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Level 1

8 points

Extending wireless network

I'm trying to set up a wireless network using the AE as my base station and the AX as my extension. I have DSL so I'm getting conflicting information about how to set up. Modem manufacturer says I should use bridge setting and configure for PPPoE. Using this configuration the AE is finally working but the AX will not find the internet. The local Mac expert at Best Buy says I should configure for WDS. Maybe I'm missing something because that didn't seem to work right either?? I am suffering from information overload from all my research and I'm still not right! Admittedly this is uncharted territory for me but I can follow directions if I can just get some that seem consistent. Can someone please help me understand what I need to do and how?

Posted on Jul 12, 2011 3:47 PM

69 replies

susiebelle Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 13, 2011 7:23 PM in response to Bob Timmons

It says PPPoE and has all my account info.

Jul 13, 2011 7:31 PM in response to susiebelle

Your setup is exactly the same as mine at the moment, since I reconfigured things here to try to duplicate your setup.

I don't have an Actiontec modem, but other than that, everything is configured exactly like your setup as far I can tell. Things are working just fine with an AirPort Express extending the signal on the other side of the house very nicely.

If you power down the AirPort Express for now, does the AirPort Extreme operate correctly?

susiebelle Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 13, 2011 7:47 PM in response to Bob Timmons

The Extreme is working fine w/ this set-up. I would let the Express go except that I live in a 2-story and the modem and router are at the far end of the house. We have had signal strength issues for quite a while which is why I decided to purchase the airport system.

The Express has been acting strangely since last night. Could I have reset it too many times trying to get this all figured out?? I did have a green light last night but lost it when I disconnected the ethernet cable. I couldn't possibly remember what configuration I used since I've tried so many. I've tried several times since then to reset and reconfigure but each time the Express won't find the internet even though it's attached to the ethernet cable. What am I not doing correctly? I press the reset button until the amber light starts to flash rapidly. Suggestions??

Jul 13, 2011 8:02 PM in response to susiebelle

Please follow these instructions exactly.

Power off the Express if it is on and leave it off at least 30 minutes

Hold in the reset button before you plug the Express in to power

Keep holding the reset button while you plug the Express in to power

Release the reset button 10-12 seconds after you have plugged it in to power

Allow 40-45 seconds for the Express to restart to a slow, blinking amber light

Move the Express close to your computer and the AirPort Extreme

Temporarily, connect a spare Ethernet cable from your computer to the Express and power it back up if you powered it down to move it

Open AirPort Utility - Click Manual Setup

Click the Base Station tab below the row of icons to assign a name to the Express, a device password and adjust Time Zone settings

Click the Wireless tab and adjust settings to look like this:

Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network

Wireless Network Name = Same name as your AirPort Extreme wireless network

Enter a check mark next to Allow wireless clients

Wireless Security = Same setting as your AirPort Extreme

Wireless Password = Same password as your AirPort Extreme wireless network

Confirm Password

Click Update

As soon as you see the message in AirPort Utility that your settings have been stored successfully, close AirPort Utility and disconnect the Ethernet cable

The Express will take another 30 seconds or so to fully power up. Wait for a green light.

If you get a green light, then locate the Express as I instructed....about half the distance from the AirPort Extreme and the area where you need more wireless coverage. Avoid walls and other obstructions as much as possible. Try for a line-of-sight arrangement between the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express as much as possible.

If things still do not work, please take the Express to an Apple Store to let them have a look.

susiebelle Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 13, 2011 8:47 PM in response to Bob Timmons

YES, YES, YES!! SUCCESS FINALLY!! Thank you Bob! 🙂

I must not have held the reset button long enough to do a proper reset. I followed your directions to the letter this time and I have a green light on my Express -- even moved it down the hall, plugged it in, waited, and it lit up green again! My location is probably not ideal but I picked the middle of the house at the top of the stairs. The Extreme is at the end of the house down the hall from the Express. There is no way to have them w/in sight of each other b/c I would defeat the purpose of extending. I should still get an improved signal downstairs, right??

Thank you so much Bob!!

Jul 13, 2011 8:55 PM in response to susiebelle

Sounds like you are in business. Congrats!

You may need to experiment a bit with the location of the Express, but I think that you will notice immediate improvement.

DarksV

Level 1

8 points

Jul 16, 2011 4:36 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Hi Bob,

I was wondering if you have any thoughts on my issue. I have an existing network with a wireless modem router as the base station with a number of ethernet connected and wireless devices hanging off it. I have extended the wireless network once with an ethernet connection to another wireless access point. I now want to connect a Time Capsule on this existing network to serve the dual purpose of extending the wireless network AND providing Time Machine backup capability.

Now currently depending on where I have the ethernet cable connected depends on whether my TC is visible on my iMac.

