Trouble extending a wireless network

Hello,
I am having trouble extending my wireless network. I have a time capsule running 802.11N and this is plugged into a Motorola Cable (SBV5121) modem. Until now I have not had any trouble with this network running either a PC or MacBook.
I recently purchased an airport express - dual band, and have configured both it and the timecapsule to allow network extension (express is configured to extend a network).
After some time - perhaps 2-3 hours or even longer, I lose my internet connection (error I get is I cannot obtain an IP address - or no valid IP address.) I think this may be related to DHCP, so I tried config with static IP for both time capsule and airport express internal network. When I lose internet connection, I can still use the express to play music through - which to me indicates problems re the outside network.
When I unplug (turn off) the express from power - I am able to get back on the net. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the discussion area, phazyme!
Suggest that you try forum expert Tesserax's guide found this the link below:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2422028&tstart=0

Similar Messages

Trouble extending my wireless network via (4) Airport Express'

I am having difficulty extending my wireless network - I have a Airport Extreme as the base station - I was hoping to daisy chain the express devices throughout the home but I'm losing signal strength as I get further away from the base... is it possible to link each device so that i can have one network running with multiple Airport Express' wirelessly? Any help you can provide would be appreciated...
Thanks
Steve

If you have the newer AirPort Extreme 802.11n and newer AirPort Express 802.11n devices, it is not possible to "daisy chain" the AirPort Express devices. That's because each AirPort Express communicates directly to the "main" AirPort Extreme....not to another AirPort Express.
The "extend" setup is like the hub and spokes of a wheel. Your AirPort Exrreme is the "hub" and each AirPort Express resides at the end of a "spoke".
The "best" way to extend any wireless network is to run Ethernet cabling to the location of each AirPort Express. If it is not possible to run the Ethernet cable, your next option would be Ethernet power line adapters to send an Ethernet signal over the AC power lines in your home.

Why can't I extend my wireless network on my Time Capsule?

So I'm having trouble extending my wireless network in my house with my Time Capsule. I just recently moved into an apartment and had Time Warner install a modem with a bult in router. I then tried to install my TC upstairs and attempted to extend an exisiting network, however my current network doesn't appear on the list of networks to choose from. Why is this?
*I've read that you cann't extend a network if the original router you're extending from ISN'T an apple router? I'm having a hard time believing that, since all network providers provide you with their own equipment. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Connect your Time Capsule to your router with an Ethernet cable. That is the only way to "extend" a network created by a non-Apple product.
*I've read that you cann't extend a network if the original router you're extending from ISN'T an apple router? I'm having a hard time believing that, since all network providers provide you with their own equipment.
All network providers provide you with the cheapest possible junk. Ask TW how to disable their router and use their equipment strictly as a modem. ISPs have different names for this such as "bridge mode" or "transparent bridging". That way, you can use all the Time Capsule's features.

Difference between the 'WDS' & 'Extend a wireless network' settings?

I bought a Time Capsule & an AirPort Express with the intention of using the AirPort Express to extend the wireless signal in my home. After reading up on it a little it looked like I needed to use the 2 devices in WDS mode.
I had trouble settings it up in WDS mode & ended up doing it without.I set the Time Capsule to ‘Create wirelss network’ under the Wireless settings in AirPort Utility & the AirPort Extreme to ‘Extend a wireless network’ & it seems fine.
I’m just wondering what the difference is between this & WDS mode? And would WDS be better than what I’ve set it to now? (Would it extend the range better than the current setting?)

"Extend a wireless network" is an option only among 802.11n devices. It is much easier to set up than WDS and is potentially faster in terms of throughput because of the differences between n and g.
It's not clear to me, however, that the throughput of an "extended" network is reduced less in terms of a percentage than is that of a network extended via WDS.

The Difference between Extending a Wireless network and WDS?

I have an Extreme (n) and an Express (n).
I want to make sure the signal is strong upstairs and share a printer (connected to the express) and use AirTunes. I also may add an external drive to the Extreme.
What's the difference between Extending a Wireless Network and using WDS? Will there be a speed difference?
Message was edited by: J. Christopher Edwards

I think you don't get it
If I have another draft N router that operates at 2.4G and I have only n devices I can still use WDS and it will connect using draft n in the 2.4G band.
If one g device connects to the network will go in mixed mode.
The AEBS will still report 130 Mbps for your n clients and 54 for your g clients.
If the other router is g only obviously you can't connect between the two router at n mode but still the AEBS will be in mixed mode and not in g. The Extreme will still report 130 Mbps for the connected n clients.
I can tell you that because I have actually implemented it am not taking off the documentation.
The same device if I try to use the "extend n network" does not even see the AEBS but will happily keep the n in the WDS mode and though the bandwidth is halved it is still more than g.
In any case enough for this!

