To configure Airport Express as an extender to Airport Extreme ?

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johnpau2009 Author

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To configure Airport Express as an extender to Airport Extreme ?

- I have an Airport Extreme , its been there for 2 years
- I forgot the admin password to login to the airport extreme, but I remember
the wireless password. I cannot rest it as I cannot loose the configuration.

- Now yesterday I brought a new Airport Express to make this as an wireless
extender to the current Airport Extreme wireless what I already have.

Question:
========

1) While configuring this new Airport Express as an extender to my current wireless setup (Airport Extreme), does it need the ADMIN password of the airport extreme anywhere ?

2) Will there be any difference in the wireless signal & strength in the below
setup ?

Airport Extreme <== connected through CAT6 network cable ==> Airport Express

Versus

Airport Extreme <== connected wireless ==> Airport Express

Windows XP

Posted on Feb 15, 2011 5:17 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 15, 2011 6:31 AM in response to johnpau2009

Welcome to the discussion area, johnpau2009!

I have an Airport Extreme , its been there for 2 years

Just to confirm which version you have, is your AirPort Extreme (AEBS) square shaped with rounded corners, or is it round and shaped like a flying saucer?

I forgot the admin password to login to the airport extreme

Push the reset button on the back of the AEBS for 1 second and give it 20-25 seconds to restart. You now have about 4 minutes to make changes. If you are asked for the admin or device password, try "public" (without the quotation marks)

Click the Base Station tab below the row of icons to check then name of your AEBS and type in a new admin or device password. (Might be a good idea to write this down).

Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons and look for an option with a check box to "Allow this network to be extended". Enter a check mark here.

Write down the name of the wireless network you have established and the exact setting that you see for Wireless Security because you will need that information to configure the AirPort Express (AX) to provide additional wireless coverage

Click Update at the lower right to save your changes and the AEBS will restart in 25-30 seconds and you should have a green light.

Post back on your progress at this point.

2) Will there be any difference in the wireless signal & strength in the below
setup ?

Connecting devices using ethernet cable connections is always the better way to go because this provides much better bandwidth (speed) for the wireless network and it allows you to place the AirPort Express in the location where it's really needed.

Using wireless only to extend can work well if you have close to a line of sight relationship between the AEBS and AX. There's nothing wrong with trying this first to see if it will provide the performance you want if you're not anxious to pull ethernet cable through the house.

Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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Answer 2

johnpau2009 Author

Level 1

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Feb 15, 2011 6:40 AM in response to johnpau2009

@ Bob Timmons :

My Airprot Extreme is a squared one with rounded corners. newer one.

Yesterday before posting this question in this forum, I tried airport utility(windows) on my PC and tried connecting to Airport extreme base station and it was asking for my password.

I tried "public" (without quotes) - did not work

I tried other passwords which i remember - did not work

According to your reply, you asked me to press the reset button for 1 second
and it will ask me to reset the password, but for this to work . Do I still need to remember my old password(which I don't have) ?

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Answer 3

Feb 15, 2011 7:00 AM in response to johnpau2009

If the reset works...see this Apple document for more information....you won't need your old admin password.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3728?viewlocale=en_US

You'll want to try what Apple calls a "soft reset"

All bets are off if you are trying to do this using a PC as the Windows Firewall and/or anti-virus software is notorious for not allowing a connection to the AirPort for configuration changes.

Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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Answer 4

Mar 26, 2011 8:51 AM in response to johnpau2009

I want to connect my Airport Extreme to one of my 2 Airport Express via ethernet to extend the network and improve the signal in an area about 100 feet from the Extreme base station. What do I need to configure the Express? And will the second Express continue to work without an ethernet connection to the Extreme? Thanks.

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Answer 5

Mar 26, 2011 9:01 AM in response to Triplesec3

I want to connect my Airport Extreme to one of my 2 Airport Express via ethernet to extend the network and improve the signal in an area about 100 feet from the Extreme base station. What do I need to configure the Express?

You will be configuring what is known as a "roaming" setup. See this Apple Support document for details:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145

Under the heading of Steps to Add Additional AirPort Base Stations, select the "roaming network" link. The item(s) pictured are AirPort Extremes, but the same setup works for the AirPort Express.

