Proper way to mix new Airport Extreme with Airport Express, wired and wirel

I currently have several macs. Two of them have 1000 airport (macbook pro and macpro), the other 3 have 100 speed.
I have one Airport Express I'm using now. I'd like a faster setup though.
Here's how I've got it wired up now:
1. I go from my cable modem into a 10/100 Linksys wired router
2. A Net gear 10/100/1000 4-port switch is hooked to the router
3. My airport Express is hooked to the switch
4. my 4 other macs then are hard wired with regular ethernet cable to the switch.
So, my wireless is only for the device(s) that need it, and all other macs go through wires to the switch.
Now, I want to buy a new Airport Extreme to increase my wireless speed when copying files and sharing my iTunes library.
Will having the Express on the network make the Extreme jump down to 100 speed? Or, should I buy a new router, a 10/100/1000 router, and just plug the new Extreme right into it, thereby separating it technically from the slower Express/wired stuff?
I guess I won't even need the Express anymore unless I use it for my older macs that don't have the new n speed airport cards, right?
any insight would be helpful, I'd hate to buy stuff I don't need, and vice versa.

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.
Within the Inspector, on the Properties tab, note the values for "signal" & "noise" for each of these cases. These values should be negative.
SNR is the signal level (in dBm) minus the noise level (in dBm). For example, a signal level of -53dBm measured near an access point and typical noise level of -90dBm yields a SNR of 37dB, a healthy value for wireless LANs.
SNR Guideline
o 40dB+ SNR = Excellent signal
o 25dB to 40dB SNR = Very good signal
o 15dB to 25dB SNR = Low signal
o 10dB to 15dB SNR = Very low signal
o 5dB to 10dB SNR = No signal
For Case_#1, if the SNR is 20+dB, you may consider not using a WDS as this SNR value would represent decent Wi-Fi performance at your iMac's location from the AEBSn alone. If it's less than 20dB, then the WDS would be required. ... and, if this is the case, you would want to place the AX within the 20+dB range of the AEBSn to make sure it has the strongest signal to repeat.

Similar Messages

How to use airport express wired and wireless at the same time

Hi,
I currently have FiOS with Verizon, they ran a coax cable to the Verizon router. I didn't ask them to switch to CAT6 cable since I have an airport extreme base station and an airport express base station (both are the newest generation). I ran a CAT6 cable from the Verizon FiOS router to my AEBS (extreme) to make it the default wireless router. The Verizon router and extreme are in one room. Now, the Airport express is in my living. I'd like to extend the wireless network from the extreme. However, I can't seem to find a way to use both wired and wireless from the airport express at the same time. It's now either via wired, or wiresless. So is there a way to get both work?

Can you tell us if you used Apple's instructions for a "roaming" network?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260
Although the instructions picture a 2nd AirPort Extreme in the illustrations, the setup instructions would be exactly the same for an AirPort Express.

Can I use an old Airport Extreme as an extender with a new Airport Express

Hi All, I have Verizon Fios and the data line runs into my bedroom. I purchased a new Airport Express today to replace the Airport Extreme (from 2006). Can I use the old Airport Extreme as an extender (I'd like to set it up in the basement as I get poor connectivity there). I tried using the Airport Utility - Other WiFi Devices to find the Airport Extreme, but it's not registering. Is what I'm attempting possible? If so, how do I set it up?

Can I use the old Airport Extreme as an extender
Is this the "round" or "dome" shaped AirPort Extreme?
If yes, then it is not possible to have the AirPort Extreme wirelessly "extend" the signal from the AirPort Express.
However, the older AirPort Extreme can probably be set up to provide more wireless signal coverage if it will connect back to the LAN <--> port on the AirPort Express using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection.
In this case, the setup of the older AirPort Extreme will require that you have an older version of AirPort Utility installed on your computer. If it is a Mac, then the Mac must be running Leopard (10.5.x), Snow Leopard (10.6.x), or a PC with AirPort Utility could be used to set up and configure the older Extreme.
f you have the "square" or "flat" version of the AirPort Extreme, then everything becomes much easier. Post back if you do.

