Q: Extending my wireless network with two Airport Expresses

An AEX cannot extend a wireless network unless it is created on an Airport Extreme or Time Capsule. That is most likely why you don't find they help any.

What you can do is re-configure the AEX' to Join a new network. This puts them into Bridge Mode. Then you will have to run an Ethernet cable from one of the new router's LAN ports to the location where you will plug in the AEX. Then the AEX can create a wireless network from that point. This new network would get it's gateway address from the new modem/router.

If you don't wish to do the above (I wouldn't) then purchase a couple of wireless repeaters. I'm using two N300-WiFi Range Extender from NetGear. Like an AEX they plug into any AC outlet. You can configure them to extend the new network's wireless. They can be configured using your browser, but I should warn you that getting working wasn't easy. Like most manufacturers the make products for PCs, you won't find them too helpful about Macs even though they say that they work with s Mac.

Another solution is the use of USB network devices that work with high gain antennas that can extend the range of the wireless network. They aren't too expensive, but you need to be sure what you get has compatible drivers. I found such an animal at Amazon Alfa Long-Range Dual-Band AC1200 Wireless USB 3.0 Wi-Fi Adapter w/2x 5dBi External Antennas - 2.4GHz 300Mbps /.... Alfa Networks also makes some that  provide substantial power amplification, too. Just be sure when you visit their site that they have the drivers for a Mac. Most of these items have drivers compatible up through 10.11.x. I can certify that it works on the latest version of El Capitan.

The modem and one airport express are on the ground floor, the second airport express is on the top floor.

That is the wrong location for the Express that is extending the network.

It needs to be about half way between the ground floor and the top floor.

Why? By the time the signal from the ground floor Express reaches the top floor Express.....the signal has become much slower and much weaker.

The "extending" Express can only "extend" or "repeat" the quality of signal that it receives. So if you locate the extending Express on the top floor, it will extend a very poor and slow signal......and there will be no improvement at all on your network.  Things may well be worse.

You may need to experiment with the location of the extending Express for best results, but start with the Express about half way between the ground floor Express and the general area where you want more wireless coverage.  The more that you have line-of-sight between the Express devices, the better the network will operate.

Conversely, the more that there are obstructions in the direct signal path between the two Express devices, the worse the network will perform.

Hi Kappy!

Unfortunately, there is some incorrect information in the first two paragraphs of your post.  I suggest that you review the info again carefully, and re-post with corrections.

Thanks!

Bob,

What is incorrect? I believe this information came from you in the past. The OP is asking about extending a wireless signal from a non-Apple router. Correct me if I am wrong, but the AEX needs to be used in Bridge Mode in this case.

The OP is asking about extending a wireless signal from a non-Apple router

No, he is describing problems extending the signal from his Express on the bottom floor to the Express on the top floor.

Remember, the OP said above that the "tech" removed his other router.....so the only devices that he has are two AirPort Expresses.....(and a modem and computers, etc.)

What you can do is re-configure the AEX' to Join a new network. This puts them into Bridge Mode. Then you will have to run an Ethernet cable from one of the new router's LAN ports to the location where you will plug in the AEX. Then the AEX can create a wireless network from that point

This one is really hard to follow.  You started by saying that the OP could configure the Express to "join" a new network.  He has no other router there except the other AirPort Express.

If one Express "creates" a network, and you configure the other Express to "join" the network......the network will not be extended at all....since the Express provides no additional wireless coverage when it "joins" a network.

One Express needs to "create" a network, the other Express needs to "extend" the network. You don't have to worry about jargon like Bridge Mode.....Apple's setup "wizard" takes care of all of that automatically.

The OP's main problem is that his extending Express is located much too far away from the main Express.  We don't know how his walls and ceiling are constructed, but however they are......the extending Express will pick up a much stronger signal when it is closer to the main Express....and not located on the top floor where the signal will be very weak and very slow.

I do believe the tech removed the OP's router which was replaced by a new modem/router or how else would the OP have a network to route? Maybe I read this differently than you did. The "norm" today for most cable providers is to install a modem/router. They don't install bare modems much these days. When I added my providers telephone service they installed their own modem/router because it provided the telephone hookup. I had to remove my AEBS. I have three AEX' of different vintages and none of them will extend the wireless.

I'm afraid we made different assumptions. You assumed there was must modem and no router. I assumed the new modem included its own router. I agree that what I stated would be wrong if your assumption is the correct one.

Until today, I had a modem, a router and two Airport Expresses. I live in a house with four floors. I've got a new modem today and the technician said I no longer need the router and he unplugged it

The router was unplugged by the technician (because it was not needed).  Nowhere in the rest of the OP's post does he say that the router....or another router....was installed or re-installed on his network.

At the end his post, the OP does ask the following......

Could it be that I do need the router after all?

Which he does not.....but it does confirm once more that there was no other router (other than the AirPort Express devices) on his network.

Let's see if the OP posts back so we can help him get his two AirPort Express devices working much more effectively.

Bob,

If he has only the modem, then what does he use for his local network. There needs to be some sort of router either wired, wireless, or both. This device must have been a modem/router which is why he did not need another router. That is how I understood the statement.

If he has a standalone modem, then he needs a router. I've set up several of my own networks over the years, and except for the one I have now each had just a standalone modem - happened to be a Motorola Surfboard 5100 as I recall. I used an AEBS to provide a wired and wireless router. Without the AEBS I would have just had nothing. When Bright House came to provide my telephone service they had to remove both my modem and AEBS and replaced them with their own modem/router/TTdevice. My AEBS is not longer needed although I suppose I could use it off one of the LAN ports to create a separate wireless network, but why bother.

I think we need to get back to the OP's setup about which I will defer to your expertise and bow out.

Kappy, the OP's network looks like this:

Internet > Modem > AirPort Express 1 (his network router, which creates a network) > AirPort Express 2 (his extender, which repeats the network).

We are trying to get AirPort Express 2 positioned in a location where it will extend the network much more effectively.  Currently, AirPort Express 2 is located much too far away from AirPort Express 1.

Thanks for the information. The first AirPort Express "creates a wireless network". The second AirPort Express "extends a wireless network".

The floor is not a good location for an AirPort Express or any other router. You want the AirPort Express to be up as high as possible.....on top of a bookshelf would be good, if possible.

As a test, temporarily please move the upstairs AirPort to location that is approximately half way between the Express on the bottom floor and top floor to see if that location will help.

An AirPort Express that is 2-3 years old will not perform as well as it did when it was new.  This is normal and expected.

Bob,

OK. Then I did misunderstand the setup, and agree that my reply was indeed incorrect.

No problem. Since you answered first and now understand the setup, you can take it from here.