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Q: Can AirPort Extreme be used as an adapter?

Can I use 2 AirPort Extremes (new 802.11ac) with one being the wireless router & another being the adapter / receiver? For example, AirPort Extreme "A" connects to my modem (WAN) working as a wireless router while AirPort Extreme "B" connects (using ethernet cable) to my home theatre system (e.g. A/V amplifier/receiver's & blu-ray player's ethernet ports) working as an adapter (receiving WiFi signal from AirPort Extreme "A") so that I can play iTunes music at my A/V amplifier via AirPlay & download/upgrade firmware for my blu-ray player through the WiFi network. I am eager to know if this works or not as I am planning to buy the AirPort Extreme/Express/Time Capsule to replace my existing ones and more importantly improve the performance. Currently, I am using Netgear wireless router and adapter/extender for my home network/theatre system. Many thanks!

AirPort

Posted on Jun 11, 2013 12:48 AM

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Q: Can AirPort Extreme be used as an adapter?

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  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax Jun 11, 2013 9:16 AM in response to SM Bunny
    Level 9 (54,874 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 11, 2013 9:16 AM in response to SM Bunny

    Can I use 2 AirPort Extremes (new 802.11ac) with one being the wireless router & another being the adapter / receiver? For example, AirPort Extreme "A" connects to my modem (WAN) working as a wireless router while AirPort Extreme "B" connects (using ethernet cable) to my home theatre system (e.g. A/V amplifier/receiver's & blu-ray player's ethernet ports) working as an adapter (receiving WiFi signal from AirPort Extreme "A") so that I can play iTunes music at my A/V amplifier via AirPlay & download/upgrade firmware for my blu-ray player through the WiFi network.

     

    As the previous 802.11n versions of the AirPort Extreme support this I don't know why it wouldn't be supported with the new 802.11ac models. This is basically an example of an extended network.

  • by jespermolgaard,Helpful

    jespermolgaard jespermolgaard Jun 12, 2013 2:25 AM in response to SM Bunny
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Jun 12, 2013 2:25 AM in response to SM Bunny

    I'm sorry, but Tesserax is wrong, that is NOT the correct answer.

    The Airport Extreme has no Audio Out and will NOT work as a airplay reciever.

     

     

    What you want is to:

     

    1. Get one Airport Extreme to use as a wireless router.

     

    2. Connect all of your home theater gear to a decent Gigabit ethernet switch (they are very cheap)

     

    3. Connect an Airport Express (2012) to the ethernet switch as well. (use the ethernet port, not the WAN port on the AP Express)

     

    4. Configure the Airport Express to join or extend your existing wireless network and enable airplay

     

    5. For Airplay use an analaog cable to connect the express to your amplifier (optical unfortunately is crap on the new 2012 models)

     

     

    This setup will save you money and give you everything you asked for and also Airplay.

     

    Message was edited by: jespermolgaard

  • by markwmsn,Solvedanswer

    markwmsn markwmsn Jun 13, 2013 7:35 AM in response to SM Bunny
    Level 5 (5,689 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 13, 2013 7:35 AM in response to SM Bunny

    I third opinion, if I may.

     

    Tesserax was right about the ability of the setup you propose to provide internet access to "download/upgrade firmware for my blu-ray player through the WiFi network." Similarly for any internet access your A/V receiver may require.

     

    jespermolgaard was right that the Extreme cannot act as an AirPlay receiver. It has no audio outputs. However, if your A/V receiver is able to accept AirPlay over ethernet, the Extreme might be able to pass them through.