Extending Time Capsule wireless network with an Airport Extreme

Is this a new AirPort Extreme that you are trying to add?

We understand that you have a "square" shaped AirPort Extreme....just like the Time Capsule, correct?

What version of AirPort Utility are you using to configure the AirPort Extreme?

If you are not sure, click the AirPort Extreme menu at the upper left corner of the screen and then click About AirPort Utility. It should be either 5.x or 6.x

Post back with that info.

Temporarily, move the AirPort Extreme to the same room or general area of the Time Capsule, power it up, and wait a full minute.

Then, hold in the reset button on the back of the AirPort Extreme for 9-10 seconds, then release. Allow a full minute for the AirPort Extreme to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.

Close AirPort Utility if it is open.

Click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of your Mac's screen. Wait a few seconds for the listing of New AirPort Base Station to appear.

Click on AirPort Extreme just below that and AirPort Utility will open automatically open and analyze your network settings. In the example above, this is shown as an AirPort Express. In another minute, you will see that it will configure the AirPort Extreme to "Extend" the network.

Enter a device name that you want to use and click Next

Wait another minute for AirPort Utility to configure the AirPort Extreme. When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.

Move the AirPort Extreme to a location that is approximtely half the distance from the Time Capsule to the area that needs more wireless coverage and power it up.

You are all set.

Thank you for this, very helpful. Does the new device (i.e., an Airport extreme in my case) need to have the same name as the network it's joining?

It will have the same name. You cannot change this....unless....you connect the AirPort Extreme back to your main router using a wired Ethernet connection.

Great discussion, Bob. So I set up my old Airport Extreme as an extender to my Time Capsule. I labeld the AE as "myinitials Extender". In my wifi list, I will continue to only see the name of my wifi network, correct? It is only listed once, but I won't know whether TC or AE is providing the signal for a particular device? Does that make sense?

The signal will only show up as one network from your Mac.

If you want to know which device you are connected to at any given time......

Locate the Mac near the Time Capsule

Hold down the option key while you click on the AirPort icon at the top of the screen

Look for the BSSID and jot down the last few digits

Now move the Mac close to the AirPort Extreme and perform the same check.

If the AirPort Extreme is extending correctly, you will see a different BSSID.

Bob, now I noticed my iMac is connecting to the airport exteme (extender) and the TM disk (on time capsule) drops off at times and my iMac can't find it? Is this due to the extended network? is there a way to tell my iMac to only connect to the Time Capsule in the basement, rather than the extender in a nearby laundry room (to improve my bedroom signal)?

Sorry, but no. The iMac will connect to what it feels is the best quality signal. Try moving the AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule to get them closer to each other and /or minimize obstructions in the signal path between them as much as possible.

Will the AE take on the security parameters from the TC? We have time / MAC specific security, only allowing certain people to use the wireless. Will this automatically be true on the exteneded network?

Thanks.

Will this automatically be true on the exteneded network?

Yes, you will see settings transferred to the extended device.