Older Airport Extreme with new Airport Express

I have a new Airport Express and an older Airport Extreme (I think 1rst gen). I have been using the Extreme for a few years now and just got the express to help me extend the extreme. The Extreme's signal is very weak in some parts of my house. I cannot hook the two together via ethernet. Needs to be wireless. What's the best method? I only use the wi-fi for internet access and tv (netflix, HBOGO, etc). I do not share printers or hard drives. I'm wondering if the new express is better (range) than my older extreme? Should I use the express as my main base station?

Your Extreme should still provide better overall range over the 2nd gen 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station, so I would still recommend that you leave the Extreme as your "main" router.
You will want to use the following instructions to extend the wireless network from this Apple Support article.
The key to success if extending the Extreme is to place the Express within a 25+ dB SNR range of the Extreme as it can only repeat the signal with the same bandwidth that it receives it. If the signal is very weak the Express may not even be able to extend it at all.
Check out the following AirPort User tip for details on optimal base station placement. Please post back your results.

Can i connect an airport extreme (us version) with a new airport express (euro version) ?

Hi, I lived in the USA for a while and moved back to Europe.
I have an airport extreme (US purchased) which i would like to link with a new airport express (EURO purchased) in order to extent my network.
Is this possible ?
I have multiple problems doing so, which leads me to believe the US and EURO product might not be compatible.
Thx for your kind assistance, G.

Connecting routers wirelessly to extend a wireless network is known as a Wireless Distribution System (WDS). Although AirPorts can extend other AirPorts in a WDS, they only work with a few non-AirPort ones...like some Linksys models.
Here are a few articles on the subject:
- http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=222773&start=0&tstart=0
- http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=607414
- http://rgbdream.com/?p=44
- http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php?title=WDSLinked_routernetwork
Another option, although maybe not as practical in your circumstance, is to connect the AirPort base directly using an Ethernet cable to the Linksys. Then setting up the AirPort as a bridge.

I have replaced my airport extreme with a new airport time capsule and want to know how I can set up my extreme to extend/strengthen my Wi-Fi?

I have replaced my airport extreme with a new airport time capsule and want to know how I can set up my extreme to extend/strengthen my Wi-Fi?

Start with a "hard reset" (see below) then use AirPort Utility to configure it.
When asked what you want to do with it, indicate that you want it to add to an existing network, similar to the following screenshot.
Follow the prompts that will eventually lead you to the words "wirelessly extend..." as shown.
To "hard reset" an AirPort Base Station: make sure it's powered up, then press and hold its tiny reset button and keep it depressed for five to ten seconds, long enough for its LED to flash amber rapidly. Release the reset button. Then, the LED will glow amber steadily for about a minute. Then, it will flash amber, slowly, about once every second or two, waiting for you to configure it with AirPort Utility.

How to set-up new Airport Express to extend range of Airport Extreme

Purchased a new Airport Express to use it as a range extender on existing home network with an operating Airport Extreme base station. While I've read instructions, I'm unclear whether the Express needs to be connected by ethernet cable for its initial setup, or can I simply plug it and initialize it wirelessly onto the same household network? (I've tried the latter but without success).

to edex67 and Bob Timmons:
My objective is to extend the wireless range of the Airport Extreme base station wirelessly - so I do appreciate that the Airport Express would needsto be located haflway between the base station and the "dead zone" area.
The suggestion of using a Powerline ethernet connection to the Airport Express has merit (especially as I have one available).
I continue to use OSX 10.6.8 - does this affect my set-up in any way?
My problem had been - and remains - how to configure the Airport Express in range extend mode - I did click these boxes on both the Extreme base station and the Express, however the Express still has flashing amber lights and error codes - one indicating no internet availability on the Airport Express.

Will I be able to extend a dual band network from a Time Capsule 2nd generation with the new Airport Express on both bands?

