Network Extension Question

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Level 1

9 points

Network Extension Question

I have a cable provider modem/router into my home. I connect that to my apple airport extreme base and use the apple as my main router. I want to extend my network to my boat dock that is about 250 ft away and sits lower than my house. I have cat5 cable from my apple router down into the closet on the boat dock. If I add an apple extender in the boat dock closet, connected by the cat5 cable, will that work? If so, is it okay to keep the apple extender in the boat dock closet? It will be dry but will be subject to cold and hot temperatures.

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), iOS 12.0.1

Posted on Oct 26, 2018 7:53 AM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,030 points

Oct 26, 2018 2:15 PM in response to thehop

You would want to make sure to use CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cabling. Older CAT5 cabling will have significant signal loss over the distance that you are describing.

Hopefully, you will be able to use an AirPort Extreme to extend the signal, since it has a much better WiFi antenna than an AirPort Express......assuming that you are planning to use another Apple AirPort product in the closet.

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Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,030 points

Oct 26, 2018 12:10 PM in response to thehop

If I add an apple extender in the boat dock closet, connected by the cat5 cable, will that work?

Yes

If so, is it okay to keep the apple extender in the boat dock closet?

Yes, if you get a strong enough signal from the Airport router located there. If the closet will not allow enough signal to get out, you will have to mount the AirPort outside of the closet.

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Answer 3

thehop Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 26, 2018 1:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thank you. The Apple airport base station is in my house, and will be connected to the Apple extender by about 250’ of cat5 cable. It’s the extender that will be in the boat dock closet. The closet is made of thin wood and is not insulated at all, so the wifi signal should do fine I think. I only need to get The signal about 50’ away from the closet.

I was hoping I was right about it working. Thanks again for your insight and help Bob!

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Answer 4

thehop Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 26, 2018 3:40 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thank you both for the response. I do have power in the closet; planned ahead for that. And yes, it is the Airport Extreme. Sorry to confuse the subject. I did look at some Ubiquiti devices that were designed to be used outside, much less a closet. I'm not a technical person so I thought the Apple Extreme would be easier to set up (ie. fool-proof). I'll take a closer look at the Ubiquiti product. Thanks very much to both of you!

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Answer 5

thehop Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 26, 2018 3:41 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Yes, I think it is cat5e. Thank you.

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Answer 6

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,030 points

Oct 26, 2018 4:15 PM in response to thehop

Let us know if you need some help with the setup of the extending AirPort Extreme.

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Answer 7

Oct 26, 2018 2:17 PM in response to thehop

When you say Apple Extender, are you talking about an Airport Express?

If you already have the express that is fine to press it into service.. at least give it a go.

But from a wireless range point of view it is certainly not the best product. They have very weak signal cf the Extreme.
Also running them in very hot environments is not so great.

I presume you have power in the boat closet?

You can use any wireless access point.. it does not need to be apple brand.

Also you can run it via power over ethernet so don't even need to use power if that is unavailable.

There are excellent quality designed for the job external WAP eg Ubiquiti make a huge range of these for very reasonable prices that are far more rugged than any airport.

Bob posted 10sec before me.. must learn to type faster.

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