Q: Can 1st Gen Airport Express be used to extend an AEBS Network?
I'd like to know if it works wirelessly, or with ethernet connected.
iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8), iPad2, 60GB iPod Photo, Hp j6480
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 2:26 PM
That is a "b/g" version of the AirPort Express.
Your best option by far is to connect the AirPort Express to the AEBS using an Ethernet cable and configure the Express to "create a wireless network" using the exact same wireless network name, same security setting and password as your AEBS network, and make sure that Bridge Mode is selected for the AirPort Express.
That will provide a slower "g" wireless network in the general area where the Express is located. Faster "n" devices will connect at lower "g" speeds when they are in the vicinity of the AirPort Express.
If you want to connect the AirPort Express to the AEBS using wireless only, that really gets complicated. Both The AirPort Express and AEBS will need to be configured to "Participate in a WDS network".
The upside to WDS is that you will have a bit better wireless coverage.
The downsides to WDS are significant:
- WDS operates only in "g" wireless mode, so your "n" AEBS drops down to a "g" level wireless router
- The bandwidth on the entire networks drops in half, so you will have a "g" wireless network running at half speed
- WDS is difficult for most users to configure. It's easy to make a mistake and impossible to recover without starting all over again on the configuration.
So, WDS is for very patient folks who will be satisifed with a very slow network
Apple's instructions for WDS are here if you want to give it a try:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262
Whichever setup you choose, it would be a good idea to perform a Factory Default Reset on the Express as a first step in the process.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 8:02 PM