Extending wireless with ethernet connection

Question

Extending wireless with ethernet connection

Hi,

My home network is currently configured as such:

Cable Modem > Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) as my main router.

From my AEBS I have an ethernet cable to a 5 port gigbit ethernet switch (GBS) to connect my home theater devices (TV, bluray, and A/V receiver) that I have in my family room.

I have an Airport Express (1st gen - 801.11a/g/n) in my family room but it does not consistently extend my network.

I just purchased (2/8/2013) a new Airport Express (2nd generation) that I will reference in this discussion as "AE2", with hopes of extending my network to my family room for both wired and wireless connectivity.

I plan to connect as follows:

Cable Modem > Airport Extreme Base Station > "ethernet cable" > AE2 > "ethernet cable" > (GBS) > current home theater devices.

I have read the setup instructions but I'm still unclear / confused on how to configure the new AE2.

My questions are:

What should my configuration for my AE2 be?

Will my setup extend / expand my home network as I hope?

Regards,

Jim P.

Posted on Feb 9, 2013 6:43 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

edex67

Level 4

3,255 points

Feb 9, 2013 6:51 AM in response to James Palmer2

Yes, this will extend the WiFi network. If you plug the Ethernet cable in and setup the Express it should be able to extend the WiFi network. You want to "create" a wireless network, make sure the network name, password and security type are the same as each other. The security type can be found in AirPort Utility for your current AirPort.

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Answer 2

Feb 14, 2013 5:27 PM in response to edex67

I set up my network as I described above. When I tested the devices that were connected to my Gigabit switch, none of them detected my network. I made sure that the cable from my AEBS was plugged into the WAN port on my AE2 and then I have a Ethernet cable from the LAN port on the AE2 to the GBS.

I went to my local Apple store and they recommended a network extender. Isn't this what I kinda have already?

I'm stumped. Anyone have any ideas.

?

P

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