Setup Airport Express as a repeater for Time capsule network?

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Level 1

13 points

Setup Airport Express as a repeater for Time capsule network?

Can any one provide detailed instructions, or provide a link where I can find these instructions?

Current Setup: TimeWarner Cable Modem/Router (Arris TG852) > Time Capsule router (A1254)

This has created two networks. One from the TW Router and the other from the TC. Even with both networks, I do not have great signal in the last two bedrooms, or bathroom.

I have a Airport Express (A1264)

Can someone explain how to set up the AE as a repeater, and offer any advice on how my network "should be" setup? Thanks

In my reading, I believe this would be Dynamic WDS; correct?

imac, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Apr 13, 2013 2:06 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

141,126 points

Apr 13, 2013 2:15 PM in response to mcintoshmc

Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations

Configure the Express to "extend" the Time Capsule's wireless network.

In this configuration it must be within wireless range of the Time Capsule. Its approximate physical location should be about halfway between the Time Capsule and the limit of its wireless range.

I do not know what "Dynamic WDS" is but that is not Apple's terminology. They call this configuration an "extended wireless network".

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Answer 2

mcintoshmc Author

Level 1

13 points

Apr 13, 2013 2:44 PM in response to John Galt

Thanks for the link. It says the below is by far the best way to extend for N networks.

"For 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations, creating a roaming network is by far the best choice. This will provide the best throughput between the base stations and your Wi-Fi devices.

This set up requires that your Wi-Fi base stations are connected via Ethernet.

The primary base station provides DHCP Services, while the extended base station will be configured to use bridge mode.

All Wi-Fi base stations within the roaming network should use the same passwords, security type (Open/WEP/WPA), and network name (SSID)."

But, if my TC and Express are next to each other, how does that fix my wifi problems on the other side of my house?

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

141,126 points

Apr 13, 2013 2:59 PM in response to mcintoshmc

But, if my TC and Express are next to each other, how does that fix my wifi problems on the other side of my house?

It doesn't. The benefit of a "roaming network" will be commensurate with the distance between the TC and the Express. That's why I wrote "its approximate physical location should be about halfway between the Time Capsule and the limit of its wireless range."

The maximum distance is 100m + an allowance for patch cords at both ends.

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Answer 4

mcintoshmc Author

Level 1

13 points

Apr 13, 2013 3:00 PM in response to John Galt

what about having the the two networks from the cable router and the TC. Is that effecting me?

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

141,126 points

Apr 13, 2013 3:14 PM in response to mcintoshmc

The wireless network created by the cable router can be identical to the one created by the TC, if you so choose. Just assign your wireless networks the exact same name and wireless security settings and you will effectively have three access points in a "roaming" configuration. It will appear to be only one wireless network, even though three separate devices are creating them.

If three access points is excessive for you, you can simply disable its wireless radio.

Disabling unnecessary wireless networks will decrease their contribution to wireless interference for others to contend with. Of course nobody cares about doing this, so the result is a lot of "noise".

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