Adding a Second Airport Express

Is there a trick to adding a second Airport Express? My network is created by an Airport Extreme. Six months ago, I added an Airport Express to get better coverage upstairs (no problems). Now I want to add a second Airport Express to extend coverage to the back of our house. I plug in the Airport Express but it never shows in the Airport Utility. I have tried over and over and it never appears.

The second Express can "extend" the signal provided by the AirPort Extreme, but it cannot "extend" the signal from the AirPort Express that is already "extending".
The Express always needs to be located where it can receive a strong signal from the main router in order to "extend" that signal.
Might that be the issue here? The second Express is possibly located too far from the AirPort Extreme?
If we need to do some more checks, is your Mac runnign OS X 10.6.8 as your profile indicates?

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Adding a second Airport Express is disabling my entire LAN

Hi,
I am running iTunes from a PC running Windows XP and connect to the internet via a Netgear router. For the last few months I have been the happy owner of an Airport Express used specifically to stream music from my PC in the kitchen to my AV system in the lounge. This has worked like a charm.
The next stage in my plan was to buy another Airport Express to connect to the hifi in my bedroom. This arrived four days ago and I've had nothing but trouble trying to set it up.
After many attempts I am on the point of giving up as I can't fathom what's wrong. The new AE is set up just as the first was, to be serviced with an I.P address via DHCP on my Netgear router, and it then connects successfully and can be seen in the Airport Admin utility alongside my existing AE. I do all the config via wired ethernet. However this seems to cause the rest of my wireless network to fall apart, wifi connections via my vista laptop and iPhone suddenly disappear and I cannot access the Internet or talk to anything on the local network. The existing AE then stops working (flashing amber) then finally a minute or so later the New AE goes this way too.
The only way I can get things back to normal is by unplugging my new AE and rebooting my router. Then all wifi connections and my existing AE go back to perfect working order.
This is making me tear my hair out as the main reason I went down the AE route was to have multiple speakers via iTunes to stream my music throughout the house all controlled by the Remote App on the iPhone. I had planned on having 5 AEs ultimately, but if I can't get 2 working together successfully then that won't happen
I was convinced it was a DHCP issue but have ruled this out tonight as both AE's were set up the same way, getting an I.P from my router, and it still crashed the network.
Could my new AE be faulty or am I missing something? Any suggestions or advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks for reading,
Iain
Message was edited by: Michelob The Flying Snowman
Message was edited by: Michelob The Flying Snowman

The second Express can "extend" the signal provided by the AirPort Extreme, but it cannot "extend" the signal from the AirPort Express that is already "extending".
The Express always needs to be located where it can receive a strong signal from the main router in order to "extend" that signal.
Might that be the issue here? The second Express is possibly located too far from the AirPort Extreme?
If we need to do some more checks, is your Mac runnign OS X 10.6.8 as your profile indicates?

Adding a second Airport Express for Internet Share?

I currently use an Airport Express for two reasons - either for Airtunes (which is wonderful) and also for Internet Sharing...
My ADSL modem is connected to my eMac via USB and if I turn on Internet Sharing to Airport (in the Sharing prefs pane) I can access the internet from my iBook or G5... but this way, I lose Airtunes... so it's Airtunes or Internet and not both at the same time.
I'm thinking of buying another Aiport Express so I can keep Internet Sharing turned on and use the other one for Airtunes. Is this possible?
Any ideas appreciated.
Jonny

You would be better off replacing your USB Modem with an ethernet modem wireless router and connecting your Macs to that network rather than use a Mac based software base station.
Having said that, your problem arises as you have two wireless networks, the eMac based network and one created by the Airport Express (AX).
You can re-configure your Airport Express to join (as a client) the eMac wireless network and then you can maintain internet sharing and use Airtunes.
Ensure that the eMac is working as the software base station.
Hard reset the AX.
Configure the AX (probably best to do this from the iBook or the G5) to join an existing wireless network and choose the eMac wireless network.
iFelix

Can I add a second Airport Express?

