"Non Apple" internet router...

Hey!
Do you need to have a PC to set up a wireless broadband router (such as Linksys etc) when the OS requirement/compatibility do not include Mac OSX? Would love the Apple Airport Extreme but a little out of my snack bracket for now, so wanting to set up on the cheap... I have an ancient pc laptop with Win2000 lying around, but i'd rather not have to deal with it for this.
b

Absolutely not! You can use just about any brand of router these days as most have html configuration that can be accessed with a web browser like Safari. You do not need to use the supplied CD (usually Windows only) to set them up. If your ethernet port is set up for DHCP (usually the default for OS X) your Mac will get an IP address from the router. Simply launch Safari and type in the address of the router (usually something like 192.168.1.1, read the router's manual) and you will be presented with the router's configuration screen.
Routers like the D-Link (which does indeed support the Mac) even have a built-in configuration wizard that works with a browser.
Now you DO have to know a little bit about how a router works to configure one without assistance from a wizard program. Setup for a cable modem is quite different from the setup for a DSL modem. If you're not familiar with this sort of thing seek help or read up on things. It's actually not too complicated, though. I've used a D-Link DI-524 wireless router for a couple of years and recently switched to a Linksys WRT54G wireless router. Both work without issues on Macs.
Dual 2.5GHz G5 Power Macintosh Mac OS X (10.4.8) 1.5GB RAM 20" Apple Cinema Display

Similar Messages

I want a new and more powerful (non-Apple) wireless router but I still want to use my existing Time Capsule to continue with my Time Machine backups and I still need the Time Capsule's Network Attached Storage (NAS) features and capabilities

