Can you introduce/extract tethered internet to existing AE network?

[kavika]

Hi. Admitted lurker here. Thanks for letting me post this novice question. I researched both Airport Expresses and networking generally but haven't found an answer to this particular question situation.

I pay AT&T for internet tethering on my iPhone 5.

I don't use internet at home much beyond searches on my phone. I don't have internet outside of my phone. I watch TV off antenna but do have an unopened Apple TV (Apple TV 2, I believe).

I have three Airport Expresses that have not been set up. I would like to use one for stereo (moving music from my phone or computer to my stereo through iTunes). I might use one for printing. The third could establish the network I guess (if I'm phrasing that right).

So, the easiest way I know how to explain what I'm trying/hoping to accomplish is with these two steps.

Step 1:

Set up a non-internet, always-on network with the Airport Expresses.

Step 2:

When I need to, turn on my phone's (paid for) tethering and (for lack of a better word) "push" that internet on to the existing network so that, for example, I could then turn on my laptop and it could jump on that now-internet-friendly network.

I hope that makes sense. If not, please chalk it up to my lack of knowledge in this arena. Thanks for reading and any advice!

 

[jezzy]

Hmm, lets see.

You can turn on "wifi hotspot" on your iPhone. Your computer (if it has wifi) will catch the wifi hotspot, and now you've connected your computer to use the your phone's data plan.

Now, if I'm not mistaken, you can plug in 1 airport express into a wall jack, use the "airport" utility on your computer, and configure the airport extreme to "extend" your current network (which is your hotspot wifi).

Start with 1 AE and slowly extend from there. Now, I've never tried it, but go ahead and give her a shot.

 

[Consultant]

On iPhone, turn on "wifi hotspot." May be additional fees depending on carrier generosity.

Connect AE to your iPhone hotspot, and share that.