Using Old AirPort Express to Extend Network Coverage

I have an old AirPort Express sitting literally a yard away from my Mac mini. My Network Connection doesn't reach the room where my Mac is very well, so I thought this would help... but the network still only sometimes shows up on my devices. (2010 Mac mini, iPhone 4 CDMA, Original iPad WiFi)
I set it up from scratch, (it used to be near the router to connect to a printer, but I replaced it with a brand new AirPort Extreme and decided the Express might help back with my Mac) and I set it up to extend the network connection. It shows up, and I get better signal when I'm connected, but my Mac is the only device that can connect to it all the time. Both my iPhone and my iPad drop the connection frequently.
Any ideas what could be the problem and how to fix it?

The correct location for a device that is "extending" a wireless signal is a point that is about half the distance from the "main" router to the general area that needs more wireless coverage.
My guess is that you have the AirPort Express located too far away from the main router. The Express can only extend the quality of signal that it receives, so it is very important that it can get a strong signal from the main router.
Try to minimize obstructions in the signal path as much as possible. To give you an example, a typical sheetrock wall in a home will absorb 15-20% of the wireless signal on average. A ceiling will absorb much more since it is much thicker.
After the signal must pass through 3-4 walls, or a ceiling and a few walls, there won't be much of the signal left.

Similar Messages

  • Trying to use Airport Express to extend network created by Actiontec M1424WR (FiOS)

    I would like to use two Airport Expresses to extend my home network which is created with my Actiontec M1424WR.  My ISP is Verizon FiOS.  I previously had TimeWarner and used one of my Expresses to create the WiFi and the second Express to extend it.  Now that I have a modem/router provided by Verizon, I'd like to utilize both Airports as extenders.  I have a two story house and the signal is "fair" upstairs.  I would like to use my Roku player to access my home library via Plex. My problem(s):
    I used a hard reset to restore my Expresses to the default settings because my Airport Utility could not find them and my old network is not active anymore.  After the reset I was able to find them but I kept getting an "unexpected error occurred try again later" message.  After this message my Macbook OS X 10.8.5 could not connect to the internet anymore.  I had to go to System Preferences ---> Network ---> Assist Me.. ---> Assistant ---> and then found my network and reconnected.  So my Macbook is connected again but my Airport Expresses sit unused..
    My Network:
    Modem/Router ->     1. PC
                                   2. PC #2
                                   3. Xbox
                                   4. D-link 5 port gigabit switch -> a. Directv  b. xbox #2  c. xbox #3   d. THIS IS WHERE I WANT MY AIRPORT                                       
    I would like one Airport, connected via ethernet and towards the back of the house, extending my network and the other, connected via wifi and upstairs, also extending my network.
    If anyone has time on their hands to help me with my problem I would greatly appreciate it.
    Thank you,
    Mike

    I followed Kappy's advice and connected one AEX to my modem/router using a 50ft ethernet cable, creating a new network.   I connect my second AEX wirelessly to the first, extending the network.  The first AEX was placed towards the back of the house and the 2nd AEX was placed upstairs.  I was able to stream netflix on two devices upstairs while streaming a movie using plex from one pc downstairs to a roku player upstairs without any buffering at all.  All three were in HD and my brother was playing multiplayer on his xbox (wired).  It works! Thanks Kappy!

  • Can I use an Airport Express to extend coverage for Apple TV

    I hooked up an Apple TV today to replace my Airport Express. Is it possible to use the Airport Express to extend coverage throughout my house for the appleTV, or are they not compatible in that sense?

    Will the ATV work as far as the wireless signal goes? Basically, I can walk halfway through my backyard and them my itouch will cut out. I want to be able to control music (as I do inside) with my Itouch throughout my back yard, and my thought was to put the AX in a location closer to where I would use my ipod outside in an attempt to increase the wireless range.
    I just played with the settings on the Airport and switched it to "enhance an existing wireless network." Tomorrow I'll try to see if this helps to accomplish what I am setting out to do. If anyone has any feedback, by all means share it.

  • HT4145 I have an Airport Extreme bas station now and I want to know if I can use an Airport Express to extend my network or do I have to use another Airport Extreme base.

    I have an Airport Extreme Base Station now and I would like to know if I can use an Airport Express to extend my wifi network or do I have to use another Airport Extreme Base Station.

    This AirPort Express:
    http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
    It is the only Express with 2 Ethernet ports. All others are "old"
    Apple does not specify a model number in their product information, but it is A1392 in the U.S. I do not know if Apple uses different model numbers in other countries.

  • Can I use an Airport Express to extend a network using a Bwrg500 router?

    Can I use my Airport Express to extend my wireless network while using a Bountiful BWRG500 wireless router? The Bountiful wireless router has the WDS abilities.
    http://www.bountifulwifi.com/Products/BountifulRouter500G/Overview.aspx
    Thank you for looking.

