Wired airport express to extend wireless network and connect network printer?

Is it possible to configure and connect an Airport Express via ethernet cable to an Airport Extreme base station in order to extend wireless network AND connect a network printer to it? Here's the deal...The Airport Extreme is directly connected to my DSL modem and the wireless network is working fine in my house, but, the signal does not reach my detached studio/office. I have a Cat5e cable (and phone line, more on this later) run between the two locations and trimmed out. I would like to have wireless access and connect my network printer (Brother HL-2170W, wireless or wired) in my studio, be able to use printer from house also, and still have wireless access in house.
So, ethernet connection from Extreme to Express, USB from Express to Printer, wireless access for all users. Can anyone talk me through how to (re)configure the Express to do this? Do I need to make changes to Extreme configuration also?
JS

Is it possible to configure and connect an Airport Express via ethernet cable to an Airport Extreme base station in order to extend wireless network AND connect a network printer to it?
Yes. Apple's instructions for this are here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260
Instead of a second AirPort Extreme as illustrated, you will be using the AirPort Express.

Similar Messages

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.

Problems using wired airport express to extend airport extreme wifi

I've followed the instructions in this community to use a wired airport express to extend an airport extreme wifi network. Here is the issue I'm having.
The airport express wifi network has the same name as the airport extreme wifi network. So far so good. My laptop will pick up the airport express wifi in my office, and the airport extreme wifi in the other part of the house without any problems.
However, where the signals for the two overlap, my laptop will often latch on to the weaker wifi signal (I can tell by the number of bars) and my connection speed slows down significantly. Since both airports have the same wifi name, I can't manually switch it to the better signal.
Has anyone encountered this and have suggestions? My only solution was to give the two separate wifi names so i can switch manually, but this is an inelegant solution.

Hey dude, i'm having the same problem and i didn't find a proper solution for it, appart of creating another network as you said.
Its weired cuz in my case only the small things doesn't connect to the new router(using 2 airport extreme's) such as the iphones ipods and apple tv, but my mac did it great change the signal all the time i went from the basement to my room. So i just create another network and for me it wasn't a big deal to change it all the time i go to the basement, even more when use a mac.
I know thats not the point when you have two wifi routers, but you know it's tolerable.
Greetings!

Airport Express as a Wireless Bridge and AirTunes?

I have a linksys router and just got a Tivo I was thinking of getting the Tivo wireless adapter but after much though i had a brainstorm
What if i were go get an express and hook it up as a wireless bridge (connect the Tivo to the ethernet port) and while i am at it connect my computer to my stereo system via AirTunes.
Is it possible to use the Airport Express as a wireless bridge and use airtunes at the same time while using my linksys router?

To do this, you must use WDS. Very, very, very few 3rd party devices are compatible with Apple's WDS.
The Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not latest versions v5) however are compatible with Apple's WDS. If you have one of those, it is possible.

Problem using Airport Express to extend wireless network.

I'm trying to extend my wireless network with an Airport Express (brand new, bought last week), but can only seem to do so by connecting it via cat5 to the router, which doesn't actually extend anything. I have a Linksys WRT54GS with DD-WRT, and want to have the Airport Express in a different room so cat5 isn't an option.
I'm using WPA2 Personal security on my network.
I've tried to follow several sets of instructions from these forums and on blogs, but the only things I've been able to do are...
1) connect via cat5, selecting "Create a new network" with the same SSID and such, but it doesn't give me any more range.
2) connect wirelessly selecting "Join an existing network", but that doesn't extend the network at all either, even if I put the AE at the edge of the network now.
Thanks in advance. All I really want to do is access my wireless from the other half of my house.
Zack

It was possible to create a WDS between the older 802.11g AirPort Express and the Linksys WRT-54GS and this (as you know) has been documented on the Internet. However, I do not know of anyone that has been successful doing so with either of the 802.11n generations.
The two methods that you have tried would not work as neither is the proper method to set up a WDS. Please check out the following Apple Support article for more details. If you are successful in setting a WDS between them, please post back your results.

How to configure Airport Express to Extend Wireless Network

I have an Airport Extreme (AE1) as my wireless router, with two other Airport Extremes (AE2 and AE3) connected to it via ethernet and operating in bridge mode. Together they cover the first floor of my house with wifi, but I want to use an Airport Express (AX1) situated on the second floor to connect wirelessly to AE2 and extend my wifi network to the second floor of my house.
Nothing I have tried has allowed AX1 to extend my wireless network. I'm using the latest Airport utility in Mavericks, and AX1 is the old plug-in type but it's the newer "n" version that is still configurable by Airport Utility. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I almost ALWAYS recommend against wirelessly extending your network. Obviously, I'm unfamiliar with your layout but 3 extremes on the same floor seems like overkill, too, but could make sense depending upon contruction and usage.
In any event -
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.
Risk free test - run some speedtests in the corners then remove an extreme and re-run the tests. Then, buy one of the new tower 'AC' extremes and set it up as your single router and test again. I call this risk free since you have 14 days to return the new 'tower' extreme if you don't want to keep it but its range is THAT much better than the prior gen. You could make this cheaper by buying it from the Apple refurbished store and selling your older extremes.

