use of Airport express

[rdelrio]

hi everyone,
can i ask someone here if you have tried using the airport express as the only wireless router in the area. im planning to acquire the dsl and thinking of making our home wireless. will i just stick the airport express or should i still buy D-link wireless router as the main router. thanks

[elbert]

in my home, it's the only wireless router. It repalced my Linksys WRT54G last December. It has far greater reach than the Linksys, it is connected to my stereo speakers and printer as well.

If all your devices are wireless, then there's no need for any other router. The APX will do just fine. However, if at least one computer will be connecting via Ethernet, I suggest getting a Linksys instead.

[retinasurgeon]

The airport express is very handy is this types of situations. If you plan to have an exclusively wireless network, then having the APE will suffice. Besides you can also use it also as a wireless print server by connecting your printer thru USB and for Airtunes if you want to play music from your iBook to your remote speakers attached to your APE. Tried it once and was very happy with it, but I had to connect my desktop to the internet, so had to use a broadband router. If you have PC based laptops, they can also access your network if you allow them to do so. You can also put a password so that you can have a closed network. Hope this helps. :winkgrin:

[rdelrio]

elbert, does it heat up easily especially if im going to leave it for 24 hours. we have 2 laptops (PC and Mac), will the PC be able to pick up the apple express?

[retinasurgeon]

Originally posted by elbertc
in my home, it's the only wireless router. It repalced my Linksys WRT54G last December. It far grater reach than the Linksys, is is connected to my stereo speakers and printer as well.

If all your devices are wireless, then there's no need for any other router. The APX will do just fine. However, if at least one computer will be connecting via Ethernet, I suggest getting a Linksys instead.

Hello elbertc, the APE works perfectly with the Linksys when it comes to extending your wifi range. Would you happen to know if there are some issues when using the APE with a D-Link broadband router? I looked at the D-Link website and they have stopped technical support for my model (DI-713P) We have the same (Linksys) at our clinic and the APE works flawlessly in extending the range, but at home, can't seem to configure it, even though I checked my settings (MAC address, etc.). Any knowledge on technicality for this. :qmark::qmark::qmark:

[penmanila]

i use an airport express for a "free wi-fi hotspot" that i've set up in my UP office, to benefit fellow professors and students within a 100-ft radius. it's amazingly good, and you'll find students sitting with their laptops in the corridor outside my office. (yes, it works with PCs just fine.)

what's even more amazing for me is that i'm using an original bondi blue imac 233 mhz running on panther, with a d-link wi-fi USB dongle. the darn thing works beautifully.

i'm happy i got the APX during the special philmug promo, when it was selling for 4.9K

[Edited on 7-11-2005 by penmanila]

[elbert]

Hmm, never noticed it heat up. I guess it does, but nowhere near the temperature of a power brick during a charge cycle. I leave it on 24/7. I think it's been up for well over four months straight now, without interruption.

I've shared this APX with my PC neighbors. it reaches other units in this apartment building (I wouldn't be surprised if the entire barangay is feeding off of it too).

It'll work with both PCs and Macs, no problem.

[rdelrio]

thanks again elbert and retinasurgeon. i would probably consider buying the APE.

[retinasurgeon]

Originally posted by rdelrio
thanks again elbert and retinasurgeon. i would probably consider buying the APE.

SULIT!! Enjoy.:cheers:

[elbert]

Originally posted by retinasurgeon
Hello elbertc, the APE works perfectly with the Linksys when it comes to extending your wifi range. Would you happen to know if there are some issues when using the APE with a D-Link broadband router? I looked at the D-Link website and they have stopped technical support for my model (DI-713P) We have the same (Linksys) at our clinic and the APE works flawlessly in extending the range, but at home, can't seem to configure it, even though I checked my settings (MAC address, etc.). Any knowledge on technicality for this. :qmark::qmark::qmark:

Let me start off by saying that I don't support D-Link. honestly, I have no experience with D-Link at all. I prefer Linksys.

Apple uses WDS (Wireless Distribution System) to extend the range of a network. Both the base station and 'repeating' wireless device should have WDS capabilities enabled. For example, ro use an APX or APE to extend the range of a Linksys base station, the Linksys must be flashed with a third party firmware in order to have WDS installed. The Linksys firmware doesn't have this built in.

I am unaware of any third party firmware available for D-Link. In fact, the firmware I speak of only works with the model WRT54G of Linksys.

[Edited on 7-11-2005 by elbertc]