Using a Time Capsule to extend an airport network

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Using a Time Capsule to extend an airport network

I'm making plans to replace my aging (6-8 years old) Airport equipment with newer equivalents. My current setup consists of an Airport Express acting as the main router (wired into the ADSL modem and stereo), with an Airport Extreme extending the network in another room (with connected printer). I realise that one would normally use the Extreme as the main unit and extend it with the Express, but logistical reasons (the phone line is right next to the stereo) mean that I need to use the Express as the main unit or else lose the stereo from the network.

Anyway, I plan to replace the Airport Express with a newer Express and replace the Airport Extreme with a Time Capsule. Ideally the network setup would remain the same, with straight swap-outs of the units. However, I have been given conflicting information regarding whether a Time Capsule can or cannot be used to extend a network in this way (ie. whether or not it can be used to extend a network in which the main router is an Airport Express).

Can anyone provide me with a definitive answer to this? Many thanks.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2008), Mac OS X (10.7.4), 2.6 GHz, 4GB RAM, 256 GB SSD

Posted on Jan 14, 2013 10:38 AM

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Answer 1

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Bob Timmons

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Jan 14, 2013 10:52 AM in response to Rick Lecoat

I plan to replace the Airport Express with a newer Express and replace the Airport Extreme with a Time Capsule. Ideally the network setup would remain the same, with straight swap-outs of the units. However, I have been given conflicting information regarding whether a Time Capsule can or cannot be used to extend a network in this way (ie. whether or not it can be used to extend a network in which the main router is an Airport Express).

Any Apple "n" wireless router can "extend" the signal from any other Apple "n" wireless router. (Don't forget that a Time Capsule is an AirPort Extreme wilth a built-in hard drive).

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Answer 2

Rick Lecoat Author

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155 points

Jan 15, 2013 4:16 AM in response to Bob Timmons

That's reassuring to hear Bob, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Can anyone else corroborate this? (Not that I doubt you, Bob, but, like I said, I've been receiving conflicting information on this issue – including one sales guy in an Apple Store who said the opposite to you – and I'm looking to build up a decent consensus).

If anyone else has a view on this I'm all ears.

TIA

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Answer 3

Jan 15, 2013 6:10 AM in response to Rick Lecoat

My policy on answering questions is that I never answer one unless I've done it myself to verify.

In addition, you might want to refer to Apple's own Support Document linked below on extending....which anyone working at an Apple Store would have immediate access to with a few clicks at the computer:

Unfortunately, if someone at an Apple Store told you that the Time Capsule could not be used to "extend"......he was just wrong or too lazy to look up the answer, so he made one up. You might want to show him his own support document...and then talk to another sales guy there when you need product information.

Products Affected

AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (3rd Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (1st Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (2nd Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (3rd Generation)

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259

Good luck on your consensus building.

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Answer 4

Rick Lecoat Author

Level 2

155 points

Jan 15, 2013 6:51 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob. To be honest I did wonder at the advice I was given by the in-store guy – he seemed a bit vague on some other points that I asked, too, and I wondered at the time if he was maybe temporary 'Christmas' staff. Since he was employed by Apple, however, I wasn't comfortable dismissing his answer out of hand, especially since a purchasing decision might depend upon it.

At this point I'm satisfied that I can do what I want to do, so thanks again for your advice. And that link was very helpful, especially in linking me on to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145 which gave me a good overview of my options (different to my current options, because I'm currently on older equipment with a WDS network).

Lastly, sorry: I meant to click the 'this solved my question' button but misfired and hit the 'Helped' one instead.

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