Multiple AirPort Express - Extending Networks

Hello
I have been at it all morning trying to get it to work, no luck thus far.
The network I have at the moment consists of
Adsl modem > (cat5) Airport Extreme > (wirelessly extended by) Airport Express 1F > (wirelessly extended by) Airport Express 2F
I am running this network in a 3 storey building
Ground floor - Airport Extreme
First floor - Airport Express 1F
Second floor - Airport Express 2F
The Express on the first floor picks up the network created by the Extreme on ground floor and successfully extends it to the second floor.
This is the part that is giving me a world of trouble.
The Express on the Second floor picks up the network being extended by the Express on the First floor, but fails to extend it.
The green light is on and everything, settings are correct (identical to 1F).
Though when I am on the second floor and start to venture away from the limits of 1F, the 2F doesn't seem to boost the signal or extend the network, after walking 5 meters away I lose connection to the network.
Can anyone help?

As I have 3 Airport Express' all up, would I theoretically set it up so that 2F would "Join a wireless network" > allow ethernet clients then plug the third Express (3F) to 2F. Then setting 3F up to create a wireless network? clients would have to reconnect between the two, but it would be a temporary fix until I can have a network cable installed to connect the Extreme with 2F.
You could leave AirPort Express 2F in the "extend a wireless network" configuration because the ethernet port is enabled in this type of setup.
Then connect an ethernet cable to 3F from 2F and configure 3F as a "bridge" (Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)) to "create a wireless network" using the exact same wireless network name, security and password as the main router. Then, computers would not have to reconnect as they move around the house.
If you configured the network this way, you would not need to connect AirPort Express 3F all the way back to the AirPort Extreme. But, you would have better bandwidth if you did connect it directly to the AirPort Extreme.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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Iphone will not connect to airport express extended network - macbook and ipad will - Help

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I'm having the same issue. My AExpress used to give a good signal strength on the far side of the house extending he network created by my Extreme. However, I've noticed lately that my iPhone does not receive the same strong signal it once did. AE has a green light, I've rebooted it, and my Extreme but there is no change in signal strength. Other than the green light, how can I tell if the Express is working if I don't get a good network signal?

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"Hard reset" the bedroom Extreme to preclude the possibility that some corrupted internal parameter is limiting its performance. Consider doing that with all of them. They will subsequently need to be reconfigured.
Configure the den Extreme to provide a unique name for its 5 GHz network, and ensure all the devices capable of using it are using it, and not 2.4 GHz. Find out what your Roku is capable of using.
The key to solving problems, if your challenging requirements are solvable, is to start with as simple an installation as possible, then progressively add to it. Find out the maximum usable range of your den's Extreme in both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, then position any devices used to "wirelessly extend" its signal roughly half the distance to that Extreme - not a different base station. The ideal location for the Roku's Express may not necessarily be in the bedroom.
Run speed tests each time and make sure you are not trying to "extend" a weak signal. "Extending" a weak signal makes it stronger, but no faster that what it receives.
That's all you can do.
... I thought "N" networks minimized that problem.
You're right about that.
The thing is I get decent wireless reception in the bedroom WITHOUT the express plugged in.
I wonder if those devices are really using the Express you think they are. That's the problem with multiple base stations. There are ways of addressing this question but not with the current AirPort Utility version.

Time Capsule & Airport Express Extended Network loses connection!

OK, so I am an Apple virgin of 2 months experience, after many many years with Windows based PCs, so please be patient and gentle with me. Sorry about the long explanation.....
My set-up comprises of a Time Capsule, which is connected to the Internet via a NetGear ASDL modem. Both pieces of equipment are situated in my wife's office on the first floor of our house. My office is on the ground floor, where I have a 27" iMac and an Airport Express which is connected to a printer via the USB port. The Airport Express is sited about 10 feet from the iMac.
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Earlier this week, I decided change the configuration to extend the network to allow me to use my laptop & iPhone in areas of the ground floor where I had no signal. I followed the online instructions and first changed the TC to check the box to 'allow this network to be extended', after updating the configuration successfully I moved to the AX. Here I changed the wireless mode to 'Extend a wireless network', selected the network name and checked the 'Allow wireless clients' box. This also updated successfully.
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Similar problem here. Cable Modem (Moto SB6120)->AEBS (802.11n dual-band)>AX (802.11n) for wireless connection to MacBook Pro running Mac OS X 10.6.2. AEBS configured as dual-band: 801.11a/n at 5GHZ and 801.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHZ. AX configured to wirelessly extend the AEBS 5GHz 802.11a/n network. I am able to run on the extended 5GHz network (via AX) for varying lengths of time, until the internet connection dies. When this occurs, I am able to switch over to the 2.4GHz network to get back online. Solution up until now has been to unplug the AX, then plug it back in. After the AX restarts, I am able to hop back onto its 5GHz signal and get to the internet. However, the internet connection on this band will drop again after some time.
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HT4259 Does Airport Express extended network inherits wifi time restrictions?

