Home network question.

[Smiler1968]

Hello all.

I have a AirPort Extreme on the Middle floor of my home. It is used as my wireless provider and time machine. I am aware that I can extend my wireless network by adding an airport express. I actually get a wireless signal throughout my home but the speed drops significantly downstairs. If I extend the setup with an airport express (wirelessly) that will not boost the signal/speed ( if I understand correctly). Am I able to hardware from the AirPort Extreme into a Ethernet plug adaptor and then down stairs take another Ethernet cable from another plug adaptor and plug in the airport express? Will that give me about the same speed as I see on the Middle floor? If it's possible, will it all run off the same wireless network ( or will I end up with two wireless systems in the house)? I hope that all makes sense. It sort of does in my head.

Regards

Jerry.

 

[AFEPPL]

You need the two devices linked by ethernet and the second device needs to be in bridge mode.

 

[Bruno09]

Am I able to hardware from the AirPort Extreme into a Ethernet plug adaptor and then down stairs take another Ethernet cable from another plug adaptor and plug in the airport express?

Hello,

Yes you can do this.

Will that give me about the same speed as I see on the Middle floor?

Yes it will : same speed

If it's possible, will it all run off the same wireless network ( or will I end up with two wireless systems in the house)?

It will run off the same wireless network if you set it up as a roaming network : set the Express with same SSID (network name), same security, same password as the Extreme.
Set the wifi channels on auto for both or set manually to different (non overlapping) channels.

See : https://support.apple.com/en-mn/HT4260

Also : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202056

 

[Smiler1968]

Hello,

Yes you can do this.



Yes it will : same speed


It will run off the same wireless network if you set it up as a roaming network : set the Express with same SSID (network name), same security, same password as the Extreme.
Set the wifi channels on auto for both or set manually to different (non overlapping) channels.

See : https://support.apple.com/en-mn/HT4260

Also : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202056

Thanks, that's a great help.

----------

You need the two devices linked by ethernet and the second device needs to be in bridge mode.

I was just looking up bridge mode when Bruno09 posted a very helpful link. Thanks very much.

 

[Smiler1968]

I've just completed a very quick bit of research. I would have to buy one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/tp-link-a...plug-wifi-extender-with-2-lan-ports-kit-n71qt to get the Ethernet connection downstairs. This one has a built in wifi extender. Are they any good? It might save me a few £ by not getting the airport express. Any thoughts?

Regards

Jerry

 

[monokakata]

It's worth trying, but try to make sure you can return it if it doesn't work. Powerline ethernet can work well, but it can also work miserably. Much depends on your house's wiring, and you can't do anything about that.

I set up a powerline network to solve the same problem, and it never worked reliably at high speed, although there usually was a signal. But it was never as good as advertised, and it wasn't the fault of the unit -- the house had old and strangely-organized wiring and the signal just couldn't make its way over the copper.

So it might work well for you, but it might not. Thus my advice to make sure you can return it if it's not effective.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I've just completed a very quick bit of research. I would have to buy one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/tp-link-a...plug-wifi-extender-with-2-lan-ports-kit-n71qt to get the Ethernet connection downstairs. This one has a built in wifi extender. Are they any good? It might save me a few £ by not getting the airport express. Any thoughts?

Regards

Jerry

I've never really understood how those work, as the wiring on each floor is on a separate circuit in most houses.
However we have some at work got the warehouse downstairs and they work well.