EmrgncyMD
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: will airport express extend the range of our wifi?

We have wifi through Comcast in our home.  The range, however, is at about 20 yds.  I exchanged the router that was supplied (monthly rental from) from Comcast without any change.  We have an Airport Express device, 802.11n, purchased in the last year in an effor to improve this, but was never connected as the instructions are beyond me.  I just tried to research it again, and I don't have a clue if it will help, and how to hook it up.  Help!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Lacie 2 TB storage

Posted on Jan 12, 2014 7:43 PM

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EmrgncyMD

Q: will airport express extend the range of our wifi?

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  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Jan 12, 2014 8:24 PM in response to EmrgncyMD
    Level 9 (50,424 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 12, 2014 8:24 PM in response to EmrgncyMD

    An Apple AirPort Base Station can only "wirelessly extend" a wireless network created by another Apple AirPort Base Station.

     

    You can add the Express to your network as an additional wireless access point, as long as you connect it directly to the Comcast router with an Ethernet cable.

     

    This Apple Support document explains how to do that: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring a roaming network (802.11 a/b/g/n)

     

    The AirPort Utility screenshots are outdated, but the wiring information shows the general arrangement you would require.

     

    Otherwise, you would need to purchase an additional Apple AirPort Base Station, connect it to the Comcast router, and use your Express to "wirelessly extend" the wireless network created by the new Apple AirPort.