THE SHORTER STORY
My goal is to successfully use my existing Time Capsule (TC) with a new and more powerful wireless router. I need a new and more powerful wireless router in order to reach a distant Denon a/v receiver that is physically located in a master bedroom some 50 feet away from my modem. I need to provide this Denon a/v receiver with an Internet connection so that it can obtain its firmware updates and I need to connect this Denon a/v receiver to my network in order to use its AirPlay feature. I believe l still need the TC's Network Attached Storage (NAS) features because I am not sure if the new wireless router will provide me with the NAS like features / capabilities I need to share files between my two Apple laptops with OS X 10.8.2. And I know that I absolutely need my TC's seamless integration with Apple's Time Machine (TM) application in order to continue to make effortless backups of my two Apple laptops. To my knowledge nothing works with TM like Apple's TC. I also need the hard disk storage space built into the TC.
I cannot use a long wired Ethernet cable connection in this apartment and I cannot use power-line adapters. I have read that wireless range extenders and repeaters are difficult to successfully set-up and that they will reduce data speeds, especially so when incorrectly set-up. I cannot relocate my modem and/or primary base station wireless router.
In short, I want to use my TC with my new and more powerful wireless router. I need to stop using the TC to connect to the modem. However, I still need the TC for seamless TM backups. I also need to use the TC's built in hard drive for storage. And I may still need the TC's NAS capabilities to share files wirelessly between laptops because I am assuming the new wireless router will not provide NAS capabilities for OS X 10.8.2 (products like this/non-Apple products rarely seem to work with OS X 10.8.2/Macs to provide NAS features and capabilities). Finally, I want to continue to use my Apple laptop and AirPlay to wirelessly access and play my iTunes music collection stored on the TC's hard drive. I also want to continue to use my Apple laptop, AirPlay and Apple TV to wirelessly watch movies and TV shows stored on the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB. Can someone please advise on how to set-up my new Asus wireless router with my existing TC in such a way to accomplish all of this?
What is the best configuration or set-up to accomplish my above goals?
Thank you in advance for your assistance!!!
THE FULL STORY
I live in an apartment building where my existing Time Capsule (TC) is located in my living room and serves many purposes. Specially, my TC is at least all of the following:
(1) Wi-Fi router connected to Comcast Internet service via Motorola SB6121 cable modem - currently the TC is the Wi-Fi base station that connects to the modem and has the gateway address to the Internet. The TC now provides the DHCP service for the Wi-Fi network.
(2) Wireless router providing Internet and Wi-Fi network access to several Wi-Fi clients - two Apple laptop computers, an iPod touch, an iPad and an iPhone all connect wirelessly to the Internet via the TC.
(3) Wired Ethernet router providing Internet and Wi-Fi network access to three different devices - a Panasonic TV, LG Blu-Ray player and an Apple TV each use one of the three LAN ports on the back of the TC to gain access to the Internet.
(4) Primary base station in my attempt to extend my wireless network to a distant (located far away) Denon a/v receiver requiring a wired Ethernet connection - In addition to the TC, which is my primary base station, I am also using a second extended Wi-Fi base station (a Netgear branded product) to wirelessly extend my WiFi network to a Denon receiver located in the master bedroom and requiring a wired Ethernet connection. I cannot use a wired Ethernet connection to continuously travel from the living room to the master bedroom. The distance is too great as I cannot effectively hide the Ethernet cable in this apartment.
(5) Time Machine (TM) backup facilitator - I use my TC to wirelessly back-up two Apple laptops using Apple's Time Machine (TM) application. However, I ran out of storage space on my TC and therefore added external storage to it. Specifically, I added an external hard drive to my TC via the USB port on the back of the TC. I now use this added external hard drive connected to the TC via USB as the destination storage drive for my TM back-ups. I have partitioned the added external hard drive, and each of the several partitions all have enough storage space (e.g., each of the two partitions used by TM are sized at three times the hard drive space of each laptop, etc.). Everything works flawlessly.
(6) Network Attached Storage (NAS) - In addition to using the TC's Network Attached Storage (NAS) capabilities to wirelessly back-up two Apple laptops via TM, I also store other additional files on both (A) the hard drive built into the TC and (B) the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB (there are additional separate partitions on this drive for these other additional and non-TM backup files).
I use the TC's NAS feature with my Apple laptop and AirPlay to wirelessly access and play my iTunes music collection stored on the TC's hard drive. I also use my Apple laptop, AirPlay and Apple TV to wirelessly watch movies and TV shows stored on the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB. Again, everything works wirelessly and flawlessly. (Note: the Apple TV is connected to the network via Ethernet and a LAN port on the back of the TC).
