Airport Express as a relay

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AlainBE Author

Level 1

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Airport Express as a relay

Good afternoon everybody,

Here is how I set up my Wifi network:

- 4th floor: Time Capsule connected to Internet, acting as primary WiFi base station

- 2nd floor: Airport Express (first generation 802.11n) set up to extend the Wifi network

- 1st floor: Airport Express (first generation 802.11n) set up to extend the Wifi network

Problem: the Airport Express on the 1st floor is not in direct range of my Time Capsule on the 4th floor; therefore, it does not allow Wifi clients to join it. I connected the Airport Express' Ethernet LAN connector to a swith and the Internet signal is properly distributed from there to my PS2 and my Skype phone. However, my wifi devices are connected to the Airport Express on the 2nd floor.

Is there a way to distribute the wifi signal on the 1st floor by swapping one of the Airport Express with an Airport Extreme or the new second generation Airport Express?

Initially, I was using a couple of CPLs to bring the Internet signal from the fourth floor to the first floor and used the Airport Express on the first floor to create a wifi network, using the same SSID and protection. It worked very well for months; however, for the past couple of weeks, the two CPLs kept losing their connection and would not link again. I tried everything to correct the issue, sometimes the CPLs would connect again, but only for a short while. I finally gave up and found the above mentioned setup to be the best soltion for now. I would like to find a way to have the Wifi signal boradcasted again from the first floor somehow...

Any advice welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Alain

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Oct 19, 2012 6:49 AM

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Answer 1

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Tesserax

Level 10

148,453 points

Oct 19, 2012 11:25 AM in response to AlainBE

In the older WDS method, you can configure an AirPort as a relay between a main and remote base station. This can still be accomplished with the 802.11n AirPorts, but it comes with a hefty bandwidth penalty loss ... and the overall extended wireless network can only operate in the 802.11g radio mode. As such, I wouldn't recommend it in your case.

The best option, but not easily implemented if you don't already have an Ethernet backbone running throughout your home, is a roaming network.

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Answer 2

AlainBE Author

Level 1

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Oct 20, 2012 3:00 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks for your suggestion.

My problem is I can't use an cabled ethernet connection between my Time Capsule and my Airpot Express on the 2nd floor which is presently configured as a relay.

My second Airport Express on the 1st floor captures the Wifi signal from the one on the 2nd floor and I can use its Ethernet lan connection from a switch. My problem is that as it is not in direct wifi link with my time capsule it will not allow wifi clients to join it...

I was wondreing if swapping the Airpot Express acting as a relay by an Airport Extreme would solve my issue?

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Answer 3

CRMDVM

Level 4

1,369 points

Oct 20, 2012 5:59 AM in response to AlainBE

Hi - Tesserax has given you all the information that you need - but if you tell me what generation your Time capsule is, I can tell you if any type of swapping will help.

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Answer 4

AlainBE Author

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Oct 20, 2012 6:20 AM in response to CRMDVM

Thanks, my Time Capsule is 3rd generation.

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Answer 5

CRMDVM

Level 4

1,369 points

Oct 20, 2012 7:05 AM in response to AlainBE

OK - I will get to using an Extreme later but you could first try this to use what you already have - use the Express on the second floor as a wireless extender of the TC - it would be broadcasting a wireless signal on the second floor and it's ethernet jack would be active - you would then run an ethernet cable to the Express on the first floor and set it up to "create" a wireless network with the same name and password and security type as the TC.

If you wanted to get a new Extreme, I would set it up as your primary base station in place of the TC (because it is more powerful) and use the TC on the second floor in place of the Express and use the Express on the first floor as above.

However, as Tesserax said, the best way to do it is this:

New Extreme on 4th floor - hardwired to TC on 3rd floor - hardwired to Express on 2nd floor - hardwired to Express on 2st floor - they would then create a true roaming network on each floor.

Let me know how you make out.

Charlie

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Answer 6

AlainBE Author

Level 1

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Oct 20, 2012 7:14 AM in response to CRMDVM

Thanks again for your suggestion.

I wanted to avoid using hardwiring between floors whih is why I had opted initially for the CPLs. Unfortunately for some reason I can't figure out, the connection between the CPLs had become completally unreliable and I had to give them up.

I guess I'll live with my setup as it is now. The only problem with it being the weakness of the signal on the first floor.

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