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Can I connect my Airport Express to my Linksys router wirelessly to help me extend my existing Wi-Fi network to another part of the house?

I have an existing WiFi set up using a Linksys WRT54GS router which is connected to my cable modem. The current WiFi set up works fine in my room. I need it to extend to my study on the same floor where I use my Mac and therefore bought an AE as advised. However, I am totally confused on how this can be set up wirelessly as a bridge / extender to the remove the blind spot.
5 Answers
E.O. Stinson
E.O. Stinson, WiFi junkie
Written 266w ago · Upvoted by William Emmanuel Yu, computer networks teacher
Yes.

An Airport Express can (in theory) connect to any router that supports WDS (Wireless Distribution System). The WRT54GS with a firmware version 3.01.3 or newer supports WDS. If you don't have the newest firmware, you can get it from Linksys here: http://homesupport.cisco.com/en-...

Configure your Linksys router (open a web browser to http://192.168.0.1):
  • Assign a fixed channel (e.g. 11). You will have to set the same channel on the Airport Express.
  • Write down the MAC address for the wireless interface (under the Status tab).
  • You may have to drop back to 128-bit WEP or no encryption, but we'll try it with whatever encryption you have first.
Configure your Airport Express (using Airport Utility):
  • Under Airport -> Wireless, set the Wireless Mode to "Participate in a WDS Network", and set the network name, security, password, and channel to match that on the WRT54G.
  • Now you'll have a new tab: under WDS, set the WDS Mode to "WDS remote", and the WDS Main to the MAC address you wrote down above. Also make sure to that "Allow wireless clients" is checked!
  • Under the Internet tab, set Connection Sharing to "Off (Bridge Mode)".
  • Click Update. Wait for the Airport Express to restart.
Check it:
  • Once the Airport Express is restarted, reconnect to your wireless network (if you've been disconnected). Make sure you can see both your main Linksys router (in a web browser) and the Airport Express (in Airport Utility). If you can only see one, it didn't work. Try disabling security on both. If that works, you may have to settle for WEP or no encryption.
Alternatively:
If you're feeling adventurous, DD-WRT is an open-source firmware replacement for the WRT54G. It reportedly supports WDS with the Airport Express quite well, including WPA/WPA2 encryption. Since I don't own a DD-WRT compatible router, I have yet to try this.
didn't work for me.
In spanish support apple say that wds only work with apple routers :-(
HEre Preguntas más frecuentes sobre AirPort Express

Pregunta: ¿puede AirPort Express expandir de forma inalámbrica ("repetir" o "redifundir") la red de un punto de acceso de otro fabricante?

Respuesta: no. No obstante, sí puede ampliar por medios inalámbricos el alcance de una red WDS alojada en una estación base AirPort Extreme u otra estación AirPort Express.

Never found anything in english though... really ugly!
Sumit Sohal
Sumit Sohal, Student
Written 167w ago · Upvoted by William Emmanuel Yu, computer networks teacher
Yes you can connect Airport Express to a Linksys router. Its very easy and takes only few minutes.
Watch the following video and it will tell you how to do it properly.
Hope this helps.
Sameer Shah
Sameer Shah, I build Wi-Fi networks | Founder Wifisolved.com
Inorder to connect wireless the airport needs to have a bridge mode or client router mode on it. If you have such feature then u can do it. Else you can pull a cable halfway between and plug it to the airport for a new wireless network.
Any ideas on what else to try if it doesn't work with security disabled?  I'm trying to use an Airport Express to extend a Linksys E1200 wireless router.  I've followed all of the above instructions including updating firmware... but still no dice.  Ultimate goal is to hard wire a sling box to the airport express if I can get the thing configured.
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