Extending range on AirPort Extreme

The range of my AirPort Extreme is very short, seems a lot shorter than when I first set the network up.

Cordless phones, BlueTooth devices, and other WiFi networks around you can all interfere with the wireless signal, which can slow things down and limit the range of the wireless signal significantly.
Chances are, there are three or four times as many wireless networks around you than there were just a couple of years ago. That can make a big difference.
Unfortunately, the number of available wireless channels has not changed in many years, so there is severe overcrowding in many apartment areas, condos, etc where folks live in close quarters.
The AirPort Extreme will try to find the best channel to use when it starts up. So, if you have not powered off the AirPort Extreme recently and then powered it back up, now would be a very good time to do this.

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How to set-up new Airport Express to extend range of Airport Extreme

Purchased a new Airport Express to use it as a range extender on existing home network with an operating Airport Extreme base station. While I've read instructions, I'm unclear whether the Express needs to be connected by ethernet cable for its initial setup, or can I simply plug it and initialize it wirelessly onto the same household network? (I've tried the latter but without success).

to edex67 and Bob Timmons:
My objective is to extend the wireless range of the Airport Extreme base station wirelessly - so I do appreciate that the Airport Express would needsto be located haflway between the base station and the "dead zone" area.
The suggestion of using a Powerline ethernet connection to the Airport Express has merit (especially as I have one available).
I continue to use OSX 10.6.8 - does this affect my set-up in any way?
My problem had been - and remains - how to configure the Airport Express in range extend mode - I did click these boxes on both the Extreme base station and the Express, however the Express still has flashing amber lights and error codes - one indicating no internet availability on the Airport Express.

Airport Express to Extend Range of Airport Extreme 802.11 ac???

Hi:
We just installed a new Airport Extreme 802.11 ac. I would like to extend range within the house with our older Airport Express. I plug in the Airport Express (model A1264) 1 m away from the Extreme, but the light just blinks yellow on the Express. When one turns to Airport Utility, the box in the top left (Other Wi-Fi Devices) shows no other discovered options. Is this 802.11 n Express not compatible with my new 802.11 ac extreme, or am I doing something stupid/wrong?
Thanks!

Tried soft and hard reboots on the Express. I now have a slowly flashing yellow light.
But, Airport Utility under the tab "Other Wi-Fi Devices" still lists nothing.
Airport Utility in the main window has a globe with a green dot next to the word "Internet" under it.
There is a vertical line under the globe going to an icon of my brand new Airport Extreme that has a green dot under it and the name of the Airport Extreme.
My iMac is connected to the internet via an ethernet cable (Wi-Fi is off).
This is the same configuration I had with my old Base Station, but for some reason the Airport Express doesn't show up in Airport Utility with my new Airport Extreme as the base station and I have no idea how to use Airport Express as a range extender.
Again, thank you for your advice and help.

Extending Range of Airport Extreme via LAN connection to Airport Express

I am an expat living overseas. I live in a 100 concrete walled house and thus when trying to set up a wireless network I have very limited range. Using Airport Extreme is not a problem downstairs...but to extend the wireless connection upstairs had been a challenge. What I've attempted to do is use the LAN connection on the back of the Airport Express Base Station and run the line upstairs along the side of the house into a room upstairs. I then have connected the ethernet line to an airport express in this room. My computers upstairs recognize the Airport Express and are connected to it...but I can't get an internet connection to those computers. Additionally, the Airport Extreme Base Station does not recognize the Airport Express as part of the network (wireless or LAN). Any suggestions?

I would bring the Expresses to the room where you have your Extreme and factory reset the Expresses so that they are in the original condition when they came out of the box - they will reflect their Apple IDs.
I would then open the Airport Utility (I am assuming you have the new Extreme, not the old one). Scan for the Expresses and then join them to the network.
If they work in the room where your Extreme is located then they are configured appropriately. They I would try moving them back to the room where you want to extend your network. If they then do not work you will know it is not the Express but the amount of concrete and metal in your building.

Extend range with Airport Extreme and D-Link DI-614?

Can I use an Airport Extreme and a D-Link DI-614 wireless router to extend the range of my network? If so, which router should be the main base station, and which should be the relay station?

...does anyone know the cheapest way to extend a wireless network?
Ethernet cable. Run an Ethernet cable between the 2 devices.

Extending range of Airport Extreme (old round model)

Hi,
I have 2 airport extreme base stations (old model - round ones). I have set one as a Main on WDS network and the other as a Remote. However, it does not seem to be working. I have followed the instructions given here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262
But it is not working.
Now, Airport Utility (5.6.1 is the only one that works with these stations) does not even display the second base station.
Is there a step by step document that explains how to set such a network up? Or could someone take me step by step through the process?
Thank you very much for your help.

