Need help setting up airport express as bridge (Any help is appreciated)

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Need help setting up airport express as bridge (Any help is appreciated)

Hello so before my wifi was switched I was able to use my 802.11g airport express as a wifi card for the xbox 360. I then decided to upgrade my main base station from an 802.11g base station to and airport extreme 802.11n. My problem is that my airport express cant extend the airport extreme network to my xbox anymore because they are different 802.11 versions. So can anyone help me configure this so I can get this back? Any help is appreciated.

My Current Setup:

Internet => Airport Extreme 802.11n => Wireless => Airport Express 802.11g (to extend network for xbox)=> Ethernet => Xbox 360

Thanks!

Airport Express-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 7, 2012 4:29 PM

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Answer 1

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Bob Timmons

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Feb 7, 2012 4:46 PM in response to iGrom

Unfortunately, it is going to be extremely difficult to configure your new AirPort Extreme to work with the older AirPort Express to do what you want.

And if you do so, you will lose all of the "n" wireless capabilities of your new AirPort Extreme. It will perform no better than the "old" AirPort Extreme that you replaced.

Things would be incredibly easier and you will have light years better performance if your budget allows you to use a new AirPort Express 802.11n.

Is that a possibility?

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Answer 2

iGrom Author

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Feb 7, 2012 5:44 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Well ya but heres the thing. I had it working for a while and then my wireless switched and it wasnt working anymore?

So I actually got it to extend the 802.11n but now it doesnt do it for me anymore?

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Answer 3

Feb 7, 2012 6:10 PM in response to iGrom

I had it working for a while and then my wireless switched

The wireless switched when you added the new AirPort Extreme, correct?

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Answer 4

iGrom Author

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Feb 7, 2012 6:49 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Well yes kinda so. I had it set up with it extending my airport extreme. Then one day it wasnt working anymore so I reset my airport extreme and express and now the xbox doesnt even recognize that my express is connected to it. I think this is because it does not give me the option in airport utility to "extend the network". I can only "join" it

Thanks for the help btw this is much appreciated

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Answer 5

Feb 7, 2012 7:13 PM in response to iGrom

This is why I am confused.

The "g" AirPort Express does not have a setting to "Extend a wireless network". It does not exist. This is only found on the "n" version of the AirPort Express.

You may likely have been using a different type of setting with your old Extreme called WDS before you made the "switch" which will allow a "g" Express to extend and provide an Ethernet signal.

But, WDS is a nightmare on a new AirPort Extreme. The version of AirPort Utility that is provided with Lion 10.7.3 does not even allow this type of configuration.

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Answer 6

iGrom Author

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Feb 7, 2012 7:22 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Yes I know for some reason it allowed me to extend it but when i reset it cause i though it was broken i lost that feature. And i redownloaded airport utility 5.6 to configure the express so what should i do?

And wds how would i go about that?

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Answer 7

Feb 7, 2012 7:34 PM in response to iGrom

As I said, WDS is a nightmare for most users. Apple hides the settings from users to discourage use of WDS.

I do not recommend that you do this, but have a feeling that you will do this anyway.

I will not be able to help you sort out WDS problems.

On AirPort Utility 5.6, click Manual Setup

Click the Wireless tab below the icons

Hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the Wireless Mode selection box and the WDS settings will appear

Apple's instructions for WDS are here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262

Hope this helps. Good luck.

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Answer 8

RRBB

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Apr 20, 2012 2:32 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, I think iGrom is right about this detail. You see, I also have an old "g" Airport Express and it has a setting to "Extend a wireless network" using the old version of Airport Utility. Actually, I use this feature in my everyday set-up for it to extend my new "n-capable" APE.

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