Extreme vs. Express

My Airport Express (bought in 2004) just died.
I used it to boost my primary Express station which is directly connected to my Comcast modem. The older Express was plugged into an outlet in another part of the house, closer to my Apple TV.
I use Apple TV a lot to display my 10,000 photos using iTunes Home Sharing.
Now, since I have only the one Express, I noticed a very long lag time in loading all my music and photos with Home Sharing.
I could order another Express and use two Expresses as I did before; or order a new Extreme and move my existing Express to the other part of the house to boost the signal.
What do you suggest?

#1 - can we place a USB spitter or mini hub on the express and have two printers?
Yes, if you use a powered USB hub
Hmm, for the reccord, I've got a non-powered USB hub hooked up to my TC. A printer hooked into that, as well as a thumb-drive. Then another non-powered usb hub into THAT, with yet another thumb drive into it as well. Oh, and every piece has it's own bunch of lights on it.
So far not a problem I guess I should try to see how much farther I can PUSH IT...

Similar Messages

Can't get Airport Extreme and Express to join same network

I recently bought an Airport Extreme so I could create a wireless network with my Airport Express. THis way I could browse the internet and stream music to my stereo at the same time. After spending hours trying to get both AP Extreme and Express linked together in a WDS network, I have failed time and time again. I have no problem setting the AP Extreme as the WDS main. My iMac and laptop connect to the AP Extreme just fine. I can set up the AP Express to stream music via iTunes to my stereo without problems. But to get them working together in the same network has got me stumped.
I've set the AP Extreme as WDS main and Express as WDS remote. They are both set to same wireless channel. Where am I going wrong? Is it a 802.11n/802.11g compatibility issue?
I'd appreciate any insight. Thanks.

adrian,
I have done this a dozen time today with different base stations like yours.
The only thing I can think of is this:
1. With the WDS Main, make sure you have the address of the Remote in the box.
2. With the WDS Remote, make sure you have the address of the Main in the box.
3. Make sure both base stations have the same network name in the wireless tab.
Then restart both base stations.
Let us know what you find out.
Joseph Kriz

I have an airport extreme and express, if I use the extreme as a base station connected to my old router can I use the express to extend the signal while also creating a new network that only I can use?

I have an airport extreme and express, if I use the extreme as a base station connected to my old router can I use the express to extend the signal while also creating a new network that only I can use? Essentially having two wifi connection off the same network? If so how do I set this up?

Extending using a wireless connection always results in a performance compromise.
If the Express is going to extend using a wireless connection, then the Express will need to be located about half way between the AirPort Extreme and the general area where you need more wireless coverage. The more that you have line-of-sight between the Extreme and Express, the better the network will operate.
Remember......the Express can only "extend" the quality and signal speed that it receives, so it needs to be located where it can get a very good signal from the Extreme. Although Apple cleverly uses the term "extend", a more accurate term for the Express would be "repeater".
If the Express will extend by connecting to the Extreme using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection......highly recommended for best performance.....then the Express can be located exactly where you need more wireless coverage. There is no signal loss at all through the Ethernet cable, so the Express gets a full speed signal no matter where it might be located.
Post back to let us know which way to you want to go.

Setting up a mixed g and n network on 1st Extreme + newer Express?

I have a first gen Airport Extreme 802.11n (flat white, first one they made before adding on gigabyte ethernet). It is great for my needs. It goes into a cable modem. The Extreme handles all routing and the rest. The modem is just a modem that, BTW, Comcast forces me to rent because I use their phone service and customers cannot buy a separate “Voip” specific to Comcast for use with a cable modem they already own. So a perfectly good Moto DOCIS 3.x modem I own sits idle…)
Anyhow…
I had a first gen Airport Express (very limited in capability). It died. So I got a new Airport Express 802.11n (flat white) about a year ago. I hooked that up mostly to use on a printer and for travel. I made it part of my main network. It “extends” it but, my house/property is very small. A large Wi-Fi network is not needed but, seemed only option to be on network and print.
Recently, I added yet another device to my Wi-Fi network. A small router for an AV receiver. It was, alas, 802.11g. I also have two other g devices and maybe a third and fourth (I’ll have to check, both I rarely use. One is unplugged as I rarely use it and the other is hooked up to an internet TV that is rarely used).
All of these devices worked great until I turn on my old Mac Mini, which I think is also 802.11g. Before that AV receiver router was added, it was fine. But now, Wi-Fi on it is basically gone. Except, when it isn’t!
For some reason, my network has decided that the Mini should connect via the Express. Since other g’s are on that, I think that is the problem. I don’t see how it happens but, sometimes, it connects with the older Extreme. When that happens, it seems to work great! Note, I did try using just he Express in place of the Extreme hooked up to the cable modem for the entire network but, it could not handle it. The Extreme can.
Since both the Extreme and Express are similar as 802.11n Wi-Fi routers except, the Express says something like revision 1 when I look at it on iOS Airport Utility (is it “better” in some way?) I think the solution is telling the Extreme and Express to only accept certain devices.
How can I tell each router to accept only certain devices? The old Extreme has one way (it seems) of doing this while the Express has another. But neither is precisely what I think I need to do. The settings for this are under the Wireless Options button under the Wireless tab in Airport Utility (latest, OSX). But if you can answer this question with any knowledge, you know that!
I’d just buy a new Extreme which, I think, allows radio signal frequency segregation (or whatever this is called) but, alas, these two Wi-Fi routers work great (except for the Mini) and I’d like to use them until one actually dies.

