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

Similar Messages

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.

HT4259 I have a Netgear wndr3400 and I can "join a wireless network" but can not "extend a wireless network" on my Airport express. Does anyone know why?

I have a Netgear wndr3400 and I can "join a wireless network" but can not "extend a wireless network" on my Airport express. Does anyone know why?

Sorry, but "Extend a wireless network" is a proprietary Apple setting that will only work if you have another Apple router.
It is not compatible with devices from other manufacturers.

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).

Having trouble securing my Time Capsule wireless network

Hi everyone,
I purchased the Time Capsule to use as my main source of wireless connection in my living room some few months back. Recently, I have noticed that my wireless network has been acting slower than usual, especially during peak hours. Popping open up system preferences showed me that my Apple wireless network was unsecured.
Several attempts of changing the WEP password and locking it proved unsuccessful, as I was able to detect the network on my mobile phone and on several laptops I have at home. Changing it to WPA and WPA2 also didn't fix this problem.
I just wanted to quickly ask if I am doing something wrong? Why am I still able to see my own wireless connection even if I am not using my own computer? (I tested the connectivity by using a seperate laptop I have and I STILL found the network as being unsecured on this laptop and both on my mobile).
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Why am I still able to see my own wireless connection even if I am not using my own computer?
By default, all wireless routers will broadcast their Network Names (SSID). However, in order to connect to ones that are secured, you would either have to enter the encryption key manually or it can be done automatically if stored in your Mac's Keychain.

Can I extend my network by connecting one of my airport express devices to my airport extreme via an ethernet cable? I have CAT5 cable throughout my house but have a wireless network w/ 3 airport expresses

Can I extend my wireless network by connecting one of my airport express devices to my airport extreme via an ethernet cable? I have a wireless network with 3 airport expresses and 1 airport extreme functioning as the base station. I have CAT5 throughout my house.

Welcome to the discussions, mib88!
Can I extend the network a second time with another Airport Express...
The short answer would be no. If you want more details, please continue to the next paragraph.
Apple's "extend a wireless network" works just like the hub and spokes of a wheel. Your main hub is either the Time Capsule or the AirPort Extreme and the AirPort Express is at the end of a spoke. You can add more devices at the ends of other spokes, but these devices will communicate directly to the hub, not to another device at the end of a spoke.
Apple does offer an option which is is known as a "static WDS", which can consist of a "main", "relay" and "remote" device. The problem here is that this type of setup has two huge drawbacks:
1) All of your faster "n" devices will drop down to much slower "g" speeds
2) The bandwidth or speed capability on the network will drop down to only 25% of the original bandwidth with a "main", "relay" and "remote" on the network.
Don't think you want this on your network. Your best option is to connect the new AirPort Express to the "hub" using an ethernet connection. If you can't run the ethernet cable, take a look at a pair of ethernet powerline adapters to accomplish the same task by sending the ethernet signal over the AC powerline in your home.

Wireless network issues w Airport Express and Belkins Powerline HD

Hi,
I have a new Airport Extreme and the wireless network generally works great with my iPad and Sony Vaio, but there are wireless deadspots in my house when using my MacBook, and the wifi signal will die out often for it in those spots. I'm guessing it's because my MacBook is old with only a a/b/g wireless capabilities. I tried extending my network using Airport Express in the deadspots, but it did nothing to strengthen the signal (i.e., since it ended up extending the weak signal).
So, I bought a Belkin's Powerline HD (gigabit), connected one Powerline receiver to the Airport Extreme using ethernet and plugged it into the wall outlet. I plugged in the other Powerline receiver into the wall outlet in the separate room with the deadspot, and I connected my the Airport Express to it directly using ethernet and am having no luck getting the Airport Express create/extend my current wifi network (i tried creating a new network too, but no luck). I know the Powerline does work because when I connect my MacBook to it using ethernet (i.e, not using Airport Express), I have no problems connecting to the internet. But I would really like to create/extend a wireless network in the deadspots of the house for my MacBook so I don't have to use the ethernet cable.
In the Airport Utilities, I set up the Airport Express to connect to Airport Extreme using ethernet and extend the current wireless network (also tried creating a new network). I got as far as getting a successful set-up confirmation and a green light on the Express base unit and can get full bars on the MacBook. But when I try to connect to the internet, I get an error message saying that there is no internet connection. (Same error when I created a new wireless network.) The diagnostic says there is no ISP signal/connection, which leads me to believe that the Express is not connecting to the internet through Airport Extreme. What am I missing? Thanks in advance!

