How to setup airport extreme (5th Gen) to extend my EERO wireless network (via ethernet connection)

Things are much easier and faster if you use AirPort Utility on an iPad.

First, perform a Hard Reset on the AirPort Extreme by powering it up for a few minutes, then holding in the reset button on the back of the AirPort for 7-8 seconds. Release the reset button and allow a full minute for the AirPort to restart to a slow, blinking amber light status.

Connect the Ethernet cable from an Ethernet port on the Eero router to the WAN "O" port on the AirPort Extreme

On the iPhone or iPad.......

Go to the Home Screen

Tap Settings

Tap WiFi

Look for an option to Set Up New AirPort Base Station

Tap on AirPort Extreme

The example below shows an AirPort Express that will be set up as new device. You will see AirPort Extreme on your screen.

When you tap on AirPort Extreme, that will start up the AirPort Utility setup "wizard". The app will take a few seconds to analyze the network and then present a screen like the example that you see below, except that you will see an AirPort Extreme pictured.

Network Name........Type in the exact same wireless network name that the Eero network is using

Base Station Name......Type in a device name for the AirPort that you want to call it

Password......Type in the exact same wireless network password that the Eero network is using

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

Tap Next

The setup "wizard" will automatically configure the AirPort to operate in Bridge Mode, so you do not need to worry about this.

When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.....and you are Done.

Important Note........Because you are using routers from different manufacturers, it is unlikely that the "hand off" from the AirPort network to the Eero network and vice versa will work all that well......if it works at all.

In other words, if your iPhone, iPad, computer, etc is logged on in the area near the AirPort Extreme and you "walk"the device to an area close to one of the Eero products, the product may or may not "switch" over to the signal from the Eero network. You may need to temporarily switch off the WiFi on the device, then switch it back on to again to get it to connect to the closest router.

Once the AirPort is working, you can use AirPort Utility on the PC to poke around and look at the settings that have been applied to the AirPort Extreme.

If the iPad / iPhone version does not work for you to set up the AirPort Extreme, then we'll have to go with a manual setup of the AirPort Extreme using the PC.

Perhaps surprisingly, you would NOT configure the AirPort Extreme to "extend a wireless network".......because that setting would be used only if the AirPort Extreme were wirelessly extending another WiFi network provided by another Apple router.

You are using an Ethernet connection between the Eero router and the AirPort Extreme, so the AirPort must be configured to operate in Bridge Mode to "Create a wireless network" that uses the exact same wireless network name and password as the Eero network.

Apple's AirPort Utility setup "wizard" will basically take care of the Bridge Mode setting, so all that you will need to do is assign a device name to the AirPort Extreme and enter the credentials for the Eero WiFi network. But, before you do this the AirPort must be reset back to its default settings so that it will accept the new settings that you need.

Unfortunately, the "wizard" works somewhat differently depending on whether you will be using a Mac or an iPhone / iPad to set up the AirPort Extreme.

What device will you be using to set up the AirPort Extreme?

When you have a chance, I would be interested to learn how well your Wi-Fi devices......iPhones, computers, etc......perform when they move from an area near the AirPort Extreme to an area near one of the Eero mesh access points.

Do they automatically "switch" from the AirPort to the Eero device and vice versa?

Ah, good to hear. It sounds like things are working about as well as you could hope. The fact that the Extreme is located in a separate building is likely helping things out, since the Wi-Fi signal in that area is probably much stronger than the other Wi-Fi signals, so devices "switch" over to the AirPort network and vice versa.

Nice work!