    It is in fact possible to extend your network using WDS. I say this under the assumption that your statement regarding the WDS capabilities of the Bwrg router is correct. However, keep in mind that you cannot use a WPA or WPA2 password with a WDS extended network. You must either use no encryption or use WEP. Unfortunately some routers require WEP passwords that use either 10 or 26 digits ONLY while the express uses a 13 digit password.
    This can be a troubling problem considering that most people need a wifi password to ensure safe and secure browsing.

  • Can I use an airport express to extend a Cisco E4200 802.11n or 802.11g wireless network?

    Can I use an Airport Express to extend a Cisco E4200 802.11n or 802.11g wireless network?  I'd like to improve access in a dead spot with an airport express. I know I can connect this wayt for airplay, but how about extending the signal?
    Thx! ACB

    Apple's "extend a wireless network" function appears to be a proprietary feature that works only with other Apple AirPort routers. As far as we know, this feature is not compatible with devices from other manufacturers.
    It would be extremely unlikely that the Express could do what you want, but some things are never known until  you try.

  • Just installed a new time capsule and i want to use my airport express to extend my wireless range....time capsule working with existing devices at this time...but i am not able to get airport utility to recognize the airport express.....????

    just installed a new time capsule and i want to use my airport express to extend my wireless range....time capsule working with existing devices at this time...but i am not able to get airport utility to recognize the airport express.....????

    Temporarily connecting your AirPort Express to one of the Time Capsule's Etherent LAN <-> ports...as LaPastenagure suggests....is always a good way to setup and configure other network devices.
    If you want to configure the Express using wireless, remember that the Express broadcasts a default wireless signal with a name like Apple Network xxxxxx. You must log on to this network first....no password is required....then open AirPort Utility to "see" the AirPort Express.

  • Airport Express to Extend Network Range

    Hi everyone, hope somebody can help me out with this.
    I have an airport express which I had been using as a wireless router. It worked fine although the range wasn't all that good, so I got a new Linksys wireless router and installed it in the living room. I was planning on using the airport express to extend the Linksys range by plugging the airport express to the power in my bedroom.
    Anybody know how I can make that work without having to plug the ethernet cable into the airport express??
    Thanx

    david_neg, Welcome to the discussion area!
    I agree with Niel. You might be able to get it to work if the router is a Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not latest versions v5). If you are using something else the chances of working are near zero.

  • Can I use an old Airport Express to extend the range of a new Airport Express?

    Hi all.  I have an old Airport Express 802.11g (First Gen?) that is starting to fade.  Still works, but not what it used to be.  So I am going to buy a new Airport Express.  I'm not interested in the Airport Extreme.
    Question:  If I use the new Airport Express as my main wireless router, can I plug my old Airport Express into another room as an extender?  In other words, with the old Express and the new Express talk to each other or will a new Express only allow extension with another new Express?
    Thanks!

    Sorry, but the old AirPort Express 802.11 b/g does not have a setting to "Extend a wireless network", so it cannot be used as a extender with the newer AirPort Express if you plan to connect wirelessly.
    If you plan to connect the older Express using a permanent wired Ethernet cable connection, then it could be configured to provide additional wireless signal coverage in that manner.

  • Using airport express to extend network of 2tb time capsule.

    Is it possible to use my old airport express using 802.11g to extend the network of my 2tb time capsule using 802.11ac protocol?  If so, how?

    You will need to use one of the 802.11n versions of the AirPort Express....either the model A1264 or A1392....if you want to wirelessly extend the signal from the Time Capsule.
    The older 802.11b/g Express does not have the capability to do what you want.

  • Use airport express to extend network from linksys wrt54g

    Hello all, I'm having no luck here, and hope you can help me. I am running a MacBook Pro, 2.16 GHz, Intel Core 2 Duo, 3 Gigs ram, OS X 10.6.8.I am at work, trying to use a newly purchased AirPort Express to extend the signal from the back office, which has a Linksys WRT54G router. I updated the router's firmware to 1.02.8, build 001, dated 8.5.09. I have tried numerous times to configure the AE using AirPort Utility, and always wind up with an error message, "An error occurred while updating the configuration. Make sure your Apple Wi-Fi base station is plugged in and in range of your computer or connected via Ethernet and try again. (-6753)" During the configuration process, I am asked what I want to do with AE, I have tried both "create a new wireless network," and "I want AE to join my current network," with no success. Any comments will be appreciated.

    The Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS (through version 4 only for both models) were said to be compatible with Apple's WDS settings.
    Perhaps this article may offer some clues, but it is doubtful that you will be able to make this work with the particular version of Linksys router that you have.
    http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2006060516541633

  • Using wired Airport Express to extend wireless network

    Hello,
    I am considering getting an Airport Express to extend my wireless network in a part of my house where it's really weak.  The room I want to use it in actually has an Ethernet network drop and it is connected to my Airport Extreme on the other side of the house. 
    I've looked at the manual, and the only example it gives for extending a network is wireless.  Since the network is very weak where I want to use it, I was wondering whether I could use the Ethernet port for the incoming signal.  Is that possible?
    I have an older AX (the b/g model) that I use in a similar way: it's on an ethernet port, but it broadcasts its own, different (slower, since it's the older model), wi-signal.  So I didn't want to do that: I'd like the new unit to be practically transparent and broadcast the same wi-fi as the main signal.
    Has anyone else had a similar experience and if so, could you let me know if this is possible?
    Thanks!