You still refuse to discuss data versus radio signal.
So, I guess that is that. You have no proof to back up your contention as neither do I.
Granted, from the g device to my Express, it is at g speeds. But, I contend, that once that g radio signal is converted back to data only (now at speed of light) inside the Express, the Express sends that data, via the exclusive “Extended network” connection, to the Extreme, at n speed. It has to as the Extreme will only take n speed.
Sure, it is splitting hairs, if I am right. I am not saying I am. But my idea (before our branch debate on g and n signal versus data upon arrival at the Express) is an interesting way to force old g clients to use only one router. But to force those pesky g clients to use the newer simultaneous dual band Express by setting the Extreme to 5GHz g only was a new solution for me. It worked too. In that case, it is not about minute speed gains or losses but simply letting the g clients have their one party at the Express, which can handle them better when part of an extended network with an older, original Extreme.
It is also far better to just have one Wi-Fi router as, adding Airport routers in an extended network, slows things down 60% or less and requires more "data management overheard", according to Apple*.
It is interesting that they said data management overhead and not radio signal management?
Alternatively, using the “Roaming network” method where the two stations are linked via Ethernet, is an even better option.
* https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202056

How can I best make use of all my devices ? Mac mini, Apple TV, AirPort Extreme, airport express, ipad 2 (all purchased in 2011) and an old imac with OS X. I use my iPhones personal hotspot for all Internet.

How can I best make use of all my devices ? Mac mini, Apple TV, AirPort Extreme, airport express, ipad 2 (all purchased in 2011) and an old imac with OS X. I use my iPhones personal hotspot for all Internet.

Maybe you are looking to re-purpose this equipment versus getting rid of it if so, the best thing to do is search the internet for tutorials. And I say this because it's what I would do, there are a lot of tutorials online. Hope you can find good use for them. Worse case scenario if you can't find something right now, package them very nicely and when you come across something unbox and enjoy. I've re-purposed a mac color classic and LOVE IT!!

Extreme and Express help... can't seem to co-exist?

Hey guys and gals. I'm having a bit of a problem with my AirPort Extreme and Express and need your help/recommendations. Okay first some background info...
I have a MacBook Pro (C2D), an Apple TV, and an iPhone that all connect to my AirPort Extreme (n draft spec). I had the AirPort Extreme running at n (b/g compatible). No problem.
Then I decided to get an AirPort Express so that I could stream my music from iTunes over to my Allen & Heath Xone 92 mixer and thus my nice Mackie studio monitors (i.e. use AirTunes to stream music to speakers). In hooked up all the hardware (i.e. the monster cable and the power cord) for the Express, then installed the supplied AirPort CD. I then phoned Apple Care because I didn't want to mess anything up. I don't remember what steps I took exactly with the representative, but basically at the end of the day we got the music to stream. Great! Well not so much... I didn't realize while I was on the phone that we had actually set up (I think this is correct) 2 "networks"... one was the AirPort Extreme, the other was the AirPort Express. So if I wanted to use the internet, I had to choose Extreme. If I wanted to stream music, I had to choose Express and no choice of using both at the same time.
So yesterday I phone Apple again... Explain the situation, and we hard reset both the Extreme and Express, this time setting up the Express as a WDS (wireless distribution system). Now I can use the internet and stream music at the same time. Great! Well not so much... now whenever I stream music it cuts out for minutes at a time, not really working properly.
So I phone Apple for the third time... We change a whole bunch of settings, delete preference files (BIG mistake... reset all my energy settings, .Mac, etc.... thanks Apple!!!!) and at the end of like 4 different scenarios basically reset the Extreme and Express, but this time under the guise that the reason the last setup was cutting out while streaming music was that the Extreme was using WPA2 security and the Express only really likes WEP. So I change to WEP when I hard reset the Extreme, hard reset the Express, do a WDS and everything seems to be working (while on the phone with Apple). Great! Not so much... hahahaha.
So now the issue is that I can't connect to the AirPort Extreme network all the time... it shows up under my lists of networks (along with some of my neighbor's networks) but OS X will not automatically connect to it. When I select it I get the "error while trying to connect" error. Also my iPhone will not automatically connect to the AirPort Extreme either.
So basically what the heck is going on??? How can I have my AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express, iPhone, and Apple TV all co-exist on a network and be able to at the same time browse the internet and stream music over AirTunes???
Sorry for the long read... Please help!
-Keith

