rockeeeeeee
Level 1 (42 points)
Mac OS X

Q: How to extend Airport Express Wireless Network to guesthouse?

Currently have an Airport Express (fairly new, updated). Centrally located in my home.


I have a guest house that has a garage door and a side entry door.


Guest house is about 56 feet from main house.


I can get wifi outside,(4 bars)  up to 3 feet of the guest house before it gets spotty or connection is lost.


If I go into the guest house, I can see other neighbors' Networks, but not my own. (Strong signals, 4 bars).


My question is: How can I extend the range of my wireless network into my guesthouse? Would I need another Airport Express?


Where would I place it in regard to my 1st Express?


I'd appreciate any feedback, thanks.



iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi, iOS 9.1

Posted on Dec 25, 2015 11:41 PM

by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer
Bob Timmons Bob Timmons
Level 10 (105,018 points)
Wireless
A:
After I plug it in....does this airport need to be connected with another ethernet to the first airport (after configuring, which opens another can of proverbial worms?)

My suggested setup assumes that you want to leave your "main" AirPort Express located right where it is now......centrally in the house.


A second AirPort Express would connect to your "main" AirPort Express using wireless and then wirelessly "extend" the network.

 

What is really happening is the 2nd AirPort Express receives the wireless signal from the first and then broadcasts it again. So, the result is a much stronger signal at the guest house.

Posted on Dec 26, 2015 10:41 AM

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rockeeeeeee

Q: How to extend Airport Express Wireless Network to guesthouse?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jan Hedlund,Helpful

    Jan Hedlund Jan Hedlund Dec 26, 2015 12:42 PM in response to rockeeeeeee
    Level 6 (9,869 points)
    Dec 26, 2015 12:42 PM in response to rockeeeeeee

    To begin with, it may be wise to test different locations for the existing base station. Temporarily, connect a long Ethernet cable for the incoming Internet. Try to move the base station to various places. Avoid interfering objects/structures (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Potential sources of wireless interference - Apple Support).

     

    If necessary, an extension of the network (Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations - Apple Suppo…) could be considered. The best way of doing this would be through an Ethernet connection to the extended base station (placed in the main building, if possible). Alternatively, you may want to test whether a powerline network adapter connection could be used instead of an Ethernet cable to the extended base station.

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 26, 2015 12:43 PM in response to rockeeeeeee
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 26, 2015 12:43 PM in response to rockeeeeeee

    I am assuming that your existing AirPort Express...centrally located in the home....needs to stay in that location to provide adequate coverage for devices in the house, correct?

     

    If that is the case, the simplest solution in terms of time and equipment would be to add another AirPort Express to "extend" your existing wireless network. The second Express would need to be located within your home, but as close to the guest house as possible.  Ideally, the Express would be located on a window sill such that it had line-of-sight.....or as close as possible to that goal as possible....to the guest house.

     

    I think that there is a good chance that this type of setup will do what you want....but with wireless, it is never possible to predict how well....or even if....things will work until you try things out. Buy from Apple and you have a 14 day return privilege.....just in case.

  • by rockeeeeeee,

    rockeeeeeee rockeeeeeee Dec 26, 2015 10:21 AM in response to Jan Hedlund
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 10:21 AM in response to Jan Hedlund

    I didn't think of that, Jan Hedlund.

     

    I'm going to get my 100' Ethernet Cable and test to see if the airport will even reach the guesthouse....

  • by rockeeeeeee,

    rockeeeeeee rockeeeeeee Dec 26, 2015 10:24 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 10:24 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    After testing to see if Airport wifi will reach the guesthouse, Bob Timmons, then I will go about purchasing another Airport Express.

     

    But, Mr. Timmons, I do have another question: assuming that I can get a signal after trying with the reply to Jan Hedlund:

     

    If I purchase another airport express, (and please, don't laugh-I'm here to learn!)- if after adding a new airport express and putting it in line of sight to the guesthouse, I'm unclear on one thing: After I plug it in....does this airport need to be connected with another ethernet to the first airport (after configuring, which opens another can of proverbial worms?)

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 26, 2015 10:41 AM in response to rockeeeeeee
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 26, 2015 10:41 AM in response to rockeeeeeee
    After I plug it in....does this airport need to be connected with another ethernet to the first airport (after configuring, which opens another can of proverbial worms?)

    My suggested setup assumes that you want to leave your "main" AirPort Express located right where it is now......centrally in the house.


    A second AirPort Express would connect to your "main" AirPort Express using wireless and then wirelessly "extend" the network.

     

    What is really happening is the 2nd AirPort Express receives the wireless signal from the first and then broadcasts it again. So, the result is a much stronger signal at the guest house.