How does one use airport express to extend a non-Apple wifi network?

Hello. The wifi signal reaching my room shows good on my macbook but weak on my ipod touch. Therefore I want to pick it up on my airport express and extend/boost it.
I have tried everything in the auto and manual methods of setup to do this, but the only thing I can manage to do is to join a wireless network wirelessly and then then connect to it through a ethernet cable from my airport express. I want to pick it up wirelessly and extend it wirelessly - is this possible? This is the reason why I bought it!
thanks a lot, JJ

Thanks for that info. So, I have been trying to use my airport express n to extend an airport n network (for greater distance of coverage) and cannot get this to work either. I can join the other apple airport's network and then connect to the airport express by cable. I have tried all the help available here but that seems to be the only way to extend a network. But I cannot see any point in that! JJ

Can I disable my Verizon Fios Router Wireless radio, connect it to a switch and use my airport express as my wireless access point connected to an in wall ethernet port?

Here's the deal. I have a Verizon Fios MI424WR router. My house has CAT5 throughout the house. The media panel is located in the garage. I want to take the Verizon Fios Router and cannot it in the media panel so I can connect a switch to it, that way, all my CAT5 can fire throughout the house. Verizon being Verizon decided to connect the router directly in the office.
Can I go this route (Router in media panel, switch cross connect to it) and use Airport Express, connected to one of the in-wall CAT5 ports in my house and then set it up as my wireless access point to provide wifi to my portable devices (iPad, iPhone, Macbook)? Is this possible? Will Airport Express comminicate with my verizon router via ethernet in-wall? Do I have to turn off the wireless radio in the Verizon router? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

That is right, by hard wired I was just making clear wired vs wireless attachment. AirPort family of devices will only act in a repeater mode with their own family members, not FiOS routers. they have to be wired to work.
There are some useful docs you can download from Apple, Support, Manuals, Peripherals, AirPort (just follow thos links from the Support button on the top bar):
Apple AirPort Networks
Designing AirPort Networks
AirPort Express Setup Guide
The last has a diagram of what you are trying to do, though without the house wiring, etc., but the basic principle.

2nd AirPort Express to extend wireless range of 2WIRE Home portal

I have successfully networked 2 pcs and 2 macs wirelessly via my 2WIRE home portal and and AirPort Express which I use to play music throughout my home from all four computers. However, I would like to extend the range of my wireless network into a part of the house which is quite a ways away from my AX and my stereo. Will a second AX achieve this goal? Thanks for any help you can offer!
iMac Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.6)

To change the Channel your 2Wire Gateway broadcasts it's wireless on, follow these steps
Type one of the following addresses in a browse:
http://home
http://homeportal
http://gateway.2wire.net
http://192.168.1.254
- Click on homenetwork
- Click on Wireless settings
- enter password if prompted
- where it says wireless channel, change it in the drop down menu.
- click save or submit
Mac OS X (10.3.9) G4 AGP Graphics & G3 ibook 800

Airport Express to extend wireless range?

Just received an Airport Express for Christmas and wanted to use it to extend my wireless range. I have an Asante FR1004AL wireless router connected via ethernet to DSL modem and a Titanium Powerbook using OS 10.3.9 and an original Airport card. I am interested in finding out how to make the AX extend the wireless connection, when I plug it n all I get is a flashing amber light and can't access the Asante via Airport Assistant to make any adjustments. I am wondering if anyone can tell me if the AX will recognize the Asante router since I can't make it work. If the Asante is compatible, I guess I need some instructions about how to get the AX to work with this setup. I have no experience with wireless setups, very much a novice in this area.

The only way you can extend the wireless range is to run an Ethernet cable to the Airport Express and set what's called "active roaming" (see Apple's Knowledge Base; search for "active roaming").
In order to extend the range strictly wirelessly, you need a base station that supports the flavor of Wireless Distribution System (WDS) that Apple uses in their base stations. As far as I know, only Apple Airport Extreme/Express base stations, LinkSys WRT54G, certain Buffalo Technology models, and one Belkin model support a compatible WDS protocol.

HT4259 I am trying to connect airport express to extend the range of my airport tower. What type of cords do I need to connect the airport express to a hardwired outlet in the wall of a bedroom?

I am trying to connect my airport express to extend the range of my network to a bedroom that is hard wired for internet. What type of cord/cords do I need to do that?