"Extend a Wireless Network" seems to be... broken?

Hey guys,
Here's the scoop.
I have one Airport Extreme 802.11n that's connected to a cable modem. It's set to "Create a Wireless Network". It's at 5 GHz, and "Allow this Network To Be Extended" is checked. It works fine!
I have another Airport Extreme 802.11n upstairs that's set to "Extend a Wireless Network". I've then entered the network name and password of the original network. It successfully connects just fine to #1, and gets an IP address.
Then, I wander about.
When I get poor signal from the original base station (#1), and I enter the range of the extender station (#2), the laptop switches over to #2 and the network COMPLETELY DROPS OUT.
I.e., I can ping 10.0.1.1, but I cannot access the internet, no web pages can be loaded, etc. I'm stuck -- Airport is dead and I have to power down #2 and reboot.
Has anybody tried using two 802.11n Airport Extremes in this kind of configuration? With both set to 5GHz 802.11n only, and one sharing, the other extending?
If so.. what's your secret? Or is this just a striaght-up bug?
Thanks, Cabel
PS: Don't forget, this has nothing to do with WDS.

Hey guys,
Here's the scoop.
I have one Airport Extreme 802.11n that's connected
to a cable modem. It's set to "Create a Wireless
Network". It's at 5 GHz, and "Allow this Network
To Be Extended" is checked. It works fine!
I have another Airport Extreme 802.11n upstairs
that's set to "Extend a Wireless Network".
I've then entered the network name and password of
the original network. It successfully connects just
fine to #1, and gets an IP address.
Then, I wander about.
When I get poor signal from the original base
station (#1), and I enter the range of the
extender station (#2), the laptop switches over to
#2 and the network COMPLETELY DROPS OUT.
I.e., I can ping 10.0.1.1, but I cannot access the
internet, no web pages can be loaded, etc. I'm stuck
-- Airport is dead and I have to power down #2 and
reboot.
Has anybody tried using two 802.11n Airport
Extremes in this kind of configuration? With both
set to 5GHz 802.11n only, and one sharing, the other
extending?
If so.. what's your secret? Or is this just a
striaght-up bug?
I have the same identical configuration EXCEPT that I am not using 5GHz. Works beautifully. 100% coverage on 3 floors of my house.

Can I use a Time Capsule to extend my wireless network.

Hi, I have just bought a 3TB time capsule as my old (flat style) 500GB TC is reaching full capacity. The old style TC will then be surplus to requirements as a data storage unit, at least for myself, though it might be useful for my son to use as his Time Capsule.
Ideally, as we have a wireless 'blind spot' out in the rear extension of the house, it would be useful to use the unit to extend my wireless network (and also use it as a separate TC if possible). Is this possible? If it is how would I go about it?
Hope someone can help . . . .
Cheers
John

Is it possible for you to consider connecting the Time Capsules together using a wired Ethernet connection?
Here is what Apple has to say in their support document about extending:
Adding Wi-Fi base stations when it is unnecessary can reduce Wi-Fi throughput because the Wi-Fi network will require more data management overhead. The network configuration also becomes more complex. In the case of a wirelessly extended network, throughput may be reduced to less than 60 percent of that of a single device. The general rule is to keep the Wi-Fi network as simple as possible. You can accomplish this by using the minimum number of Wi-Fi base stations required to service the physical network area and by using Ethernet wherever possible.
Extending the range of your Wi-Fi network by connecting Wi-Fi base stations together using Ethernet is always the best option, and will provide the best throughput.
Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations

What is the best way to extend a Wireless network?

Hi,
We have 3 devices,
1) Our Primary Network Router (which creates our office Network and has DHCP enabled).
2) We have and Airport Extreme, which is used to create our Wireless Network (THIS IS SET TO “Create Wireless Network”), it has DHCP Enabled, its DHCP IP Scheme is set to 192.168.2.x, where the IP Scheme of our Primary Network is set to 192.168.181.x.
3) We have an Airport Express that we are trying to use to EXTEND our Wireless Network.
The most important thing we are trying to accomplish is to isolate the Wireless Network from our Primary Network, so Wireless Clients can access the Internet, but CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Shared Network Volumes AVAILABLE ON THE PRIMARY NETWORK.
At the moment, the Wireless Clients can access the Internet and receive an IP in the range of 192.168.2.x from the DHCP Server in the Airport Extreme. That part of it is working, but the Wireless Clients can unfortunately still SEE and ACCESS the Network Volumes available on the Primary Network. WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE WANT!!
Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
Kalagan

Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
There is no way to do this. Any of the wireless clients of the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) can see any device connected to the AEBS's WAN port. Clients of a subnet can see anything on the supernet.
You could configure you network like this:
Internet-> (WAN) AEBS (LAN) -> Primary router
As long as the Primary router was providing DHCP/NAT the things on the LAN side of the Primary router would be hidden from the AEBS clients.
A better solution may be to have 2 completely separate networks OR invest in some type of network security firewall device to actively isolate your Primary network.
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
WDS is 802.11g's method of wirelessly extending a network.
"Extend wireless network" is 802.11n's method of wirelessly extending a network.
Neither of them require the AirPort Express (AX) to be cabled to the AEBS.

