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Steveshos

Q: Can you connect air express to a Cisco wireless n router to extend the wireless network.  The apple tec said no but these instructions make me think otherwise

Hi.  I just purchased an airport express with the hops that it would connect to my existing wireless n Cisco router and extend the wireless net work in my home.  The apple genius at the store said it would work.  When I got home, I spent about an hour trying to "extend the network" but it wouldn't work.  When I called apple support, I was told it couldn't work.  Nut now I am reading here that it may have something to do with the password wep/wep2.  Has anyone been able to connect the airport express to a non-apple wireless router.  If so, how. 

Airport Express

Posted on Apr 22, 2012 6:53 PM

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Q: Can you connect air express to a Cisco wireless n router to extend the wireless network.  The apple tec said no but these ins ... more

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 22, 2012 7:02 PM in response to Steveshos
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 22, 2012 7:02 PM in response to Steveshos

    Sorry, but the Express will not extend a Cisco product....or any other product...... if you are trying to use wireless only.

     

    "Extend" is a proprietary setting that will only work with another Apple router. It is not compatible with devices from other manufacturers for that purpose.

     

    Quote from literature sheet:

     

    AirPort Express can extend the range only of an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express wireless network.

     

    http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/features/wi-fi.html

  • by Steveshos,

    Steveshos Steveshos Apr 22, 2012 7:13 PM in response to Steveshos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2012 7:13 PM in response to Steveshos

    Thanks.  I specifically asked the "genius" at the apple store the question and he said, absolutely.  You would think they would know the right answer.  Is the airport express and airport extreme products faster than wireless? Is it worth my while and dollars to upgrade and switch from cisco to apple?  I have apple products and computers?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 22, 2012 7:34 PM in response to Steveshos
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 22, 2012 7:34 PM in response to Steveshos

    Is it worth my while and dollars to upgrade and switch from cisco to apple?

    Did you try a Cisco "repeater" or "extender" or whatever they call it?  You will always minimize connection issues if you keep all of your routing equipment within the same manufacturer.

     

    Nothing wrong with Cisco. Great products. 

  • by HACKINT0SH,

    HACKINT0SH HACKINT0SH Apr 22, 2012 7:57 PM in response to Steveshos
    Level 5 (5,774 points)
    iLife
    Apr 22, 2012 7:57 PM in response to Steveshos

    There may have been a miscommunication there. Anyhow, even if the AppleCare knew of a way to make it work, they are not allowed to aid in that, since it would still be un-supported.

     

    If you feel you were mis-informed, then you should be able to return it for a refund, stating what happened.  As long as you don't wait too long.

  • by John Felleman,

    John Felleman John Felleman Apr 23, 2012 12:47 PM in response to HACKINT0SH
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2012 12:47 PM in response to HACKINT0SH

    Hey everyone,

     

    You absolutely CAN extend "some" non-Apple networks with the Airport Express.  I have done it with my Cisco E2000 wireless router.  It is a little more complicated than a typical set up, but I followed directions like these (http://www.quora.com/AirPort-Express/Can-I-connect-my-Airport-Express-to-my-Link sys-router-wirelessly-to-help-me-extend-my-existing-WiFi-network-to-another-part -of-the-house) and it worked fine.

     

    And as far as the genius bar goes, I do not think that the geniuses are prevented from offering non-corporate solutions.  I have had lots of very good, accurate advice to help with doing something unsupported.  Just don't expect them to fix it if you break it doing something off the beaten track.

     

    By the way, this topic is a great example of the web not working well.  There are countless hits on a search for "extend cisco with airport express" and most of them will either tell you it doesn't work, or refer you to another site that is different wrong information.  Yet there is a correct useful answer out there.

  • by Steveshos,

    Steveshos Steveshos Apr 23, 2012 3:07 PM in response to John Felleman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2012 3:07 PM in response to John Felleman

    Hi John,

     

    thanks. i have a Cisco E2000 also.  i will look at your instructions and see if it works. i do have 14 days to return it and will do so if i cant figure it out....12 days remaining.  thanks all that have responded

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 23, 2012 3:28 PM in response to Steveshos
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 23, 2012 3:28 PM in response to Steveshos

    This is a setup for the old WDS arrangement.....not the much faster "Extend" setup.

     

    IF...it works, it will only operate at "g" level wireless with lower security. When you add the "extender", the bandwidth will drop by 50% on the entire network.

     

    So, you'll have a "g" wireless network running at half speed or less with less security.

     

    WDS is at least 5 years out of date.

     

    Waste of time to even try....my opinion.

     

    Please let us know about your results if you decide to give it a go.

  • by Steveshos,

    Steveshos Steveshos Apr 23, 2012 7:36 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2012 7:36 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob

     

    Based on that, for the $100 it cost me for the air express, I'm just going to return it.   I don't have time to futz around.  I'll wait a a year or when better technology is out there and upgrade modem, router etc.  I'll just invest now int he Cisco extender which is half the cost and see if that works.  I get pretty good uploads and downloads now.  Thanks all for you quick comments

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Apr 23, 2012 7:56 PM in response to Steveshos
    Level 10 (105,079 points)
    Wireless
    Apr 23, 2012 7:56 PM in response to Steveshos

    I'll just invest now int he Cisco extender which is half the cost and see if that works.

    A smart decision to keep all the routing gear in the same family. Should be easy to set up since you already have a Cisco router.