    I was wondering whether I could use the Ethernet port for the incoming signal.  Is that possible?
    Yes
    I'd like the new unit to be practically transparent and broadcast the same wi-fi as the main signal.
    Configure the new AirPort Express as follows using AirPort Utility - Manual Setup
    Click the Base Station tab located below the row of icons to assign a name to the Express, a device password and adjust Time Zone settings
    Click the Wireless tab and configure as follows:
    Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
    Wireless Network Name = Exact same name as your AirPort Extreme network
    Radio Mode = 802.11n (802.11b/g comatible) is a good general choice
    Channel = Automatic
    Wireless Security = Exact same setting as the AirPort Extreme network
    Wireless Passwrod = Same password as the AirPort Extreme network
    Confirm Password
    Click the Internet icon
    Click the Internet Connect tab
    Connect Using = Ethernet
    Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
    Update to save settings and allow the Express to restart
    Very important...power down the entire network...all devices....order is not important
    Wait a few minutes
    Start the modem first and let it run for a few moments by itself
    Start the AirPort Exreme the same way
    Start the AirPort Express the same way
    Start other devices one at a time about a minute apart
    You now have what is known as a "roaming" network. Computers will automatically log on to the router with the strongest signal as they "roam" around the house.

  • Using airport express to extend network/stream music

    Hi,
    I just bought an airport express to extend my network throughout my house and stream music to my stereo system in my living room. My time capsule, which is connected to the DSL modem and is the base station, is in one far end of the house, while the airport express is at the other end. It has greatly improved the range of my network and when using my macbook in the front room, it gets full bars, however, the when using airtunes to stream music with iTunes 9 and OS 10.6, the music will cut in and out randomly and I occasionally get unknown error -15000 when trying to connect.
    I played around with the airport express channels (any channel other than 10 will receive an unknown error -15000 automatically,) adjusted the firewall, and adjusted Netbarrier X, my third party security software. I found information in this article:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TA21538?viewlocale=en_US
    The only thing that works is moving the airport express close to my computer to remove the physical barriers. It plays perfectly then. Is it possible to buy a second airport express and plug it in halfway between my stereo and time capsule to boost the signal to the airport express plugged into my stereo? Will this solve the problem of the music stream cutting in and out every 10-20 seconds?

    Mad Cow wrote:
    I checked and my signal is -87 and noise is -95.
    At the risk of being the bearer of bad news, that's a rather poor signal value. Here is a description of what different ranges of signal-to-noise mean:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10329543&start=1
    In the other post, you mentioned interference from other electronics. Could physical barriers be causing interference also?
    Barriers won't cause interference, but they can reduce signal transmission. How far apart are the two units, how many walls are in between, and of what material are those walls made?
    If this is the case, can I add a second airport express between my base station and stereo-attached airport express to boost the signal?
    In theory something like that might work, but I'm not sure that an AirPort Express can act as a "relay" station between a "main" station and a "remote" station. It might require an AirPort Extreme. Perhaps someone else can comment on that possibility.
    Can you relocate your Time Capsule to an different phone outlet? Can you use longer cables between the wall and the modem and/or between the modem and the Time Capsule to move the Time Capsule to the other side of the room to be nearer to your AirPort Express? Can you use a longer audio cable between your AirPort Express and your sound system?
    You may be able to use a pair of Power-Line units
    (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm) to connect your AirPort Express to your Time Capsule via Ethernet.

  • Using an Airport Express to extend my network range

    Dear all
    I live in a three storey house, my broadband modem/router is on the first floor and my Mac is on the third.
    I noticed that I kept losing my internet connection and the guy in the Apple shop recommended that I buy an Airport Express to extend the range of my current wireless network (and thereby achieve a strong connection on the third floor).
    I have bought the A. Express and my question is, do I need to plug my A. Express into the router or can I simply plug it into a plug socket on the third floor (with nothing wired up to it)?
    What is the best way to extend my wireless network range?
    Your help is greatly appreciated. I have read the user manual but it is not clear on this point.
    Thank you

    Dear Bob
    Thank you very much for your prompt response.
    No, unfortunately the Apple guy did not explain that I needed an Apple router/modem in order to extend my network range with the AirPort Express - how disappointing. I will return the product and look for an alternative.

  • Using apples airport express to extend a linksys wireless network

    HI there,
    Is it possible to configure the apple airport express to extend a linksys wrt120N wireless network? if so how? 

    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...

Maybe you are looking for