The issue I am having is when I try to listen to music via Apple's AirPlay in the master bedroom. This master bedroom is located at a distance of two rooms away from the TC's current location in the living room, which is a distance of about 50 feet. This apartment has a long rectangular floor plan where each room is connected to the next in a straight line. In order to use AirPlay in the master bedroom I am using a second extended Wi-Fi base station (a Netgear branded product) to wirelessly extend my WiFi network to a Denon receiver located in the master bedroom and requiring a wired Ethernet connection. This additional base station connects wirelessly to the WiFi network provided by my TC and then gives my Denon receiver the wired Ethernet connection it needs to use AirPlay. I have tried moving my iTunes music directly onto my laptop's hard drive, and then I used AirPlay on this same laptop to connect to the Denon receiver. I always get a successful connection and the song plays, but the problem is that the connection inevitably drops.
I live in an apartment building and all of the many wireless routers in this building create a great deal of WiFi interference on both the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands. I have tried connecting the Netgear product to each the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, but neither band can successfully maintain a wireless connection between the TC and the Netgear product. I also attempted to maintain a wireless connection to an iPod touch using the 2.4 GHz band and AirPlay on this iPod touch to play music on the Denon receiver. Again, I was able to establish a connection and successfully play music, but after a few minutes the connection dropped and the music stopped playing. I therefore have concluded that I have a poor wireless connection in the master bedroom. I can establish a connection, but it is intermittent with frequent drops. I have verified this with both laptops by working in the master bedroom for an entire day on both laptops. The Internet connection in this master bedroom proved to drop out frequently - about once an hour with the laptops. The wireless connection and the frequency of its dropout are far worse with the iPod touch and an iPhone.
I cannot relocate the TC. Also, this is an apartment and I therefore cannot extend the range of my network with Ethernet cable (I cannot drill through walls/ceilings, etc.). It is an old building with antiquated wiring and power-line adapters are not likely to function properly, nor can I spare the direct power outlet required with a power-line adapter. I simply need every outlet I can get and cannot afford to block any direct outlet.
My solution is to use a more powerful wireless router. I found the ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router which will likely provide a better connection to my wireless Internet in the master bedroom than the TC. The 802.11ac band of this Asus wireless router is totally useless to me, but based on what I have read I believe this router will provide a stronger connection at greater distances then my TC. And I will be ready for 802.11ac when it becomes more widely available.
However, I still need to maintain the TC's ability to work seamlessly with TM to backup my two laptops. Also, I doubt the new Asus router will provide OS X 10.8.2 with NAS like features and capabilities. Therefore, I still would like to use the TC's NAS capabilities to share files on my network wirelessly assuming the Asus wireless router fails to provide this feature. I need a new and more powerful wireless router, but I need to maintain the TC's NAS features and seamless integration with TM. Finally, I want to continue to use my Apple laptop and AirPlay to wirelessly access and play my iTunes music collection stored on the TC's hard drive. I also want to continue to use my Apple laptop, AirPlay and Apple TV to wirelessly watch movies and TV shows stored on the additional external hard drive connected to the TC via USB. Can someone advise on how to set-up my existing TC with this new Asus wireless router in such a way to accomplish all of this?
Modem
Motorola SB6121 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
Existing Wireless Router and Primary Wi-Fi Base Station - Apple Time Capsule
Apple Time Capsule MC343LL/A 1TB Sim DualBand (purchased June 2010, likely the Winter 2009 Model)
Desired New Wireless Router and Primary Wi-Fi Base Station - Non-Apple Asus
ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router
Extended Wi-Fi Base Station - Provides an Ethernet Connection to a Denon A/V Receiver Two Rooms Away from the Modem
Netgear Universal Dual Band Wireless Internet Adapter for TV & Blu-Ray (WNCE3001)
Addition External Hard Drive Attached to the Existing Apple Time Capsule via USB
WD My Book Studio 4TB Mac External Hard Drive Storage USB 3.0
Existing Laptops on the Wireless Network Requiring Time Machine Backups
MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012) OS X 10.8.2
MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010) OS X 10.8.2
Other Existing Apple Products (Clients) on the Wireless Network
iPod Touch (second generation) is model A1288.
iPad (1st generation)
Apple TV (3rd generation) - Quantity two (2)

