Q: Best option for roaming network & speed
I have two related questions. I am currently using a 2TB Time Capsule (probably 3 years old--I don't know the model number and the Apple site that provides info. is telling me to check back later). The Wifi does not cover my full apartment, which is an old building and there are a lot of competing signals in the building. I would like to add another base station to create a roaming network ( Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations - Apple Suppo… ) and have two questions:
1. The area that needs a Wifi boost is not that large, so which is the best and cheapest Apple product that can extend the range of the wireless?
2. I currently have an ethernet cat6 cable running from the Time Capsule through the basement and up to the area in the apartment where I would put the additional base station. That ethernet cable is currently plugged into a desktop computer and speeds are excellent. If I connect the desktop computer to the base station via ethernet, will I notice any drop in speeds compared to my current connection. Just to be clear: current connection Time Capsule > ethernet > desk top. So the new set up would be Time Capsule > ethernet > base station > ethernet > desk top.
Thanks.
Posted on Jul 21, 2015 2:23 PM
1. The area that needs a Wifi boost is not that large, so which is the best and cheapest Apple product that can extend the range of the wireless?
Unfortunately, "best" and "cheapest" rarely go together.
The "best" choice in terms of performance to match that of your Time Capsule would be an AirPort Extreme.
The "cheapest" choice would be an AirPort Express, but it will not deliver the same speeds on wired connections or wireless connections that the Time Capsule is capable of delivering, or your Mac is capable of using.
Apple allows you 14 days to return a product for exchange or refund, so if you try the Express and it does not do what you want, you can move up to the AirPort Extreme.
2. I currently have an ethernet cat6 cable running from the Time Capsule through the basement and up to the area in the apartment where I would put the additional base station. That ethernet cable is currently plugged into a desktop computer and speeds are excellent. If I connect the desktop computer to the base station via ethernet, will I notice any drop in speeds compared to my current connection.
There will be a really significant speed drop if you use the AirPort Express. The reason for this is that your Time Capsule has 1,000 Mbps, or Gigabit capable Ethernet ports, as does your Mac. But....the AirPort Express is limited to much slower speeds, since it's Ethernet ports are only 100 Mbps capable. So, your top speed over wireless or wired connections through the AirPort Express will not come close to the capabilities of your Mac or your Time Capsule.
Posted on Jul 21, 2015 2:51 PM