HI, I don't know very much about Airport Express or indeed Apple products in general. However, I do use Belkin 200mbps powerline adapters.
I have used these adapters in two separate ways. 1) device to router; 2) additional wireless access point to router
In the first situation they work perfectly fine and the connection is fast and reliable for anything I care to throw at it (file transfers, audio / video streaming, internet browsing). However, in the second situation the connection drops intermittently. I will have access to the main router via the access point over powerline for all devices, then suddenly this will just stop. To restart it I have to remove the powerline from the mains, wait about ten seconds, plug back in, let it boot up and reconnect and I'm connected again.
Having read more (sorry I don't have the links to hand), it appears that powerline adapters can handle one-to-one traffic fine, but when bridging a wireless access point where several wireless clients are transmitting / receiving, they 'lock up' and just stop. Even when connected in this configuration, streams tend to stutter and my squeezebox devices get totally out of synch.
Given I know very little about Airport Express (i conceded as much at the top of this post), is it fair to assume that a belkin powerline connected to the 'Express' would closer match with scenario 2 in my above description? If so, I'm afraid I don't believe Belkin Powerline will be a suitable solution for you. Hope my experience saves you the days of head-scratching I went through before removing powerline devices (incidentally, I bought a wireless repeater to solve my problem in the end, and put the powerline adapters to good use by connecting my media player (under the TV) to the main router directly).

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.

How do I extend an existing wireless network with a 2nd time capsule? I want to tether them with a gigabit ethernet connection.

I am having trouble with extending a wireless network using 2 timecapsules (1 is 1 terrbyte hdd, the other has a 2TB HDD.) The first one is connected to the WAN (cable modem) and our LAN. I would like to connect the 2nd one to the ethernet LAN and have it 'rebroadcast' the 1st ones wireless n network in order to expand the overall range of the network. Your help is very much appreciated.

Suggest that you download and install the much more useful AirPort Utility 5.6 for Mac OS X Lion.
I assume that Time Capsule 1 is operating correctly at this time.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility 5.6
Select Time Capsule 1 and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons and make a note of each of the setttings on this Wireless page.
Make sure that the Ethernet cable is connected to the WAN "O" port on Time Capsule 2.
Open up AirPort Utility and select Time Capsule 2 and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the icons and enter the exact same settings that you wrote down for Time Capsule 1
Click the Internet icon, then click the Internet Connection tab
Make sure that the settings look like this:
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Click Update and allow 25-30 seconds for Time Capsule 2 to restart to a green light
Very important......perform a power cycle of the entire network as follows:
Power off every device in any order that you wish
Wait a minute
Power up the modem and let it run for minute by itself
Power up Time Capsule 1 the same way
Power up Time Capsule 2 the same way
Continue starting devices one at a time the same way until the entire network is back up

Extending an existing wireless network with a new Airport Extreme(802.11n)

Is it possible to extrend a existing wireless network comprised on a Airport Extreme (g) and a Airport Express with a new Airport Extreme (n) ? and possibly accesss an airdisk? Have tried settng channel to the same (1) but no worky.
I have had real problems (at least 2 hours with Apple Care to no avail) at getting the new Airport Extreme(n) to connect to the internet (Ozemail/iinet) with PPOE. Authentication when changed to occur at ADSL modem and produces no errors (green light) but no internet still through AE(n). Not Hardware either as both ADSL modem and AE(n) have been changed.
So as a last ditch attempt, thought I might try extending the preexisting network that works fine so I can access an AirDisk.
Any reponses appreciated.

Search this forum for "WDS". Since I am having massive problems myself right now, I can only tell you: Try the two methods mentioned in this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=944334&tstart=0
Maybe you're lucky!

Extend a E4200v2 wireless network with airport extreme

I have a E4200v2 i also have a Airport Extreme I want to use this to extend my wireless range in my house? I've played around a little tring to configure the Airport extreme but can't seem to get it to connect to my E4200v2?
Can you mod the Airprt Extreme with dd-wrt or something that might unlock some of the features?
I can't stand the interface. The E4200v2 is brand new.

Before I suggest you for any trouble shooting steps, I would like to as few questions. Is you Linksys/Cisco router can able to access the Internet. If YES then try the following steps
1. After unpacking your Airport Extreme, connect the ethernet cable from your jack to the leftmost ethernet port on the back of the Airport. This is the WAN port marked with the small circular image. Next plug the AC adapter into the power port on the Airport and plug it into the wall.
2. Once the Airport Extreme has been plugged into the network and powered on, the status light on the front will go through a series of colored flashes. When the status light glows solid green, your Airport has been initialized and is connected to the network. This may take a few minutes. If your status light fails to glow solid green, please consult your manual for status light explanations.
3. Make sure the wireless card on your computer is enabled and turned on. Connect to your Airport Extreme, which will most likely appear as Apple Network followed by some letters.
4. Next install the Airport software from the included CD. After installation, launch the Airport Utility application. This is located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows.
Please keep in mind that the Airport Utility is released with a new version every few months, so the screen shots you see below may not look exactly like what you see on your computer.
5. Select your base station, and then click Continue.
6. Enter a Wireless Network Name and a Base Station Name and click Continue. Write these names down for future reference.
7. Enter your Country and Radio Mode on the next screen. Using 802.11n (802.11b/g compatible) is the proper choice in most cases. Click Continue.
8. Select WPA2 Personal security on the next screen, then enter a Wireless Network Password and Verify it. This password must be between 8 and 63 characters. You should write this password down and keep it near your Airport Extreme in case you forget it. Click Continue.
9. Select "I connect to my local area network (LAN)" on the next screen and click Continue.
10. Leave the default settings (Using DHCP) on the next screen and click Continue.
11. If you are interested in connecting USB peripherals to your Airport, consult your manual for additional information. Otherwise leave the default settings and click Continue.
12. Enter a Base Station Password and Verify it. Write this password down and keep it near your Airport Extreme. You will need it if you ever want to modify any settings for your base station. Click Continue.
13. Click Update. Your Airport Extreme base station has been configured and will now restart. Quit the Airport Utility and connect to your new wireless network.
Check whether it helps you or not..