Thanks Bob Timmons.
In regards to a Plan B, I hear ya brother. I am already on what feels like Plan Z. Getting WiFi to a far off room in an apartment building crowded with WiFi routers is a major pain.
I am basing my thoughts on the potential of a new and more powerful router reaching the far off master bedroom based on positive reviews on cnet.com, pcmag.com and pcworld.com. All 3 of these web sites have reviewed the Asus RT-AC66U 802.11AC wireless router as well as its virtual twin cousin 802.11n router. What impressed me is that all 3 sites rated this router #1 overall in terms of both range and speed (in both the 802.11n and 802.11AC flavors). They tested the router in real world scenarios where the router needed to compete with a lot of other wireless routers. One of the sites even buried this Asus router in a media room with thick walls and inside a media cabinet. This Asus router should be able to serve my 2.4 GHz band wireless clients (iPod Touch and iPhone 4) with a 2.4GHz Wireless-N band offering some 50 feet of dependable range and a 60 Mbps throughput at that range. I am hoping that works, but it's borderline for my master bedroom. My 5 GHz wireless clients (laptops) will enjoy a 5GHz Wireless-N band offering 150 feet of range and a 200 Mbps throughput at that range. I have no idea what most of that stuff means, but I did also read that Asus could reach 300 feet and I got really excited. My mileage may vary of course and I'm sure I'm making some mistakes in my interpretation of their data. However, my Winter 2009 Time Capsule was rated by cnet.com to deliver real world performance of less than that, and 802.11AC may or may not be useful to me someday. But when this Asus arrives and provides anything other than an excellent and consistent wireless signal without drops in the master bedroom it's going right back!
Your solution sounds great, but I have some questions. I'm using OS X 10.8.2 and Airport Utility (version 6.1 610.31) and on its third tab labeled "Wireless" the top option enables you to set "Network Mode" to either:
Create a wireless network
Extend a wireless network
Off
Given your advice to "Turn off the wireless on the TC," should I set Network Mode to Off? Sorry, I'm clueless in regards to how to turn off the wireless on the TC any other way. Can you provide specific steps on how to turn off the wireless on the TC? If what I wrote is correct then what should the rest of this Wireless tab look like, or perhaps it is irrelevant when wireless is off?
Next, what do you mean by "Configure the TC in Bridge Mode?" Under Airports Utility's fourth tab labeled "Network" the top option "Router Mode" allows for either:
DHCP and Nat
DHCP Only
Off (Bridge Mode)
Is your advice to Configure the TC in Bridge Mode as simple as setting Router Mode to Off (Bridge Mode)? If yes, then what should the rest of this "Network" tab look like? Anything else involved in configuring the TC in Bridge Mode or is it really as simple as setting the Router Mode to "Off (Bridge Mode)"?
How about the other tabs in Airport Utility, can they all stay as is assuming I use the same network name and password for the new Asus wireless router? Or do I need to make any other changes to the TC via Airport Utility?
Finally, in regards to your Plan B suggestion. I agree. But do you have a Plan B for me? I would greatly appreciate any alternative you could provide. Specifically, if you needed a TC's Internet connection to reach a far off corner of your home how would you do it? In the master bedroom I need both a wired Ethernet connection for the Denon a/v receiver and wireless Internet connection for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Power-Line Adapters - High Cost, Blocks at Least One Wall Outlet and Does Not Solve the Wireless Need
I actually like exactly one power-line adapter, which is the D-Link DHP-540 PowerLine AV 500 4-Port Gigabit Switch. This D-Link power-line adapter plugs into your wall outlet with a normal sized plug (regular standard power cord much like any other electronic device) instead of all of the other recommended power-line adapters that not only use at least one wall outlet but also often block the second outlet. You cannot use a power strip with a power-line adapter which is very impractical for me. And everything about my home is strange and upside down. The wiring here is a disaster and I don't have faith in its ability to carry Internet access from the living room to the master bedroom. And this D-Link power-line adapter costs $90 each and I need at least two to make the connection to the Denon A/V receiver. So, $180 on this solution and I still don't have a dependable drop free wireless connection in the master bedroom. The Denon might get its Ethernet Internet connection from the power-line adapter, but if I want to use an iPhone 4 or iPod Touch to stream AirPlay music to the Denon wirelessly (Pandora/iTunes, etc.) from the master bedroom the wireless connection will not be stable in there and I've already spent $190 on just the two power-line adapters needed.
Extenders / Repeaters / Wirelessly Extending the Wireless Network
I have also read great things about the Amped Wireless High Power Wireless-N 600mW Gigabit Dual Band Range Extender (Repeater) SR20000G and the My Net Wi-Fi Range Extender. The former is very powerful and the latter is easier to install. Both cost about $150 ish so similar to a new Asus router. However, everything I read about Range Extenders points to them not being very effective for a far off corner of your house wherein it's apparently hard to place the range extender in the sweet spot where it both gets a strong enough signal to actually effectively extend the wireless signal and otherwise does not reduce network throughput speeds to unacceptable speeds.
Creating a Roaming Network By Hard Wiring with Ethernet Cable - Wife Would Say, "**** No!"
Even Apple seems to warn against wirelessly extending your network (see: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145#) and otherwise strongly recommends a roaming network where Ethernet cable is used to connect two wireless base stations. However, I am in an apartment where stringing together two wireless base stations with Ethernet cable would have an extremely low wife acceptance factor (WAF). I cannot (both contractually and from a skill prospective) hide Ethernet wire in the walls or ceiling. And having visible Ethernet cable running from room-to-room would be unacceptable, especially to the wife.
So what is left? Do you have a Plan B for me? Thanks in advance for your help!

