Use Airport Express Gen 2 with Ethernet Cable to extend Network

Question

Use Airport Express Gen 2 with Ethernet Cable to extend Network

I've read around loads and tried all sorts of things, and this would seem to be super simple, but I cannot get it to work.

I have this configuration

Router - via Ethernet Cable - Airport Express

(Router works, cable works, AE works)

I would like the Airport express to be cabled to the router and then provide a wireless connection for devices onto the same Network as the router.

So I have been successfully able to setup the Airport Express to

1) Behave as a New Network (selecting "Create New Wireless Network" in the wizard). My devices happily connect wirelessly. However it is not on the same Network as the router, which is what I want.

2) Disable the Wireless and join the router network via Ethernet. The airport express shows up on Airport Utility when I connect my iPhone to the Router wirelessly and I can stream music to it via Airplay 2.

So effectively I need the 2nd point above, i.e. cabled to my router network, and therefore on the same network, but without disabling the AE wireless facility, allowing me to extend the router network wirelessly.

Please help!

Andy

AirPort

Posted on Oct 19, 2024 6:49 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 20, 2024 6:37 AM in response to andyjameswhite

Even if the AirPort Express is using the same network name, password, and security settings the Express may or may not really be "extending" the network.

To find out, run a few speed test checks on your laptop located close to your "main" router and note the results.

Then, move the laptop close to the AirPort Express and run a few speed test checks that way and note the results.

If the speeds slow down noticeably when you move the laptop near the Express, this means that the laptop is still picking up the signal from your "main" router and not the AirPort Express.

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Answer 2

Oct 19, 2024 7:05 AM in response to andyjameswhite

Ah ok, solved my own problem!

The option I put in the screenshot was the correct option, I simply had to enter my Network name and password exactly as it is on the router!

Happy days, I hope this helps someone else

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Answer 3

Oct 19, 2024 7:52 AM in response to andyjameswhite

You don't tell us what make the "main" router might be, but we will guess that it is not an Apple AirPort router, correct?

To "extend" the network the way that you want, the AirPort Express must be configured to create a wireless network that 1) uses the exact same wireless network name, 2) exact same wireless password and 3) the exact same wireless security settings that the "main" router is using.

However, if your "main" router is using different wireless security settings like WPA3 or WPA3/WPA2, you will in effect have two different wireless networks, so the Express will not really "extend" the main network.

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Answer 4

Oct 20, 2024 5:21 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Yep, good point Bob, the router is a regular pretty basic one from Sky, therefore fortunately uses the same security settings that the Airport express gen 2 does, WPA2

Appreciate that needs to match along with the network name and password

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Answer 5

Oct 19, 2024 6:59 AM in response to andyjameswhite

I should also add I tried this option on the Airport Utility Wizard on my windows laptop, which would seem exactly what I need but did not work!!

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