Can I use 2012 AirPort Express as a wifi-to-Ethernet bridge?

[AVR2]

We've just moved house and while our old place had a wired network with Ethernet ports in every room, the new place doesn't, and my son's PC doesn't have a wifi adapter.

Before I go out and buy an adapter, is there any way I can use a 2012 AirPort Express (the one with both WAN and LAN ports) I've got hanging around to act as a bridge between the PC and the wifi from our fibre router?

 

[f54da]

IIRC airport express can join a 3rd party network, and then you can just connect to the lan port.

 

[Fishrrman]

Even if the Airport Express works, I'm going to GUESS that it won't be anywhere as fast as would buying a new wifi adapter for the PC...

 

[f54da]

It should be roughly the same speed (or better since express would have a larger antenna).

 

[erihp]

It should be roughly the same speed (or better since express would have a larger antenna).

Not really, wifi 6 is WAY faster than the dual band 802.11n the airport express supports, so depending on the access point, it could be much slower.

That said, for basic access, it'll be fine. If he's a gamer, he'll want to be wired. If speed and latency is an issue, look into powerline or moca adapters.

 

[f54da]

Ok missed that it was wifi 6, was assuming standard 802.11n. Yes in that case you will see a slowdown. For connections to WAN this probably will not matter much unless your provider offers greater than 100Mbps or so.

 

[erihp]

Ok missed that it was wifi 6, was assuming standard 802.11n. Yes in that case you will see a slowdown. For connections to WAN this probably will not matter much unless your provider offers greater than 100Mbps or so.

Oh, i dont know what his other access point supports. i was just pointing out the AE is a 802.11n dual band, so it could cause slowdown for that client they wouldnt see if they went with a dedicated adapter for the PC, provided they had support for newer protocols.

He did state he had a 'fibre router', so I assume a fast connection. Also, this sounds like a more modern residential gateway type box, which probably would have newer wifi protocol support built in. That said, the bandwidth ceiling would affect any traffic to or from that client, out the 100mb/s+ circuit, or the LAN.

Before buying a new wireless adapter for the PC; I'd sooner plan to wire the PC, and use the AE as bridge in the mean time.