[htdefiant]

Hello macnn,
I have an Airport Extreme Base Station (Fast ethernet, not gigabit) and two Airport Express Base Stations (G). The purpose of one is to use AirTunes (it is plugged into our speaker system). The purpose of the second is to extend the network to the upstairs. I have tried a few ways of operating this network. First I tried just having the AEBS broadcast, but I checked the box that said "Allow this network to be extended". I used the Expresses as they were designed to do. One day, however, I noticed that my signal strength directly next to one of the Expresses was a lowly 57%. So, I explored the option of a WDS network. Now the AEBS is my main, and the other two are relays, one of which does the AirTunes connection. This network, however, is highly unstable. The AEBS often goes from a green light to flashing amber and back to green for no apparent reason. I just read on The Unofficial Apple Weblog that getting two N express stations to replace my current G ones may be the answer. So, I just want to make sure that I am not completely crazy. Which should I be doing, extending my network, or WDS, or shelling out more cash to Apple?

Thanks.

[mduell]

WDS isn't going to change the signal strength, unless the AEs are in a line. Is there something wrong with 57% signal strength?

[htdefiant]

Not really, I just found it curious that that was the strength directly next to Express. I thought that perhaps it was not broadcasting, and it was only receiving.

[tridentinecanon]

The simple answer to the title of your thread is: Go with the option to extend the network over WDS.

This is what Apple recommends.

[mduell]

Oh, you mean the signal strength for your computer, not for the APExpress.

It should work without the stability problems you experienced. Call AppleCare.

[htdefiant]

Alright, will do.

[Tomchu]

WDS is sketchy, at best, in my experience.

[Simon]

While WDS is a tricky thing, it can work well. But you will always pay a performance penalty. The bandwidth for the client at the end scales roughly like 2^-n where n is the number of WDS relays. So if you have 54 Mbps from your AEBS to a single WDS remote (the Express in your case), a client connected to that remote will get 27 Mbps max.

Signal strength is not the only number to look at. What's the noise level? And most importantly what's your transmission rate (check either AP Utility or option-click on the AP menu bar icon in Leopard)? Have you enabled interference robustness?

And then finally, in my experience if you are having trouble with network range / signal strength the Express is simply not the best option. The Express is fine for printer or stereo system sharing and it's great to host a network in a small area, but once you want to have coverage over a larger area or through lots of obstacles the Extreme BS is a much better deal. Two AEBSs in a WDS setup are going to offer better range and signal strength than a single AEBS and one Express in a WDS setup. And a single AEBS can offer better performance than two Expresses connected through WDS. Of course as always with these things YMMV.

[mduell]

WDS is like RAID; it works well on $1000 enterprise gear, but it leaves something to be desired with consumer gear.

[tridentinecanon]

Originally Posted by mduell 

WDS is like RAID; it works well on $1000 enterprise gear, but it leaves something to be desired with consumer gear.

mduell, with you, everything is like RAID!

[mduell]

Are you calling me redundant or inexpensive?

[huey]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Are you calling me redundant or inexpensive?

Yes, I know this thread is YEARS old and yes I might have made this account just to reply to this post, BUT HOLY CRAP BAZINGA!!! I haven't laughed that hard at a forum post in years!