My Time Capsule 2nd generation is the main accesspoint in my house. It resides on the second floor in our living room. On the first floor in our kitchen I have an fairly new Airport Express that extends my network on the 5 GHz band and allows me to stream music via Airplay. I had to choose 5 GHz since the 2,4 GHz band is interfered when using the microwave oven. However, we have a rather old house with loads of metal in the concrete walls and therefore the 2,4 GHz signal from the second floor proivded by the Time Capsule is hardly available on the first floor. Since all our iDevices (iPhones and iPods) operate at the 2,4 GHz band we sometimes don't have a proper wi-fi connection. I had tried before with another (older) Airport Express that only operated at the 2,4 Ghz band, but I could get a proper connection between the Time Capsule and the Airport Express. Therefore I think it would be the best solution if the new Airport Express would provide both bands simultaneously.
If I replace my existing Airport Express with the new one, will I be able to extend my network on both bands?

It sounds like you may have configured your Time Capsule to use a separate name for the 5 GHz network and then setup the Express to extend that specific band.
In order to extend both bands, the Time Capsule setup will need to be changed so that both bands are using the same name. In other words, you would uncheck the option for the 5 Ghz name.
Then, setup the new Express to extend the Time Capsule network.
This is the only way that they Express can extend both bands. It cannot extend both bands if you have assigned a separate name to the 5 GHz network since you will be forced to choose either the 5 GHz band or the 2.4 GHz band for the Express to extend.
How the microwave oven will affect this is not known. This will one of those things that you have to try in your home to know if it will work well, so it might be a good idea to understand the store's return policy before you buy....in case things do not work out as hoped.

After the Airport update today, Airport Utility no longer sees my new Extreme or my 2 new Airport Express relay stations (same network); however, my internet is working and all Airports are green?

After the Airport update today, Airport Utility 6.0 no longer sees my new Extreme or my 2 new Airport Express relay stations (same network); however, my internet is working and all Airports are green? I'm running Lion on my iMac and updated when Airport Utility prompted me to do so a few hours ago. After applying the updates is when Airport Utility stopped seeing my routers. But they are working? Thoughts?

Did you remember to completely power cycle the entire network?
You would want to do this after any update or change to the network.
If you did not do this yet......things are out of sequence.
Power off everything on the network.....all devices.....power down order is not important
Wait a few minutes
Start the modem first and let it run a minute or two by itself
Start the next device connected to the modem the same way
Work your way out on the network starting each device about a minute apart
Check the network

I have bought a new airport express and using it with my macbook (iTunes 10.2.2). I have joined an existing network for internet in my home and with that i am trying to play the music via itunes but there is audio dropouts every 60 secs or so. any soln ?

I have bought a new airport express and using it with my macbook (iTunes 10.2.2). I have joined an existing wireless network for internet in my home and with that i am trying to play the music via itunes but there is audio dropouts every 60 secs or so. I am using a set of speakers from kenwood connected to the airport express. The operating system on my macbook is mac os X 10.5.8. i am sure it is not a problem of streaming music online because i have even tried playing music which are stored in my macbook.
Is there any problem with the setting in itunes or quicktime ? Kindly reply...... I am waiting for your valuable suggestion.
Thank you a lot in advance.

I am shocked to have found this same AX audio dropout problem starting TODAY, every few seconds the audio just drops for a couple seconds and then resumes: Latest software versions of everything. No iPad, iPhone or Touch. Internet hardwired to D-Link DES1105 (1000baseT Switch) hardwired to new 80211N AX, AX optical to stereo, AX Wi-Fi internet to basic 1st-gen MacBook operating at 80211G, and an older 'G' AX extender at the far end of the house, away from all this. The MacBook streaming iTunes is usually 12 feet from AX. I've used this setup for years of trouble-free AirTunes / Airplay until today. Today I also found 2 very reliable fixes and 1 way to force a dropout, but first, I read some posts and tried ALL following settings one-at-a-time and restored them ALL because NONE of them helped: Turned off IPV6. Streamed to multiple speakers 'Computer' and 'AX' (restored to just AX). Turned off 'Ask to Join new (WiFi) Networks'. Turned off Bluetooth (can't live without Magic Trackpad, so glad that wasn't it). Here's my discoveries: Lo and behold, each time I click the Airport icon in the Menu (you know it shows you've got 4 bars from AX) when the status switches to 'Looking for Networks' for a second it CAUSES the AX audio to drop out for a couple seconds (it never did that before today.) iTunes still playing, streaming, AX laser still lit, but the 'PCM' light on stereo and the sound GOES OUT EVERY time I click the Airport icon in the menubar, just like the regular, annoying dropouts. So, to reduce traffic I quit Safari (3 tabs, no streaming, just Gmail, Google, and Netflix browsing). Lo and behold, the dropouts stopped altogether. No other Web apps going (not iTunes Store, Genius, Ping, nothing), so I launched Chrome to the same 3 tabs and the dropouts HAVE NOT RETURNED. That's right, not only did simply QUITTING SAFARI cure it, and Chrome doesn't contribute to it, but I can demonstrate it just by forcing my Airport to re-scan. Works for me, written using Chrome. The other reliable fix is to hardwire MacBook to the Switch. This is obviously not ideal, but Airplay audio doesn't drop out over Ethernet. Also, in all my tests, it made no difference whether iTunes did the streaming, or Airfoil did.