I would bring the Expresses to the room where you have your Extreme and factory reset the Expresses so that they are in the original condition when they came out of the box - they will reflect their Apple IDs.
I would then open the Airport Utility (I am assuming you have the new Extreme, not the old one). Scan for the Expresses and then join them to the network.
If they work in the room where your Extreme is located then they are configured appropriately. They I would try moving them back to the room where you want to extend your network. If they then do not work you will know it is not the Express but the amount of concrete and metal in your building.

Extending the range of Airport Extreme in house with walls

Any sugggestions on the best way to extend the range of Airport Extreme? The base unit is located in an office at one end of a house. I would like to be able to connect from rooms at the other end of the house, some 70' away. There are three walls betgween the base and the far room.

I have essentially the same problem, except that our router is a Netgear product (NOT my choice, my husband is a PC guy). I get a great connection when my G5 is on the desk, but if I put it under the desk (which is where I really, really want it) I get nothing.
Will an Airport Express do anything for me? Or do I need to get an AirPort Extreme router? If I get an Airport Extreme router and locate it closer to my computer can I set it up to work with the same cable internet service we have the Netgear connected to? Or do I have to have a totally separate service? My computer is downstairs, the Netgear is up. Moving it is not an option. Our house is wired for cat 5 throughout. (No idea if this matters, I'm clueless on this stuff). Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

How do I extend my existent airport extreme network by addition of a 2nd airport extreme?

How do I extend my existent Airport Extreme network by addition of a 2nd Airport Extreme?

Can you clarify which version of the AirPort Extreme that you have now along with the model that you plan to use as the second device?
The older "round" AirPort Exteme or the newer "square" version with rounded corners?
Are you planning to extend using wireless only.....or by connecting the AirPort Extremes using a wired Ethernet connection?

How to extend wifi range using Airport Extreme and Airport Express connected via ethernet cable

Hello,
I'm having an Airport Extreme fifth generation in my living room. I bought yesterday an Airport Express to extend the range of my WIFI in the house and I put in in my bed room. The two devices are connected together via an ethernet cable, from airport extreme (lan 1 port) to airport express to (wan port). Now from the airport utility what configuration I have to set to the airport express in order to extend my wifi range? Inside the wireless tab what i have to select in the network mode?
1. Create a wireless network (use same same wireless network name and pass work as the airport extreme)
2. Join a wireless network
3 Extend a wireless network ?
Thank you

You are way overthinking this. The utility will literally configure everything for you automatically. All that you need to do is name the device and click Next during the setup.
You can use your Mac using Mountain Lion or an iPhone or iPad.
Post back if you need the steps.

Help: Using Airport Express to extend the range of Airport Extreme

I am trying to use the Airport Express to extend the range of the network created by my Airport Extreme. The Express works in terms of streaming music from iTunes on the PC connected to th Extreme.
However, I am trying to run a short Cat-5 cable out of the Express to a nearby PC in order to have access to the internet. If the Express is recognized by the Extreme and can play music through connected stereo cables, why can I get an internet connection through the LAN port..??
Here's a real basic representation of my connections...
Cable Modem >>-- Cat5 -->> Airport Extreme >>-- Wireless -->> Airport Express >>-- Cat5 -->>PC#2

To wirelessly extend the range between two AirPorts, you need to configure them in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS).
To facilitate the WDS set up, try the following:
o Perform a "hard" reset on the AirPort Extreme Base Stations & a "factory default" reset on the AirPort Express Base Stations (AX) before setting up the WDS.
o Place the base stations within near proximity of each other during the set up phase, and then relocate them to their desired locations when complete.
o To avoid having to "switch" wireless networks during the WDS setup, attach each of the remote/relay base station, via an Ethernet cable, to the main base station. Of course, this would be dependent on the AirPort types used for the main/relays/remotes.
o Be sure to jot down the MAC addresses for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS as these will be required during the setup.
o When enabling wireless encryption, configure the relay/remote base stations first and the main base station last.

Extending the range of Airport Extreme 802.11n

I have 2 Airport Extremes 802.11n. One of the is connected to a DSL modem and it works fine. I have been trying to use the other one to extend the network, but have not been successful.
I used the exact steps in the manual (Designing Airport Network) published by Apple. The steps I used (several times) were under "Extending the Range of an 802.11n Network".
Whenever I compete the steps and update the base station, the one that I want to use as the extension (not connected to the internet) disappears from the Airport Utility Application and the base station blinks the orange light. I did reset the base station and tried the guide several times but no success.
I am doing something wrong or this manual is not complete. Any help from you guys will be most appreciated.
Thanks!

