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)
JAN JJMB
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: how to extend a network with airport

Hi I have a router that works well. However one part of the house does not have wifi coverage.

I have two apple products, a airport express old and new generation.

This afternoon I tried to extend the existing network with one of these machines.

 

I already found out that this would be to easy

It is only possible to extend another airport base station. So i already need two devices.

However I cannot find out how to setup the airport base station through ethernet.

The apple online manual refers to the previous version of airport utility, which is completely different.

 

Do I need to build a new network and then 'join' them ?

 

I spent already several hours figuring out this item, and this frustrates me a bit. I guess just by a decent repeater would have been the solution here

Posted on Aug 5, 2014 2:45 PM

Close
JAN JJMB

Q: how to extend a network with airport

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 Next

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 5, 2014 2:57 PM in response to JAN JJMB
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 5, 2014 2:57 PM in response to JAN JJMB

    If your main router is not an Apple router, then the AEX cannot be used to extend the network. That will work only with an AEBS or Time Capsule.

  • by JAN JJMB,

    JAN JJMB JAN JJMB Aug 5, 2014 3:01 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2014 3:01 PM in response to Kappy

    thanks Kappy for your swift answer.

     

    I am not a network expert, just a user, forgive me, i do not know what AEX or AEBS is but I understand i cannot extend it simply by adding one Airport to the network.

    I ve learnt that i could set up one of the Airports as a base station connecting via Ethernet this should work. Then I add a second Airport station to extend the first one, I am trying to figure out how te configure the first one without losing my WIFI signal.

     

    Thanks in advance

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 5, 2014 4:03 PM in response to JAN JJMB
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 5, 2014 4:03 PM in response to JAN JJMB

    AEBS means Airport Extreme Base Station (or could also be a Time Capsule) and AEX is Airport Express.

     

    In order to extend an existing network with either of the above, then your main router must be an Apple router. If your main router is a non-Apple router then you cannot use either to extend the network.

     

    If you have no router connected to your modem or part of the modem, then you can run an Ethernet cable to the AEBS or AEX and use it to create the network. A second one can then be used to extend the existing wireless network provided the remote device uses Ethernet so it can be connected to the remote AEX.

  • by JAN JJMB,

    JAN JJMB JAN JJMB Aug 5, 2014 4:09 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2014 4:09 PM in response to Kappy

    Thanks Kappy

     

    For taking the time to help me

     

    I only have a modem so no other router

    I am connecting now the airport express with the ethernet cable this works, I have now 2 networks with 2 names.

     

    I am trying to set up the bride between them (roaming) but always get a double NAS issue;

     

    You are saying that i can only extend this AEX by connecting it again with an ethernet cable, but I want my signal to go further in the house, if these all need to be connected through ethernet then this make no sense at all. I want to repeat the internet signal by placing a AEX further away from the modem ?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 5, 2014 5:06 PM in response to JAN JJMB
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 5, 2014 5:06 PM in response to JAN JJMB

    I think the issue is that you are using two different generations of AEX. The new model has two Ethernet ports. One of the Ethernet ports can be used like the WAN port on a regular router. You can get the manual for it: airport_express_80211n_2nd_gen_setup_guide.pdf. The WAN port is the one closest to the connection for the power cord. Once configured this AEX will create a Wi-Fi network. Now, the older AEX should have only one Ethernet port. This Ethernet port can be connected by Ethernet cable to the second Ethernet port on the new AEX in order to put the wireless signal at another part of the house such that multiple wireless devices can access it. However, if that is not feasible, then the old AEX can simply connect wirelessly to the new AEX. This extends the wireless such that another computer with an Ethernet port could connect to the second AEX and have access to the network.

     

    Hope you understand the difference between the two setups. In both the new AEX is creating a new network and the second AEX is extending it.

  • by JAN JJMB,

    JAN JJMB JAN JJMB Aug 6, 2014 1:52 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2014 1:52 AM in response to Kappy

    Thanks  Kappy

     

    By now I understand the different  systems setup and I managed to create it :

     

    Schermafdruk 2014-08-06 10.42.53.jpg

    ( image as connected to the created Wifi  Apple Network)

     

    -> However I have now 2 networks, one created by the Modem and one created by the Airport express (Apple Netwok ...... )

    The range is extended but the difference isn't really much bigger.