You can connect the AirPort Express to the wall port in the bedroom for the setup.....but first....if you have not already done so.....it would be a great idea to make sure that the connection in the bedroom is working correctly.
To do that, turn off the wireless on a laptop and connect the laptop directly to the wall port in the bedroom using an Ethernet cable. Make sure that the laptop can get a good Internet connection that way. If it can, this tells you that the cabling is working correctly, so the Express will work well when you connect it up.
If you don't have a laptop with an Ethernet port, then we'll have to assume that the folks that pulled the cables and installed the jacks tested things as part of the installation.
When you are ready to install the Express, you can use an iPhone or iPad if you have one handy for the setup.

Help: Using Airport Express to extend the range of Airport Extreme

I am trying to use the Airport Express to extend the range of the network created by my Airport Extreme. The Express works in terms of streaming music from iTunes on the PC connected to th Extreme.
However, I am trying to run a short Cat-5 cable out of the Express to a nearby PC in order to have access to the internet. If the Express is recognized by the Extreme and can play music through connected stereo cables, why can I get an internet connection through the LAN port..??
Here's a real basic representation of my connections...
Cable Modem >>-- Cat5 -->> Airport Extreme >>-- Wireless -->> Airport Express >>-- Cat5 -->>PC#2

To wirelessly extend the range between two AirPorts, you need to configure them in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS).
To facilitate the WDS set up, try the following:
o Perform a "hard" reset on the AirPort Extreme Base Stations & a "factory default" reset on the AirPort Express Base Stations (AX) before setting up the WDS.
o Place the base stations within near proximity of each other during the set up phase, and then relocate them to their desired locations when complete.
o To avoid having to "switch" wireless networks during the WDS setup, attach each of the remote/relay base station, via an Ethernet cable, to the main base station. Of course, this would be dependent on the AirPort types used for the main/relays/remotes.
o Be sure to jot down the MAC addresses for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS as these will be required during the setup.
o When enabling wireless encryption, configure the relay/remote base stations first and the main base station last.

HT1515 does airport express replaces any wireless router ?

can airport express act as wireless router ? connect directly to your cable or DSL modem and get wifi access ?

can airport express act as wireless router ?
This AirPort Express is a wireless router.
connect directly to your cable or DSL modem and get wifi access ?
Yes

Using Airport Express to Extend a wired network using Belkin N Router

I have an ethernet/wired network in my home office and am using the Belkin N Router which is connected to the upstairs by ethernet also. I have a wireless network that the Belkin router uses to let me connect to the internet wirelessly if needed and I use it for my MacBook Pro inside the house but can't outside [the Belkin is connected to cablemodem].
I am trying to use my Airport Express to 'extend' the network from my home office out to my back deck by having it wirelessly be available [it is connected to main router/cable by ethernet/wired]. I have 5 bars on the Belkin Router wireless signal but very low unreliable bars from the Airport - either because it is not relaying the wirelss network of the Belkin router or it's not able to send its wifi signal from its ehternet/wired connection to the main router/cable modem, not sure which --
Short of pulling an ethernet wire outside to the back deck or getting an antenna to hang on my MacBookPro to better receive the home office wireless signal, is there a way to set up the AX soit can become an internet transmitter wirelessly of the wired network it is hooked to???
I read http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108040
but that didn't seem to help == and it appears the AX won't extend a non Apple wireless signal and I don't have one [tried the Extreme but it didn't work = the Belkin has been perfect = I can wirelessly connect in the room above the home office but would love to be able to use the AX to extend its power or at least use the wired linkage to then extend the power wirelessly....

Hey
in the following thread one of those top users posted a list of wireless routers AEXP is able to extend wireless network with via WDS
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1492474&tstart=195
maybe that belkin is your modell?
and here:
http://ryanschwartz.net/2004/08/05/airtunes-airport-express-and-the-wrt54g
also here:
http://www.beatnikpad.com/archives/2004/10/19/airportexpresswds
are descriptions of how to connect to 3rd party routers (not belkin but the way to connect of both is quite similar so it might possiby help you too.
Not using wep, wpa/ wpa2 during installation and connecting the AEXP to Mac or Lan Port of your router should help.

I have a DLINK 524 150 and bought recently an airport express to extend my WIFI network. I tried by many ways to get the connection but it was impossibble. If possible, what is the necessary setup and orientation I have to follow ?

In have a DLINK 524 and bought recently (march/2013) an airport express to extend my WI-Fi network. I triedmany ways to get the connection but it was impossible. Is really possible to get this connection ? If it is, what is the necessary setup and orientations that I have to follow ?
Thanks

Apple designed their "extend" feature as a proprietary function to work with other Apple routers, so it's extremely unlikely that the AirPort Express would be able to wirelessly extend your D-Link network.
If you can connect the AirPort Express to the D-Link router using a wired Ethernet connection, the Express can likely be configured to provide more wireless coverage that way.

Wired airport express to extend wireless network and connect network printer?

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