Time Capsule Network + Repeater + Airport Express in Extend Network option

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Time Capsule Network + Repeater + Airport Express in Extend Network option

Hi,
We've got a 3 story office that uses a Time Capsule on the bottom floor to provide wireless access to all the macs in the building. We recently setup a second location in a next door building. Although the timecapsule's signal reaches all the way from the bottom floor to the top floor in our main office, it doesnt reach next door b.o. all the concrete. I purchased an airport express to extend the time capsule's network, by placing it on the window ledge of the top story of the main office. This setup is currently working, but only extends the signal to the window ledges of the new location - ie any computer that is not RIGHT next to the window cant receive signal. As far as I understand I have two options:
1) Purchase a second Airport Express to place in the window ledge of the new location which should repeat the already extended signal & cover the the inside of thew new location - though I'm not sure if the original signal can be extended twice, ie time capsule > Ae1 > Ae2 > multiple clients?
2) I have a few old wifi routers lying around - use one of these as a repeater on the top floor of the main office and move the current Airport express to the window ledge of the new location where it extends the repeated network to multiple clients.

I would prefer option 2, as this means not purchasing additional hardware, but I'm not sure how easy it is to set up a Linksys/Netgear router as a network extender, and then get the airport express to pick up the repeated network and extend it again to multiple clients? Are there any tutorials on how one can set this up? Any other suggestions?

Much appreciated.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5), Time Capsule 1TB + Airport Express

Posted on Sep 6, 2009 3:18 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 6, 2009 11:33 AM in response to HannesCPT

Welcome to the discussions!

I'm afraid this is a difficult scenario with no good answers if you are looking for a pure "wireless" solution.

Option 1 is not really feasible since the "extend a wireless network" feature of the Time Capsule and AirPort Express does not offer a "relay" option. All of the Express devices must be configured as "remotes" and they must pick up the wireless signal from the Time Capsule, not another Express. Think of the Time Capsule as the hub of a wheel and the Express devices as spokes.

Option 2, will unfortunately, not work because Linksys or Netgear products are not compatible with Apple's "extend a wireless network" feature. For this function to work correctly, all of the devices on the wireless network must be Apple "n" capable routers.

The only way to configure an Apple wireless network using a repeater or relay function is to use a WDS configuration. The downside to this arrangement is that the network bandwidth is reduced by 50% for each device added to the base station. So with an Express "relay" (50% drop) and another "remote" Express (another 50% drop), your original network bandwidth is reduced to only 25% of the original signal created by the Time Capsule.

There were a few Linksys products and one Netgear product that were compatible with Apple's WDS, so that might be a possibility. The models that are compatible with Apple's WDS are (according to Duane's research):

Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not the latest versions v5)
Netgear WGR614 v6

Although it will be difficult, you really need to look at a way to run an ethernet cable or cables from the Time Capsule to the area where you need more coverage and use an Express to "extend" the wireless that way. If running an ethernet cable is not possible, you might look at ethernet powerline adapters. But, the adapters must be on the same AC circuit to function correctly and with two buildings there, that might not be the case.

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Answer 2

HannesCPT Author

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Sep 6, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Hi, thanks for the feedback.
The apple store has suggested replacing the AExpress with an Extreme, although Im not confident that this will go through all the walls - I think the only reason I am able to get signal in the new location next to the window is b.o. line of sight. It is impossible to run ethernet and the buildings are not on the same power grid. I am going to try a double wds - I only really need to share an internet connection, so file transfer speeds arent such an issue. I will test it with a N capable device. Alternatively Im going to build a outdoor box to host the airport express & mount it on the roof.

Thanks again for the help!
H

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Answer 3

Sep 6, 2009 3:33 PM in response to HannesCPT

+"The apple store has suggested replacing the AExpress with an Extreme, although Im not confident that this will go through all the walls - I think the only reason I am able to get signal in the new location next to the window is b.o. line of sight."+

I'm surprised at this suggestion since according to Apple's own specifications, the radio power of both the Express and Extreme are exactly the same. True, the Extreme is usually mounted on a desktop or shelf while the Express may be located lower if it's plugged directly into an AC outlet.

You could reposition the Express and save the $100 bucks or so.

Please post back on your results. WDS may do what you need to do.

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Answer 4

HannesCPT Author

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Sep 11, 2009 10:27 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Hi, thanks for this, I thought as much. I have not really resolved my issues yet. Im going to try connect a USB dongle via a long cable so I can possition it by the window of the new location. Im still deciding on which usb dongle might be the best option. In the meantime I've also been looking at WDS, though im not exactly sure how to set this up. I've got a Billion BiPac7300G (which supports WDS) in the second location. Technically if I set the airpot express on WDS, and I enter the MAc address of this airport express into the WDS setting of the Billion router and its within range, it should pick it up, right? My only worry is the enxryption used on the timecapsule network - WEP2 as far as I know. I dont think this is supported over WDS, and was told by someone that I cannot connect the billion to the airport express via wds, but rather that each wds relay station needs to connect directly to the original timecapsule - i cannot extend the same wireless signal twice, though also not sure if this is true? If someone can tell me if a WDS setup will work (and wont be insanely slow over 2 hops for just sharing and internet connection) this would be majorly helpful. Otherwise I guess Im stuck with a mac compatible usb wifi dongle (any suggestions?)

Thanks again.

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