Airport express and proprietary wireless LAN

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Level 1

4 points

Airport express and proprietary wireless LAN

I have a subscription to my apartment building's proprietary, subscription, password protected, wireless network. However the signal dies by the time it reaches my bedroom, probably because of ferro-concrete walls and columns.
As far as I understand my airport express cannot boost this proprietary signal. At least I don't know how to do so. Could I connect an ethernet cable from the computer to the Airport Express and then use the Express as a bridge to another computer. I do not think that I can use one computer as a software base station because input and output would be from the same airport on the computer.

At the moment,

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 31, 2008 8:06 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Jan 31, 2008 8:46 AM in response to Pinewood

As far as I understand my airport express cannot boost this proprietary signal.

That is true.

Could I connect an ethernet cable from the computer to the Airport Express and then use the Express as a bridge to another computer.

No. The AirPort Express (AX) can only join that wireless network as a wireless client. In client mode the AX's Ethernet port is NOT active.

I do not think that I can use one computer as a software base station because input and output would be from the same airport on the computer.

That is true, you would not be able to share from and to the AirPort interface at the same time.

However you could share from AirPort to Ethernet and therefore use the Mac in same manner as you wanted to use the AX.

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Answer 2

Henry B.

Level 9

78,713 points

Jan 31, 2008 8:48 AM in response to Pinewood

1. Correct - you cannot use the Airport Express as a remote base station to "relay" the signal from your building's wireless network system.

2. Yes - you could set up internet connection sharing on your Mac. Set up the Mac to share the incoming wireless LAN connection with devices connected to the Mac's ethernet port. Cable the Airport Express to the Mac's ethernet port, and configure the Airport Express to function as a bridge. One potential problem I foresee is radio interference between your building's wireless LAN, and the one you set up with the Airport Express. Some experimentation with setting the channel the Express transmits on may be necessary.

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Answer 3

Pinewood Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:07 AM in response to Pinewood

Thanks Henry and Duane,

So, I can hook the client computer to an airport express via and ethernet cable? Any suggestions on the settings and procedure?
I could still use the Airport Express(AE) for printing but would this require programming when I shifted from bridge function to USB functioning?
At the moment, using the AE for printing has not created any problems because I am on a different network when I print and there are few clients on the building's LAN.

Arthur

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Answer 4

Henry B.

Level 9

78,713 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:18 AM in response to Pinewood

Yes, just connect the Airport Express to your Mac with an ethernet cable.

For instructions to set up internet connection sharing on your Mac, see Mac OS X 10.5 Help: Sharing your Internet connection

With regard to your question "I could still use the Airport Express(AE) for printing but would this require programming when I shifted from bridge function to USB functioning?". With the setup as Duane and I have described, your Mac should still be able to print to the Airport Express printer without having to make any configuration changes to your Mac.

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Answer 5

Pinewood Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:19 AM in response to Pinewood

Let me add a few words. Should I use a Macbook as my primary computer, where I get a good signal with an iMac in the bedroom, would I hook the Macbook to an airport with the ethernet cable? Then I would have a usable signal in the bedroom with the iMac?

Arthur

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Answer 6

Pinewood Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:19 AM in response to Pinewood

Need some clarification and details

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Answer 7

Henry B.

Level 9

78,713 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:25 AM in response to Pinewood

You need to set up internet connection sharing on the computer that is able to pick up a good WiFi signal. That same computer is the one that needs to be cabled to the Airport Express. In your case, it sounds like that computer is your MacBook.

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Answer 8

Pinewood Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:26 AM in response to Henry B.

Thanks,
Arthur

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Answer 9

Henry B.

Level 9

78,713 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:31 AM in response to Pinewood

One more thought.

I have to admit a real dislike for cobbled-together solutions like the one you are considering setting up, unless it is for a short-term solution to a problem. In the long term, a far more elegant solution would be to look into a way for the iMac to get a stronger signal on its own. Take a look at the antenna/transceiver products for the iMac available from this company: http://www.quickertek.com/

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Answer 10

Pinewood Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 31, 2008 9:50 AM in response to Henry B.

I cannot enter the proprietary Lan's password to quirky, Jr. The Quirky, Jr. does not accept uppercase letters.

This describes where I left off with the Quirky, Jr.

I have a profile for my subscritption, LAN wireless.
The Networking box shows the device with the following statement:
"Ethernet Adaptor (en2) has a self-assigned IP address and may not be able to connect."
A signal is indicated under "link Status."
Attempts to enter the ASCII password have failed because it does not accept uppercase letters.
With the airport on, I get a good connection. With the Airport off, I do not connect, even though the "link Status" indicates a signal.

As I expected to get a Macbook, I kept the Quirky, Jr. for roaming.

Arthur

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Answer 11

Pinewood Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2008 8:58 AM in response to Pinewood

When setting up the software base station, some fiddling with the network settings are required because hooking up the ethernet cable switches off the airport. Some fiddling restored the wireless connection and I was able to broadcast a good signal throughout the apartment.

Happy networking,
Arthur

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