Travel Technology - Airport Express Question

I need some help. I am considering an Airport Express (can get it very cheap from a friend). It would be quite useful when travelling for hotels with wired internet.

My question: At home I have only PC's, no Macs. I have Cable Internet going from the modem into a LinkSys WIRED router. I want to use the Airport Express as what I think is called a "bridge." I want to go from the Wired router to the Airport so that I can then have wifi in the house for my occassional laptop use at home and so my kids who always bring laptops or other gadgets can use the internet wirelessly around the house.

In the Apple Store, a tech said I can't do this. He says the Airport needs to be connected to the cable modem directly or to an Airport Extreme base station. But looking at the FAQ's It looks like it is doable. Can someone help me here - will this work?

Thanks.

Should work fine plugged into the router. I used an AE for a couple of years to give me wi-fi from a Zoom modem/router with no wifi.

Won't be a problem at all:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1515?viewlocale=en_US#2

But perhaps you are better off just getting a wireless router to replace your wired one? They are really cheap nowadays (often for about $30).

not a problem at all, I have two of these, they are usually between 40-60$ on ebay, refurbed. Make sure you get the latest version with digital audio out and version N wireless. I buy from the bestbuy ebay store.

Works fine, I have one that exports my 'n' wireless network in parallel with the existing b/g network connected to the router.

But that's not "bridge" mode. It's "create a wireless network" mode, in the Airport Utility.

The other one I have that "bridges" the wireless-n network to my office is in "bridge" mode. "bridge" mode is only stated to work with other Apple devices, but it might work with anything. There's an optional protocol that it uses in bridge mode, but you don't really need that either. But you don't use "bridge" mode to create a wireless network.

So, yes, it will do exactly what you want. And the airport utility is easy to use to set it up, and runs on Windows.

-David

I am doing exactly what you want to do albeit using my desktop with 2 NICs instead of wired router.

I was looking at the Airport Express, but decided to buy an Asus WL-330gE. It's a multi-functional device that can act as an wifi access point, ethernet adapter, or wifi repeater, but the feature that seems to be somewhat unique is gateway/hotspot mode. In gateway/hotspot mode, it can connect to a wifi network and become a wifi hotspot, allowing multiple computers to simultaneously share the one wifi connection.

It includes an AC adapter, but you can also power it with the included USB cable.

Link to info: http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=9H8EmdWucHDpYOb8

That Asus gizmo is pretty neat, indeed. I don't often find myself needing those features, but it certainly seems like a useful device.

I was looking at the Airport Express, but decided to buy an Asus WL-330gE. It's a multi-functional device that can act as an wifi access point, ethernet adapter, or wifi repeater, but the feature that seems to be somewhat unique is gateway/hotspot mode. In gateway/hotspot mode, it can connect to a wifi network and become a wifi hotspot, allowing multiple computers to simultaneously share the one wifi connection.

It includes an AC adapter, but you can also power it with the included USB cable.

Link to info: http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=9H8EmdWucHDpYOb8
But that Asus device isn't as nice looking as Apple Airport Express :D
It's features are very nice, though.

I think the Airport Express really makes sense if you want to stream your iTunes Music wireless to your stereo.