     

    If I connect to the modems initial network this is the situation :

     

    Schermafdruk 2014-08-06 10.50.27.jpg

    (image as connected to the Modem's wifi network)

     

     

    Is this how it is designed to work, shouldn't I be able to stay within 1 network to benefit from all WIFI capabilities ? Now I split the signal, that can't give me the best strength no ?

    Thanks in advance for your advice ?

     

    Jan.

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Aug 6, 2014 12:26 PM in response to JAN JJMB
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 6, 2014 12:26 PM in response to JAN JJMB

    I believe you are describing what happens when the modem is not just a modem, but a modem/router that creates its own wireless network. In such a case the AEX can only connect successfully in Bridge Mode (Join a network rather than Extend) so that it does not extend the network. How is the first AEX configured? Is the wireless set up to Create, Join, or Extend a network?

  • by JAN JJMB,

    JAN JJMB JAN JJMB Aug 6, 2014 1:03 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2014 1:03 PM in response to Kappy

    Re kappy,

     

    you are right, the first AEX is set to CREATE a network.

    Should i change that in JOIN ?

     

    Jan

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 6, 2014 1:24 PM in response to JAN JJMB
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 6, 2014 1:24 PM in response to JAN JJMB

    Yes. That will cause the first AEX to join the existing network rather than create a second network. Unfortunately, I don't know if the second AEX will actually extend anything from the first AEX. That is not something I have ever attempted in my home network. I'm inclined to think that it won't, but give it a try. All that will happen if it fails is that you will not be able to connect to the second AEX unless it's in Join mode.

  • by JAN JJMB,

    JAN JJMB JAN JJMB Aug 6, 2014 1:31 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2014 1:31 PM in response to Kappy

    Re Kappy

     

    Unfortunately this doesn't work. If i ask to Join it tries do join over WIFI but the ethernet cable is connected.

    I had to unplug the ethernet cable. To get the green again and as i and you were afraid the second AEX is not responding (orange)

     

    I should set a a bridge i think ....

     

    I get this now : (nothing good)

    Schermafdruk 2014-08-06 22.30.40.jpg

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 6, 2014 1:37 PM in response to JAN JJMB
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 6, 2014 1:37 PM in response to JAN JJMB

    What type of modem do you have? Make and model? Since the modem does have an Ethernet port on it, I wonder if it is possible to disable the wireless radio in the modem/router? Are you able to access the configuration routines for it?

  • by JAN JJMB,

    JAN JJMB JAN JJMB Aug 6, 2014 1:42 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2014 1:42 PM in response to Kappy

    Re Kappy

     

    It is a SAGEM (thats comes with my internet subscription). Yes I can access this and disable the wireless,

    I will try to do so and then stay with my created network (the apple one) instead of the old one, is that your suggestion ?

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 6, 2014 1:45 PM in response to JAN JJMB
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 6, 2014 1:45 PM in response to JAN JJMB

    Yes. Using the new AEX to create the network from the Ethernet connection to wireless, then using the second AEX to extend that network. I think it will work. Fingers crossed.

  • by JAN JJMB,

    JAN JJMB JAN JJMB Aug 6, 2014 2:51 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2014 2:51 PM in response to Kappy

    Re Kappy

     

    I found it myself

    The trick is that you have to connect trough PPP and not DHCP then it works easy and the internet is broadcasted via the AEX, setting up 'homenetwork' for me the other AEX can be easily set up to extend this network too.

     

    I dont know if disabling the other WIFI (from the router makes since here) as i see that my Iphone can't connect to this new network.

    In extending i found out that the signal sent by the AEX is a bit faster (probably because it is the N protocol comparing to the G of my modem, but it does not exchange the range of it in distance ...

     

    So after all these hours I still will have to buy a repeater, this can be due to the fact that these machines are quite old and do not go beyond 300 or 600 and the new modems/routers have 1300 (the new AEX too, but then the story starts again .....)

     

    Greetz :

    Jan

Page 1 Next