Increasing speed between 2 Extremes with an Express

I have a rather tall house - four floors from basement to home office. It is not wired for ethernet and, since there are pretty much no unfinished areas to easily run cable, I use wireless throughout the house. Because I have an iMac, iPhone, iPad and, now, an Apple TV, I recently dumped my dlink wireless and bought two 802.11n Airport Extremes; one is in the basement and one in the home office on the top floor, which is where my Internet connection comes into the house (don't ask - I didn't put it up there). The AE in the office (AE1) is set to create a wireless network and the one in the basement (AE2) is set to extend a wireless network. Everything works, but I only get about 5Mbps in the basement, which is where Xbox, DVR and Apple TV all live.
I thought (based on a talk with one of the Apple Store employees) that I could add an 802.11n Express on either the first or second floor and increase my speed, but that doesn't seem to be working. The Express (AX) is also set to extend a wireless network. All three devices are configured with the same SSID, password, etc. As far as I can tell, the AX is only talking to AE1; looking at the 'Wireless Clients' I see the MAC address for AE1, but not for AE2. Am I wrong in thinking I can use the AX this way or that AE2 would show up as a client on the AX? Do I need to do something other than extend the wireless network? Do I need to use WDS?
All three devices are running firmware 7.5.2

Welcome to the discussion area, unkleho!
As you point out, ethernet connections would be the best way to go. If that's not possible, often the next best alternative is to use ethernet powerline adapters to deliver a pseudo ethernet signal between devices, in this case between your two AirPort Extreme devices. This will preserve bandwidth on the network in your situation much more effectively than wireless.
The AirPort Express is providing no benefit in your current setup to the AirPort Extreme downstairs. That's because the "extend a wireless network" setup works like the hub and spokes of a wheel. Your main AirPort Extreme is the "hub" and each other device resides at the end of a "spoke". Devices at the end of the spokes communicate directly to the hub, not to a device at the end of another spoke...something that the Apple folks should have known or explained to you.
WDS, frankly would be a very poor wireless choice. That's because WDS operates at only "g" wireless speeds and each relay or remote cuts the bandwidth on the entire network in half. So, with an AirPort Extreme upstairs, an AirPort Express as a relay and the other AirPort Extreme as a remote, you would have in effect, a "g" wireless network operating at only 1/4 of its capability.
Check out a pair of good quality ethernet powerline adapters from Cisco/Linksys or Netgear for your needs. When you can't run the ethernet cable, this is often the very best next option.

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Please try taking the readings again using iStumbler's Inspector feature (select Edit > Inspector from iStumbler's menu) to determine the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) at your iMac for the following two cases:
o Case_#1: Just the AEBSn. (Temporarily unplug the AX for this reading.)
o Case_#2: When the network is configured for WDS.
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o 25dB to 40dB SNR = Very good signal
o 15dB to 25dB SNR = Low signal
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o 5dB to 10dB SNR = No signal
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I have setup an extended network in my home using an Airport Extreme and an Airport Express. The Extreme is connected directly to the FiOS modem and the Express is being used as the extender. The nework is setup fine, but my devices (MBA, iPhone, iPad) are not switching base stations when the signal becomes poor on the one it's connected to. For example, I am upstairs with my MBA and a great signal as I am connected to the Express. When I move downstairs to where the Extreme is setup, the Wi-Fi connection becomes poor even though I am litterally sitting next to the Extreme. To force it to connect to the Extreme, I need to shutoff the Wi-Fi on the MBA and turn back on. At this point, the MBA will connect to the Extreme with a excellent signal.
Any thoughts on why the MBA is not automatically switching?
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The first troubleshooting step for any kind of network "issue" is a complete power cycle of the network. This gives everything a "fresh start" with new connections.
Power off the entire network.....all devices....in any order you want
Wait a minute or two
Start the modem/router first, and let it run a full minute
Start the AirPort Extreme next and let it run a full minute
Keep starting devices one at a time about a minute apart until the entire network is back up
Check the network again with the MBA and report on your results
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Extend wireless airport extreme with airport express with through ethernet cable, extend wireless airport extreme with airport express with through ethernet cable

i want to extend my wirless range i using airport extreme upstairs and airport express down i have ethernet cable linking the two but airport express seems to go wireless and is extremly slow any help appreciated

Start with a "hard reset" of your Express - press and hold its reset button continuously, about five seconds, until its LED flashes rapidly. You will need to reconfigure all its settings.
Connect it to your Extreme with your Ethernet cable. Using AirPort Utility, configure its Internet Connection to "Connect Using" > "Ethernet" as in the following screenshot:
If it had been previously configured to "join" a wireless network and you connect its Ethernet cable to your wired LAN, you may experience what you are describing.

Simple directions to extend airport extreme with airport express?

I can't believe how complicated this has turned out to be. The apple page directions are totally outdated (looks like Tiger) and every online explanation seems to involve older g routers.
I have the latest airport extreme n (not a time capsule) as my main wireless router, and an airport express n which I just bought from apple to extend the wireless signal in my house.
While my Airport Utility shows both routers and allows me to configure them as a bridged or extended wireless network, none of my apple products (ipad, macbook pro, imac, G5 tower) can detect it on wi-fi.
Can anyone give me a simple step-by-step explanation on how to extend my extreme's wireless signal using the express?
Thanks in advance!

