Apple Express bridge Suggestions for iMac G4 "lampshade" USB1.1 or Ethernet OSX 10.4 Tiger wifi adapter?

What does WDS do in my case?

WDS is old fashioned way to get AP's to join each other. If it was available you can join an older model Express or Extreme to WDS.

I also checked the manual for the Huawei and no goodness there.. but I suggest you have a couple more tries using the Express.. mine is simply not giving me any ethernet connection.. which does not make sense.

I think you should try using WPA1 security on the Huawei or even test briefly with no security at all.. just so you know it is not security incompatibility.

I am sure another brand wireless bridge will work.. but you will have to spend some money.

A 10 second Google search produced this:

Apple - Support - Downloads

Depending on your screen resolution, you may need to click the Load More Results button to show AirPort Utility 5.3.2 for Tiger.

Wireless bridge is the best way to go.

Unfortunately I doubt any of your old equipment is going to work.

The airport extreme does not include a wireless bridge mode.. only the express.. but I found it didn't work to my newer equipment..

Could you plug your airport directly into the HuaWei router by ethernet in whatever location it is in.. or would that not be allowed??

Let me try using a few little tricks.

You will need to buy a newer airport express or a different brand wireless bridge.. I usually look at TP-Link for cheaper end reasonable stuff. A lot of their routers will do WDS and bridge modes as well.

When you say you can access the Huawei via its webgui.. does it have a WDS setting??

What model is it exactly??

Turning that on might not make you popular in the household.. so it would be best not to upset the Landed LORD in his domain.

But they might not care or bother about it.. once you have WDS various possibles arise.

A symptom of a failing AirPort Express. If you have the older A1084 version of the Express, the product is at least 10 years old and likely older.

The average useful life of this model was about 4-5 years, so you have had amazingly good luck with the Express.

No, nothing worked.. even with no security on a Huawei HG658 I happen to keep handy for testing.. nothing.

It just did not seem to be able to join the wireless network..

Good luck!