My Airport Express won't extend range. How to set up?

Question

My Airport Express won't extend range. How to set up?

My Airport Express won't extend the range of my Airport Extreme. How should I set it up to get it to work? Stuart

Airport Express-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 24, 2011 7:05 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 24, 2011 7:22 AM in response to Stuart Taylor

Apple's instructions for this are here, assuming that both your AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express are newer "n" wireless versions:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259

The illustration shows an AirPort Extreme as the extending device, but the setup for an AirPort Express would be exactly the same.

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Answer 2

Oct 24, 2011 7:36 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks. How can I tell whether my Airport Express and AirPort Extreme are newer "n" wireless versions?I bought the Express in late 2009 and the Extreme in early 2010. The Express came with a software disk labeled "802.11n Wi-Fi Base Station." The Extreme has no "n" makring that I can find. Stuart

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Answer 3

Oct 24, 2011 7:46 AM in response to Stuart Taylor

The Extreme is certainly an "n" version if it was purchased new in 2010. The "n" Extreme has a square shape with rounded corners The older AirPort Extreme "g" is round, like a flying saucer.

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Answer 4

Oct 24, 2011 4:04 PM in response to Bob Timmons

More thanks. The following, which I found on a link to the link you provided, makes me wonder whether I might be better off buying a wireless repeater than using the Airport Express:

"Adding Wi-Fi base stations when it is unnecessary can reduce Wi-Fi throughput because the Wi-Fi network will require more data management overhead."

Thoughts on this?

Thanks, Stuart

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Answer 5

Oct 24, 2011 4:31 PM in response to Stuart Taylor

When the Express is configured to "extend" it is a wireless repeater.

"Adding Wi-Fi base stations when it is unnecessary

Speaks for itself

can reduce Wi-Fi throughput because the Wi-Fi network will require more data management overhead."

As will adding another computer, iPhone or any wireless device to the network, for that matter.

FWIW, I have run 4 AirPort Expresses all setup to "extend" and noticed nothing except faster Internet browsing and download speeds throughout the house.

IF...you can connect the AirPort Express to the AirPort Extreme using an Ethernet connection, that will provide better overall performance. That is the way any commercial network is designed, except on a much larger scale.

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