use airport to extend fios network

Is there a way to do this? I searched the communities and the only post I could find that had any replies was from back in 2011.


I have an airport/timecapsule that I would like to use to extend my FIOS network into my shop. Either wirelessly or wired would work, no preference here.

Airport Time Capsule 802.11ac Gen1

Posted on Jan 13, 2019 4:49 PM

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12 replies

Jan 13, 2019 5:49 PM in response to Mike Lipay

You can use Airport as WAP (wireless Access Point).


It is not really extending wireless.. it is using ethernet to connect the airport to the FIOS and you setup the TC to use same SSID and same password as the FIOS.. it is called roaming network..


Connecting by ethernet makes it much better for speed.. wireless on the TC might not be great but as long as your clients are close enough it should be fine.

Jan 13, 2019 6:03 PM in response to Mike Lipay

You will first need to perform a Hard Reset on the Time Capsule to erase the current stored network settings and return them to factory defaults. This action will not affect any of the data that might already be stored on the Time Capsule hard drive.


Next, connect an Ethernet cable......which must remain permanently connected......from one of the four LAN <--> ports on the Fios router to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule.


Set up the Time Capsule to "Create a wireless network" that uses the exact same wireless network name and password as the Fios network.


If you need more step by step details on "how" to do this, we need to know whether you will be using a Mac, a PC or an iPhone / iPad for the setup, since the correct procedure is different depending on what type of device that you will be using to set things up.



Jan 13, 2019 6:17 PM in response to Mike Lipay

Simple to set things up with the MBP


Click the WiFi menu at the top of the Mac's screen and look for a listing of New AirPort Base Station

Click directly on Time Capsule




When you click on Time Capsule, that will start up the AirPort Utility setup "wizard". The wizard will take a few seconds to analyze the network and then display a screen that will look similar to the example below, except that you will see a Time Capsule pictured.





Network Name......Type in the exact same name as the Fios network

Base Station Name.....Type in a device name that you want to call the Time Capsule

Password.....Type in the same password that the Fios network is using

Verify......Type in the same password to confirm

Click Next


The wizard will set up everything for you automatically. When you see the message of setup compete, click Done.....and you are done.




Jan 18, 2019 9:06 PM in response to Mike Lipay

You already know that things are working with the Time Capsule if you have a green light on the device and you have checked to make sure that devices can connect to the Time Capsule.


If you are not sure if a WiFi device is connected to the the Time Capsule, open AirPort Utility, click on the picture of the Time Capsule and look for Wireless Clients in the smaller window that appears. It might help to temporarily locate the Time Capsule a room or two away and test the long Ethernet cable before you install it.


So, to repeat......if the Time Capsule is working with a short Ethernet cable, it will work with a long cable......assuming that the cable is not broken and the connectors on either end are installed correctly.


If you want to check the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule, simply connect one of more Ethernet devices and make sure that they are working correctly. If the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule are working, that virtually guarantees that the Time Capsule is set up correctly.


Recently, I helped a friend with a 250+ foot run of buried Ethernet cable from his ranch house to another building where he needed WiFi. No problems at all. The AirPort worked just fine no matter whether it was connected to a 20 ft Ethernet cable or a 250+ cable.

Jan 18, 2019 2:32 PM in response to Mike Lipay

Okay I did both the 2.4 and the 5...is there a way to know if it's actually working before I do the long run of the cables? Right now I have them sitting next to each other with a short cat cable connecting them.


The length of the Ethernet cable is not important......up to about 325 feet or 100 meters.


You already know that you have the AirPort Time Capsule configured correctly.

Install the long Ethernet cable

Connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule just like it is now with the shorter cable


If your Ethernet cabling and connectors are working correctly.......so too will the Time Capsule be working correctly.


Another way to say the same thing.......since you already know the Time Capsule is working correctly, if there are any issues when you connect it to the new cable......then you know that you have cable or connector problem......not a Time Capsule problem.


Another way to test the long Ethernet cable before you connect the Time Capsule.......connect a Mac or PC (that has an Ethernet port) to the long Ethernet cable. Temporarily, turn off the WiFi on the computer and check to see if you can get a good Internet connection. If you can, the cable is working correctly, and you can now hook up the Time Capsule, which you already know is working correctly.



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use airport to extend fios network

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