And will the second Express continue to work without an ethernet connection to the Extreme?

Yes

Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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Answer 6

May 18, 2011 7:25 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Everything worked well until a recent power outage. Now having difficulties setting back up using the instructions on the Apple support link. When I connect the ethernet cable to the Express--Airport Utility suddenly doesn't see the routers. My current set up is as follows: Airport Extreme is connected to the cable modem via ethernet. I have one Airport Express in the next room that is wireless (not ethernet) connected to the network. My second Airport Express upstairs is currently configured the same way, receiving wireless signal. I want to connect that upstairs Express to the Extreme via ethernet. I'm ready to do this and want to know if there is a sequence to connecting the ethernet. And what I if anything do I need to do in Airport Utility before I connect the ethernet cable to the upstairs Express? If the ethernet cable is plugged into the Extreme, do I keep the Express as is--plugged into the wall outlet (green light)? And then plug the ethernet into that upstairs Express? What do I do after that? I've tried a number of different scenarios and as soon as I plug the ethernet into the upstairs Express and then configure in Airport Utility, it's no longer visible in Airport Utility. Thanks for your help.

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Answer 7

May 18, 2011 8:04 PM in response to Triplesec3

Perform a Factory Default Reset on the Express that is connected using Ethernet.

Unplug the Ethernet connection to the Express

Pull the Express from power

Hold in the reset button and keep holding it in while you plug the Expess back in to power

Keep holding the reset button another 8-10 seconds after you plug it in to power

Release the reset button and wait 40-45 seconds for the Expess to restart

Plug the Ethernet cable into the Express and see if AirPort Uttility can see it so you can reconfigure it.

If necessary, power down everything on the network and restart, modem first, then one device at a time to see if that will allow you to "see" the AirPort Express.

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Answer 8

Aug 1, 2011 2:34 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, I gave up on this for a while. Recently, I replaced Ethernet cable thinking it may have been faulty. In my latest attempt, I followed the instructions above and the configuration instructions below. The re-set Express connected to the Extreme via Ethernet shows in Airport Utility and I proceeded with manual setup. The continued to flash amber after I clicked update to save settings, and a message in Airport Utility that configuration was successful. Then the Express disappears from the Airport Utility with a message that it's restarting. After a long wait, there's a message that it was unable to restart. The Express continues flashing amber and is still not appearing in Airport Utility. Is it possible that the Ethernet ports on Extreme and Express are not functioning? Any other thoughts on how to troubleshoot this? Thanks.

using AirPort Utility - Manual Setup

Wireless Tab:

Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network

Wireless Network Name = Same name as your main network

Radio Mode = Your choice. 802.11n/g/b a good choice in most cases

Channel = Automatic

Wireless Security = Same setting as your main network

Wireless Password = Same password

Confirm Password

Click the Internet icon

Connect Using = Ethernet

Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)

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Answer 9

Aug 1, 2011 2:56 PM in response to Triplesec3

Hmmm. Not sure what is going wrong as this is normally a straightforward setup.

Have you power cycled the entire network? Please try this again as follows:

Power down everything...all devices on the network.....order is not important.

Start the modem first and let it run a moment by itself

Start the main router the same way

Start the AirPort Express

Start other devies one at a time the same way

Check for proper network operation

If still no luck, try plugging the Ethernet cable into a differernet LAN <-> port on the AirPort Extreme

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Answer 10

Aug 1, 2011 3:08 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I did power cycle the network, but will try that again. By the way, in the interim, I plugged the Ethernet cable that was connected to the Extreme directly into the iMac (after disabling wireless) and was unable to connect via Ethernet.

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Answer 11

Aug 1, 2011 3:13 PM in response to Triplesec3

I plugged the Ethernet cable that was connected to the Extreme directly into the iMac (after disabling wireless) and was unable to connect via Ethernet.

Bad Ethernet cable or a damaged port. Try another short spare Ethernet cable and connect it to one of the LAN ports from your Mac. If it works, you know the cable and ports are working.

Try the same "test" again with the long Ethernet cable connected to your Mac. If no go, you have a bad cable.

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