Can I create a unique subnetwork when extending a wireless network using Airport Extreme?

My office building has an Airport Extreme to provide wifi to our individual suites. I would like to create a sub-network using my Airport Extreme for my suite only that uses the wifi signal from our office building and provides internet to the computers (both wired and wireless) in my suite but have it protected so that other suites in my building can't see my computers. Is this possible and how do I do it? I have currently set up my Airport Extreme in wifi-mode "extending a previous wireless network" and have the router with its unique router name. But once I extended the wireless network, I could not find the network name of my router, only the office name (the one I was extending). The computers connected via ethernet to my Airport have internet access but none of my wireless computers see my airport name, it sees the office building network name. I'm assuming they are connecting to my Airport since the signal level is much higher than before and it appears that my Airport is rebroadcasting the network name of my office building. Is there a way to have my Airport broadcast its unique identifier for wifi, still connect to the internet via wifi signal to the Office building airport and maintain segregation between my computers and the rest of my office building?
Also, when I use the Airport Utility on my Iphone, I see the internet -> the office airport extreme -> and then 2 different base stations connected in a Y. Mine and my neighbors (who is probably doing the same thing as I am). But there is a dotted line to my base station, does that mean I'm connected to the internet via my neighbor's airport?
Any thoughts?

I would like to create a sub-network using my Airport Extreme for my suite only that uses the wifi signal from our office building and provides internet to the computers (both wired and wireless) in my suite but have it protected so that other suites in my building can't see my computers.
It is not possible to configure a single Apple AirPort router in this manner using wireless only, but it would be possible to do this with a single AirPort if you connect your AirPort Extreme to the "main" router using a wired Ethernet connection.
As for wireless only....you could probably do what you want by using two Apple routers....an AirPort Express to join the wireless network and provide an Ethernet signal to the AirPort Extreme's WAN port. Then the AirPort Extreme could then be configured to provide a separate network using a different subnet.
Users on the "main" network would not be able to "see" any devices on your "private" network and vice versa.
I use the two router set up all the time at hotels that only provide a wireless signal. The first Express "joins" the wireless network and feeds an Ethernet signal to the second AirPort which is configured to "create a wireless network" in router mode.
This way, I can connect multiple devices to my "private" network, but only pay the hotel for one connection since the hotel router only "sees" the AirPort Express that joins the network.

How do I use airport express to extend my wireless network?

How vcan I extend the range of my wireless network using Airport Express?

It appears that you may have "join a wireless network" and "extend a wireless network" mixed up a bit.
The Express can "join" virtually any wireless network produced by any manufacturer's router if it is provided with the correct settings:
name of the wireless network
the correct wireless security settings
and correct password.
"Join" is normally used for AirTunes or to connect a USB printer to the Express for remote printing.
But, the Express does not provide any additional wirless coverage when it "joins" another wireless network.
Apple's "Extend a wireless network" feature, which was introduced about 5 years ago, allows the Express to connect to another Apple "n" wireless router and then "repeat" or "extend" the wireless signal....providing more wireless coverage in the area where the Express is located.
This is a proprietary setting. Apple says it will not work with devices from other manufacturers. To our knowledge, this is correct.
Prior to 2007, Apple used a setting called WDS to allow the Express to be configured to provide more wireless coverage. Attempts were made by a number of manufacturers to standardize the WDS settings, but things were never finalized.
The result is that Apple's older "b/g" routers were sometimes compatible with WDS settings from another manufacturer. There were a handful of products....5 or 6, as I recall....that were said to work. Some did, some didn't. Linksys had a couple of models, Netgear had one, SMC another, etc. Extremely limited.
Since WDS was never adopted as an industry standard, manufacturers developed their own WDS settings. Compatibility was extemely limited and unreliable. That continues to this day with WDS.
Bottom line....It is always best to stick with the same manufacturer throughout your network as far as routing is concerned.
If you have an newer "n" Apple router like an AirPort Extreme, the Express can extend the wireless as can along Extreme. If your Extreme is dual band, and you want to extend both bands, then you need another Extreme.
Another responder suggested to someone that they could connect the AirPort Express to a router via Ethernet. What exactly would that achieve?
That is a completely different subject since this discussion is about extending a wireless network using wireless only.

Can I use my airport express to extend a wireless network with a non-apple router?

