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Extend network Airport extreme

I have an Airport Extreme that I'm trying to get to extend a new network created with Google Wifi. I was able to connect an older (2008-ish) Time Capsule to extend it, but this newer (2015-ish) Airport Extreme seems incapable of finding the network. Upon resetting the router, one of the following happens

- When clicking "Extend existing network" button it immediately goes to the "Create new network" screen. It will do this until the router is reset again.

- It correctly goes to the screen to extend a network but cannot list any networks in the pull down to extend. There are 8 networks I am capable of connecting to from my location but it can't seem to find any of them. I've also manually typed in the network name and information, but it doesn't recognize it.


Has anyone had a similar issue to this and have an idea how to get it to find the existing network?


Thanks.

null-OTHER, Airport Extreme

Posted on Mar 11, 2018 11:34 AM

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Posted on Mar 11, 2018 2:05 PM

You cannot extend a NON-APPLE wireless network with an Apple router by wireless.


The Express can Join a wireless network. It will then become a wireless to ethernet bridge.. but it cannot extend.


The only way to extend the wireless is using ethernet and create a network of the same name and same password/security as the google wifi. However that should not be needed. If you need to extend wireless you need another google wifi unit. For airplay use wired or join wireless network setup.

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Mar 11, 2018 2:05 PM in response to vsciandrajr

You cannot extend a NON-APPLE wireless network with an Apple router by wireless.


The Express can Join a wireless network. It will then become a wireless to ethernet bridge.. but it cannot extend.


The only way to extend the wireless is using ethernet and create a network of the same name and same password/security as the google wifi. However that should not be needed. If you need to extend wireless you need another google wifi unit. For airplay use wired or join wireless network setup.

Mar 11, 2018 4:16 PM in response to vsciandrajr

I have an Airport Extreme that I'm trying to get to extend a new network created with Google Wifi.

The first requirement in order to do this would be a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection from the AirPort Extreme back to the Google WiFi router.


Is this the type of connection that you have established?


If yes, the correct setting on the AirPort Extreme would be "Create a wireless network" that uses the exact same wireless network name and same wireless password as the Google WiFi.


"Extend a wireless network" would be used only if the AirPort were connecting back to another Apple AirPort router using a wireless connection......(not a wired Ethernet cable connection).


But....the AirPort Extreme cannot wirelessly extend a network......unless.....the AirPort Extreme is connecting back to another Apple AirPort router......and you indicate that your main router is a Google product.

Mar 14, 2018 4:38 PM in response to LaPastenague

You're right, I meant to join the wireless network, not extend it. When you select "Add to an existing network" it mentions that you can join or extend an existing network. My time capsule is currently joined to the network. However, my problem still persists with the Airport as whenever I select "Add to an existing network" and click next, it goes straight to the screen to extend a network, which only shows one network that isn't mine. Is there something special I have to do to get join to appear as an option?

Mar 14, 2018 5:30 PM in response to vsciandrajr

Even If the AirPort Extreme could "join" a wireless network, it does nothing. There is no extension of the wireless network and the Ethernet ports are not enabled. So, Apple has done away with a useless setting for the current AirPort Extreme that accomplishes nothing.


An AirPort Express can "join" a wireless network for use with AirPlay, but the Express does not "extend" the wireless network signal when it joins.


The bottom line here.....if you do have an AirPort Extreme, the only way that it will work with the Google WiFi is to connect the AirPort Extreme back to the Google WiFi router using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection....or....if you cannot run the Ethernet cable, a pair of Ethernet over Powerline adapters might be able to send a signal over the existing AC wiring in your home.


If you don't want to connect the AirPort Extreme to your Google WiFi router using a wired connection, I'm sorry, but you have purchased the wrong product.


If you have an AirPort Express....but thought that it was an AirPort Extreme.....then you have some options to use the product for AirPlay. Post back for more information if that is the case.

Extend network Airport extreme

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