Using Airport Express to boost range of wireless network

I have a Virgin wireless broadband connection (using a netgear router), but the range is poor and so want to set up my airport express to boost the range of the network. This option is available in Airport Utility, but when I try to set it up, once I've inputted my WPA password a dialog box on top of the main screen pops up asking me to select from the list of Apple wireless devices. Annoyingly, the Express device doesn't show up in the dialog box, although I can see it showing up in the main Utility screen behind it. I can set it up to play iTunes etc. no problem - any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of Wireless Distribution System (WDS)...so it very unlikely that your Netgear router can be extended wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX).
The only Netgear, that I'm aware, that is supposed to be compatible, is the Netgear WGR614 with v6 firmware.

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    will the Airport Express allow you to log onto a hotel wireless network, and broadcast a secure wireless network in your room for your wireless devices, like the Ipad, Iphone, etc.?
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  • Using airport express for itunes and another wireless network for internet

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    Hello bleno567. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
    Is there any way i can use my airport express just for playin music through airtunes, and log onto the internet using a different wireless network?
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  • Using the AirPort Express to Join an existing Wireless Network

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    will the Airport Express allow you to log onto a hotel wireless network, and broadcast a secure wireless network in your room for your wireless devices, like the Ipad, Iphone, etc.?
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    Bonjour!
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  • How to use Airport Express to extend range in conjunction with Belkin N Wireless Router

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  • Can I use Airport Express to make my G3 wireless?

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    Welcome to the discussions, Nick!
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    Make sure there is a check mark next to "Allow Ethernet Clients"
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    Wireless Password is the exact setting that your wireless network is now using.
    Update to save settings.
    Move the Express to the desired location and connect an ethernet cable from it to your old iMac and power things up.
    Any luck?

  • Using apples airport express to extend a linksys wireless network

    HI there,
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    So the concern that you expressed regarding to that if the apple airport express is N technology kind of extender then it may extend a linksys wrt120N wireless network... But before configuring the apple airport express try upgrading the firmware of the Router and then reset the router.....
    After resetting the router power cycle the whole network and configure the Router again as per  ISP ( Internet Service Provider ) setup...

  • How to use Airport Extreme to create a second wireless network with different IP addresses behind an existing modem/router?

    Hi,
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    When I do this the Airport complains of a 'double NAT issue'. Internet connectivity seems to be OK, but when switching between the two networks on my Mac I get complaints about my IP address being in use by another device intermittently.
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    So if someone is connected to the modem/router network they will be able to see the HD I will have put in to the AirPort Extreme?
    As I said above.....since the modem/router and AirPort are bridged, devices on the modem/router wireless will be able to "see" devices on the AirPort wireless, and vice versa.....
    If they can see the HD connected to the AirPort Extreme, will they be able to access it
    Yes, unless you plan to password protect the drive connected to the AirPort Extreme.
    or will they still need the password needed to get onto the AirPort Extreme network?
    The modem/router and AirPort Extreme are bridged. They are on the same network. All devices are on the same network when the modem/router and AirPort are bridged. Not sure how else that I can say this.
    Also, because it is bridged, I shouldn't have any problems accessing the HD I will have connected to the AirPort Extreme from an external location?
    Accessing devices from a remote location is never easy....and a topic for a different post/discussion. If you have a "static" Internet IP address from your provider, and have all the details on how to forward ports on your modem/router, you are off to a good start.
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    When you "bridge", all IP addresses are issued by one device. There will be no conflicts on the network, since they are bridged.
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  • Using Airport Express to Extend a Time Capsule Network: Results (*Long*)

    Thought I would share my recent (2 hours ago) experience with setting up an Airport Express to Extend a Time Capsule 802.11N 5Ghz Network. Basically I just followed the directions in the Apple Airport Utility, using the "Extend a Wireless Network" setting:
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    Linksys (LNK) 802.11g configured as dual network router with TC, also in computer room.
    Airport Express (AE): In living room, about 50' away, several old plaster walls in between.
    According to iStumblr:
    1) I get an 80% signal from my TC when my MacBook is practically sitting on top of it.
    2) I get an 88% signal from my Linksys 802.11g sitting next to the TC
    3) I get 35% signal from my TC when my MacBook is in the living room. This is NOT enough signal, for some reason, to maintain a decent internet connection.
    4) I get a 46% signal from my LNK from the same location. This IS enough signal to connect to the network.
    5) With the AE configured as "Extend a Wireless Network" to the TC, and placed in the living room (again, about 50' from the TC base station), I get a 55% signal from the AE (which shows up as the same name as the TC network, for obvious reasons) Again, enough signal to connect to the network.
    I did some internet speed tests using SpeedTest (take these with a grain of salt, of course)
    1) From computer room over TC: 18Mb/s~22Mb/s average over 2 days of testing
    2) From computer room over LNK: 18Mb/s~22mb/s average over 2 days of testing
    3) From living room over AE(extended network from TC): 5~7Mb/s average in the last 2 hours
    4) From living room over LNK: 12~14Mb/s average over 2 days of testing
    Preliminary conclusions:
    1) Setting up an extended network is pretty straightforward, and works without issue.
    2) My 802.11g network with my old Linksys is far superior than my new extended 802.11N 5Ghz network, at least for internet connection speed.
    3) I feel a bit irritated buying this AE now to extend my 802.11N network, if its not going to give me any advantages over my ancient 802.11g network
    4) File transfers may still be better over the 802.11N-I will test that out at some point.
    5) I have not tried WDS instead of "Extend a Wireless Network"-not sure what the benefits would be.
    Computer Notes:
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    finds 8 wireless networks in my neighborhood (3 of them are mine)
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    Your biggest mistake is confusing signal strength with signal quality. The signal indicator indicates strength and nothing else. You need to be using iStumblr to look at SNR (Signal to noise ratio).

  • Airport Express extending the range of my network HELP!

    Greetings!
    I know there are similar posts on this topic, but I can't seem to find a solution so I'll just ask again!
    Equipment: AirPort Extreme and two Airport Expresses (all are N)
    We live in a long house and the AirPort Extreme sits on one end with the cable modem and I'd like to place two AirPort Expresses in the middle and other end of the house so we can get wireless.
    I've tried WDS and extended and I can't get them to configure! What can I do? I'm out of ideas and time spend trying to set up an extender!!
    Help!!
    Message was edited by: Scott Rowan

    AE-----AX1-----AX2<---MacBookPro</div>
    Ok, this can be done with a static WDS.
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    o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar and choose the wireless network created by the AEBSn.
    o Open AirPort Utility.
    o Select the AEBSn, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
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    o Click WDS and then choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
    o Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox.
    o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of AXn#1.
    o Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
    Remote Base Station Setup - AXn#2
    o Open AirPort Utility.
    o Select AXn#2, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
    o Click AirPort in the toolbar and click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
    o Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
    o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the WDS Main field.
    o Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.
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    o Open AirPort Utility.
    o Select AXn#1, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
    o Click AirPort in the toolbar and click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
    o Click WDS and choose “WDS relay” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
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    o Click Update to transfer the new WDS settings to the relay and remote base stations.
    (ref: Pages 42-46 of "Designing AirPort Networks.)

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