+Can anyone give me a simple step-by-step explanation on how to extend my extreme's wireless signal using the express?+
Sure, here you go. You can also reference pages 43-44 in the Apple AirPort Networks Guide.
_On the AirPort Extreme (AEBS)_
Open AirPort Utility and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Your Wireless Mode should already be set to “Create a Wireless Network”
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Update to save changes
_On the AirPort Express (AX)_
Open AirPort Utility and click Manual Setup.
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Wireless Mode…should be set to “Extend a wireless network”. If you don’t see this choice, hold down the option key when you click on the selection box
Wireless Network Name…..the name of the main AEBS network should appear as a choice. Click to select it.
Put a check mark next to Allow wireless clients
Wireless Security…...exact same setting as your AEBS
Wireless Password…..exact same setting as your AEBS
Click the Base Station tab to assign a name and device password for the AX
Click the Music icon to enable AirTunes if you wish
Update to save settings.
The real trick is to find the right location for the AX. Start with it positioned approximately 1/2 to 2/3 of the distance between the AEBS and the area you want to cover. Then experiment by moving the AX closer or further away for the best compromise in signal.
Final point. The ethernet port on on AX is active in this configuration, so if you need to connect an ethernet device, just plug it in.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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I just purchased the new simultaneous extreme station, and did extend my network with my old g airport express. Everything works fine, but I'm wondering if i just didn't drop the speed down to "g" instead of "n" by doing this… ?! Is there a way to check this ?
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Thank you for your answer… but i don't find the option to set the extreme to 5 ghz only. Could you please show me directions, sorry!

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Julie Kruyne wrote:
I am trying to do the exact same thing and am having some difficulties.
It was easier for "WiseJD" because he was using two Apple base stations, instead of your AT&T router.
I select Manual Setup, it just sits there thinking - I can't get into the actual set up.
So you see the Express in AirPort Utility, but when you select it and select "Manual Setup", nothing happens?
When setting up the Express to extend my existing wireless network (AT&T 2WIRE modem and Airport Extreme), do I initially connect the Express, via Ethernet cable, to the modem or the Extreme?
I'll guess that the AT&T device is connected to your broadband connection. Is the 2WIRE device either without Wi-Fi support or is that turned off? How is the Extreme configured, in particular in the AirPort/Wireless panel "Wireless Mode" setting and in the Internet/Internet Connection panel, "Connection Sharing" setting?
If anyone could provide a step by step process on exactly how to set up the Express to extend my existing network, I would be grateful.
I have very little experience with mixed-vendor home networking, but someone should be able to help.

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I am using an Airport Extreme and 4 Airport Expresses to extend the range of the Extreme which is connected to my modem. As long as I am in the immediate area of the extreme the internet connection works perfectly. When I move to another part of the house, ie upstairs the internet does
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+however I did not use the ethernet cable. Would you please explain why this+
+works as I am using a laptop to connect wirelessly+
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This is probably such a begginers question but it has truely boggled my mind for the last 24 Hours!
I have brought an airport express to extend my airport extreme network. My Airport extreme is the base and is hooked up to my initial Home model from my ISP which works fine.
I have been trying to connect my airport express and am having no luck. I have plugged the airport in but am having no luck locating it on my airport utility (only my actual Airport Extreme shows)
Can someone please help me Ive been here for hours reading on forums trying to sort this out and Im gettin nowhere fast!
The light on the express is flashing orange. I have tried to reset it but there still is nothing showing.
any ideal on what i could do or follow step by step?

Ok, the question is how can i extend the range with
my airport extreme base,
With an Airport Express or another Airport Extreme
I have A netgear WNP802, it
has a repeating feature.
Which won't work with your Airport Extreme
< But i am wanting to have the
netgear and the apple airport extreme talk to each
other so that i can put the net gear in a seperate
room to extend the range of signal. </div>
This is not possible.
How can i do this?
You can't.
Netgear and Apple use different chips which means they won't and can't talk to each other when it comes to extending networks.

AirPort Extreme with AirPort Express as WDS overall new network??

Hello.
I am looking into buying an airport extreme as a replacement for a Netgear router that does not seem to work. I have an Aiport express already.
So let me see if I can get this straight...
I can have 6 computers (all PCs) connected (and a couple other devices like a TIVO) all connected to an airport extreme base station to the internet and 1 airport express set as a remote base station. All devices will be able to connect to the internet (3 computers plugged in via Ethernet on Airpot Extreme) and share printers/files/etc? Is there a limit to the number of computers that I can have (even if i am extending with an Airport Express?
I would appreciate any help steering me in the right direction. (I posted this in the main section but realized it might be better if i posted it here)

Is there a limit to the number of computers that I can have (even if i am extending with an Airport Express?
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Many thanks.

Yes my Extreme is 802.11n.
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Given the proposed placement of the base stations, your approach appears to be a sound one. In this scenario the three Extremes should be configured for a roaming network which each pair of Express base stations configured to extend the Extreme on the same floor.

Increasing speed between 2 Extremes with an Express

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