Extending an Apple Wireless Network

Hello,
So I have been reading over this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145
I am pretty sure what I want to create is a Roaming Wifi Network but I am also wondering once you have say 4 Airport Extremes connected via ethernet is it then possible to add further Airport Expresses to further extent the network?
Also... Do the Airport Extremes manage their channels automatically?
Is there a limitation to how far you can build this out?
Thanks

How big is this place?
Apple routers are not designed for business or industrial use. They are home devices.. most people do not live in castles or huge mansions.. if you do.. the correct way to get it installed is to ring your butler.. and say.. "James,,, see to the installation of wifi so I can get it anywhere in the house.. there's a good chap!!"
And he will order real experts in who do not use apple routers.. they use Cisco or HP or Ubiquiti etc.. which have real controls and you don't need to go around banging your head against the wall to determine its thickness or wailing in the corridors about how hard wifi is!!
If you are forced to extend wireless.. good luck.. just try and see.. there is not enough controls for you to properly manage it.
So 'Extending a network' is differnt though as for this you do actually need an Apple network as far as I can tell?
Yes, this is Apple propriety system.. other brands need not apply.
What about Dual Band Stearing?
?? Stealing, Streaming,
I do not know what Stearing means.. it sounds like cattle rustling..
The latest airport express can extend both channels apparently but Bob Timmons is the eggs spurt here on that stuff.
And if I use Airport Expresses to wirelessly extend the network does that just cause more channel issues? If I already have 1, 6 & 11 set then adding an EX wirelessly could mean that I would need to know what channel it's connected on and make sure I don't use that channel to broadcast and use the channel furtherest away?
You have no control.. your roaming system has identical SSID.. the Express will connect to whichever is the strongest signal and extend it. Remember this is domestic equipment. Not pro.
So obviously you would have more room to play with for the 5ghz, but all of your devices would need to be 5Ghz capable and close enough to want to use that over 2.4ghz, unless you could turn the 2.4ghz off, but you cannot with the Airport?
You still have no control.. if you extend a system that is setup for roaming you have no control over which unit is joined.. Extend wireless by its nature is the same wireless channel as the unit it joins with.
You do not need to use as many channels because you cannot simultaneously transmit on the main unit and the extender.. hence the dramatic drop in speed. You are picking up info a packet at a time and re-transmitting it.. avoid if possible.
WiFi is tricky man.
Only when you try to use multiple units to do the job of a pro system.. because you are using domestic equipment.

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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.

Extending an Apple wireless network beyond reach of the base station

Hello; I have an apple network that consists of one AirPort Extreme with two airport expresses acting as wifi extenders for the Extreme. I need to extend my wireless network even further, beyond the distance where another airport express could connect to the extreme. Could I connect, via Ethernet cable, a third airport express to one of the two existing airport express's to accomplish this? If so, would I be using the WAN or LAN port? Thanks!

Could I connect, via Ethernet cable, a third airport express to one of the two existing airport express's to accomplish this? If so, would I be using the WAN or LAN port? Thanks!
Yes. You would configure the third Express as a roaming type network with the existing extended network. Since this Express will be in bridge mode, it really doesn't matter which port you use. However, for consistency, I would recommend that you use the WAN port for the connection.

Having trouble with extending an Apple wireless network with a AirPort Express

Trying to extend the range of my AirExtreme with a AirExpress:
I get stuck when the AirPort Utility ask is I'm sure I want to switch networks. if I select switch I loose the AirExtreme. If I select don't switch it take me back to the beginning. Any help will be appreciated.

You have to "switch" networks to be able to pick up the signal from the Express and configure it with new settings.
Once the Express is configured it will become part your existing network when you see a green light.
Then, switch back to your regular wireless network on your Mac and everything will be on the same network

Extending a non Apple wireless network

Does the wireless network on the non Apple modem/router stay on in addition to the newly created Apple wireless network?

Yes it does.
If you want it off, you will need to get into the administration settings for the modem/router to disable the wireless function.

Trying to extend a second wireless network...

