Router to Airport Express?

[Qwerty11]

So I need to split my internet over wired connections. I also want to keep my airport express for wifi. Can I buy a non wifi router to split the internet and connect one of the cables to the express to keep my wifi?

[simsaladimbamba]

Depending what AirPort Express model you have, it is either possible or not.

If you have the first generation (2008 - 2012), then it is not possible, since it only has one Ethernet port. The 2012 model has two Ethernet ports (one for the connection from the modem to the AirPort Express and one for an additional device with Ethernet, like a switch or router.

Anyway, it is probably best to get a switch, if you have the 2012 (current) model. If not, it will probably be more tricker and a router needs to get involved.

[Qwerty11]

Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

Depending what AirPort Express model you have, it is either possible or not.

If you have the first generation (2008 - 2012), then it is not possible, since it only has one Ethernet port. The 2012 model has two Ethernet ports (one for the connection from the modem to the AirPort Express and one for an additional device with Ethernet, like a switch or router.

Anyway, it is probably best to get a switch, if you have the 2012 (current) model. If not, it will probably be more tricker and a router needs to get involved.

Its the older model. Not the one that looks like an iTV. So basically there is not a feasible solution then?

[Qwerty11]

Just brainstorming here. Why could I not get a wired router and have a LAN out going to the Airport Express?

[ghellquist]

Can be done.
1) Connect the router to internet
2) Connect the cabled internet boxes to the router
3) Connect a cable from the router to the Express, letting the express create the WiFi Network. You will need to experiment with the settings in the Express, probably setting it to extend a network (acting as a swith rather than as a router -- two routers in one network can make things "interesting" ) .

What you lose is the ability for the cabled boxes to share things with the wifi boxes.

// Gunnar

[cwaddell2002]

Originally Posted by ghellquist

3) Connect a cable from the router to the Express, letting the express create the WiFi Network. You will need to experiment with the settings in the Express, probably setting it to extend a network
// Gunnar

You don't want to tell the express to extend the network. You want to tell it to create a wireless network. What is key, is that the wired router you buy should be handling your NAT and handing out IP addy's via DHCP. Your express should be set as a wireless access point in bridge mode. You can google how to do this so I'm not going to waste internets explaining this here...

Good luck!

[Qwerty11]

Originally Posted by cwaddell2002

You don't want to tell the express to extend the network. You want to tell it to create a wireless network. What is key, is that the wired router you buy should be handling your NAT and handing out IP addy's via DHCP. Your express should be set as a wireless access point in bridge mode. You can google how to do this so I'm not going to waste internets explaining this here...

Good luck!

Would this still allow me to share stuff from a wired computer to one connected via wifi?

I'm thinking its probably going to be best for me to get an extreme.

[Qwerty11]

Originally Posted by Qwerty11

Would this still allow me to share stuff from a wired computer to one connected via wifi?

I'm thinking its probably going to be best for me to get an extreme.

After doing some more research, it looks like if I set the AE to a wired router as described above, I should be able to share data from wired computers to wifi computers.

[Qwerty11]

Does anybody know the answer to this?

[switon]

Originally Posted by Qwerty11

Does anybody know the answer to this?

Hi Qwerty11,

Yes, this is not only possible, but is often done.

(...shortened to remove irrelevant details that were answered in private message to OP...)

So, in summary, one can setup almost any wired/wireless network connections that one pleases between multiple devices.

Regards,
Switon