Non-Apple WiFi router

I am eager to set up a standard WiFi station in my house. I purchased a D-Link $40 DIR 601 Wiresless N Home Router.
Using the automatic net setup from system prefs, restarting router and cable modem, the network connection runs for a while but needs to be re-started frequently.
1. Any advice on how to set up this router?
2. Or should I bite the bullet and spend $200 on an Airport Extreme base station.
I definitely want a wired LAN connection with my Mac Pro, and a wireless to all others.
Thanks for any ideas--has anyone got non Apple routers to work out to the box? Which ones?

Thanks, I will purchase one of those if this DLink fails again. My son seemed to fix it by setting up the router using the router setup via internet browser. It has been working for a day with no reset necessary.

How to connect New Airport Time Capsule to non Apple asdl router

Guys,
I have just purchased a new AirPort Time Capsule to back up the various macs in my house. I want to connect it to my wireless router which is a non apple product but the setup instructions are a little unclear to me.
My current router has simply a phone line connector and the power source coming into it. Do I simply connect an ethernet cable from the Airport to the Router. And if so, do I use the single Ethernet WAN port or one of the three Ethernet LAN ports on the rear of the airport? I assume the other end of the cable goes into any of the Ethernet slots on the back of my router which are marked 'Ethernet', or would it go into the socket marked 'Broadband WAN'?
Appreciate your help and if anyone is willing to speak on phone, I am very ahppy to call you in the next couple of hours! I am in the UK
Best, Anthony

thanks LaPastengue!
Here is what ive got
What ATT router do you have? Exact make and model please.
    gateway 2wire from at&t
What TC do you have.. Latest AC tall one?? Or older one?? If older. .please tell us the model number. A1409 for example from the base mat.
     yes I have the latest airport time capsule 2TB
Please tell us the full setup.. what is currently plugged into the main modem router??
     The Main modem route has an ethernet cord plugged in the other side of the cord is plugged into the phone      jack
Do not plug the TC in first.. plug a single ethernet TC to the computer.. Hmm. so I need an additional ethenet cord to plug the TC into the computer? Leaving the router plugged in as is?
Open the airport utility and change the TC to bridge mode.
https://discussions.apple.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/2-23706673-32722 6/450-411/bridgev6AU.png
Update the TC and then plug it into the ATT modem and plug it into your computer or use the wireless and then tell us what happens.

Can I stream airplay thru a non-Apple wireless router

How can I connect an Airport Express to stream airplay tunes thru a non-Apple router (i.e.: CenturyLink DSL)?

You will need to connect the two via Ethernet. Set the Express to be in 'bridge' mode, connection type 'Ethernet'. This will allow you to use the Express as an extender and also for AirPlay. If it asks you for a Wi-Fi network name and password, use the ones you use for your current router (as the Express is creating another network).

Which non apple modem/router work with airport extreme

Hi
My old modem needs replacing. It currently feeds into my airport extreme and an airport express extends the network to my office in the garage. Ideally I want an 'n' speed modem/router and use the airport extreme to extend the network in the garage, doing away with the airport express's slower speeds.
Are there any non apple modem/routers that will work with the airport extreme to extend the network.
Many thanks

+Are there any non apple modem/routers that will work with the airport extreme to extend the network.+
Not if you are planning to "extend" using wireless only.
If you are planning to extend the network by connecting to your new modem/router using an ethernet connection, you have some configuration options to choose from in that case. Post back if you need more details about this.

