How far is the range of the Airport Extreme and how much does it boost your Internet speed?

We have a D-link wireless router, and it's worked fine for us, and covers the area around our house easily, but we have lots of other property too, though.  I was wondering, what is the range of the Airport Extreme?  Besides that,  I've seen some communities that say the Airport Extreme is  much faster than other routers, but since we have 1 MB per second Internet speed, would that affect speed much?  I also was thinking about getting it because we have a USB printer that we'd like to use with our macs, but it would have to be integrated to our network.  Our current router has a USB port on the back, but to connect, you have to use Shareport utility, and even then, you can only connect 1 device at a time.  It would be nice to be able to convert the USB signal to a network signal.

Hi - it is impossible to know what you are asking without knowing the model of the Dlink - this chart might help you compare - http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/router-charts/view - as far as the printer is concerned, the USB port on the Extreme is designed for printers and hard drives - they are recognized when plugged in and seen on your computer so they can be installed - there is no extra utility involved - if you use a powered USB hub you can connect more than one device at a time - http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/features/printing.html - and I recommend that if you decide to try the Extreme that you know what the return policy is in case it doesn't work out in your situation.

Similar Messages

  • How to extend the range of my Airport Extreme network by adding an Airport Express

    How to extend the range of my Airport Extreme network by adding an Airport Express?

    You have to make sure that the AirPort Express is in Factory Default Settings. If it is straight out of the box, it is ready to be configured.
    The instructions that I will provide are for using AirPort Utility 6.0, which you have.
    Locate the Express in the same room as the AirPort Extreme for the configuration. Power it up and allow a full minute for the Express to display a blinking amber light.
    Make sure that the wireless is turned on your Mac
    Open AirPort Utility 6.0 and look at the small rectangle in the upper left hand corner of the display. It should now read something like "Other AirPort Base Stations (1)"
    Click on the rectangle, and then click on the AirPort Express xxxxxx listing
    AirPort Utility will take a minute or two to analyze the settings on your network and then suggest that  the Express be configured to "Extend" your wireless network.
    Edit the Base Station name to your liking, then click Next in the lower right hand corner
    Allow a full minute or two let AirPort Utility do its work
    When you see Setup Complete, click Done at the lower right of the window.
    Now move the AirPort Express to a location that is approximately half way between the AirPort Extreme and the area that needs more wireless coverage.
    You should be in business.

  • I'm trying to extend the range of an Airport Extreme 802.11g by adding an Airport Express 802.11n. I set the Express up to join the existing network, but it does not make any difference in the range of the network. What's wrong?

    I'm trying to extend the range of an Airport Extreme 802.11g by adding an Airport Express 802.11n. I set the Express up to join the existing network, but it does not make any difference in the range of the network. What's wrong?

    Let me see if I can help you with the basic WDS configuration steps:
    Note: To help facilitate the setup, temporarily connect the AXn directly to the AEBS LAN port using an Ethernet cable. Once the setup is complete, you can move the AXn to the desired location. For all configuration steps you will be using the AirPort Utility. Before starting, be sure to jot down the AppleIDs for both base stations.
    802.11g AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) Configuration
    AirPort Utility > Select the AEBS > Manual Setup > Wireless tab
    Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network
    Manual Setup > WDS tab
    WDS Mode: WDS main
    Allow wireless clients (checked)
    WDS Remotes: <enter the AppleID for the AXn here>
    Click on Update and allow the base station to restart.
    802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) Configuration
    AirPort Utility > Select the AXn > Manual Setup > Wireless tab
    Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network (Note: You may have to hold down the Option (Mac) or Control (PC) key to see this option in the list.)
    Manual Setup > WDS tab
    WDS Mode: WDS remote
    Allow wireless clients (checked)
    WDS Main: <enter the AppleID for the AEBS here>
    Click on Update and allow the base station to restart.

  • Can i extend the range of an airport extreme with another airport extreme and use the ports on the airport extreme i used to extend the network?

    That seems like a complicated question. 
    I have a Time Capsule (which the HD *****, but that is matter for another discussion) and want to extend the range with an Airport Extreme because I have 2 devices in one room that do not do wireless but have Ethernet ports.
    The room has iffy WiFy connectivity too.
    I want to know if the 3 ports on the Airport Extreme still work after configuring it as an extender rather than a router.

