Airport Extreme/Express Third Party Compatibility?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Airport Extreme/Express Third Party Compatibility?

I currently have an Airport Extreme base station (connected to internet via ethernet) and 5 Airport Expresses wirelessly linked to the base station, some to extend the network and others have speakers attached to play music. The configuration has worked like a dream for many years but the Extreme is starting to show its age -- dropping out, needing to restart, etc. Since Apple has left the router game, is it possible to replace the extreme base station and have the existing Airport Expresses still work with it? If not (or even if so) how might I replicate this scenario with non-Apple hardware when the time comes? Welcome any advice. Many thanks.

Posted on Jul 7, 2020 8:12 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Bob Timmons

Community+ 2024

Level 10

159,758 points

Jul 7, 2020 8:55 PM in response to actingman66

is it possible to replace the extreme base station and have the existing Airport Expresses still work with it?

Using a WiFi connection, the Expresses can "join" a third party wireless network for use with AirPlay, but they cannot "extend" the WiFi network.

Or, stated another way........if you want an Express or Expresses to provide additional wireless coverage for a third party network, the Expresses must connect back to the third party router using a permanent wired Ethernet cable connection. Then, the Expresses are configured to create a wireless network that uses the same wireless network name and password as the third party router network.

Technically, this is called a "roaming" network, which is a particular type of extended network.

Reply

Answer 2

actingman66 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 8, 2020 2:57 PM in response to Bob Timmons

That's extremely useful. Thank you for the concise reply.

Reply

Airport Extreme/Express Third Party Compatibility?

Similar questions