Unless you have a requirement to extend your 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station's (AEBSn) wireless network with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), then you only needed to set up the AX in "client mode" to stream iTunes.
AirPort Express Base Station (AX) - iTunes Setup
Either connect to the AX's wireless network or connect directly, using an Ethernet cable, to the Ethernet port of the AX, and then using the AirPort Utility in "Manual Setup" mode, make the following changes:
AirPort > Base Station
o Base Station Name: <rename or leave default>
o Base Station Password: <enter desired password>
o Verify Password: <re-enter desired password>
AirPort > Wireless
o Wireless Mode: Join a wireless network
o Network Name: <existing AEBSn's wireless network>
o Wireless Security: <select the encryption type of the existing wireless network>
Music
o Enable AirTunes (checked)
o Enable AirTunes over Ethernet (optional)
o iTunes Speaker Name: <enter desired speaker name>
o iTunes Speaker Password: (optional)
o Verify Password: (optional)

Macbook pro cannot maintain extreme and express wireless signals while all PC's in vicinity can

I have a 2006 Macbook Pro whose Airport Utility cannot locate the Extreme and Express network in the house while every PC in the house is fine and can get the signal even in the basement.

This sounds like the internal antenna connector in the laptop has likely lost its connection, or the wireless card may be acting up. Suggest that you take the MacBook Pro to an Apple store to let them have a look.

Can I boost the DSL signal using my 1st Generation Airport Extreme or Express? Also, can I get wireless printing?

Can I boost the DSL signal using my 1st Generation Airport Extreme or Express?
I just moved into a house where they have ATT DSL and it is really slow in my room. I am hoping that I don't have to purchase a booster and I might be able to use my Airport Extreme or Express to boost it. I don't think they want my Extreme as their router, though. They are PC.
I am also hoping that I can set up a wireless printing situation in my room using the Express or Extreme.
I am running 10.4.11 on my old MacBook Pro laptop, 10.5.something on my old desktop (MacMini).
Thanks for any help ahead of time,
Carole

Can I boost the DSL signal using my 1st Generation Airport Extreme or Express?
I just moved into a house where they have ATT DSL and it is really slow in my room. I am hoping that I don't have to purchase a booster and I might be able to use my Airport Extreme or Express to boost it.
Unfortunately, this won't work especially if you want the connection between the routers to be wireless. The two are just not compatible for configuring an extended network. However, it could work if you can have them interconnected by wire. In that case, you could configure them into a roaming network.
I don't think they want my Extreme as their router, though. They are PC.
This shouldn't be an issue as the AirPorts support wireless clients regardless of which operating system they are running.

Here's one for ya! Extreme and Express together...

Hi,
I purchased an Extreme and Express today. (So far this is working much better than the D-Link and Linksys I tested.)
Ok, here's what I'd like to do.
Firstly, the DSL modem is connected to the Extreme.
1) I have a Mac Pro 2.66 which is connected to the Extreme via Ethernet cable.
2) The Express is in the living room.
3) An iMac 2.4 which is in the study, is quite a distance from the Extreme, which is why I purchased the Express... to Bridge.
Ok everything works when the Extreme is set to 2.4 GHz, but when I set the Extreme to 5 GHz, I have service on the Mac Pro, but the iMac does not get any service. I imagine this has something to do with the Express... maybe not.
Does anyone know why I can't get any service on the iMac when the Extreme is set to 5GHz?
Your help would be truly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
-Dean

I would move the Express away from all that and if possible find an outlet where the Express will be by itself (a dedicated outlet just for the Express and nothing else around it.) Also make sure to plug the Express directly to the wall and not using a power extension (if you have a surge suppressor buy one of those in-wall or over the socket adapters, nothing with big long wires.)

