Q: Airport Express connected over Wifi to my main router used as an extender
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Aug 19, 2013 7:12 PMby Bob Timmons,HelpfulHello Alexandre,
Apple's "extend a wireless network" settings appear to be proprietary to Apple. As far as we know, you cannot use an AirPort Express to wirelessly extend a wireless signal from another manufacturer's router.
So unfortunately, it would be extremely unlikely that an AirPort Express would be compatible with a Linksys router for the purpose that you ask about.
Your best bet is to always use products from the same manufactuer to help insure compatibility among devices.
If you could connect the AirPort Express back to your Linksys router using a permanent Ethernet cable connection, then you could configure it to provide more wireless coverage that way. Post back if you need more details about this.
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Aug 19, 2013 7:12 PMby Tesserax,HelpfulSo, I just bought an Airport Express and I`ve been trying to set it up as an extender to improve the Wifi signal on room three.
If your goal is to extend the wireless range of your existing non-Apple router with the AirPort Express via a wireless connection between them, then this won't work as non-Apple routers are not compatible with the Express' "extend" feature.
However, if you can support a wired connection between them, then they can be configured as a "roaming" network which basically will do the same thing.
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Aug 20, 2013 7:27 AMby AVFranco@BR,Thank you both Bob and Tesserax. Actually the step of configuring the A/E straight to the Linksys back I've already done it and worked fine but not enough to get the signal stronger on my top floor. In case of a roaming network that's not possible to do it at this moment as I have one base station only.
Another query, would it be possible to extend it connecting the A/E to my MacBook Ethernet port and so either sharing the wifi connection or creating a new network?
Thanks. Regards,
Alexandre
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Aug 20, 2013 8:28 AMby Tesserax,Another query, would it be possible to extend it connecting the A/E to my MacBook Ethernet port and so either sharing the wifi connection or creating a new network?
Just so I understand. Are you asking can you connect your MacBook via Ethernet to the AirPort Extreme, and then, share the MacBook's wireless connection (from the Linksys) through its Ethernet port, and then, out the AirPort Extreme?
If so, then the answer is possibly. However, I don't have the necessary hardware to verify it for you. The issue will be that the MacBook will be operating as a software router and devices connected to it would be on a different subnet.
But you are going to have the same issue with signal strength and bandwidth as you would with just the AirPort Extreme alone.
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Aug 20, 2013 1:25 PMby AVFranco@BR,First of all thanks Tesserax. Let me try to explain what I have at the moment and what I've targeting.
1st level -> a cable modem that's the main router connected to the Internet. At this point I've connected my Linksys (LAN port) to the cable modem (WAN port) in order to try to get the Wifi signal improved to the other levels.
2nd level -> where I leave my MacBook Pro and the Wifi signal at this level from the Linksys is OK
3nd level -> poor Wifi
Having said that, I have the following routers available at home: Cable Modem, Linksys WRT120N, Aiport Express and also a TP-Link WA-281. It seems that all these stuff does not work together tough (:- based on previous answers due compability between all of them.
So, I was trying to connect the Aiport Express to the MacBook on the 2nd level to improve the Wifi signal for the top floor.
Thanks,
Alexandre
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Aug 20, 2013 3:40 PMby Tesserax,Ok, thanks for clarifying that for me.
For a roaming network, you can use both Apple and non-Apple routers. So, you have enough to cover all three floors ... but, remember, it will require an Ethernet connection between routers to work.
A roaming network would be ideal for this situation as you would basically be creating three separate wireless networks, one on each floor. Even though you would have these networks they would all use the same network name and wireless security password so you can literally roam with a laptop and still be on the "same" network.
