How to extend WiFi with two Airport Extreme

The Roaming Network is far better, and you should really be using it. If a cable isn't an option use Powerline adapters.

However, if you still cannot use this for some reason, then you need to use AirPort Utility on your PC (or iPad) to set the Extreme to "extend a wireless network" when you set it up. It's as simple as that.

A Powerline adapter is an adapter that allows for wired networking along the power lines of your house, making Roaming an option (as you don't have to run cable). Although, they don't always work (but do mostly) so make sure you understand the store's return policy.

Guide:

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

(Sorry I couldn't write a guide myself but I have some other stuff I need to get done).

Try the follow method: Configuring two wireless routers using 1 SSID & doesn't have to be the same brand routers.

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/ConfiguringTwoWirelessRoutersWithOneSSIDNetworkNam eAtHomeForFreeRoaming.aspx

Hope this helps

TTKJ

I have a similar situation, where I cannot implement the "recommended" wired approach (no holes allowed, but

only one wall (floor) and less than 20' separating the two units), and I cannot use a Netgear Powerline

adapter due to contention with my Sunpower power line monitor adapter. So, I have gone the wireless extended network using

the latest version of the Time Capsule as my base station, and my backup 5th generation Airport Extreme as my remote. I am using

the three LAN ports to supply wired ethernet connections to my DirecTV, gaming console, and AVR. Here is what I was

able to find in Apple's documentation for extending a 802.11N wireless network. So far, so good, but I haven't put the system

through a real stress test yet.

Configuring a 802.11N wireless extended network

To create a wireless extended network, you must place any extended Wi-Fi base stations within range of the primary Wi-Fi base station.

Start with the device that will be configured as the primary Wi-Fi base station. Then configure your extended Wi-Fi base stations, ensuring that each is within direct range of the primary Wi-Fi base station.The physical location of extended Wi-Fi base stations will vary according to the building environment and may require some experimentation.

If you have configured your Wi-Fi base stations in the past, it may be helpful to do a factory default reset of each Wi-Fi base station that will be part of the wireless extended network before you begin.

Configuring the primary Wi-Fi base station

1. Power on all 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra.
2. Open AirPort Utility (On a Mac, choose Go > Applications from your desktop, click the Utilities folder, then open AirPort Utility. In Microsoft Windows, choose Start > All Programs > AirPort to start AirPort Utility).
3. Select the primary Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, then click Continue. Note: If you see a message appear that indicates that the Wi-Fi base station has been reset, click Cancel to continue.
4. Click Manual Setup. Enter the base station password if necessary.
5. Click AirPort in the toolbar.
6. Click Wireless.
7. Choose “Create a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode menu.
8. Select the “Allow this network to be extended” checkbox.
9. Enter a Wireless Network Name.
10. Optional: By default, Wireless Security is set to None so that no password will be required to join the network. We recommend you click on the Wireless Security menu, select WPA2 Personal, and create a password between 8 and 63 characters long.
11. From the Radio Channel Selection menu, select Automatic.
12. Click Update.
13. The next window may indicate that there are some problems. Resolve the problems, then click Update.

You are now ready to add extended Wi-Fi base stations to your network.Configuring an extended Wi-Fi base station

1. Place any extended Wi-Fi base stations within range of the primary Wi-Fi base station
2. Ensure that all 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations are powered on and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra
3. Open AirPort Utility (On a Mac, choose Go > Applications from your desktop, click the Utilities folder, then open AirPort Utility. In Microsoft Windows, choose Start > All Programs > AirPort to start AirPort Utility).
4. Select the Extended Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, then click Continue. Note: If you see a message appear that indicates that the Wi-Fi base station has been reset, click Cancel to continue.
5. Click Manual Setup. Enter the base station password if necessary.
6. Click AirPort in the toolbar.
7. Click Wireless.
8. Choose “Extend a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode menu.
9. Choose the network you want to extend from the Network Name menu.
10. Enter the network and device password if necessary, then click Update.
11. The next window may indicate that there are some problems. Resolve the problems, then click Update.