HT204617: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
Learn about Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
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Helpful answers
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Jul 8, 2013 4:13 PM in response to RCoutinhoby LaPastenague,★HelpfulAs long as your modem is a real router.. you can set dhcp to on in a pure modem but that depends on the ISP giving you multiple public IP . they do not do this readily.. so the AE should be getting a private IP address.. is it?
Then you can extend wireless.. but there is no guest wifi . . you can only extend the main wifi.
Setup close to the AE as it could be just lack of signal.
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Jul 8, 2013 4:29 PM in response to RCoutinhoby Bob Timmons,★HelpfulMy primary wi-fi base station (airport extreme) is set to bridge mode because the cable modem has the DHCP enable. Is it possible to extend it wirelessly with an airport express in other room of the house?
Yes, assuming that the AirPort Express is located where it can receive a strong wireless signal.
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Jul 9, 2013 12:32 PM in response to RCoutinhoby RCoutinho,It is working, but when I connect via repeater the speed is 10% of the speed via the main router. it is a 90% loss, is it normal?
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Jul 9, 2013 12:38 PM in response to RCoutinhoby Bob Timmons,This tells me that the AirPort Express is likely located much too far from the AirPort Extreme....or.....there are too many obstructions in the signal path between the AirPort Extreme and the Express......or both of these conditions may exist, along with the usual suspects like wireless interference from other nearby networks.
Have you checked the SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) of the signal available from the AirPort Extreme at the location of the AirPort Express?
Tip....the AirPort Express can only extend the quality of signal that it receives. It cannot make a slow signal go faster....it makes a slow signal go further.
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Jul 9, 2013 12:46 PM in response to RCoutinhoby RCoutinho,How do I check that SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) of the signal available from the AirPort Extreme at the location of the AirPort Express?
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Jul 9, 2013 12:53 PM in response to RCoutinhoby Bob Timmons,Ah, I apologize....I was working another similar issue with another user and got things mixed up. We have not yet discussed SNR in this thread, but may need to do so later.
Before you spend $5 for a good utility like WiFi Explorer, let's see if we can keep things a bit more simple at first.
What is the approximate distance from the AirPort Extreme to the general remote location where you need more wireless coverage?
What is the approximate distance from the AirPort Exteme to the location of the AirPort Express?
How many obstructions are there in the signal path between the AirPort Extreme and the AirPort Express?
How many obstructions are there in the signal path between the AirPort Express and the general remote area where more signal coverage is needed?
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Jul 9, 2013 1:06 PM in response to RCoutinhoby RCoutinho,What is the approximate distance from the AirPort Extreme to the general remote location where you need more wireless coverage?
5 meters (same room)
What is the approximate distance from the AirPort Exteme to the location of the AirPort Express?
12 meters (another room)
How many obstructions are there in the signal path between the AirPort Extreme and the AirPort Express?
3 walls, 1 cordless phone
How many obstructions are there in the signal path between the AirPort Express and the general remote area where more signal coverage is needed?
No obstructions (same room). The signal at the door of the 2nd room is weak and at the bottom of it there is no signal. I want to extend from the door to the bottom.
Another question that may help: If I put the extreme and express side by side wirelessly (same room) is there a way to know if I am connected to the main or to the repeater?
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Jul 9, 2013 1:32 PM in response to RCoutinhoby Bob Timmons,What is the approximate distance from the AirPort Exteme to the location of the AirPort Express?
12 meters (another room)
Distance here in and of itself should not be a problem.
How many obstructions are there in the signal path between the AirPort Extreme and the AirPort Express?
3 walls, 1 cordless phone
A single wall can absorb anywhere from 10-20% of the signal or more depending on the type of construction. If the wallboard/insulation type has foil backing...as many walls do...even more of the signal is likely being absorbed.
At best, the AirPort Express is picking up a signal that is likely 30-35% degraded. At worst, it is getting a signal that has degraded 70-80%, possibly more. As I said, the Express can only repeat the quality of signal that it receives.
The effect of the cordless phone is unknown, but I would note that cordless phones are the main culprits that interfere with wireless network signals in a home.
How many obstructions are there in the signal path between the AirPort Express and the general remote area where more signal coverage is needed?
No obstructions (same room).
Thanks for that info.
I would suggest that you move the AirPort Express closer to the AirPort Extreme. by 5-10 meters. You may need to experiment with several locations to see if the performance improves in the remote area where you need more wireless signal coverage.
Anything that you can do to eliminate or minimize obstructions in the wireless signal path will help. As an example, I cannot get an acceptable signal in my home in any area where the signal must pass through more than 2 walls.
If you do not notice any significant improvement, your home is simply not going to work with a wireless signal extension setup....and you will need to consider connecting the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express together using a permanent wired Ethernet connection. As you might imagine, there is no signal loss in a wire, so this type of setup will work much better than what you are trying to do.
If I put the extreme and express side by side wirelessly (same room) is there a way to know if I am connected to the main or to the repeater?
You will need a Mac laptop to check. There is no need to locate the AirPort devices side by side...they can be located where they are now.
Locate your Mac laptop very close to the AirPort Extreme
Hold down the option key on the Mac while you click on the AirPort icon at the top of the screen
Look for the BSSID and jot that down
The BSSID is the specific ID of the AirPort device to which you are connected.
Now move the laptop very close to the AirPort Express
Perform the same test
If your Mac is connecting to the Express, you will see a different BSSID
If you see the same BSSID as the AirPort Extreme, the laptop is still connecting to the AirPort Extreme....and the Express is not extending the signal at all.
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Jul 9, 2013 8:12 PM in response to RCoutinhoby RCoutinho,Wich one has the strongest signal, the extreme or the express ? Should I invert them ?
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Jul 9, 2013 8:42 PM in response to RCoutinhoby Bob Timmons,I would suggest that you move the AirPort Express closer to the AirPort Extreme. by 5-10 meters. You may need to experiment with several locations to see if the performance improves in the remote area where you need more wireless signal coverage.
Anything that you can do to eliminate or minimize obstructions in the wireless signal path will help. As an example, I cannot get an acceptable signal in my home in any area where the signal must pass through more than 2 walls.
Did you try this? If yes, what were the results?
If no, please try this.