How to extend a network with an Airport Extreme

Question

How to extend a network with an Airport Extreme

When I bought a time capsule my Airport Extreme became obsolete. Nevertheless I do not have a proper wireless coverage in my apartment. Is it possible to extend the wireless network by adding the "old" airport extreme in the apartment and use it as a "relay" and if yes how? Thanks for your guidances and advices.

Pierre

Mac Book Pro 17" + iMac 24", Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 25, 2009 6:05 AM

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Answer 1

deh2k

Level 4

1,871 points

Oct 25, 2009 7:22 AM in response to Pierre-Antonin

This document contains information about the options available:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Apple_AirPort_NetworksEarly2009.pdf

In particular, page 43 "Extending the Range of an 802.11n Network" may help.

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Answer 2

Oct 25, 2009 8:25 AM in response to deh2k

Many thanks. I'll try this.

Pierre

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Answer 3

Oct 25, 2009 9:12 AM in response to Pierre-Antonin

Check to be sure that you have an AirPort Extreme(n) before you try to use the "Extend a wireless network" configuration.

If you have an older AirPort Extreme that does not have "n" capability, you will need to configure a WDS (Wireless Distribution System) arrangement. This is covered in a different guide on pages 42-44.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Designing_AirPort_Networks10.5-Windows.pdf

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Answer 4

Oct 26, 2009 10:38 PM in response to Pierre-Antonin

Tried the suggested procedure but having a problem with it.

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Answer 5

Oct 26, 2009 10:56 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Hello

I have tried the suggested procedure but I'm having a problem. First to sum-up, my configuration is the following: iMac (May 2008), Macbook Pro (May 2007), Time Capsule (April 2008) and Airport extreme (May 2007).

At first my network was made off the two computers plus the air port extreme directly connected to the modem. In April 2008 I have purchase the TC which replaced the airport extreme (stored somewhere). Now I have decided to use the airport extreme to extend my network.

What I did is: first a reset of the airport extreme (by pressing and waiting 10 secs the button in the back) and then selecting the airport extreme when listed in the airport utility (then represented with a orange light while the TC is still green). As soon as I double click on the aiport extreme or ask for manual configuration I got the following message:
"Are you sure you want to switch network? To set-up this Apple wireless device you must switch from one wireless network to the other. This may end your internet connection."

Please appreciate that the above is a translation of a message written in French. Such translation might be far from perfect!

I do not really see any mention of such warning message in the recommended Apple literature so do not really want to do that since I do not know where it will lead me.

Can you help me with the above?

Many thanks in advance.

Pierre

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Answer 6

Oct 27, 2009 7:58 AM in response to Pierre-Antonin

Hi Pierre,

The Extreme will need to "switch networks" so that it can be configured using AirPort Utility.

You might also want to temporarily connect an ethernet cable from your computer to one of the LAN<-> ports on the Extreme to help AirPort Utility "see" the device.

I'm not clear on whether you are trying to configure to "Extend a wireless network" or use the WDS option. You must use WDS if your Extreme is not the "n" version. According to the date you mentioned, it may or may not be.

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Answer 7

Oct 27, 2009 12:13 PM in response to Bob Timmons

It has worked many thanks.

Pierre

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