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express.
I am using a DLink DI-524 Router, Windows 7 (64), and the AirPort Express.
AirPort Utility will not recognize the AEX wirelessly, it will only recognize it when it is connected by Ethernet. I can then configure the AEX and verify that the settings stick once disconnected and then reconnected. However, even after that, it will not recognize the AEX once disconnected from the Ethernet cable.
I followed the suggestions of several other threads on these forums. But I am unable to get the AEX to work.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the discussion area!
It's almost always a security setting that causes problems when the Airport Express (AX) tries to join a third party wireless network. The AX usually does not "join" correctly and that's why you can't see it on your wireless network using AirPort Utility.
Using an ethernet cable is still the more reliable way to configure and adjust the AX, but if you are want to try to configure it using wireless, you must return the AX back to factory defaults as follows:
Power down the AX
Hold in the reset button +and keep holding it in+ as you plug the AX back in to power
Release the reset button after 10 seconds
When it is set to factory defaults, the AX broadcasts a wireless signal with a network name like "apple network xxxxxx" where the "x's" are either letters or numbers. You must look for this network by clicking on the fan shaped Airport icon at the top of the screen. If you don't see this network, then click Join Other Network to search that way. Unless you connect to this network, you will not be able to configure the AX using wireless.
Do you know the exact security type that your D-Link router is using? That is the key element in the process.
Open AirPort utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab to establish a name for the AX, device password and adjust time zone settings
Click the Wireless tab
Wireless Mode....Join a wireless network
Wireless Network Name...must exactly match your D-Link wireless network name
Enable ethernet clients if you want the port to be active (your D-Link must be compatible with ProxySTA for this to work)
Wireless Security...exact setting of the D-Link network. WEP security causes a lot of issues. Try to use WPA/WPA2 Personal, which is far more secure.
Wireless Password...must match the D-Link network
Click the Music icon to enable AirTunes
Click Update to save settings
Any luck?

Playstation 3 can't get on wifi with new Airport Express

Hi guys. I got the new Airport Express that was released a few days ago. My Mac and other iDevices all connect fine but for whatever reason my PS3 has issues resolving an IP address or whatever. At first I thought I'd solved it by turning off the only DHCP Reservation I had on (for my iMac) but the next day it's not connecting again.
Unfortunately I'm not much of a networking whiz.
I have it set to DHCP (not Static or PPoE) And I'm not sure what else to share but I'd really like to solve this.
It connected once or twice in attempts so I know neither the Airport Express Base Station nor the Ps3 is broken.
Just totally stumped here. :(

As an update, I noticed that the brief moments when my PS3 would attempt to connect, I would see another IP on my Airport Express Base Station. 10.0.1.3
So, wanting to try something out, I went into DHCP reservations on my AEBS and added a DHCP reservation for 10.0.1.3 and assigned my PS3's MAC address to it. I was able to connect instantly.
However, I've been connected briefly before, so only time will tell if it sticks. At this point I don't consider my situation resolved. Clearly my inability to connect has something to do with IP addresses and maybe the 'dynamic' one the PS3 sometimes gets assigned by the AEBS is something one of my other devices is already blocking or using?
I'm not a whiz at this stuff, so if anyone has any insights as to a good way to set up DHCP reservations so that everything works, I'm all ears.
Would it be wise to take the iMac, AppleTV, 2 iPads, and 2 iPhones and assign them ALL different DHCP reservations so that no one steps on anyone else's toes, so to speak?

