Is Airport Express Gen 1 (no WAN port) suitable for an extended network (roaming)

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Is Airport Express Gen 1 (no WAN port) suitable for an extended network (roaming)

Is the Airport Express Gen 1 (no WAN port) suitable for an extended network (roaming)? It (Express) ha no WAN port.

I have a new Airport Extreme. I wish to extend the network (wired, not wireless) to an older (Gen 1) Airport Express.

I have followed the instructions explicitly.

EXCEPT: the Airport Express has only a LAN port and no WAN port. The instructions state to insert the cable from the Extreme into the Express WAN port.

Solutons? Thanks!

Posted on Nov 15, 2012 7:49 AM

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Answer 1

CRMDVM

Level 4

1,369 points

Nov 15, 2012 2:33 PM in response to tjcs2

Hi - to extend via ethernet from the Extreme to the Express, the ethernet port on the Express functions as a WAN port and it is in bridge mode to create a wireless network with the same name and password and security type as the Extreme - when the Express is configured wirelessly to extend the network, the ethernet port becomes a LAN port - it you need more ports near the Express, use an ethernet switch besfore it if it is a wired extender or connected to its' ethernet port if it is wireless.

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Answer 2

tjcs2 Author

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5 points

Nov 15, 2012 2:48 PM in response to CRMDVM

Thanks, CRMDVM, for that explanation.

I am successfully using the Express as extended (wireless) now with the Extreme as the primary base station. I will try it (wired) with an ethernet cable attached to the Express (Gen 1) LAN port (which you say also functions as a WAN port in this case). BTW, my confusion arose because Gen2 of the Express includes a WAN and a LAN port

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Answer 3

CRMDVM

Level 4

1,369 points

Nov 15, 2012 2:53 PM in response to tjcs2

You might have to reset the Express to factory mode to do it - I have had trouble trying it manually from the wireless mode on some networks.

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