Pembr0ke
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: help bridging 2 airport express using home plugs- not wifi

i want to bridge two airport express routers using home plugs and not wi-fi (in the hope of extending a stronger signal to other areas of my house). I need help please with the set-up as configuration by 'extending a network' set-up is not working; i.e. the signal is not being transferred to the 2nd express. thanks!

Airport Express modem

Posted on Nov 3, 2013 9:28 AM

by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer
Bob Timmons Bob Timmons
Level 10 (105,443 points)
Wireless
A:

As you might imagine, it is just not possible to ever predict the performance of Ethernet over powerline setups, since every home and every situation is different.

 

You may find that Ethernet over powerline is significantly better....about the same....or significantly worse than a wireless connection.

 

Everything depends on how the AC wiring has been laid out, how many circuit breakers are involved, AC line noise on the existing wiring, and many other issues including how the planets might be currently aligned.

 

primary express connected to modem with a cable from primary express LAN to home plug 1 and a cable from home plug 2 in different room to WAN plug of express 2.

That would be the correct setup.

 

Make sure the the "remote" AirPort Express is configured to "create a wireless network" using the exact same wireless network name, same wireless security setting and same wireless password as the "primary" AirPort Express. The "remote" AirPort Express must be configured to operate in Bridge Mode in this type of setup as well.

 

 

I am hoping to increase connection speed of 'bridged' 2nd express by using home plugs instead of the wi-fi link.

 

Please let us know how things are working when you have the "remote" AirPort Express working.

Posted on Nov 3, 2013 10:38 AM

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Pembr0ke

Q: help bridging 2 airport express using home plugs- not wifi

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Nov 3, 2013 9:36 AM in response to Pembr0ke
    Level 9 (54,906 points)
    Wireless
    Nov 3, 2013 9:36 AM in response to Pembr0ke

    The "Extend a wireless network" option is only to be used when the connection between AirPort base stations will be wireless. Instead, using home plugs you have created a psuedo Ethernet connection instead. To extend a wireless network with wired connection you just need to reconfigure the base stations for a "roaming" network.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Nov 3, 2013 9:49 AM in response to Pembr0ke
    Level 10 (105,443 points)
    Wireless
    Nov 3, 2013 9:49 AM in response to Pembr0ke

    Have you first verified that the powerline adapters are functioning correctly......by temporarily connecting a computer to the "remote" adapter using an Ethernet cable, and then checking to see that you can get a good Internet connection on the computer that way?  Make sure that the wireless is turned off on the computer when you perform this test.

     

    We need more information, please, about your AirPort Express devices.  What versions of the AirPort Express do you have?  Are these current versions with both a WAN and LAN port on the device?

     

    Or, if you only have a single Ethernet port on the Express, we need to know the model number of the device. It's on the side of the device. Starts with an "A" followed by four numbers as in A 1234, for example.

     

    We don't know what operating system you are using on your Mac.  If you do not know, click the Apple icon at the upper left corner of the Mac's screen, then click About This Mac. 

     

    Post back with the OS X Version number that you see there.

  • by Pembr0ke,

    Pembr0ke Pembr0ke Nov 3, 2013 10:21 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2013 10:21 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    thanks Bob for your reply and patience with my lack of info.

    yes, 'on network' adapters are working; connected laptop via cable from 2nd express with wifi turned off and internet access is available. I am using a pc running windows 8 (forgive me, work provided this, not my choice), and I have 2 latest generation airport express, with WAN and LAN plugs.

     

    primary express connected to modem with a cable from primary express LAN to home plug 1 and a cable from home plug 2 in different room to WAN plug of express 2.

     

    I previously have set up a wi-fi bridge between the 2 expresss which works, but the bridged express provides a slower speed when tablets are connected. When tablets connect to the primary express the download/upload speed is faster ( I am connected to BT Infinity fibreoptic broadband and can achieve 75mb download when pc pluged directly to primary express). I am hoping to increase connection speed of 'bridged' 2nd express by using home plugs instead of the wi-fi link.

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Nov 3, 2013 10:38 AM in response to Pembr0ke
    Level 10 (105,443 points)
    Wireless
    Nov 3, 2013 10:38 AM in response to Pembr0ke

    As you might imagine, it is just not possible to ever predict the performance of Ethernet over powerline setups, since every home and every situation is different.

     

    You may find that Ethernet over powerline is significantly better....about the same....or significantly worse than a wireless connection.

     

    Everything depends on how the AC wiring has been laid out, how many circuit breakers are involved, AC line noise on the existing wiring, and many other issues including how the planets might be currently aligned.

     

    primary express connected to modem with a cable from primary express LAN to home plug 1 and a cable from home plug 2 in different room to WAN plug of express 2.

    That would be the correct setup.

     

    Make sure the the "remote" AirPort Express is configured to "create a wireless network" using the exact same wireless network name, same wireless security setting and same wireless password as the "primary" AirPort Express. The "remote" AirPort Express must be configured to operate in Bridge Mode in this type of setup as well.

     

     

    I am hoping to increase connection speed of 'bridged' 2nd express by using home plugs instead of the wi-fi link.

     

    Please let us know how things are working when you have the "remote" AirPort Express working.

  • by Pembr0ke,

    Pembr0ke Pembr0ke Nov 3, 2013 10:43 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2013 10:43 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks again for the help. As I have previously set-up the secondary express as a wifi bridge I assume a factory re-set will be needed. I will then configure the re-set secondary to create a wireless network using same password, settings as primary, but how do I configure the bridge mode of the secondary? Will this be a prompted part of the set-up, or do I need to 'check' an additional box?

  • by Pembr0ke,Helpful

    Pembr0ke Pembr0ke Nov 3, 2013 11:14 AM in response to Pembr0ke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2013 11:14 AM in response to Pembr0ke

    I've got this working now; thanks for the help! Time will tell if the home plug solution is faster than wi-fi, but at least I now understand the set-up for both options.