I currently have 2 dvr's with directv service. One is successfully set up to receive On Demand via the slingbox turbo connected to the dvr. I have an airport extreme. Now, I would like to use my airport express, which I use for airtunes, to connect to my other dvr so that I can receive On Demand on my other tv. I connected both ethernet ports on my airport express and dvr, but cannot get a connection. I did some internet research and found that I need to change my system to WDS and change the security. I am not sure why I should have to change anything since my other dvr works fine connecting to the internet. Can the airport express be used this way? Is it safe to change to WDS? My internet works very well now and I hate to change anything since I have so many things connected i.e. vonage, slingbox, hard drive, printer. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You're trying to use the Express as a bridge instead of an access point - basically, backwards from normal operation. So yes, you need to configure it for WDS.

The good news is you have an Extreme as your other access point. Just go through the configuration utility for Airport and configure the Express for WDS. It's pretty simple if you follow the wizard.

This is where I get stuck.

You need to set up the Extreme first and add the Express to it. Go through the wizard with the Extreme.

What security should be used? I have read that either no security or wep would work. Is that true? Will this setup effect anything else on my network?

You can still use WPA with an extended (WDS) network. You should download this manual from Apple which explains how to set things up.

Hi Jack--
The manual was helpful, but still just can't get it to work. I can set up the airport extreme as a wds following the manual, but then the airport express disappears and cannot be found on the wireless network. Therefore, I can't change it to act as a participant of the network. Also, do I have to add everything that is connected to the airport extreme separately i.e. vonage, slingbox? If I do, this is getting way too complicated and I will just leave it as it is. Thanks.

When the Express "disappears", did you wait 2-3 minutes? It should be rebooting. Once it comes up, it should show up in the Extreme's tab under WDS.

You may need to hook a computer directly to the Express if you are currently trying to configure it only vis wireless.

The other devices should not have to be configured.

Still can't get the dvr to connect to the network. I called Apple and he said that WDS is an older connection type and that the newer extreme and express already work with WDS. Is that correct? The express works fine with airtunes so i know that it is connected to the network. Just can't figure out why the dvr won't connect via the ethernet port. Directv is of absolutely no use. If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

I don't understand what Apple told you - it's older but it works? Yeah, we knew that. Not real helpful.

At this point, without actually seeing what you've done and how things are hooked up, I don't think I can be of any more help. Sorry.

I needed a new dvr. Ethernet port was not working. Connected easily to airport express with new dvr.