WiFi = AEBS = Ethernet = AEBS = WiFi ?

Question

At one end of my house I have an Airport Extreme Base Station which connects to the internet through a cable modem and which creates an Apple wireless network; at the other end of the (main) house I have an Airport Express Base Station that extends the network.  This works fine within the main house but, due to thick exterior walls in between, the signal won't make it from the extending AEBS to the family room that is located in a later addition.  I tried another AEBS in the internal corridor between the main house and the addition but that doesn't work either.  (The corridor is in an L shape that would require 2-3 AEBSs, and additional power outlets, in order to string the signal out to the addition without going through the exterior walls.)  So instead I would like to run an ethernet cable outside the house from the extending AEBS to another AEBS located in the addition.  (Running it from the AXBS by the cable modem at the other end of the house would be impractical, although if necessary I could always swap the AXBS and AEBS if the AXBS will give me an 'out' ethernet signal.)  Will that work?  In other words, can one AEBS or AXBS receive a wifi signal and transmit it over an ethernet cable to another AEBS that then retransmits it as a wifi signal to clients on the extended network?  Thanks.

Answer 1

Before you start to configure the AirPort router that will be connected to the Ethernet port on the AirPort Express, you'll need some basic info (which you may already know).
Open AirPort Utility and click Manual Setup for the Time Capsule
Click the Wireless tab/label just below the row of icons
Jot down the exact settings that you see for:
Wireless Network Name
Wireless Security
Close AirPort Utility
I suggest that you temporarily move the device that you want to configure to connect to the AirPort Express very close to the Time Capsule for configuration.
It would be a good idea to perform a Factory Default Reset on the device that you want to configure to clear out any old settings so you can start fresh.
Power down the AirPort device
Hold in the reset button on the device and keep holding it in as you plug power back in to the AirPort device
Keep holding the reset button for at least 8-10 seconds after you plug power back in to the AirPort, then release the reset button and allow 40-45 seconds for the device to restart, at which time you will see a slow, blinking amber light
Connect a spare Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports on the Time Capsule to the WAN port (circle of dots icon) on the AirPort Extreme or simply to the Ethernet port if you are using an AirPort Express
Open AirPort Utility, select the device and Click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab below the row of icons to assign a name to the device, device password, and adjust Time Zone settings.
Click the Wireless tab to configure the wireless settings:
Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Same name as your Time Capsule wireless network
Enter a check mark next to Allow this network to be extended
Radio Mode = Your choice here for what you need
Channel = Automatic
Wireless Security = Exact same setting as your Time Capsule security
Wireless Pasword = Same password as your Time Capsule wireless network
Confirm Password
Click the Internet icon
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Update at lower right to save settings and the device will restart. You should have a green light in 40-45 seconds, or a message may appear asking you if you wan to allow setup over WAN. You can select Yes to this if you want
Power down the AirPort device that you have just configured, move it to the desired location and connect it to the Ethernet cable that connects to the AirPort Express
Power down everything on your entire network....all devices....order is not important
Start the modem first and let it run a moment
Start the Time Capsule the same way
Start the AirPort Express the same way
Start the AirPort device connected to the AirPort Express the same way
Start each other device the same way, etc
Check for proper operation
Post back on your progress and I'll provide you with a tip so that you will be able to tell what device your laptop os connected to at any given time.