New non-apple modem/router can't find old Time Capsule

I've been using a Time Capsule for both backup and wifi for years. But now I have a brand new modem/router (non-apple). I wanted to turn off the wifi on the Time Capsule and just use it for backup. I found instructions on how to do that and did it, but when I went to update to the new settings there was an error and now my system cannot find the Time Capsule, even though it is plugged in, connected and showing a steady green light. The TC is connected to the modem via ethernet and did show up long enough for me to change the settings so I'm confident I have the right physical setup. I've tried restarting both my computer and the TC, but Airport Utility still can't detect a device. What do I do now?
Thanks!

Full factory reset on the TC..
Then plug into it directly with ethernet and do the configuration.. bridge mode.. off wireless if you want.. although there is nothing wrong with still running the wireless and the 5ghz is much faster than using wifi usually on a Mac at least from close range. Update and plug the TC back into the modem.. this is usually necessary whenever you move things around.
The Factory Reset.
Power down the TC.
Hold in reset. and keep holding it in. Be Gentle! It is a tiny surface mount switch with a plastic lever.. Attempting to push it out the other side of the TC will not make the switch turn on better.
(I fix TC and have several reset levers bent over and jammed or broken off).
Power on the TC.. remember with the reset held in.. this needs three arms.. a friend or power switch you can get to with your feet..
Keep holding in reset for about 10sec until the front LED flashes rapidly.
Release reset and wait .. the boot will be slow as it deletes previous setting.. only from router side and pulls out the factory defaults. No files are deleted on the hard disk.. but the name of the TC may change.

Can I use Airport Express's Airtunes with a non-Apple modem/router?

I am about to set up a network in our second home, so I am trying to do it as economically as possible. I will have a Verizon modem/router. The Verizon rep says the Verizon equipment is all I need for a computer network (no Airport Extreme Base Station needed). But I would also like to play music on Internet radio stations through iTunes on my Cambridge Soundworks system in a room that is different from the one where the Verizon modem/router will be. Can I purchase an Airport Express with Airtunes to plug in near the music system without also getting an Airport Extreme Base Station to which the Airport Express would be linked? If it is possible to go with just the AE, is it foolish to avoid getting the base station if I would also like to have wireless printing on my network? (I believe I would need the Airport Extreme Base Station for printing because it has the USB port.)

The Airport Express will do what you want in addition to printing if your printer is compatible as it does have a USB port. Just configure the Express to "join" the wireless network that the Verizon router is creating.
You will be able to stream AirTunes to the AirPort Express, which in turn will furnish an audio signal to your stereo system.
If you want to be able to stream any audio source from your computer to the AirPort Express...not just iTunes audio sources...you might want to take a look at Airfoil.

I can't use my Airport Express to extend a non-Apple wifi router's signal?

I just bought an Airport Express at the Apple Store, and the genius I asked there told me I could use my Express to extend any wifi router's signal, even if it isn't an Apple product.
We currently have a weak wifi signal upstairs in our home, and I'm hoping to improve the signal.

the genius I asked there told me I could use my Express to extend any wifi router's signal, even if it isn't an Apple product
Unfortunately, the "genius" is wrong if you are trying to "extend" using wireless only.
As far as we know and have tested with many different products from other manufacturers....the Express will only "extend" another Apple router.....an AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule, or another AirPort Express.
Another way of saying the same thing is that it is likely not possible to extend a wireless network...using wireless only...unless you have two Apple routers.

Connecting iMac and MacBook Pro using a non-Apple wireless router

I use a Belkin wireless router. Is there any way for me to connect iMac and MacBook Pro using the router to share files? I think I read somewhere that I need AirPort Extreme for this, but I'm not sure. Thank you.

Great resource from Dennis...file sharing, I.e. networking, is a function of the operating system settings and not the brand of router. Using Mac OS X 10.6 on both machines makes it really seamless. Following Dennis's kb article should make the two almost act like one machine.

WDS setup with Airport Express and other(non-Apple) wireless router

Hi,
I am trying to configure a wireless network with one airport express and one Planex Wireless access point. Can anyone please point me to the settings to be made for such a scenario? I can use either of them as the main WDS device, and have a (wired)router provided by the ISP in the network.(so total 3 devices : airport, planex a/p , ISP router)
Thanks.

