Jfunk86

Q: Use airport as a repeater...?

So I currently have a COX router/modem and I would like to use an airport extreme as a repeater. I understand that usually that wouldn't be possible because the original signal must be sent from an apple router. Here's my question. Can I connect my iMac directly to the airport extreme and have it send the signal?

 

Here's my setup.

 

iMac 27" the high end of the first slim iMacs.

The current gen airport extreme

 

Thanks for your help!

Posted on Jan 3, 2015 8:14 PM

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Q: Use airport as a repeater...?

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  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 3, 2015 9:21 PM in response to Jfunk86
    Level 9 (61,048 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 3, 2015 9:21 PM in response to Jfunk86

    I understand that usually that wouldn't be possible because the original signal must be sent from an apple router.

     

    You are mistaken. You can mix and match many brands of Routers.

     

    To get good use out of them, they should be connected to each other with Ethernet cable (which can be up to 100 meters long). If you merely let them talk to each other over Wi-Fi, you can punish the performance of your network with all the chatting between the Routers. This can get especially bad if you have a lot of neighbors sharing the airwaves with you.

     

    If you give them all the same name and password, they will self-assemble into a shared network and hand off as you move around the house. ONLY ONE should be issuing IP Addresses via DHCP -- the others should have that feature off. Apple calls this 'Bridge mode' but others use varying terminology.

     

    This article show the many ways you can hook them up, and has links to other articles on specific configurations.

     

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


    .

  • by Jfunk86,

    Jfunk86 Jfunk86 Jan 3, 2015 10:31 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 3, 2015 10:31 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Thank you for the quick reply.

     

    Unfortunately I cannot figure out how to place the extreme into Bridge Mode.

    This is the procedure I have been going through:

     

    1. I find my unconfigured Airport Extreme in Airport Utility.

    Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 10.23.13 PM.png

     

    2. It gathers info.

    Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 10.23.25 PM.png

     

    3. It tries to create a NEW network so I click on Other Options.

    Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 10.23.54 PM.png

     

    4. I select Add to Existing Network.

    Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 10.24.07 PM.png

     

    5. The network that I wish to extend is not in the drop-down menu.

    Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 10.24.20 PM.png

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 4, 2015 8:55 AM in response to Jfunk86
    Level 9 (61,048 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 4, 2015 8:55 AM in response to Jfunk86

    It appears that the distance between Routers as currently implemented is too large, and your Cox Router cannot be seen from the Apple Router's current location.

     

    If your Cox router cannot be seen from the location of your Apple Router, you will need to move the two closer together, or run an Ethernet cable between them.

     

    Consider moving your Cox Router to a different location on the cable. Consider moving your Apple Router to different location as well -- it does not need to be right next to the computer if you are only using it for a Wi-Fi booster.

     

    Keep in mind that use as a Wi-Fi booster (without an Ethernet cable between them) takes away a lot of bandwidth from both Routers, and may punish your Network performance.

  • by Jfunk86,

    Jfunk86 Jfunk86 Jan 4, 2015 11:40 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 4, 2015 11:40 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    That's a good point about the bandwidth.

    However, my AE is on the same desk as my iMac which can recieve the signal just fine. The COX router is only about 20 feet from the AE, albiet pushing through about 3 walls of stud construction which shouldn't strain it that bad.

     

    I did get it semi-working last night. But as it is connected via Ethernet to the iMac the AE light turns yellow and stops functioning when the iMac is off.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 4, 2015 8:22 PM in response to Jfunk86
    Level 9 (61,048 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 4, 2015 8:22 PM in response to Jfunk86

    I suppose it is possible the Cox Router is just not capable of being networked in this way.

     

    I networked an original Apple Base Station, a Verizon FIOS Router made by Actiontec, and a newish "tall" Airport Extreme Base Station with the Verizon Router connected to the Wide Area Network. But I ran Ethernet cables between all of them.

     

    EDIT: In re-reading those articles, I see that an extended network using Wi-Fi only requires that your Routers all be 802.11n capable. Is the Cox Router supplying 802.11n? You can check that by using a working Mac, and holding down Option while clicking the Wi-Fi Icon in the Menubar. It produces a display like this one:

     

    Option-WiFi.png

     

    check under PHY Mode. If it says 802.11g, your Cox Router cannot share this way.

     

    Can you try it with an Ethernet cable between Routers temporarily, to see if it will work that way?