Create Mesh-Like WiFi with Airports

Apple does not offer a true "mesh" type of network. The best that you will do is a "roaming" network, which in effect could be called a simple mesh.

1) Set up an AirPort to connect to your modem as the "main" AirPort.

2) Connect all other AirPorts back to the "main" AirPort using a wired Ethernet cable connection.

3) Using the AirPort Utility set up "wizard", configure all other AirPorts one at a time to "extend using Ethernet". In the example below, you can see that an AirPort Express is being set up to connect to an AirPort Extreme, which is the "main" AirPort connected to the modem.

This will result in a network where all of the AirPorts provide a wireless signal that uses the same wireless network name, same wireless security, and same password.

In theory, wireless devices will pick up the WiFi signal from the closest AirPort as they move about the house.

In practice, Mac laptops will usually do a nice job of automatically switching from one AirPort to another as they move about the house to pick up the best signal. But....most mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, PCs, etc will not do this very well....if they do it all.

To get these devices to switch AirPorts, you may likely need to toggle the WiFi off and then back on again when the device reaches a new location. Then, the device will usually pick up the signal from the closest AirPort.

There is no mesh system with airports.

You have two choices.. wireless extend.. which in normal terminology we call wireless repeater.

The limitation is that only a single repeat is possible. So this is difficult to setup for some people. You need any wireless repeaters (as few as possible) within range of the main airport wireless that is connected by ethernet to upstream modem/router. But they must not be getting better signal from each other than the main airport.. so ideal setup is main airport in the middle of the house and repeaters in widely different areas of the house.. further from each other than the main router.

But by far the best setup is wired.. you connect all the airports by ethernet back to the main router.. airport.. whatever. Do not use wireless repeater at all.. when you do.. you will lose 50% of the speed at least.. use multiple repeaters and the system will slow and you will probably be down to quarter.

That is standard setup and called roaming network.. each extreme (older flat ones I guess as distinct from the tower) will be in extend by wire which means it is bridged (not routing) and it will create a wireless network with same name and same password as the tower.

where my phone or whatever automatically switches to the strongest signal.

This is the rub.. Some apple devices.. laptops for example roam very well.

The iOS which are the more important in terms of roaming can be poor. It will take a big signal reduction before the iphone (for example) will swap to higher signal.. Apple set it at -70dbm.

The trick then is to get the distance and power levels just right that signal will drop dramatically in each part of the house associated with a particular AP. (Access Point). That can be a difficult thing to do so sometimes you will need to switch wifi off and on again.. to make it swap.. Or have a tin box near the doorway marked.. wirelesslock ... hold your iphone in the box for a few seconds to lose connection.. then continue walking though the house.. think of it as airlock for iPhones.. !! (sorry these silly ideas pass through my head..)

To build this into your house you would have a pair of doors just like airlock.. within the space it will be totally enclosed in metal (just foil or flywire is fine).. this is called a Faraday cage. All wireless is lost inside the cage.. so when you come out the other side the phone will connect to the closest AP.

Post back if you need a few tips to set things up, as this can get a bit tricky depending on your particular setup.