WKH

Q: How do I connect AirPort Express to non-airport router

I want to use 2 Airport Express routers to

1) extend my wireless LAN to improve signal strength throughout the house, and

2) connect a USB printer to use over the wireless LAN, but

my "base" wireless router is not an AirPort device.

How do I configure the Airport Expresses to work with a non-AirPort router?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2.3 GHz i7, 8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Posted on Feb 12, 2012 5:43 AM

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Q: How do I connect AirPort Express to non-airport router

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  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 12, 2012 7:10 AM in response to WKH
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 12, 2012 7:10 AM in response to WKH

    Sorry, but the AirPort Express cannot be used to "extend" a wireless network produced by a router from another manufacturer using wireless only.

     

    If you can connect each of your AirPort Express devices to your "main" router using a wired Ethernet connection, the Express devices could be configured to provide more wireless coverage that way.

     

    Or, if you connected one AirPort Express to your main router using an Ethernet cable, you could configure the second AirPort Express to extend the first using wireless only.

     

    Check the Model Number on the label on the side of the Express to confirm that you have Model No A 1264 for this purpose.

     

    There is a good chance that your printer will work if it is connected to the USB port of the Express. But, not all printers are supported...and Apple does not provide a compatibility list.....so you really won't know if this will work until you try.

  • by WKH,

    WKH WKH Feb 12, 2012 7:54 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 12, 2012 7:54 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks for the prompt feedback.

    OK, that is what I expected.

    Both APs are model A 1264. So, I want to connect AP1 with Ethernet to the non-AP router, with the printer connected to AP1, and AP2 connected wirelessly to AP1, to extend the wireless network. How do I configure AP1 and AP2.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 12, 2012 8:50 AM in response to WKH
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 12, 2012 8:50 AM in response to WKH

    I assume that your existing wireless router has an available Ethernet port, correct?

     

    Are you using the Snow Leopard 10.6.8 operating system as your profile indicates?

  • by WKH,

    WKH WKH Feb 12, 2012 8:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 12, 2012 8:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    yes & yes

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 12, 2012 9:01 AM in response to WKH
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 12, 2012 9:01 AM in response to WKH

    Connect the AX to one of the Ethernet ports using an Ethernet cable and power up the AX. Wait 40-45 seconds for the AX to display a slow, blinking amber light.

     

    Look for a wireless network with a name like Apple Network xxxxxx and log on to that network....no password is required.

     

    Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility

    Select the AX and click Manual Setup

     

    Click the Base Station tab just below the row of icons to assign a name to the AX, a device password and adjust Time Zone settings.  Good idea to write down the device password for safe keeping.

     

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

     

    Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network

    Wireless Network Name = Edit for your choice

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

    Radio Mode = 802.11n (802.11 b/g compatible) a good choice. Otherwise, your choice

    Radio Channel = Automatic

    Wireless Security = WPA2 Personal

    Wireless Password = Your choice, must be at least 8 characters

    Confirm Password

     

    Click the Internet icon

     

    Connect Using = Ethernet

    Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)

     

    Click Update at the lower right of the window

    Close AirPort Utility as soon as you see the message that the settings have been stored

    Wait 40-45 seconds for a green light

     

    Look for the name of the new network that you created and log on using the password

    Check to make sure that you have get an Internet connection, etc.

     

    Post back on your progress

  • by WKH,

    WKH WKH Feb 12, 2012 9:12 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 12, 2012 9:12 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I already have a wireles network enabled on my non-AP router, and I was looking for a way of connecting to / extending that network, not creating a new wireless network. Is that not possible?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 12, 2012 9:24 AM in response to WKH
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 12, 2012 9:24 AM in response to WKH

    AX1 must connect to your main router using a permanent Ethernet cable connection and it must be configured to "Create a wireless network".

     

    If you plan to locate AX1 some distance from your main router, you can assign exactly the same wireless network name, exact same security settings and same password to the AX1. Then it will provide more wireless coverage and the wireless will behave as one large network.

     

    You have to know exactly what type of wireless security your main router is using in order to provide the same setting to the AX1.

     

    Then, when you add AX2, it will provide additional wireless coverage using wireless only.

     

    If you plan to keep AX1 close to your main router, it would probably make sense to turn off the wireless on that device since having two wireless routers in close proximity will likely create interference effects.

  • by WKH,

    WKH WKH Feb 12, 2012 10:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 12, 2012 10:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Apologies for being slow here, but how do I then configure AP1, local to the non-AP router, with Ethernet, AND AP2, remote from the non-AP router, via wireless, such that my devices (MacBooks, iPads, iPods, PCs, ...), whether connected wirelessly via the non-AP router or AP2, can connect to the Internet (which the non-AP router connects to), and the printer, which is connected to AP1?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 12, 2012 11:11 AM in response to WKH
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 12, 2012 11:11 AM in response to WKH

    how do I then configure AP1, local to the non-AP router, with Ethernet

    I already provided you with that step by step information, with the option to either create a "new" network with a new wireless network name.....or....configure AP1 (AX1) to use the same wireless network name, security and password as your main router.

     

    Please review the posts above and you will see that everything is there.

     

    Please post back to let us know which option you have chosen and that AP1 is working correctly.

     

    Then, we will continue with the setup of AP2 (AX2) and then finally, the printer.

  • by WKH,

    WKH WKH Feb 12, 2012 11:54 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 12, 2012 11:54 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks again. I will get onto that in the morning (I'm in Germany), and give an update then. Family duty calls!

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 12, 2012 11:56 AM in response to WKH
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 12, 2012 11:56 AM in response to WKH

    Thanks, I will check back tomorrow.

  • by WKH,

    WKH WKH Feb 13, 2012 6:28 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 13, 2012 6:28 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Tried to follow the instructions, but as soon as AP1 comes up (with the LED a steady green), my non-AP router goes into a restart cycle! After several attempts, non-AP router has now crashed, and I'm sending this via a

    neighbours access point! I need to get the non-AP router sorted out, then I'm going to have to have a serious rethink about whether I need this extension and printer access or not!

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 13, 2012 6:46 AM in response to WKH
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 13, 2012 6:46 AM in response to WKH

    Not sure where the problem is here. Is your "main" router configured to allow other access points to connect?

     

    I have configured the AirPorts this way in the past to connect to both a Linksys and Netgear router,  and have two currently set up as wireless access points connecting back to an Apple router here.

  • by WKH,

    WKH WKH Feb 14, 2012 7:55 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 14, 2012 7:55 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    The non-AP router is a Speedport, from T-Systems here is Germany, and it is EXTREMELY Windows oriented (biased!), with nothing in the documentation about working in an Apple world. (Of course, my Macs, iPods, iPads work with the router as a router, but anything more than that, .....).

     

    For the wireless network extension, I'm going to work through the documentation (in German!) to ensure that it is configured to allow access points, but this could take a while!

     

    I've gone down a different route for the printer: I've dug out an old Axis Communications UB/Ethernet print server, which, at more than 7 years old and without documentation, I got working in less than 10 minutes! Who says new is better!.

     

    Thanks for your help. I'll keep this discussion open for a few days, just to see if I can add anything new (positive or negtive).

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