I have been trying to extend my wireless network in my house. Right now I have a dsl modem/router provided by Century Link and an older AirPort express (not sure how old but it uses AirPort utility v5.6). I want to be able to share my printer and use AirTunes. Currently I have the AirPort plugged into the router and setup to create a new wireless network. I would like to combine them so I don't have to switch between to print and play music. I am not really sure where to start or if it even possible. Any info would be great!

If you keep the Express connected using Ethernet and configure the Express to "Create a wireless network" using exactly the same wireless network name, exact same wireless security and same wireless password as the Century Link network.....everything will behave as one "big" network, and you will have additional wireless coverage near the Express.
If you do not need extra wireless coverage, you can turn off the wireless on the Express.
The Express must be in Bridge Mode.
Most users know the name of their wireless network and password, so the really tricky part of doing this is that you must know exactly what type of wireless security settings the Century Link router is using....and then match up the same settings on the AirPort Express.
If the settings do not match up exactly, then you wind up with two separate networks that will each require their own log on.
If you can check the setting for wireless security on the Century Link router and provide that information to us, we can tell you how to set things up the way that you would like.

I recently upgraded my OS to Lion 10.7.4. I also just upgraded from a 1st Generation Time Capsule to a 4th Generation Time Capsule. I have an Airport Express (Version A1264) that I formerly used to extend my wireless network. AE no longer works.

I recently upgraded my OS to Lion 10.7.4. I also just upgraded from a 1st Generation Time Capsule to a 4th Generation Time Capsule. I have an Airport Express (Version A1264) that I formerly used to extend my wireless network. Airport Express no longer connects to my network. I have downloaded Airport Utility 5.6 to try and configure, but with no luck.

TC first gen was not simultaneous dual band. So.. it's probably best to factory reset your extreme and then tell it to extend again.

I have installed Airport Extreme on my iMac, but want to extend the wireless network with Airport Express. Everything is fine until I try to select Extend the wireless network. I select Extend Wireless network but have no success. Ideas?

I have installed Airport Extreme on my iMac, but want to extend the wireless to rooms with a weak signal. The internet connection is fine with the basic setup. As soon as I go into Airport Utility to select Extend Wireless Network and fill in what I believe is proper information, I get an error message that Airport Extreme no longer has an IP address, the internet connection is broken, and under Wireless, that there is a wireless network in existence that can't be found. Rebooting the modem only brings the Airport Extreme back to the starting gate so that the internet is once again available. I assumed (naively) that with the All Mac All-the-Time context, adding Airport Express would truly be Plug and Play. I got the plug, but no play. I asked a Comcast technical specialist about it and he said that I needed to reset the Airport Express settings back to their default, factory status. I looked that process up online and found out that the way to do that was to hold down the reset button, then plug Airport Express into the socket and wait for the green light to flash four times. Then wait 45 seconds and the default settings will return. I did all that, only to find out that after the initial flash of green, green never appeared again. I got a fast flashing yellow light, followed by the light going off. Apparently this didn't reset it properly. So, after hours trying to get this system to work, I appeal to someone who can see through this mess and provide the key to success!
highFly376

Let's see if I can get this straight.
You have an Airport Extreme base station that is set to "Create a wireless network" and you have the box checked for "allow this network to be extended"....
Then you have an Airport Express that is set to "Extend a wireless network" which you selected the name of your network in the box...
Correct?
See this Apple document:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
The wireless unit on the right of the diagram can be either of the newer Apple base stations.
Extreme, Express, Time Capsule

Using Time Capsule to extend a wireless network

I have an office in the top of my house (2nd floor roof conversion) and as a result the wireless signal from the ground floor is very weak. i would like to boost the signal using my Time Capsule, placing it on the 1st floor, shortening the distance the signal has to travel.
Is this possible? In the AirPort settings I can seen an option to 'extend a wireless network using an ethernet cable' but if that is the only option I may as well just move my wireless home hub to the 1st floor.
Can the network be extended wirelessly?
many thanks!

Thanks for the clarification.
Unfortunately, the "extend a wireless network" feature of the AirPort Express is only compatible with an Apple base station.
Therefore, you will not be able to use the TC to extend the wireless network that has been created by the BT Home Hub. You might check to see if BT offers an "extension device" or "remote" that would allow you to expand your wireless signal.
The TC will need to be configured to "Join" the wireless network that you have there.

When I change the setting on my third generation time capsule to "extend a wireless network", the update fails. Why?

I purchased a new router. Everything is working great except for a third-generation time capsule which will not accept a change from join a wireless network to extend a wireless network as it did before. Does anyone know how to fix that?

You cannot extend a non-apple router..
So what new router did you buy?? If it don't have an Apple Symbol on it.. it aint gonna work.

Trouble extending a wireless network

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