kabdall
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: i have a weak wifi signal in different parts of my house

how an i increase the wifi signal from my airport extreme router

Posted on May 13, 2016 5:36 PM

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kabdall

Q: i have a weak wifi signal in different parts of my house

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons May 13, 2016 6:20 PM in response to macjack
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    May 13, 2016 6:20 PM in response to macjack
    how an i increase the wifi signal from my airport extreme router

    You really can't, since the AirPort is factory set to broadcast at maximum power.  However, you can add additional AirPort Extremes or AirPort Expresses as needed to create more wireless signal coverage in the particular area where each is installed.

     

    Ideally, additional AirPorts would connect back to your main AirPort Extreme using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection. If that is not possible, you can use wireless to connect the "extending" AirPorts, but the maximum potential speed on the network will drop by about half when you set things up this way. Not recommended....but sometimes this is necessary if you cannot run the Ethernet cable.

     

    The link in the response just above does provide some good general background on extending a network.....but unfortunately, the specific "how to" information is now about 4 years out of date, since Apple has not updated the document.

     

    So, if you decide to move forward with another AirPort or two, post back for up to date instructions on how to set them up correctly.  Here, I assume that you have a Mac that is using an up to date or recent version of the Mac operating system.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack May 13, 2016 6:41 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 9 (55,682 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 13, 2016 6:41 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob Timmons wrote:

     

    The link in the response just above does provide some good general background on extending a network.....but unfortunately, the specific "how to" information is now about 4 years out of date, since Apple has not updated the document.

    Actually less than a year...

    Last Modified: Aug 11, 2015

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons May 13, 2016 7:08 PM in response to macjack
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    May 13, 2016 7:08 PM in response to macjack

    Please read any of the "how to" sections as far as setting things up. They are all way, way out of date, despite what the document "update" might say.

     

    In other words, if you have AirPort Utility 6.x.....introduced with Lion.....or you want to use an iPhone or iPad......you are out of luck with the "updated" document.

     

    If you still have a Mac running a 5.x version of AirPort Utility, you are good to go.....unless you have a current version of the AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack May 13, 2016 7:09 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 9 (55,682 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 13, 2016 7:09 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Yes, I see what you mean.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons May 13, 2016 7:13 PM in response to macjack
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    May 13, 2016 7:13 PM in response to macjack

    The "regulars" on this forum have been asking Apple to bring their document up to date for about 3 years now.

     

    So far, no luck. This must be an extremely difficult task for Apple.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack May 13, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 9 (55,682 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 13, 2016 7:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    They must be busy coming up with new awards and badges.