Hello:
I have created a network with my Airport Extreme and I've set up some wifi access time restrictions based on mac addresses. Now I want to extend this network adding an Airport Express at the living room. Everything went smooth but I'd like to know if I need to set up the restrictions at the Express or does it inherit them from the Extreme.
Thanks!

Inherits from the Extreme as they are determined by the connected devices to the Wi-Fi.

IPhone 5 won't connect to Airport Express extended network

I've just bought a new Airport Express and have succesfully set it up to extend my exisiting network through the Time Capsule. Now when I'm in the area where i need to connect my iPhone 5 to the new airport express, I'm not seeing it in my wifi settings on the iPhone. My understanding was, the express would create a an extended wifi area that any device could connect to. Is this correct?

It should but you probably have it in the wrong mode.. it is joining a wireless network not extending.
Go back to the airport utility and change the setup of the express.. make sure it is extend not join.
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I would like use my second AE to extend my existing AE network AND wire it to my stereo to use the AirTunes feature. No trouble setting it up for AirTunes but can't seen to get it to extend the network. Any tips about how I can get both features to perform as advertised?

If you need more wireless coverage, you can use the WDS configuration method for a "mix" of older "b/g" and newer "n" devices.
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I don't recommend this, but if you want to try, post back for more details.

Can multiple Airport Expresses be connected via ethernet to an Airport Extreme to extend a single WiFi Network?

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Do I have to use airport extreme to be a main network if I want to use Airport express extend my wifi range

Do I have to use airport extreme to be a main network if I want to use Airport express extend my wifi range.

You cannot extend wifi from a different brand router..
Only apple to apple.
But the apple router does not have to be the main router.. it can be in bridge.. as long as it is creating a wireless network it will work fine.

Multiple airport express's

Can i have multiple airport expresses acting as range extenders on the same network?

Yes, if you remember that they all must connect to the "main" base station.
Apple's extend a wireless network feature works like the hub and spokes of a wheel. Your AirPort Extreme would be the "hub" and each AirPort Express would reside at the end of a separate "spoke".
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I have multiple airport express's, an iMAc, a Airport extreme router, all software/firmware to current release. If I play on the iMac and one set of remote speakers, no problems, once I add two airport express stations with iTunes, I get the dropouts. Any ideas. I have already got rid of wds, changd channels, tc. to no avail.

I have the same set up and had the same issue and a guy at apple support gave me a tip to try and it worked!. First remove all the expresses from the power outlets keeping your airport extreme running. I also recommend using a different channel say 11. and use ap grapher
http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/apgrapher/
to see if your network looks like it's running well after you resetup your everything or before you bother doing this. I found my audio gear was really messing with my airports bandwidth and when I moved it to a new spot ap grapher showed I was getting a nice steady 54mbit/sec.
So again unplug the expresses and keep the extreme up and running.
You must first do a reset on the airport express by pushing in the little white button on the bottom with a paper clip for a few seconds, but you should check out how to reset the airport express via apple's web site because there are 2 types of resets one with it plugged in and one with it not. Not sure which is right reset method so check that yourself.
Once you have reset it you want to set the first express to extend your preexisting airport extreme network using the airport setup utility. If you have two expresses you may only need to do this to the last one in the chain but it can't hurt to reset them all form scratch.
Once the first express is up and running you then unplug the airport extreme from it's power outlet. Then you go to set up the 2nd express after you reset it and here lies the trick. You extend the 2nd express off the first express without the extreme involved. Then you plug in the extreme back into the power and bingo you have tricked the express #2 to extend from the first express and they wind up with new ip numbers like 10.0.1 and 10.0.2. Instead of them competing for signal using the same ip address they now have their own individual ip address, it turns it into an extension chain. If that makes sense I don't know what the tech terms are for this but it did cure my issues of dropouts I thought it was odd that they had the same addresses so it makes sense that they should have their own.
Micro wave ovens cause drop outs and so do some wireless phones but you can always check on your signal using AP grapher. I found that when I walk around with my MacBookPro in my house that the expresses really don;t have much of a range so if they are really far apart that could also be an issue. I'm sure the N versions are much better and I am thinking about upgrading.
Hope this helps cause it sure took a long time to type:)

Using Multiple Airport Express units to play Music to Multiple Sound System

Goal
- play music on my iMac and in one other sound system(I'am aware of the one
system limit )
- I have multiple Airport Express units(3) for different sound systems and wish
to select the room using iTunes.
Reality
if I reset all the airport express units in the house(3) I can initially see the units. On going through the setup I'am able to configure each unit to be part of my wireless network and get the airport express to power cycle. However after this process only the last AE unit is visable via itunes. If I use the airport utility it can find no units when scanning. If I power cycle one of the non visible units it becomes visable but I cannot play music to the unit and trashes the connectivity to the one working AE unit.
What am I doing wrong ?

