WiFi ~ Airport Extreme Boost?

MotteDai · 13-06-2009 9:15am #1

Hi All

I'm running a home WiFi using an Airport Extreme. I find it very good but the huse is large with a lot of impedance, i want to get someting to boost it in low/no signal areas.. any recomendations? I have heard you can us an Airport express and just plug it into the wall? Is this true? I dont want to go buying one to find out it was a waste of time.

flywheel · 13-06-2009 11:14am

it may be possible to set up a WDS (wireless distribution system) where you can use an Express to extend the range of your network...

is your Extreme an 802.11 G or N version, or the latest Dual version?

i've built the same WDS set-up in a couple of places for friends / family to allow them to extend across a large house or make use of AirTunes with sounds systems and the like, takes a little tweeking but once it is set-up it can work well

lots of info on the apple website / online... try a bit of googling first to see if it might work for you...

MotteDai · 13-06-2009 12:05pm

Thanks Dub, just Googled WDS there and all the info came flowig out, it shows how easy it is when you use correct terms. I have the N version so I'll get an express and try that, much appreciated, I haven't tried AirTunesas yet is it any good?

MotteDai · 18-06-2009 5:55pm

Hi Guys

I pruchased an Airport Express, Plugged it in and tried to set it up as is asked to the current Wireless LAN, it then said it had to shutdown to update. However it never came back and now its not regristering on wireless Utility I just can't see it. I have tried re-setting but no avail, anyone help?

MotteDai · 18-06-2009 7:01pm

MotteDai wrote: »

Hi Guys

I pruchased an Airport Express, Plugged it in and tried to set it up as is asked to the current Wireless LAN, it then said it had to shutdown to update. However it never came back and now its not registering on wireless Utility I just can't see it. I have tried re-setting but no avail, anyone help?

Right I have the Airport Express working but I don't seem to get any real extension on my LAN coverage, is there a setting or what extension should I be expecting? Maybe Iwas expecting too much.. a little disappointing

J-blk · 19-06-2009 6:24am

I can't remember the exact wording but mine is in wireless network extender mode too - once set up that way, your Macs/PCs/anything else still only sees one SSID/network but should connect to the Express instead of the Extreme if the signal strength is higher. However, been in an apartment, I can't say I get to test how well this works - I use the Express to connect an Xbox360 (via the Ethernet port) to my network and use AirTunes. The main network extension is just a side effect of the way I have it set up.

BTW, if you can use 802.11n mode only on the Extreme (though that may exclude certain devices), you should get the maximum range out of it (of course, if you have the very latest Extreme, you could set it up as dual band, and any 802.11n devices should work at the greatest distance).

flywheel · 20-06-2009 8:16pm

MotteDai wrote: »

Right I have the Airport Express working but I don't seem to get any real extension on my LAN coverage, is there a setting or what extension should I be expecting? Maybe Iwas expecting too much.. a little disappointing

hi, did you use the wizzard or manually configure the WDS?

physcially, best results are usually to centrally locate the main wireless router (extreme) centrally in the location, then hook off the remote (express) in the area you are trying to extend coverage

WiFi ~ Airport Extreme Boost?

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