    The thing is that I want to know if I can put the Airport Extreme at the edge of the room where the existing Base does not reach.
    This will not work.
    Remember, an "extending" AirPort can only extend the quality of wireless signal that it receives. For that reason, it must be located where it can receive a strong wireless signal in order to work effectively.
    For example, let's say that your "main" router was on one end of the house and you want to extend the signal to reach the other end of the house.  In this case, you would locate the "extending" AirPort about half way between the main router and the other side of the house.

  • External antenna to extend the range of an Airport Extreme 802.11g

    What is the best external antenna for extending the range of my Airport Extreme? My studio is in an old metal building and I want to send the single to my house which is about 50' away. The metal blocks the signal so I believe I need some kind of directional antenna. Any advise?

    Here are a few you can check out ...
    o Dr. Bott's ExtendAIR Direct Antenna
    o QuickerTek 27dBm Transceiver

  • TS1589 i setup my airport extreme and now i do not have no internet connection

    I'm having a difficult time setting up my airport extreme to my iphone 4s.  i setup my airport extreme and now i don't have no internet connection.  I have a PC not a Mac desktop computer at home.  i am confused with the setup.

    downlaod the airport utility app on your iphone, it will let you setup your device
    then factory reset your extreme
    Press and hold the reset button with a pen, pencil, or straightened paperclip until you see the status light (LED) start to flash amber rapidly, which should occur after about five seconds.

  • Can I extend the range with an Airport Extreme?

    Hi there,
    Is it possible to extend a wireless network's range with an Airport Extreme (just like you can do with an Airport Express)? Currently I have a Billion wireless modem/router but need to extend the range so I can use my PS3 in my bedroom. I would rather get an Airport Extreme instead of an Express so I can take it with me when I move out. Just need to know if the Extreme will do this as it doesn't mention it on the website.
    Thanks for your time.
    Regards,
    Daniel

    Welcome to the discussions!
    +Is it possible to extend a wireless network's range with an Airport Extreme (just like you can do with an Airport Express)?+
    The AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and even the Time Capsule can "extend a wireless network", +but... they are only compatible if you have another Apple router as the main device.+
    Sorry, but none of the Apple products would be compatible to extend the range of your Billion wireless router using wireless only. You might want to check to see if Billion has a "range extender" or similar compatible device.

  • I have an old airport that still works, can you use it the same way that one uses an airport express to extend the range of an airport extreme base station?

    It would save me a few bucks if I could use an old airport that I have to extend the range of a new airport extreme.  My concept would simply be to use the old Airport the same way I would use a newer Airport Express as a slave repeater.  Is this doable?

    Both the new AirPort Extreme and older AirPort Express will have to be configured using Apple's WDS settings to provide more wireless coverage. 
    Here are the downsides:
    WDS operates only at "g" wireless speeds, so you will lose all of the faster "n" wireless capability of the new AirPort Extreme
    WDS cuts the bandwidth on the entire network in half, so you will have a "g" wireless network running at half speed.
    WDS is difficult for most users to configure because it is easy to make a mistake and hard to recover without starting all over again
    Bottom line......Saving a few bucks will be very costly in terms of performance on your network.

  • Using an Airport Express to extend the range of my Airport Extreme.

    i've just bought an Airport Extreme and an Airport Express so i can connect my MacBook in my bedroom (second floor) to the DSL modem in the basement.
    i was able to configure the Extreme as a base station but cannot figure out how to configure the Express to use as a relay.
    no matter what i do, i cannot get the Express to show up in the Airport Utility, even when i have it powered in right beside the Extreme base station in the basement.
    please help!

    I have found that you need to have an Ethernet cord connecting the Airport Express to your Mac to set up the Express to work on WDS with your Extreme. Once it is set up, you should be able to see both the Extreme and the Express wirelessly, but for setup you need the wire to the Express.

  • Is there a difference between the early version of Airport Extreme and the current model?

    I have an Airport Extreme I purchased in 2008.  It has a flat top.  Are the new models of Airport Extreme any improvement?

