Time Capsule Range Extension With Linksys?

Question

I just bought a new Time Capsule to enable family automated back-ups and networked storage.  I replaced a Linksys router as the main router for the house and now I have lost wifi range - particularly in the room where we sit to stream video!! I don't have another cable connection in the house to add another router unfortunately.  Is there a way I could use my linksys router to wireelssly extend the Time Capsule range?  If so - can anyone point me to a layman's guide for setting this up?  I have searched the forums but the basics don't seem to be available.  Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer 1

The answer is basically no, Apple make their routers to work with Apple routers.. and all others are excluded from the club.
But do you know how many models Linksys make? Over the years it must come to several hundred. Apple make 3 routers.. so it is kind of easy.. and they all play nicely together. Linksys makes/made hundreds and they don't even work with each other let alone every other brand.
To work with Apple router it will need universal repeater mode.. this is almost never available in Linksys firmware. But third party firmware like dd-wrt will sometimes work.
Check the listing if your model linksys works. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices
Overall though universal repeater is not the best way to do things. It is not particularly stable or fast because all packets are double handled.. being received and retransmitted.. halves the speed.
So the easy way to fix the problem is another apple router.. it will slot in without any hassles and extend wireless.
That is still slower than direct wireless, because it still double hops the wireless.
So other solutions.
1. Wire it.. even if you don't have another cable connection now.. to stream video ethernet is the winner hands down. Nothing else comes close.
2. HomePlug or what we call EOP adapters. Send ethernet over power. These work better than wireless if you have same circuit or even via a fuse box.. they can be slow if the house uses breakers instead of fuses.. they require direct power point connection.. and single phase.. but if it does work, it is stable and doesn't drop out and change from day to day the way wireless does.
3. If the Linksys was working ok and you could stream over wireless to the areas you needed it. Then clearly the TC is not the right product for you or it is in the wrong role. Put the Linksys back as the main router and bridge the TC to it.. so it no longer is main router, but simply another WAP and network switch.. It can still do TM backups fine.
4. Alternatively setup the Linksys as a secondary WAP plugged into the TC by ethernet. It is good to space them a few feet apart.. so get a decent length ethernet patch cord and run the linksys in WAP mode if it has one.. or wan bypass if it doesn't. All wireless routers effectively can work as merely a WAP. (wireless access point) Set the IP address correctly .. for example plugged into a TC at default, set linksys to 10.0.1.250 and turn off dhcp. Plug LAN to LAN. Then you can set a fixed channel for wireless say 11, and leave the TC to use one of the other channels.
I can give more info if you need on setup of either of these.