NathanKB
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can I extend my Extreme network using another Extreme WITHOUT using an Ethernet cable?

Here's the situation:

 

I'm at a school.  I have a network with three Airport Extremes (AE).  They are located in the same building and connected via ethernet cables.  The school is growing and just purchased outside portable buildings.  I need to provide them with connections to the main building's network.  I cannot run a CAT-5 cable out to the new buildings.  Is there a way to extend the main network out to the new buildings "wirelessly"?

 

As for the physical distance between the two AEs it would be about 50-60 feet.

 

Thank you for your help. 

 

Nathan in Edmond, Oklahoma

Posted on Jul 31, 2012 12:47 PM

by NathanKB,Solvedanswer
NathanKB NathanKB
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

Thanks Bob for the info.  I read the "Extended Network" document as you suggested.  I hope it will work.  I did this three years ago with the three AE in the main building but I couldn't get them to work together.  The Apple techs at the time just told me to run CAT-5 to each of them.

 

I'm still running 10.5.8.  I've had a Mac since '84 and I can't imagine a world without AppleTalk.  That's why I haven't left Leopard.

 

Thanks again for the help.

 

Have a blessed day! 

Posted on Jul 31, 2012 5:00 PM

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NathanKB

Q: Can I extend my Extreme network using another Extreme WITHOUT using an Ethernet cable?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jul 31, 2012 1:57 PM in response to NathanKB
    Level 10 (105,433 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 31, 2012 1:57 PM in response to NathanKB

    Will I be able to extend my school's network through the Airport Express so that I won't have to switch back and forth between the school network and my own Apple network constantly?

    This is one of those questions where despite of what we might say, you really will not know if it will work until you try it out yourself.

     

    Apple's routers can "extend" using wireless only, so the question is one of whether the outside walls of the buildings will allow enough of the signal to pass to allow a good connection.

     

    You can get a good idea now of whether this will work or not by simply moving your laptop out to one of the new buildings to see if it can receive an adequate signal at that location. If it can, then another AirPort will provide additional signal strength in the area.

     

    If it cannot, then adding an AirPort will not help since it must have a good signal to be able to "extend" it.

  • by NathanKB,

    NathanKB NathanKB Jul 31, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Yes, I can take a MacBook out to the closest of the outside buildings and get a connection.  So saying this, HOW and WHAT do I configure on the wireless Extreme?

     

    Thanks!

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jul 31, 2012 3:08 PM in response to NathanKB
    Level 10 (105,433 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 31, 2012 3:08 PM in response to NathanKB

    Instead of "Create a wireless network", the Extreme in the remote building needs to be configured to "Extend a wireless network".

     

    If you are running Mountain Lion or Lion, AirPort Utility will take care of the setup almost automatically once you name the device and assign a device password.

     

    If you are using Snow Leopard or Leopard, there a few more steps, but it should not take more than a few minutes from start to finish if the "new" AirPort Extreme is still setup with Factory Default settings.

     

    We do not know what you have, so if you need additional info, we'll need to know what operating system you are using on the Mac that is used to configure the AirPorts.

     

     

    Yes, I can take a MacBook out to the closest of the outside buildings and get a connection.

     

    How about any other buildings where you need wireless? You need to perform the same test for those locations, since any new AirPorts you install there will connect back to the closest wired AirPort in one of the main buildings.

     

    This Apple Support document has good info about the "extend" setup:

     

    Extended network

  • by NathanKB,Solvedanswer

    NathanKB NathanKB Jul 31, 2012 5:00 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 31, 2012 5:00 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob for the info.  I read the "Extended Network" document as you suggested.  I hope it will work.  I did this three years ago with the three AE in the main building but I couldn't get them to work together.  The Apple techs at the time just told me to run CAT-5 to each of them.

     

    I'm still running 10.5.8.  I've had a Mac since '84 and I can't imagine a world without AppleTalk.  That's why I haven't left Leopard.

     

    Thanks again for the help.

     

    Have a blessed day!