that works fine. Then I move over to the Airport Express and set it up to extend the wireless network. This seems to work fine too. But when I move the Express to its final location and hook it up to our wired network, it fails to broadcast.
I hope my description makes sense. Is my goal possible? Thanks, Chris.

Then I move over to the Airport Express and set it up to extend the wireless network. This seems to work fine too. But when I move the Express to its final location and hook it up to our wired network, it fails to broadcast.
You have the basis for a "roaming" type network. In this case the AirPort Express needs to be configured both as a bridge and to "create a wireless network," not to extend it. The "extend" feature was designed only for when you want the connection between base stations to be wireless. A bit confusing as a roaming network does indeed "extend" the wireless network and uses the same Network Name.

HT1515 I'm getting poor performance from my apple TV, will plugging in my airport express via ethernet to apple tv increase its performance (poor wi-fi signal)

I'm getting poor performance from my apple TV, will plugging in my airport express via ethernet to apple tv increase its performance (poor wi-fi signal)

Yes, though it is less ideal than what I suggested earlier. You would need to place your AirPort Express in a location approximately midway between your AirPort Extreme Base Station and the TV. Then, using AirPort Utility, configure it to "extend a wireless network".
It may help. Bear in mind the signal thus "extended" by the Express can only be as good as the signal it can receive from the Extreme. That is the reason for selecting its appoximate midway location.
Read about it here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145
Scroll down to "Wirelessly Extended Network (802.11n)" for a picture.
This solution requires an all-Apple wireless network. No third party stuff.
You mentioned using Ethernet. That would be a better idea. Scroll down to "Roaming Network (Ethernet-connected Wi-Fi base stations)" for a picture. In your case, the longer the Ethernet cable - hence the closer you can move the Express to the TV - the better

Have new Airport Extreme via ethernet cable from HughesNet Gen4 modem. Using NetGear WN3500RP extender. NetGear asks for different names for the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. Most of what I have read indicats extender shoul have same name as main network?

Have new Airport Extreme conneted via ethernet cable from HughesNet Gen4 modem. Using NetGear WN3500RP extender. NetGear asks for different names for the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. Most of what I have read indicates extender should have same name as main network? How is it best to configure with the Airport Extreme router 802.11ac?

Different names for the 2.4 and 5 GHz networks are optional, but can be convenient for you to distinguish one from another. It's up to you.

How to use Airport express via ethernet cabe/switch. iTunes does not detect

Can anyone help me help iTunes FIND my airport via ethernet?
My macbook is out of range wirelessly, but I have a jack that connects to the Airport (via a switch). How, please, can I get iTunes to "see" it?

Yes. Thank you.
I see the "Enable iTunes Over Ethernet" option HOWEVER, it greyed out and unselectable! Now what? I think you are on the right track, but do you know why it would be greyed out? Thanks, in advance, you people at the forum are truly cool.

Connecting a Laptop to Airport Express via Ethernet Cable

I have an old PowerBook G3 and I do not have a wireless card for it. My plan was to connect it, via Ethernet cable to my airport express which is on my home wireless network (DSL to Mac Mini to AirPort Express via built-in AirPort).
My question is can I make this work? After buying the Ethernet cord, all my reading of the AirPort Express manual seems to suggest that the Ethernet port on the AirPort Express is to only be used as an input port, not as an output. Is this correct?
If I cannot connect my laptop this way, could anyone suggest a wireless card that is compatible with this slightly antiquated, yet very useful machine?

Hello Brian Hunt1. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I have an old PowerBook G3 and I do not have a wireless card for it. My plan was to connect it, via Ethernet cable to my airport express which is on my home wireless network (DSL to Mac Mini to AirPort Express via built-in AirPort).
Unfortunately, the network configuration your describing, where you would use OS X's Internet Sharing feature to share the Mac Mini's wired Internet connection wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), won't work.
If I cannot connect my laptop this way, could anyone suggest a wireless card that is compatible with this slightly antiquated, yet very useful machine?
Only the "Pismo" PowerBook G3 is capable of using the original AirPort card. If you have this model, then the following DIY instructions will show you how to install it.
If this isn't your model, then check out the following vendor offerings:
o QuickerTek
o hField Technologies' Wi-Fire

Airport Express - switch - Airport Express via ethernet?

I have an Airport Express—which I'll call AE1—as my main router. It runs a wireless network, but it also is connected to a switch via ethernet. I have several devices connected to the switch, and everything works great.
However, I have a second Airport Express—call it AE2—and I would like to connect it to the switch via ethernet and use it as a bridge. The bridge function works, but only via wireless, that is, AE2 is bridging just fine, but it's connected via wireless, and then extending. I cannot get the AE to connect via ethernet.
It does work if I connect AE2 to AE1 via ethernet (directly to the port on the back of AE1), so I know it works. But, when I introduce a switch between the two, no go...
Thoughts?

I've tested the port in AE1 and all ports on the switch. Everything works great. Good solid connection. I've tested the cable with a line tester and the cable is good at 100 BaseT. Everything I connect to this line works fine except the AE2, which refuses to extended over Ethernet. I think next I may try running the line directly from the DSL modem through that line and into AE2 and see if it will accept a connection that way. I'll report my findings.
It's not the end of the world; AE2 works fine extending my wireless network through a wireless connection. I just want to improve my overall bandwidth by removing this drain. And, I'm trying to resolve this mostly on principle.

Time Capsule connected to Netgear WNDR3700 via Ethernet - Questions/Recommendations

The more I research this the more confused I have become
As I already had my Netgear router when I got my TC I just connected the TC to the Netgear router via ethernet and all was well but other matters I was looking at led me down this path and now I have some questions:
1) From what I have read this is probably why my "wake for network access" is not working (because Netgear is main router)?
2) is there any advantage to having 2 routers, it appears that I have 2 options for WiFi connections in this configuration, is this true?...if so should I have the TC as the main router and then connect the Neatgear to it?

1) From what I have read this is probably why my "wake for network access" is not working (because Netgear is main router)?
Is the TC in bridge mode.. if it is double NAT it will certainly not pass wake on lan packets.
Not all routers pass wake on lan packets correctly. As is often the case you might find apple use a different system.. so even if set correctly it still won't pass them.. or visa versa.. the netgear won't pass the apple magic packet.
2) is there any advantage to having 2 routers, it appears that I have 2 options for WiFi connections in this configuration, is this true?...if so should I have the TC as the main router and then connect the Neatgear to it?
You do not ever want 2 routers.. working as routers..
There is nothing wrong with having two routers but one is setup in bridge or WAP mode or if it doesn't have any of those then WAN BYPASS. ie you must use it as a WAP and switch only and bypass all routing function .. this is trivial to achieve.. simply plug in by LAN .. with IP set statically to same IP range as the main router but usually outside the dhcp scope.. and with dhcp turned off so you have no conflict in dhcp.
The end result is you may then setup wireless in a any number of ways.. but primary method is roaming.. which is actually apple recommended method.
Both routers use the identical wireless name = SSID. Identical security settings and password.
What makes the two different is channels.. they should be on non-overlapping channels. Mostly leaving things on auto works but sometimes people find it is better to manually set.
The alternative is to have two different wireless networks.. this can also work if you need to set up some clients to one device.. eg the TC for backups.. as that will cause network slowdown for other clients that need fast internet connection.. so you can take charge and split the load between Time Machine users and non-TM users.

Extending AirPort Range Via Ethernet Question

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