Hello,
I am trying to extend a secondary wireless network in my home. I have a **** wireless n router, 2 Airport Expresses and a Time Capsule. All Apple components are wireless n. I want to have a network being broadcast by the ****, a second network being broadcast from an Airport Express with internet from a ethernet connection from the ****, extend the Airport Express network with the time Capsule and share an internet connection with a gaming console via one of the Time Capsule's ethernet ports. Is this possible? I am a total n00b with DNS and all the IP address stuff the setup assistant is asking me for. Any help would be great. Thanks!

Looks like Apple censored (d*link).
I'm guessing that misspelled the name and left out the 'l'.
I want to have a network being broadcast by the **, a second network being broadcast from an Airport Express with internet from a ethernet connection from the **, extend the Airport Express network with the time Capsule and share an internet connection with a gaming console via one of the Time Capsule's ethernet ports. Is this possible? I am a total n00b with DNS and all the IP address stuff the setup assistant is asking me for.
Yes that is possible.
If your AirPort Express (AX) is one of the new 802.11n models, configure the AX to allow itself to be extended. Then configure the Time Capsule to extend the network provided by the AX.
If your AX is not 802.11n capable, configure the AX to act as a WDS main base station. Configure the Time Capsule to act as a WDS remote base station.

I am trying to extend my existing wireless network

I am trying to extend my existing wireless network beyiond an extreme and an express by adding a further express. Is this possible?

This is not possible if you are trying to do this wirelessly, as Apple's "extend a wireless network" feature will only allow the signal to be extended one time.
It is possible to have more than one device extend the network, but each extender must communicate directly to the AiPort Extreme....not to another extender.

Extending an existing wireless network using Time Capsule

I connected my Time Capsule via Ethernet cable to my network. I used the airport utility to extend my existing wireless network (Cisco router)k. After that my wireless devices were disconnected and I got a message stating "Unable to join wireless network". The macbook that I used to set up the Time Capsule showed a message along the lines that a device on the network was trying to use the macbook's IP address, I changed the macbooks IP address and then was able to connect my ipad and iphone to the wireless network but the connection was unusable as it was so slow. has anyone done this successfully and if so do you have nay advice

If you connect the TC to the network by ethernet you do not extend an existing networking.. indeed you cannot.. only works with apple routers and no ethernet.
You create a wireless network.. you can use roaming .. ie use the same wireless name and security settings as the existing Cisco router but you must set different channels.
If you need instructions in that setup what version airport utility are you using. I would strongly recommend a version 5.. it is so superior cf toyland v6.

Extending a shared wireless network?

I made the switch to Mac about a year ago and couldn't be happier. It's so nice to just use my computer for what I want to do with it and not have to deal with all the other stuff I had to with my pc.
My neighbor has a password-protected wireless internet signal that I pay a small fee to use. My signal is usually fine but doesn't reach some spots in my apartment and I'm wondering if getting an Airport Express would "extend the signal." I'm pretty sure my neighbor will be cooperative with any initial setup that would be required but I wouldn't want to have to do anything with her system on a regular basis. Is it fair to assume that once it is set up we won't have to do much else? She's running some old PC laptop. Basically, I'm looking for an excuse to get the Airport Express so I can play my itunes through my stereo and print wirelessly, but I don't think it makes sense for me to get it if it won't be easy to improve my internet signal as well. So, would this make sense? Any potential problems I should keep in mind?
Thanks for any help.
PowerBook G4 12" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

AirPort base stations (Extreme or Express) are designed to extend an existing wireless network, with what Apple calls Wireless Distribution System (WDS), only with other AirPorts. Only a few non-Apple routers have been known to work.
You can, however, use an AirPort to join an existing wireless network as a client for both streaming iTunes and/or printer sharing.
Also, the AirPorts won't "boost" a weak signal, only extend it. You may want to consider acquiring an external antenna/transceiver for your PowerBook instead.

Mac fails to connect to non-Apple wireless network (& changing channel?)

[sorry to post this in two forums - I think I posted it in the wrong one before]
I have a wireless network set up from a Netgear wireless router. My Windows XP computer automatically connects to the network every time. But my Mac (OS X 10.4.11) only connects about 50% of the time. The rest of the time it says "None of your trusted wireless networks could be found." Then when I click the airport icon in top right and select the network from the list, it says "There was an error joing the Airport network [network name]." When I click "Try again" a few times, it sometimes eventually connects, but other times it fails repeatedly. It is completely unpredictable.
I have been looking for solutions on the internet. Lots of other people have problems connecting Macs to non-Apple wireless networks. But no one else seems to have this exact problem: my Mac connects some of the time, but not all. Anyone have any suggestions?
(One idea I found was to change the channel that the Mac tries to use. How do I do this? I can't find "channel" anywhere under System Preferences - Network - Airport.)
All OSs are fully updated, so that is not the problem.