I'm having the same problem, both with a Linksys WRVS4400Nv2, and a WRT54G. I've not put much effort into the WRT, but the WRVS was such a pain that I don't think I can get it to work at all.
The WRT doesn't have a section on WDS, but I've read that it's supported anyways, and nothing needs to be enabled on it. Is there a good step-by-step available here or elsewhere that uses close to the same router and Airport Express units, on the latest Airport setup software?
Basically, I'm trying to set this up for a guy in an ~8000 sq. foot house so he has wireless throughout it, and he wants itunes streaming from the AX. Has anyone done this?
Message was edited by: manderso

How: Extend a non-Apple wifi signal with Airport Express

I have a Wifi modem provided by the ISP, Tiscali [Italy] unrelated to Apple. I want to use my AE to extend the signal to another part of the house. The Tiscali router was set up with WPA2. I have Airport Utility 5.6.1 [yah, I know, old; haven't moved up from OS 10.8.5 either, MBk Pro] and the Airport Express is MC414Z\A C86L9K02DV3R. Opening the A Util w the AE powered up [yellow light showing] I immediately saw the AE listed at the left, but now that I go back to the Utility and rescan, it doesn't find the AE, altho Airport is one and lists that AE showing a full signal, properly calling it "gatti.11n." Your advice would be most appreciated and likely will be helpful to many others saddled with a non-Apple wifi router.

Apple AirPorts cannot wirelessly "extend" a signal from a third party product. They can only wirelessly "extend" a signal from another Apple router. Another way of saying the same thing is that if you want to wirelessly extend a network using an Apple router, you need two Apple routers.
You have two options:
Option 1. Add another AirPort Express and install it close to the ISP modem/router using an Ethernet cable and configure the Express to 'create" a wireless network. Then, your other AirPort Express can wirelessly extend the signal from the first AirPort Express. The "extending" Express will need to be located where it can receive a strong signal from the first Express.
Option 2. If you cannot run the Ethernet cable....or....you do not want to add another AirPort Express, then a pair of Ethernet Over Powerline (EOP) adapters might be able to send the Ethernet signal over the existing AC powerlines in your home. These products are also sometimes called HomePlug adapters.
The theory with these devices is that you already have the wiring in place.....you just need the adapters. In practice though, things do not always work as well as the theory might suggest. So, if you decide to try a pair of these adapters, then it would be good idea to understand the store's return policies before you buy.
Any computer / electronics superstore will have a selection of EOP adapters. Ask the salesman what type and brand that he would recommend.

Extending a non Apple wireless network

Does the wireless network on the non Apple modem/router stay on in addition to the newly created Apple wireless network?

Yes it does.
If you want it off, you will need to get into the administration settings for the modem/router to disable the wireless function.

Can I use an airport express as a range extender to a NON apple router using an internet cable (so not wireless)

can I use an airport express as a range extender to a NON apple router using an internet cable (so not wireless)

Yes, if the AirPort Express is set up to create a wireless network that uses the exact same wireless network name as the other router and the same wireless network password as the other router.

How do I use the new Airport Express as an extender for a non-Apple router?

We have an "Arris" router in our house and are thinking of buying an Airport Express to extend the internet. How can we use the Airport express as a repeater on a non-Apple router without having to use millions of ethernet cables?

Apple designed their "extend a wireless network" to only work with other Apple routers wirelessly, so it would be extremely unlikely like it would work with an Arris wireless router.
Your best bet is to always use products from the same manufacturer if you need this type of feature on your network to insure compatibility.
If Arris does not offer a product for this purpose, a "universal" extender like the Netgear device linked below might be able to do what you want. It was not "universal" enough to extend an Apple network when I tested a device recently.
Universal WiFi Range Extender (WN3000RP) - Netgear

"Non Apple" internet router...

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