Problem using Airport Express to extend wireless network.

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Problem using Airport Express to extend wireless network.

I'm trying to extend my wireless network with an Airport Express (brand new, bought last week), but can only seem to do so by connecting it via cat5 to the router, which doesn't actually extend anything. I have a Linksys WRT54GS with DD-WRT, and want to have the Airport Express in a different room so cat5 isn't an option.

I'm using WPA2 Personal security on my network.

I've tried to follow several sets of instructions from these forums and on blogs, but the only things I've been able to do are...

1) connect via cat5, selecting "Create a new network" with the same SSID and such, but it doesn't give me any more range.

2) connect wirelessly selecting "Join an existing network", but that doesn't extend the network at all either, even if I put the AE at the edge of the network now.

Thanks in advance. All I really want to do is access my wireless from the other half of my house.

Zack

AirPort Express 802.11N (2nd generation), iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Jul 7, 2012 9:06 AM

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Answer 1

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Tesserax

Level 10

148,447 points

Jul 7, 2012 9:11 AM in response to ZackKlemm

It was possible to create a WDS between the older 802.11g AirPort Express and the Linksys WRT-54GS and this (as you know) has been documented on the Internet. However, I do not know of anyone that has been successful doing so with either of the 802.11n generations.

The two methods that you have tried would not work as neither is the proper method to set up a WDS. Please check out the following Apple Support article for more details. If you are successful in setting a WDS between them, please post back your results.

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Answer 2

Jul 7, 2012 9:13 AM in response to ZackKlemm

1) Creating a new network is if you will have Airport Express connected via ethernet, like a roaming network.

2) You are correct, Joining an existing network will only JOIN the network like a client, to be apart of the network.

The Airport Express can only wireless extend another Airport router, not 3rd party routers (but it's not impossible). You can contact Linksys support to see if the router will allow the network to be extended. Maybe you can consider a router that will be compatible with the Linksys.

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