Upgrade to new Extreme, old Express no longer recognized.

Original setup: 2009 iMac (Mavericks), Airport Extreme (A1143), Airport Express (A1264-extending range). All worked fine, and worked equally well on new iMac retina (Yosemite).
Upgraded to Airport Extreme 802.11ac (A1521) on the retina iMac. Works great, but not quite to the other corner of the house. However the system no longer recognizes either the early Airport Extreme or Express. Where is the problem? Yosemite? Airport Utility? Hardware incompatibility?
Current solution: place the new Airport Extreme in the middle of the house with long ethernet cable. But I’d like to use the Express to drive remote speakers. All devices connected are at least “n” capable.

Original setup: 2009 iMac (Mavericks), Airport Extreme (A1143), Airport Express (A1264-extending range). All worked fine, and worked equally well on new iMac retina (Yosemite).
Upgraded to Airport Extreme 802.11ac (A1521) on the retina iMac. Works great, but not quite to the other corner of the house. However the system no longer recognizes either the early Airport Extreme or Express. Where is the problem? Yosemite? Airport Utility? Hardware incompatibility?
Current solution: place the new Airport Extreme in the middle of the house with long ethernet cable. But I’d like to use the Express to drive remote speakers. All devices connected are at least “n” capable.

Windows 7 does not recognize Aiport Extreme and Express

My Windows 7 operating system (service pack 1) no longer recognzes my Airpot Extreme and Express after I upgraded to AirPort Utility 5.6.1. Could anyway one help me find a solution. The Macbook Pro version of Airport Utility works fine.

By the way, my PC is connected to the Airport extreme by direct cable, and there is no wireless card on my PC.

Cannot connect with extreme, yet Express works fine

I just moved into a loft that has built in high-speed internet. Before unpacking I used my Airport Extreme (a wonderful product btw;) and had no problems. Tried out my Airport Extreme but it only connects sporadically, for short periods, and only after multiple bouts of "shut everything down and bring it back up again".
Specifically:
- under the network connection assistant thing all lights are green up to, but not including, "Internet" or beyond (typically)
- pages look like they are preparing to load but no progress is made
- the loft has a Linsys router (called a workgroup switch)
Now while the Extreme was having difficulty I removed the cable and popped it into the Express, VIOLA! it works seamlessly every time.
Any suggestions and what to do?
Powermac G4 - Dual 1.0 & iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5) AP Extreme and Express, Linsys router

Sorry, in the first paragraph I meant to say I connected to my Airport EXPRESS at first and it work without a hitch transmitting the internet signal from the linksys router to my laptop. It is my darn AP Extreme Base Station that is giving all the problems... What's up with that?
Also, when I plug the router into the WAN and computer into LAN (in the base station) the Airport Utility gives me a warning that an Ehternet connection is in the LAN port and I should switch my Internet connection to the WAN port. IT IS IN THE WAN PORT! OMG, this is getting frustrating....

Can I connect a network storage device to Airport Extreme or Express?

I have a wireless network with an Airport Extreme base station and 2 Airport Express network extenders and would like to add a network storage device to the network so our whole family can access it for backups and storage.
Can I connect a USB or etherent storage device(hard drive) to one of the ports on the extreme or express and have it show up on all of our desktops like our printers do?
If not--Is there another to accomplish what I need?
Thanks!

You can ethernet storage, but not USB storage.
AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express: Uses for the USB port
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107857
iFelix

802.11n AirPort Extreme and Express

Hello,
Thank you in advance for all your help and replies, I truly appreciate it.
I'm looking to purchase an 802.11n Airport Extreme and AirPort Express. I want to setup the Extreme next to my DSL modem and setup the Express in another room and have it extend the wireless network. The Express will also serve as an ethernet port from my DVR unit. I have read different posts that indicated that if I setup the Express to wirelessly connect to the Extreme, via WDS, or some other method, the wireless network will be downgraded to 802.11g. I currently have a 802.11g wireless network. I have one Buffalo Technology 802.11g wireless router and one Buffalo Technology 802.11g router (setup as an access point) and can do everything I need except connect a external HD via USB.
If at all possible, I would like the entire network (Extreme and Express) to use the same SSID and password. Have the Extreme perform the MAC filtering, provide DHCP address, and service a guest network.
So, do I understand what I have read correctly, that connecting an 802.11n Extreme and 802.11n Express via wireless (WDS, or other method) will downgrade the network to 802.11g? Are there any other recommendations on how I should connect these two devices and provide 802.11n service?
Again, thank you in advance.
--GMReed

