Multiple Airport Express Extension Configuration

I recently installed 1 Airport Extreme and 4 Airport Express' which I configured to "Join the Network" for the Airport Extreme acting as Base Station. I have to configure these in an "L" shaped fashion with the base station acting as the tip of the shorter end of the L (given where the modem feed is located). I am currently getting light signal strength on the furthest reaching Express (1 of 3 bars). I configured each of the Express' to "join the network" of the base station Airport Extreme. Is this is the correcct configuration to maximize signal strength, or should I have selected the closet Airport Express as the device to extend off of to obtain maximum signal? Any insight is greatly appreciated. These are all the latest Airport devices (purchsed two days ago).

Thanks for the clarification. I would try the "join" configuration for the "Far AX" to see if everything will function as you require.
If devices do need more wireless signal strength in the area of the "Far AX", (and due to obstructions between the "Far AX" and the AirPort Extreme), you would need to connect the "Far AX" to the AirPort Extreme using an ethernet connection and configure it to "create a wireless network" using the same network name, security and password as the rest of the wireless network.
If you can't run an ethernet cable, you might want to take a look at a pair of ethernet powerline adapters to allow the AC wiring in your home to transmit the ethernet signal. Post back if you need more information on this type of configuration.
There is always some bandwidth loss when devices use wireless to "extend" due to the overhead of receiving a wireless signal and then having to re-broadcast it. With an AX, on average, it's about 10-15% per device. So, with 3 AX devices set up to "extend", the bandwidth on the network is going to drop 30-40% or so. That's really not as bad as it might sound.
One of the advantages of connecting an AX to a main base station using an ethernet connection is that maximum bandwidth on the network is maintained. That's why commercial networks are designed with each wireless access point connecting back to a main router using an ethernet connection. "Extending" devices can then be located exactly were they are needed and you don't have to worry about them having a strong signal to connect back to a hub using wireless only.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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