Just got a new Airport Express to replace an old ond that dropped off a lot. Works great with various Apple and Androids but Win 8 computer sees the network but can't connect.

Just got a new Airport Express to replace an old one that dropped off all the time. The new one works with various Apple and Android devices but will not connect to Wen 8 computer. The computer sees the network but can't connect.

Hello lucky3480;
I don't know what else to do. I'm thinking of possibly returning the unit and purchasing a wireless internet card to install in the tower. Any help you can provide would be great. Even suggesting a good wireless card at this point
Well it looks like you're not having any luck at all with this AX set up but please don't give on it just yet, it's a good choice for extending your Network. Your on the right path, just going backwards and in the wrong direction. You'll learn a lot about stuff this way but may lead to other issues.
Before I continue, let me know if you have returned the AX or still need help. Here's a link to Apple's PDF about [Designing AirPort Networks|http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Designing_AirPort_Networks10.5-Windows.pdf] Click on it to open in Safari but then save it to your desktop. Now open it from your desktop and start reading Chapter 3, page 42.
Later...
Buzz

Brute force solution: new Airport Express and old (ca. '04) Airport Extreme

This is a long post, so I apologize in advance for that. However, I have been trying for the better part of three days to get my new Airport Express (802.11n) to connect to my ca. 2004 Airport Extreme Base Station (802.11b/g) (my old Express died after a little less than 4 years of service). I had searched all over this site and elsewhere on the Internet for ideas/suggestions/others' experiences/anything with no luck. (I am still not sure if the old Extreme is not fully compatible with the new Express or not.) I thought that perhaps my Express was a lemon. Basically what was happening was that I could not get the Express to be recognized, or, more accurately, Airport Utility would inform me that the network could not be extended. I tried changing the security on my Extreme, changing passwords, moving the Express and Extreme closer to each other and a bunch of other things. I must have reset the Express two dozen times. Finally, to see if the Express was faulty, I connected it to my DSL modem and used it as a Main Base Station. With that configuration, it worked fine.
Aha! I thought - Maybe I could use the Express as my main base station and my old Extreme as my remote station, so that is what I did. It took a bit of finagling with Airport Utility, but I did get the Extreme and Express to talk to each other and - miracle of miracles - green dots on both in Airport Utility! I also had to delete and re-add my Epson C62 printer to get the Extreme to recognize that. But now (fingers crossed) things are back to normal.
I must say that this has been the most frustrating experience I have ever had with an Apple product, primarily because there are probably hundreds of "blinking amber light on Airport Express" messages out there, but most of the answers (particularly the ones from Apple) are not particularly helpful. I hope that this post will help someone. Apple's suggestion to "follow the onscreen directions in Airport Utility" is very frustrating, because the information provided by Airport Utility is not very helpful at all (e.g., telling me that my network is not recognized when every other computer in my house - 5 in all - is finding it doesn't make sense).
Sorry, again, for the long post. I hope, however, that it proves to be helpful to someone (like me, who was searching for something like this for the past three days!).
Happy New Year!
Bob Q.
P.S. If I am missing something and someone has information to add, please do so!

If your old Extreme is an 802.11n model, then please check out this Apple Support article for details on how to configure them both for an extended network.

I want to know if Ican connect a print server (to print with several wireless printers) to the new airport express given that it has wan and lan ports. Tks!

The print server that I want to connect allows me to choose among 2 usb printers and 01 serail port printer. It needs to be connected to a router through a lan port. Given that the all new airport express now come with a wan and a lan port, i want to know if I can connect this device to the airport express.

You're welcome.
Beware that while USB print servers are commonly available and inexpensive, finding one with a serial port is more of a challenge. Apple Stores in the US do not sell them. Call the iStore before going there.
If you need recommendations for obtaining a print server with a serial port, let me know.

Proper way to mix new Airport Extreme with Airport Express, wired and wirel

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for