How to Extend an AirPort Network

Many of our clients with large houses or outbuildings want to get maximum wireless coverage without running or burying ethernet. Apple’s AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express and Time Capsule devices make excellent wireless signal repeaters to cover large distances. If you have an existing AirPort device, you can add another to extend your network.

First, run Software Update on your Mac, and make sure you have all the available updates. Many updates improve wireless performance and security, so you want to have all of those installed. Then open Applications > Utilities > Airport Utility, and double-click on your current AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express, or Time Capsule, click on the Wireless tab, and check “Allow this network to be extended.”

If you do not already have a password on your network and want your network protected, set the password now before you add any other wireless devices. You should use WPA2 Personal for maximum protection. Once you have saved those settings, the AirPort device has restarted, and you have rejoined the network, you can move on to setting up the next device.

To set up another AirPort device, make sure it is new or unconfigured. If you have an existing device and wish to reset it, you can do a hard reset by holding down the reset button for about five seconds while the device is plugged in. If you have a new AirPort, you will also want to install the updated software that comes with it since AirPort Utility 5.5 is not yet available via Software Update.

Next, open AirPort Utility, and select your new or newly-reset device. Click “continue” and it will walk you through the setup process. When it asks how you want to connect it to the internet, choose “Join an exiting wireless network.” Choose your network from the list, and if necessary, type in the password. Then you should be able to check a checkbox to allow clients to join the extended network. Complete the setup wizard, and let the device restart. If you did it correctly, the AirPort light should be green on the device.

I recommend a central location for your first wireless router, avoiding refrigerators, big chimneys, and any other architectural details that could cause gaps in the network. Try to avoid wireless phones, especially if they operate on the 2.4 or 5.8 gigahertz bands. New DECT 6.0 phones operate on a different frequency than wireless networks, and will not interfere. Before you deploy another AirPort device to extend your network, you should use a laptop to make sure you have good wireless signal in that location; otherwise the next router won’t be able to connect and extend the network.

You should also keep in mind that every device extending your network will halve available bandwidth since network traffic will double. Repeater devices copy everything the extending device does, and vice versa. Adding a third device will again cut throughput in half, so only extend a network as much as you have to. I also recommend using the newest possible AirPort gear for your entire network for their dual-band capability, which lets them operate simultaneously on the 2.4 gigahertz band for older devices and the 5.8 gigahertz band for newer devices. I only use AirPort Express units when wireless music streaming is desired, since they can only operate on one frequency band at a time.

All this aside, the very best way to extend your wireless network is to connect satellite base stations by ethernet, as there is no loss of bandwidth. But that’s a topic for another time!

This is a service Small Dog’s Consulting branch performs often. If you’re in Vermont, you can email consulting@smalldog.com to make an appointment.