Sorry - I led you astray unnecessary in my last posted message. The reference I provided was for setting up a remote base station. That is not applicable to your situation, so please ignore.
In your case, you want to use the Airport Utility to configure each Airport Express so that it "join" (and not "extends") your existing wireless network.
What I suggest you do is:
1. get each Airport Express into a known default state by doing a factory default reset per these instructions. Hold down the reset button for 10-15 seconds, until you see four green flashes in rapid succession
2. put all Airport Express devices, and the wireless Mac you are using to configure the Airport Expresses, into the same room as the wireless router you are using
3. configure one Airport Express at a time, and as I said above use the Airport Utility to configure each Airport Express to "join" the existing wireless network - ie select your Airport Express device as shown in the Airport Utility, click the "Continue" button (not the Manual setup button), and follow the instructions. The name of the wireless network you are joining is the same as the name of the wireless network your existing wireless router is creating. Make sure you also specify the same security protocol (WEP/WPA) and wireless network password as your Mac requires to connect to your existing wireless network.

HT1515 multiple airport express output to amp

can i use multiple airport express's as ap's and have only the one near my amp output my streaming music through the amp from anywhere on that network even if it is connecting to one of the other airport express ap's?

can i use multiple airport express's as ap's
If by "ap's" you mean Wireless Access Points, then the answer is yes.
and have only the one near my amp output my streaming music through the amp from anywhere on that network
Yes.
even if it is connecting to one of the other airport express ap's?
It would matter how they are interconnected. If you are referring to a "roaming" or "extended" network, then again the answer is yes.

Airport Express extends 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz or just one at a time?

I recently switched my dual band Time Capsule to use different names for the 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz networks.
Will the Airport Express extend both or just one at a time, if so, which one will it extend?
I have two Airport Express modules, bought a long time apart, is there any difference in functionality and how do I tell them apart if this is the case?
All are running the most recent firmware version.

Welcome to the discussion area, Mike!
Will the Airport Express extend both or just one at a time, if so, which one will it extend?
The AirPort Express is a single band device, so it can extend either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band, +but not both at the same time+. Since you have different names for the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands, the Express will extend the 2.4 GHz band by default. Using AirPort Utility, the setup application for the AirPorts, it is possible to configure the AirPort Express to extend either band.
If you are perhaps thinking of extending the 5 GHz band, this can be a bit tricky because 5 GHZ signals do not travel effectively over distance or penetrate obstructions as well as 2.4 GHz signals. You almost have to have a line-of-sight relationship between the Time Capsule and the AirPort Express to be able to extend the 5 GHz band.
I have two Airport Express modules, bought a long time apart, is there any difference in functionality and how do I tell them apart if this is the case?
Look on the side of the AirPort Express for the model number in the small print. You'll need Model No A 1264 to be able to "extend". If you have the older Model No A 1084, that version will not be able to "extend" a wireless network, but you could use it to "join" the wireless network and stream AirTunes to the device.
All are running the most recent firmware version.
That would be 7.5.2. If you have the older version of the AirPort Express, the latest firmware version for that device would be 6.3.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Airport Express Extends 5GHz at 2.4GHz?

My second generation(802.11n) Airport Express extends my 5GHz network, Net5, at 2.4 GHz. The express is about 20
feet from its "target," an iPad 3 serving as an internet radio. I know this because a scan turned up the 5GHz network on the same
channel as the 2.4GHz one and identified as "Net5."
As far as I can tell, all my settings are correct, etc. I'd be grateful for any ideas, comments, etc.

Ok, thanks for clarifying that for me. By default, the 2nd generation Express should extend both radios of your 5th generation Extreme. The key is placement. As you are already aware the range of the 2.4 Ghz band is greater than that of the 5 GHz one.
Even if you have the Express within 20 feet of the Extreme there may be some form of Wi-Fi interference (like walls) that may be preventing the 5 GHz band to be extended properly.
To rule out a possible placement issue, please check out the following AirPort User Tip for details on how to best place your base stations.

Multiple AirPort Express - Extending Networks

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