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.

Extend Linksys WRT160N wireless network with Airport Express

First off, I'm a network simpleton, so please keep that in mind!
I've seen similar posts, but I'm not sure definitively if this is possible. Trying to extend the wireless network from a linksys wrt160N with the airport. Is this possible without a phd in network engineering? If so, are there step by step instructions someplace that can help me?
I really appreciate any direction!

Welcome to the discussions!
I'm assuming that you are trying to do this using wireless only.
Apple's "extend a wireless network" feature will only work if both the main router and extending device are Apple "n" devices. Unfortunately, this feature is not compatible with devices from other manufacturers.

Extending my Linksys Wireless Network with AirPort Express

I would like to add an Airport Express to my wireless network to extend my wifi range and add AirPlay to my home theater system. Can Airport Express be used to extend my current wireless system that is not an Airport Extreme devise?
Also, by adding the Airport Express does this now limit the number of devices I can have on my wireless network to the 10 even if the Linksys supports 50?
Thanks for any advise...

Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of Wireless Distribution System (WDS)...so it very unlikely that your non-AirPort router can be extended wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX).
The few that are known to work are:
another Airport Express Base Station
802.11g Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS)
802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn)
Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not v5)
Belkin F5D7230-4 and F5D7231
BT Voyager 2091
Netgear WGR614 v6
Buffalo WGR-G54

Trouble extending wireless network using 2 Airport Expresses

I used to have one Airport Express extending my Time Capsule, and had a stable network. Since adding a second Express I have intermittent prroblems - sometimes termporarily "losing" the network from my devices (Mac Mini, iPhones, iPads) at various parts of the apartment. I absolutely can no longer use Time Machine to back up my Mac Mini from the second Express to the TC (a full backup estimated 5 days and keeps timing out or failing).
There's quite a bit of degradation in the signal from the front of the apartment (the TC) to the back (the 2nd Express). For example, at the TC attached to the cable modem, I get about 20-25 Mbps download (very happy) and in the back where my computers now are, I get about 2 Mbps (unliveable - really).
I need it to be stable, but sure hope I can get better performance. Can anyone help me troubleshoot or tune up the performance?
Are these Expresses phasing each other in and out?
My configuration:
Living room: Time Capsule (1st generation) running 802.11n 2.4GHz only network. Firmware version 7.6.1
Next in line, about 35 feet away, Airport Express, FW Version 7.6.1
Last in chain, another 35 feet away, Airport Express, FW Verson 7.6.1
I live in a 1,600 sq ft apartment, not a huge house. There are some walls, but I try to keep them pretty exposed.
I set it up using Apple's Airport Utility v 6.1 (610.31), from Mac Mini using Lion 10.7.4
Default settings, no tricks, DHCP. Just turned off Airplay to see if that would help.
Airport Utility says (today) I have "excellent" connections between the devices.
Any help would be grealy appreciated.
Jim

Next in line, about 35 feet away, Airport Express, FW Version 7.6.1
Last in chain, another 35 feet away, Airport Express, FW Verson 7.6.1
The "remote" devices in Apple's "Extend a wireless network" setup all connect directly to the main router...in this case, it would be the Time Capsule.
The setup works like the hub and spokes of a wheel. The Time Capsule would be the hub and each AirPort Express resides at the end of a spoke. A device at the end of a spoke cannot communicate with another device at the end of another spoke. It communicates directly to the Time Capsule.
Remember that an "extending" device can only extend the bandwidth (speed) of the signal that it receives. It can help provide more signal strength.....but it cannot make the signal that it receives go faster. Placement is critical.
If you had only one Express, a good location might be approximately half the distance from the Time Capsule to the general area that needs more wireless coverage.
Chances are, the second Express is receiving such a weak (and slow) signal, that it cannot do anything to help. It is like a copy machine trying to copy a very poor image. You may well be better off eliminating the most distant Express and trying things that way.
Things get more complicated when you add in obstructions like walls. Even a typical interior sheetrock wall will absorb 15-20% of the signal or more, so after a few walls the signal has already lost approximately half of the strength...and speed.

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

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