Kathleen gave me an Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station for Christmas. I installed and configured it tonight while we were watching ER on our DVR.
I was impressed with the improvement in the performance of our wireless network that immediately occurred when the AirPort Extreme started working. Configuration of the AirPort Extreme was by far the easiest of any wireless network base station I’ve ever installed.
I got the impression from articles I read on the Internet that it would be complicated to bridge the FiOS router (an Actiontec MI424WR) with the AirPort Extreme, but it was as simple as:
- plugging the AirPort Extreme into the FiOS router using a Category 5 cable,
- letting the FiOS router assign the AirPort Extreme an IP address using DHCP,
- logging into the FiOS router and shutting off the integrated wireless base station on it.
(Note that I had earlier determined that the Actiontec MI424WR had to stay on the network because it serves as a bridge between coaxial cable and Category 5 cabling in our FiOS installation, and it also acts as a receiver for FiOS TV guide information and FiOS Video On Demand. Therefore, I never attempted to attempt to fully replace the router Verizon gave us, just to beef up the wireless network we’re running here in The Home Office.)
I didn’t spend much time using Kathleen’s MacBook with the new router, but I’m sure they will perform better together than the MacBook did with the wireless network provided by the Actiontec router itself.