Best option for extending my wifi

lrd · Nov 18, 2013

Currently have an old model airport extreme (G only). Would like to extend to get stronger signal downstairs. I'm assuming that placing an extender in my living room will in fact make it stronger since it has bigger/better antenna than what's in my iPhone/iPad/MacBook Pro.

That said, I figure I can get an Airport Express ($99) or a replace my old Airport Extreme with a new Airport Extreme ($199) and use my old Airport Extreme as the extender. Is there any advantage to doing the latter to justify the extra $100 other than everything may be faster upstairs when connecting to the main base station?

osxx · Nov 18, 2013

Have you tried moving the AEBS to a central location if possible?

lrd · Nov 18, 2013

Based on the internet source in the house, can't be done, at least not easily. Besides, 90% of my internet access is from my iMac and it's wired in directly to the AEBS (for speed)...and the iMac is in my office so...

RadDave · Nov 18, 2013

lrd said:
Based on the internet source in the house, can't be done, at least not easily. Besides, 90% of my internet access is from my iMac and it's wired in directly to the AEBS (for speed)...and the iMac is in my office so...

Well, you've not explain the 'downstairs' difference, i.e. how many feet, rooms, wall construction? You might want to just upgrade you router to the newest AirPort Extreme - updated 802.11 protocols w/ a wider range - might be all that you would need; plus, you could presumably use the old router as an extender? Just a consideration - Dave

lrd · Nov 18, 2013

Fair enough. Best I can say is that in my living room I have about 2 bars of signal on the wifi indicator. My iPad and iPhone sometimes work fine but most of the time they seem to struggle a bit. I often find myself shutting off the wifi and switching to LTE on my phone...since I'm currently grandfathered into the all-you-can-eat data plan it doesn't really matter...but I can't do that with my iPad as it's wifi only. Maybe the newest AEBS will solve the problem, and if not I can always extend with the old one. That said, I'd rather not spend the extra $100 over the cost of an Airport Express if it doesn't buy me that much.

osxx · Nov 18, 2013

lrd said:
Fair enough. Best I can say is that in my living room I have about 2 bars of signal on the wifi indicator. My iPad and iPhone sometimes work fine but most of the time they seem to struggle a bit. I often find myself shutting off the wifi and switching to LTE on my phone...since I'm currently grandfathered into the all-you-can-eat data plan it doesn't really matter...but I can't do that with my iPad as it's wifi only. Maybe the newest AEBS will solve the problem, and if not I can always extend with the old one. That said, I'd rather not spend the extra $100 over the cost of an Airport Express if it doesn't buy me that much.

I have both the AEBS and AE and the AEBS definitely has a better range and all I use the AE is to stream music to the bedroom the AEBS handles my house and backyard.

lrd · Nov 19, 2013

I don't doubt that the AEBS has better range...but that's not really my issue. The original AEBS falls a bit short in terms of signal strength. For half the price I can get the AE as an extender versus getting the latest AEBS and maybe it gets better.

RavingMac · Nov 19, 2013

Since you have a direct wire connection to the AEBS I doubt the new model would gain you that much upstairs.
If it were me, I would opt for the AE and extend.

I'm currently running a 2nd gen Time Capsule as my base and extending with a 1st gen Time Capsule and new AE. Works pretty well.

lrd · Nov 21, 2013

Good point...although I do have a MBP with which I connect wirelessly. But all over the house so an extender would of course help with that as well.

Best option for extending my wifi

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