When using the "extend" feature with the new 802.11n base stations, the extended wireless network operates in the 802.11n mode. I believe you may be referring to one of two things that may have led you to that conclusion: 1) When extending a network with the older static version of a WDS, the extended network operates in the 802.11g mode. This is true when either or both base stations are 802.11g models, and 2) Non-"n" wireless clients, connected to a "n" network, will bring the network down to the lowest bandwidth level of the oldest standard. Although connecting these types of clients does affect the overall bandwidth available to "n" clients, it does NOT bring the overall wireless network down to "g" or "b" level.
>If at all possible, I would like the entire network (Extreme and Express) to use the same SSID and password.
By default, both base stations must uses the same Network Name or SSID and wireless password to work properly.
>Have the Extreme perform the MAC filtering, provide DHCP address, and service a guest network.
For MAC filtering in an extended network, both base stations must be configured with the same MAC addresses for all clients that you want access to the extended network. The Extreme would provide DHCP service, but (unfortunately) you cannot extend the guest network.

Best way to extend WiFi network with extreme and express using access contr

I just got my new AirPort Extreme and configured it to use 2,4 and 5 GHz. I also would like to use Access control. When I configure my AirPort Express to extend my network I see two strange things happen.
1. On both devices I have to configure access control. I figured this is an extension of the Extreme, the Express uses the same list
2. When I finished configuring I see the Extreme and Express flash heavily green and my wired network is becoming extreme slow. I think the two devices are talking to each other, but packets are dropping??
I tried a hard and soft reset of the both devices, no solution.
Does anyone recognize this problem and maybe you can tell me what the best way is to configure both devices.
Is there also a way to configure WEP instead of WPA for using my Nintendo DS.
The firmware I use is 7.5.2

I just got my new AirPort Extreme and configured it to use 2,4 and 5 GHz. I also would like to use Access control. When I configure my AirPort Express to extend my network I see two strange things happen.
1. On both devices I have to configure access control. I figured this is an extension of the Extreme, the Express uses the same list
2. When I finished configuring I see the Extreme and Express flash heavily green and my wired network is becoming extreme slow. I think the two devices are talking to each other, but packets are dropping??
I tried a hard and soft reset of the both devices, no solution.
Does anyone recognize this problem and maybe you can tell me what the best way is to configure both devices.
Is there also a way to configure WEP instead of WPA for using my Nintendo DS.
The firmware I use is 7.5.2

Network with Airport Extreme, Airport Express and Time Capsule

Hi,
I have a good internet connection working perfectly in the following order. ISP connected by ethernet (cable) to an AE and this extended to an EX and this extended to a new TC. The AE and AX are 801.11 b/g/n but not dual as the new TC. My question is. If I work with an iPhone, the AE is going to work just with g forcing to TC to work with g as well with the rest of the equipments (AppleTV, other iPhones, iMac? I have an iMac that should be connected to the new TC and I would like to do it by 802.11n, is it possible in this configuration? I now that it would better if I organize the network with the new TC (dual) first. However, the TC is too far from the iMac and this is not my favorite option.
Another question is:
The new TC is very close to AppleTV but wirelessly. Will I increase the speed for watching movies which are placed at TC (through external disks connected to the USB in the new TC) if I connect the TC to AppleTV using an ethernet cable?
Thanks,
Jokin

... My question is. If I work with an iPhone, the AE is going to work just with g forcing to TC to work with g as well with the rest of the equipments
The answer is yes, but I believe you can avoid that by having the iPhone connect only to the new dual band TC. Configure *everything else* to run an 802.11n network exclusively - not "802.11n (b/g compatible)". This way the iPhone will be unable to connect to that network, causing it to run in the slower b/g compatible mode. Your iPhone will work fine, as long as it remains within range of your TC's 802.11g wireless network.
Remember that you will need to change all your equipment's settings: the Extreme, the Express, the TC, and maybe the AppleTV.
Galt's rule of networking: "The number of problems you encounter increases exponentially with the number of devices on your network."
So... proceed methodically.
The new TC is very close to AppleTV but wirelessly. Will I increase the speed for watching movies which are placed at TC (through external disks connected to the USB in the new TC) if I connect the TC to AppleTV using an ethernet cable?
The speed will be limited by the slowest link in your network chain. A wired network is always preferable, since it cannot be affected by interference or obstructions.
If you are streaming movies from the Internet, your wireless link will probably be the limiting factor.

Extreme vs. Express

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for