I'm going through the process of resetting the TC using the method you mentioned at the start of this discussion. If you have any other thoughts that would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Mark

Jul 16, 2011 5:34 PM in response to DarksV

Check to make sure that both the access point and the Time Capsule connected to that point are both configured in Bridge Mode. Otherwise, you will have problems with devices on the network not being able to "see" other devices.

DarksV

Level 1

8 points

Jul 17, 2011 5:01 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the prompt reply. It has me up and going although I've had to give the Time Capsule a different wireless network name. So now, in summary, I have a Belkin base station, a Lynksis (Cisco) wireless access point, and my Apply Time Capsule now as a different network instead of what I intended would be a second separate WAP on the same network.

On the Airport Utility>Airport>Wireless>Wireless Mode: when I attempted to select the "Extend a wireless network" option an error message appears saying "The network you selected cannot be extended." I'm forced to select "Create a wireless network".

With my limited knowledge I've gone through my base station set-up but was unable to identify anything that would help. Given I was able to add the Cisco recently as a WAP I'm surprised I can't add the TC in a similar fashion.

If you have any more insights I'd be most appreciative.

Thanks again for your help.

Jul 17, 2011 5:20 AM in response to DarksV

when I attempted to select the "Extend a wireless network" option an error message appears saying "The network you selected cannot be extended." I'm forced to select "Create a wireless network".

If the Time Capsule is connecting using Ethernet, then "create a wireless network" is the correct setting.

The "extend" setting would only be used if you were using the Time Capsule with another Apple router and you were connecting to it using wireless only to communicate with the other router, not Ethernet.

If the Time Capsule is connected using Ethernet, configured to "create a wireless network" using exactly the same wireless network name, wireless security, and password...and it is configured in Bridge Mode, then it will act as a wireless access point to your main network.

Jul 19, 2011 5:49 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I'm trying to extend my wireless network using the instructions above. My base station is an Airport Extreme, and the new unit that I'm trying to connect is an Airport Express. I want the Express to also allow clients to connect.

When configuring the second base station (Express), and selecting the existing wireless network name, I get an error message that says that the selected network cannot be extended.

------------

I had also attempted to configure as WDS network, without any success.

I'm lost...

Jul 19, 2011 6:14 PM in response to Mark A Ficek

Mark,

There are various methods discussed for extending in this thread.....using wireless only....and using an Ethernet connection.

We need to know which method you are attempting. Wireless only connection between the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express, or are you connecting these devices using an Ethernet cable?

Do you have the newer "square" AirPort Extreme or do you have the older "round" version?

Jul 19, 2011 6:45 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, I'd prefer a wireless only connection. (will that decrease my overall speed?)

My Airport Extreme is the new square-ish one.

Jul 19, 2011 7:09 PM in response to Mark A Ficek

Wireless will be OK if the AirPort Express is located where it can receive a strong signal from the AirPort Extreme to "extend". The reason for this is that the Express can only "extend" what it receives.

I get an error message that says that the selected network cannot be extended.

The usual reasons for this are:

1) The check box to "Allow this network to be extended" in the Wireless settings for the AirPort Extreme is not checked. So the network cannot be extended by any other devices.

Open AirPort Utility - select the AirPort Extreme - Click Manual Setup

Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons

Here is what your settings on the AirPort Extreme should look like:

Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network

Wireless Network Name = Your choice

Enter a check mark next to "Allow this network to be extended"

Radio Mode = Automatic

Radio Channel = Automatic

Wireless Security = WPA2 Personal

Wireless Password = Your password

Confirm Password

2) The Express is located too far from the AirPort Extreme, so it cannot receive a good signal. You need to configure the Express near the AirPort Extreme, then once it is configured and working correctly, move it to a location that is about half the distance from the AirPort Extreme to the area that needs more wireless coverage.

Open AirPort Utility - select the AirPort Express - Click Manual Setup

Click the Wireless tab below the icons

Your settings should look like this:

Click the Wireless tab and adjust settings to look like this:

Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network

Wireless Network Name = Same name as your AirPort Extreme wireless network

Enter a check mark next to Allow wireless clients

Wireless Security = Same setting as your AirPort Extreme

Wireless Password = Same password as your AirPort Extreme wireless network

Confirm Password

Click Update

As soon as you see the message in AirPort Utility that your settings have been stored successfully, close AirPort Utility. The Express will take another 30 seconds or so to fully power up. Wait for a green light.

If you get a green light, then locate the Express as I instructed....about half the distance from the AirPort Extreme and the area where you need more wireless coverage.

Jul 19, 2011 7:40 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks. On my Airport Extreme setup, I don't have a checkbox to "Allow this network to be extended".

Extending wireless network