I travel extensively, and both my I-Mac G5 and Intel MacBook are very inconsistent in this regard. I do not think it is a router issue given the variety of networks I try to access. Additionally frustrating once a connection is made is that Internet Connect or Network Status will say I am connected to the Internet via Airport, yet Safari and Mail say I am not connected to the Internet.
Network Diagnostics has never had an answer. More often than not i end up using my cellular card. but the Mac often has issues with that too... sporadic like first poster describes.
George

Extending an existing wireless network with an airport express

My wireless signal is quite weak in my room so I'm looking for a way to extend the range of the network by using an airport express. I understand i can't do this wirelessly but is it possible to run an ethernet cable from my existing router to the airport express in my room and then have a stronger signal in my room?
Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the discussion area, Aaron!
If you connect an ethernet cable from your existing router to the AirPort Express, and then configure the Express to "Create a wireless network" with the same name, security settings and password, this will in effect, extend your current wireless network.
The Express must be configured as a "bridge" to operate correctly on your network when you do this, meaning that the setting for Connection Sharing on the Express will be set to "Off (Bridge Mode).

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 an existing non-Apple wireless network using an Extreme base station

I have an existing wireless network via a Belkin modem/router. I would like to add my Airport Extreme base station to this existing wireless network, however this appears difficult. Can anyone help me please?

Hello IanWhite. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I have an existing wireless network via a Belkin modem/router. I would like to add my Airport Extreme base station to this existing wireless network, however this appears difficult.
Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of Wireless Distribution System (WDS)...so it very unlikely that your Belkin router can be extended wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX).
The few that are known to work are:
o Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not v5)
o Belkin F5D7230-4 and F5D7231
o BT Voyager 2091
o Netgear WGR614 v6
o Buffalo WGR-G54
Is your Belkin one of the models in the above list?

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

Can't Get Time Capsule to Extend Airport Extreme Wireless Network

I've searched this forum and read dozens of listings, but nothing I've found gives me a answer for the problem I'm having.
I had an existing network consisting of three Airport Extreme routers, one the master/DHCP server and the other two to extend the network. All of the routers were configured for 802.11n 5 GHz only service.
After much frustration trying to use Time Machine to back up to external disks attached to Airport Extremes as well as disks attached to other Macs, I gave up and bought a Time Capsule.
I have been trying for about six months on and off to get the Time Capsule configured as an extension to the main Airport Extreme as the other two Extremes are.
Nothing I've tried will cause the TC to extend the network. It always comes up with a yellow light and error messages saying that there is a problem with the wireless network and a problem with the internet connection and, sometimes, a third message that I don't remember.
After my initial efforts, I just gave up and plugged the danged TC into the remote AE that is closest to where I use my MacBook Pro and it worked. But I wanted it to REPLACE that AE instead of being an appendage to it.
Due to TC/TM problems, I've twice lost the entire TM backup off of the TC, and tonight I decided it was time to start over. I've encountered the same problems as before, and so finally moved the TC to my home office rack where the main AE is located and plugged it into the AE directly. TM is now backing up, but at a snail's pace (which is why I wanted the TC to be located in the same room where I use the laptop).
Has anyone had success or failure extending a multiple-unit AE network with a TC on 802.11n 5 GHz (not WDS)? If not, has your experience been similar to mine; if so, what did you do that I haven't?
Any specific help will be greatly appreciated.

Yes, I suppose I could do that. But if the wireless extension isn't working in one direction there's no guarantee it'll work in the other direction; and I was trying to avoid upending my entire setup.
And no, I'm not bridging the units with hard-wired cabling; I'm attempting to use wireless to extend them...NOT WDS, which is for 802.11B/G mode, but the 802.11N wireless extension mode that's available on these Apple products.

Extending an Apple Wireless Network

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