    Your model is able to produce a 2.4 GHz wireless network....OR.....a 5 GHz wireless network, but not both at the same time.
    Generation 2 through 5 of the AirPort Extreme feature simultaneous dual band operation, so both a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network are produced at the same time. Your newer faster devices will connect to the 5 GHz band and the older slower, or mobile devices like an iPhone will connect to the slower 2.4 GHz band.
    This way, the slower devices will not slow down the faster devices as they normally would on a single band router like your Generation 1 model.
    In addition, Generation 2 through 5 also have a Guest Network feature, which allows you to set up a separate network just for "guests'. This way, the guests can connect to the Internet, but they cannot "see" any of the devices on your "main" or private network.
    The latest Generation 5 model incorporates a new antenna design which seems to provide better range and signal penetration as well.

  • How do I open ports on my airport extreme and assign a fixed IP Address for a device connected to my network?

    I recently had a security system installed in my house.  One of the features is an EPAD which enables me to have a virtual keypad on my iphone, and computer to operate the alarm system.  The technician was not familiar with Mac's and Airports.  How do I open port 80 to 80 in my airport and assign a fixed IP address for the EPAD?  Apparently this is what is needed to make this work.

    There are three ranges of "strictly local" IP addresses reserved for local Network use:
    192.168.xxx.yyy
    172.16.xxx.yyy
    10.xxx.yyy.zzz
    What your Router does for you is to act as your agent on the Internet.Your requests are packaged up and forwarded on your behalf, and only when a response is expected is the response returned to your local IP address.
    Directing Network Traffic to a Specific Computer on Your
    Network (Port Mapping)
    AirPort Extreme uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to share a single IP address with the computers that join the AirPort Extreme network. To provide Internet access to several computers with one IP address, NAT assigns private IP addresses to each computer on the AirPort Extreme network, and then matches these addresses with port numbers. The wireless device creates a port-to-private IP address table entry when a computer on your AirPort (private) network sends a request for information to the Internet.
    If you’re using a web, AppleShare, or FTP server on your AirPort Extreme network, other computers initiate communication with your server. Because the Apple wireless device has no table entries for these requests, it has no way of directing the information to the appropriate computer on your AirPort network.
    To ensure that requests are properly routed to your web, AppleShare, or FTP server, you need to establish a permanent IP address for your server and provide inbound port mapping information to your Apple wireless device.
    To set up inbound port mapping:
    1) Open AirPort Utility, select your wireless device, and then choose Base Station > Manual Setup, or double-click the device icon to open its configuration in a separate window. Enter the password if necessary.
    2) Click the Advanced button, and then click Port Mapping.
    3) Click the Add button and choose a service, such as Personal File Sharing, from the Service pop-up menu.

  • How to Set Up Time Capsule With Airport Extreme and Airport Express

    Just got a new 1TB Time Capsule. I want it to be the main base station for my network. I already have a network set up with an older Airport Extreme base station and an Airport Express to extend it. I am thinking that rather than setting up the Time Capsule to "join" the old network, the best approach is to disconnect the Airport Extreme and Airport Express and reset them. Then set up the Time Capsule as a brand new network and bring the reset Aiport Extreme and Express onto the new network as if my original network never existed.
    Is that the right approach or am I complicating it? Can I just join the Time Capsule to the existing network and still make it the main base station for the network?

    evelK wrote:
    Just got a new 1TB Time Capsule. I want it to be the main base station for my network. I already have a network set up with an older Airport Extreme base station and an Airport Express to extend it. I am thinking that rather than setting up the Time Capsule to "join" the old network, the best approach is to disconnect the Airport Extreme and Airport Express and reset them. Then set up the Time Capsule as a brand new network and bring the reset Aiport Extreme and Express onto the new network as if my original network never existed.
    Is that the right approach or am I complicating it? Can I just join the Time Capsule to the existing network and still make it the main base station for the network?
    I'd first use AirPort Utility to "Save a Copy As" of your AirPort Extreme settings. Then disconnect it, connect the Time Capsule in its place, and use AirPort Utility's "Import" function to read those settings. (Both of those functions are under AirPort Utility's "File" menu.) You may have to adjust a few settings. Once you have the Time Capsule working as you want, you can reconfigure your AirPort Extreme unit as you wish.

  • Can I increase the range of an AirPort Extreme by a router other than AirPort Express?