I have the same problem. I didn't have this issue with the 802.11g version. Are you using the base station in "bridge" mode? Because when I used the "n" basestation in DHCP/NAT mode, it worked fine. Unfortunately, I needed to change to bridge mode for reliability issues with my service provider.
Now I have the same issue as you.

Using time capsule to extend a 2003 airport extreme

I have a 2003 airport extreme. I have a 2011Time Capsule. How can I use the Time Capsule to extend my range wirelessly?

Unfortunately, this is not possible, since the older AirPort Extreme does not have a setting to "extend a wireless network", which was added to the AirPort Extreme models in 2007.
It might be possible to have the older AirPort provide some additional wireless coverage if it can be permanently connected back to the Time Capsule using a wired Ethernet cable connection.

What's the range of airport extreme can the signal reach my basement my house is about 2500 sq ft

Whats the range on the airport extreme is the signal strong enough to reach the basement of a 2500 sq ft home. Thx

The maximum free-space range is 150 feet; slightly more in the 5 GHz band. However, walls, floors, other electronic devices, microwave ovens, etc. will attenuate the signal reducing the range for actual use.
I live in a 2300 SF townhome and wireless works fine from an AEBS on the second floor. I use an Airport Express on the first floor in Extend mode that is configured for my Slingplayer. Apple TV2 does not seem to have any problems. It's also on the bottom floor.
This is a six year old home so the walls are not made of plaster. Plaster on metal lath can prevent AEBS signals from being detected outside of the room where it's located.

Extending Range With AirPort Express

Hi, we recently purchased the new Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station and I want to extend the range with my older model AirPort Express. I know the new Base Station is 802.11n and my Express only supports a/b/g, I was wondering if it is still possible to extend the range, and if so, how do you do this?
Thanks!

Yes, it is possible, and here are the steps...
AEBSn - WDS Setup
(Note: To facilitate the WDS set up, place the base stations within near proximity of each other during the set up phase, and then relocate them to their desired locations when complete.)
Main Base Station Setup
- Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as the main base station.
- Open AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
- Select the main base station, and choose Manual Setup from the Base
Station menu, or double-click the base station to open the configuration in a separate window.
- Enter the base station password if necessary. If the base station is using the
default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
- Click Wireless in the toolbar, and then choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu.
- Click WDS and then choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
- Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox if you want client computer to connect to this base station.
- Click the Add button and enter the MAC address of the base stations you want to connect to this base station.
- Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
Remote Base Station Setup
- Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as a remote base station.
- Open AirPort Utility (in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh computer, or in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
- Select the remote base station, and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
- Enter the base station password, if necessary. If the base station is using the default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
- Enter the same network password as the main base station, if necessary.
- Click AirPort in the toolbar and click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
- Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
- Enter the MAC address of the main base station in the WDS Main field. The MAC address is also referred to as the AirPort ID and is printed on the label on the bottom of the base station.
- Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.
(ref: Pages 41-45 of "Designing AirPort Extreme 802.11n Networks.

Extend Network with Airport Extreme & Express

I am trying to extend the range of a wireless network from one house to another about 80 yards away. I have an Airport Extreme Base Station (ABES) and an Airport Express (AX) which is supposed to accomplish this. I found some instructions in the forums that walked me through configuring WDS. That was easy enough, however, when the AX restarts it doesn't come back up in the Airport Utility. It will come up if I do a hard reset on the AX. The ABES continues to show a WDS error and displays a flashing amber light.
What am I doing wrong? How do I fix this issue?

Karen,,, sorry for the interruption. I have the same issue..... AP Extreme Flying Saucer, AP Express "b", and a new AP Express "n" and would like to stop all the drop outs with my music. So, I'll ask Bob for some help.... I think I already know the answer.....
Bob,,,,, Here is my schematic layout.... Everything is "as the crow flies" and in the same height placement. iMac in bedroom, 1st Stereo in Living room approx 25 feet away, 2nd Stereo in a detach Shop approx 85 feet from the iMac. There is a concrete block wall between the computer and the first stereo and the same block wall along with two big glass windows between the computer and the shop stereo. Again all are in a straight line from the computer.
The new AP Express "n" is in the shop which is the greatest distance. If the wind is blowing hard I have lots of drop outs in both stereo's..... And during other nice weather times everything works excellent.
How can I extend the wireless signal??? I'll buy all "n" stuff if you think it'll do the trick....? I can't raise the Dr. Bott antenna due to cord length.... Oh,, my internet modem is plugged into the iMac not the AP Extreme...
Any suggestions....?

Extending range on AirPort Extreme

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