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jeff k · May 28, 2012, 12:35 PM

I went through a lot of time and trouble and some money, to get my laptop in my living room hooked up with Airport express/ via (extender).

It's extended from the base station in the other room -- Airport extreme.

Yet when I click on my website, it takes a ridiculous 1 minute to load on the laptop, yet only 16 seconds from the desktop.

Is the express even working? The green light is on and it seems to be fine. Puzzled. thanks.

Waragainstsleep · May 28, 2012, 08:28 PM

Doesn't sound like its working very well. Are they a long way apart? Anything that might interfere? Cordless phone maybe?

jeff k · May 28, 2012, 10:50 PM

The are one room apart, maybe 30 feet. I have a few cordless in the house. I have Air radar on the laptop to verify signal, but it's showing duplicates of the connection.

Waragainstsleep · May 29, 2012, 04:40 AM

Duplicates? As in two networks? Sounds like it wasn't set up right. Did you say you paid someone to do it?

ghporter · May 29, 2012, 05:26 AM

A properly set up Extreme-Express network extension will show you the Express' base station name as well as the Extreme's. If the Extreme is Home Plate and the Express is First Base, you should see both on Air Radar or any other site survey app. If you only see Home Plate, either the Express isn't properly set up to extend the network, or it's not working.

Look at the front of the Express for a green light. If it's on, the Express at least thinks it's working. Now fire up Airport Utility on the laptop and see what it says about your connection. If you post what it says, we can dissect it and let you know what it means.

To be honest, setting up this sort of hardware solution was very easy for me to do, and I tend to over-think such things. It's all in the way you tell Airport Utility how BOTH units are configured. The Extreme needs to be told to extend its network, and the Express needs to be told to extend the Extreme's network. After that, it's trivial.

jeff k · May 29, 2012, 11:47 AM

GH, thanks.
Airport utility. When I click it on laptaop a window comes up. On left is has large icons of extreme and express, they both have green dots, and it says, " Airport utility has found Extreme" Is there anything else I should send you?

Waragainstsleep · May 29, 2012, 01:48 PM

How many networks are visible under your Airport menu? You should only have one network coming from the two boxes.

jeff k · May 29, 2012, 02:32 PM

W- where am I reading this from, "how many networks?"

ghporter · May 30, 2012, 06:00 AM

Click on the Extreme, then on Manual Setup and copy the information there. Then click on the Express and do the same.

Under Wireless Mode (about 2/3 of the way down), the Extreme should say "create a wireless network" and the Express should say "extend a wireless network." Right under that the Express should list the same network name as your Extreme.

jeff k · May 30, 2012, 09:18 AM

GH I have already done all that (extend wireless network)

Waragainstsleep · May 30, 2012, 09:36 AM

Use the Airport menu on your menu bar like when you want to connect to a public hotspot. It lists all the wireless networks it can see. Are you getting a duplicate?

jeff k · May 30, 2012, 01:21 PM

Here is the air radar box, I'm Ken Network, why getting three results?
which one can I trust is the definite reading? or can I?

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Waragainstsleep · May 30, 2012, 03:08 PM

Interesting that the strongest one is greyed out. How many do you get from the menu under the little fan-shaped icon to the left of your volume controls on the menu bar, top right of the screen?

jeff k · May 30, 2012, 03:50 PM

I think the strongest one is the purple one. but why the duplicates. They could never explain it, and what does it mean? the fan menu just shows one in black font

jeff k · May 30, 2012, 10:22 PM

I'm not expert but different channels and the desktop has tranfer rate 3x of laptop.

I'm lost, why did I buy this express? It's not doing anything. So air Radar rating in Purple on laptop says 70% means nothing? Why it even showing up in the list? and if I'm getting 30%, which is what I'd get if I did not even have the express sitting next to the laptop with green light on, what the point of the express?

Waragainstsleep · May 31, 2012, 03:16 AM

I'm wondering if the air radar app is showing two component networks and then their combined version. Doesn't explain the crappy performance on the laptop though.

What is the laptop?

jeff k · May 31, 2012, 11:43 AM

Older white one.

Waragainstsleep · May 31, 2012, 01:27 PM

How much older? Does it have an 'N' card fitted?

DavidDonald · Nov 5, 2012, 12:08 AM

Hi! Maybe try to use free software like Netspot to do an active survey once you've sorted your wireless out, this will help you pick the correct power levels on the aps and if you need more. Free version: http://www.netspotapp.com
Good luck!

jeff k · Nov 5, 2012, 06:51 AM

thanks.