    Im using an AirPort Extreme as my primary wireless router extended by an AirPort Express at home. We are primarily using macs at home and I'm overall satisfied with the quality of the product. However a lot of online reviews (including pcmag and cNet don't list the extreme or the express) amongst the list of top 10 wireless routers. The ones listed are much cheaper and has received very positive user reviews as well. However I need to setup a new network at my new office and I have some questions regarding setting up a wifi network in regard to AirPort Extreme:
    1) Can I extend the wireless network setup via AirPort Extreme Base Station by another wireless router other than Airport Express?
    2) I've heard of many cheaper alternatives (Cisco and NetGear being chief) to AirPort Extreme. I've also heard that the network set up by the AE is not as compatible with a windows based environment (which could be an issue as I'm going for an IBM server). In that case which would be the best wireless router for me?
    3) Any other specific reason for which I should prefer AE over any other wireless modem?
    Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

    1) Can I extend the wireless network setup via AirPort Extreme Base Station by another wireless router other than Airport Express?
    Apple appears to have designed their "extend a wireless network" feature using proprietary software, so it would be extremely unlikely that a router from another manufacturer would work with the AirPort Extreme....if you are trying to extend wirelessly.
    In that case which would be the best wireless router for me?
    That depends on your requirements, and whether you are going strictly for specifications rather than features, or even ease of installation and use. In any case, I can't answer that question.
    If you subscribe to industry publications with test reports on products, there always seems to be a new "best" product, so expect that whatever you buy will be superceded by another "best" product within a month.
    As far as use with a PC, I've had no issues using several PCs with Apple routers.
    3) Any other specific reason for which I should prefer AE over any other wireless modem?
    Apple routers are for mom and pop at home. While the product would provide basic functionality in an office, the product was not designed, nor does it have the type of features that most businesses would require.
    For example, if I were using a business router, I would expect it use a high grade firewall for security purposes, and for the router to provide reports that track Internet use for each computer, along with a record of what Internet sites were being visited by each employee. Apple routers won't do that.

  • Can I extend the range of my Airport Extreme with 2 Airport Express units?

    I am using Airport Extreme as my basic router. I have connected 2 airport express units (all new since 12/09) to extend the network about 300 ft into another building to a PC. I am receiving about 65% signal and only one of the express units is extending the signal. Previously I was able to extend the network with a Netgear router and one D-Link extender and achieved 85%.
    I would like to use the 2nd express to extend the signal of the 1st express which is extending the Extreme.
    If this is not possible, can I use something other than an express with the extreme to extend the wireless network?

    Here are the basic steps in setting up a static WDS. Please compare them to what you have done to see if there are any differences. Hopefully, this will give you a clue on what to try.
    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. Also, jot down the AirPort IDs (MAC addresses) for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS. The AirPort ID and is printed on the label on the bottom/side of the base station.)
    Main Base Station Setup
    o 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.
    o 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).
    o 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.
    o 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.
    o Click Wireless in the toolbar, and then choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu.
    o Click WDS and then choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
    o Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox if you want client computer to connect to this base station.
    o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the base station you want to connect to this base station.
    o Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
    Remote Base Station Setup
    o 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.
    o 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).
    o Select the remote base station, and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
    o 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.
    o Enter the same network password as the main base station, if necessary.
    o 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.
    o Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
    o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the WDS Main field.
    o Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.
    Relay Base Station Setup
    o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar to join the wireless network created by the base station you want to set up as the relay base station.
    o 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).
    o Select the relay base station, and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
    o If the base station is using the default password of public, you will not be prompted for a password.
    o Enter the same network password as the main base station, if necessary.
    o 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.
    o Click WDS and choose “WDS relay” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
    o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the Main AirPort ID field.
    o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the remote base station this relay base station will connect to.
    o Click Update to transfer the new WDS settings to the relay and remote base stations.
    (ref: Pages 42-46 of "Designing AirPort Networks.)

  • What cables are needed to extend the range of my airport extreme with my time capsule

    I just purchased a new Time Capsule, and I want to install it and use my current Airport Extreme to extend our home's wireless network. What extra cables are needed, and is there a diagram for this setup? We currently have a broadband network.

    Apple's instructions to do this are here:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260
    You will need an Ethernet cable to connect your new Time Capsule to the AirPort Extreme.

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