  • by rockeeeeeee,

    rockeeeeeee rockeeeeeee Dec 26, 2015 11:34 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 11:34 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Yes, I would prefer to leave the "main" Airport Express where it is now.

     

    Here is what I did, as a test.

     

    I moved the main (*only) Airport Express to the back of my home via 100' Cat5E.

     

    When I entered the guest house, I lost the connection but could still see the network.

     

    Then, came back to main house and cracked window open where the Airport Express is.

     

    Back to the guest house, I had WIFI signal, and strong, albeit only near side windows. 

     

    When I moved to the area where the garage door is in the guesthouse, I lost the signal; I figured this would happen since the garage door is fiberglass.

     

    .....

     

    so I'm seeing that I can get some wireless in there.

     

    If I understand you correctly, then, getting another AE (Airport Express) and plugging into the back room of the main house, would get me some WIFI in the guest house.

     

    Now, if I purchased a third AE, and plugged that one into the GUEST house....would that help boost wifi in the guest house (away from the garage door?)

     

    And will I be able to keep that window closed?

     

    I do appreciate all of your help.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 26, 2015 12:27 PM in response to rockeeeeeee
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 26, 2015 12:27 PM in response to rockeeeeeee
    If I understand you correctly, then, getting another AE (Airport Express) and plugging into the back room of the main house, would get me some WIFI in the guest house

    Please review what I wrote originally.......

     

    I think that there is a good chance that this type of setup will do what you want....but with wireless, it is never possible to predict how well....or even if....things will work until you try things out. Buy from Apple and you have a 14 day return privilege.....just in case.


    Now, if I purchased a third AE, and plugged that one into the GUEST house....would that help boost wifi in the guest house (away from the garage door?)

    No, since Apple's extend a wireless network feature will only allow wireless extension of the network one time.....not two.

     

    And will I be able to keep that window closed?

    I think that there is a good chance that this type of setup will do what you want....but with wireless, it is never possible to predict how well....or even if....things will work until you try things out. Buy from Apple and you have a 14 day return privilege.....just in case.


  • by rockeeeeeee,

    rockeeeeeee rockeeeeeee Dec 26, 2015 12:42 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 12:42 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Correct, my bad (dyslexia)...you did say there is a good chance of it doing what I want.

     

    Thank you for all the good information. Heading out to get another Airport Express.

     

    Will report back and let you both know how it worked out.

     

    Thanks, Jan Hedlund and Bob Timmons.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 26, 2015 1:12 PM in response to rockeeeeeee
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 26, 2015 1:12 PM in response to rockeeeeeee

    Good luck!  This worked for me to a workshop that was about 150 feet from the main house, but as I said.....what works for me may not work for you.

  • by rockeeeeeee,

    rockeeeeeee rockeeeeeee Dec 26, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 26, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Well, it didn't work for me, using the new Airport Express with the existing one. I even called APPLE to have them walk me through it.

     

    They suggested I purchase the Airport Extreme, (saying the range is much better)- and  making the EXTREME  my "main" router, and using my existing Airport Express as the "extender".

     

    Back to the store I go!

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 26, 2015 3:44 PM in response to rockeeeeeee
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 26, 2015 3:44 PM in response to rockeeeeeee

    The more that you have a line-of-sight relationship between the "main" router and the extending AirPort, the better the network operate. 

     

    Even a normal wall in a home will absorb about 10-15% of the signal on average, so if the wireless signal must pass through 3 or 4 walls to reach the extending AirPort, more than half of the signal will be gone.

     

    Tip.....The extending AirPort can only extend the quality of signal that it receives.

  • by rockeeeeeee,

    rockeeeeeee rockeeeeeee Dec 27, 2015 12:40 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 27, 2015 12:40 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob, yes, this is true: Line of sight relationship is all important!

     

    I purchased the Airport Extreme and set up as main router.

     

    Apple again walked me through, telling me first to plug it in NEAR the Extreme.

     

    Then, move it to another plug, and so on  until I was outside, in the guesthouse. In the guesthouse, no signal.

     

    So, we decided to plug it into outside outlet and put plug to router JUST under the garage door to the guest house, closing the garage door.

     

    This worked and gave me a green light as well as a signal, so WIFI does work now in the guesthouse.

     

    Of course, with this method, I can not leave the Airport Express plugged in (for example, today, it's raining!). But at least I can get the signal for when I'm in the guesthouse on a dry day.

     

    I will say that the signal isn't bad at all. Pages load quickly on the Safari browser on my iPad Air 2.

     

    Twitter is very fast, as well. For what I want to use it for, it's perfect.

     

    Thanks again!