I have an Extreme Base Station connected to my Time Warner Cable Modem. It comes into my house in my office, which is over my garage, a separate structure in my backyard. The iMacs there are connected via Ethernet to the Apple Base Station. In my house, maybe 30 feet away, where I use two Macbook Pro's, iPhone 6, iPad 3 etc, all via Wireless, I have an Airport Express as an extender to amplify the signal because my house with it's lathe walls is a great shield. This works OK up to a point. The further away I get from the Airport Express, the fainter the signal gets.
Naturally, the farthest room away is my family room with a Smart TV, Apple TV, A/V receiver, DirecTV Cinema box, Playstation3 etc. I just added an Amazon FireStick TV via HDMI. It found my wireless network perfectly and joined. Problem is, it's buffering like crazy when I try to watch a movie and reporting "bandwidth too low". So I have a problem. I need to boost the signal one more time.
Can I add a second Airport Express to my existing network as an extender, which now consists of a Extreme BaseStation and one Airport Express.
If not, does anyone have any ideas?
Thank you.

Can I add a second Airport Express to my existing network as an extender, which now consists of a Extreme BaseStation and one Airport Express.
Sorry, but no. Even if it was possible, the speed loss would be amazing, and would really hurt, not help the current network performance.
Probably not the answer that you want to hear, but the only way to get the same signal strength and speed from your office to a location in the home is to run an Ethernet cable between the two locations.
There is no loss of signal or speed through an Ethernet cable up to 330 feet, or 100 meters. Good old Ethernet cable. Nothing comes close to a wire in terms of performance.
I faced a similar problem, and while the initial outlay to the electrician was significant, it has been the best investment that I ever made in terms of improving network performance....far better than the "improvement" with any new product, or any new router or any new technology that might have been available.
If you absolutely cannot run the Ethernet cable, then a pair of Ethernet Over Powerline (EOP) adapters might be able to send the Ethernet signal over the existing power lines in your office and home.
The theory with EOP products is that you already have the wiring in place.....you just need the adapters. Unfortunately, things do not always work as well in practice as the theory might suggest.......having the signal hop several different circuits would be one major challenge.....whether the office and home are on the same master circuit would be a question as well.
Given your situation, I would not even consider trying EOP adapters unless the store agreed to take them back within 7-14 days if they don't work well for you.

Having trouble connecting a second airport express

I currently have a third party router and have successfully connected one airport express and when I try to add another - I simply can't. The yellow light will continually flash and the computer won't recognize the added airport. I then restart the airport express by pressing the button under the brick and I am able to get through all of the steps until the very end while the airport is restarting when it says that it can't connect to the airport because it doesn't recognize it and then the yellow light starts to flash on and off again. Question. Can I put a second airport express in and what could I be doing wrong? Thank you in advance.

Hello cwedner. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I currently have a third party router and have successfully connected one airport express and when I try to add another - I simply can't.
How do you have your first AirPort Express Base Station (AX) configured to "connect" to the third party router: 1) By Ethernet, or 2) WIreless? If wireless, do you have the AX configured to "Join a wireless network?" ... and is this how you want the 2nd AX to be configured?

Second Airport Express brings my network down

I tried adding a second Airport Export to my Airport network (presently I have an Airport Extreme plus an Airport Express upstairs to extend the network). However when I try to add the second AE downstairs, the network comes to a stand still. I set it up and it automatically detects my network and tries to extend it. But then when ever I tried to access any of the other devices, I am always asked to enter my device password. Also, It seems to be forever reading the network configuration. Either this second AE is defective or could it be that adding a second AE to extend my network will not work?

Unfortunately, screen shots are not working on the Apple forums.
You might be able to see what you have posted, but no one else can see them at this time.
So, you'll need to describe things that you see in the screenshots as much as possible. Thanks.
As far as having two AirPort Express devices extend the network, that opens up a can of worms. We'll assume that you are trying to configure the Express devices to extend using a wireless connection and not wired. As you know, when you extend using wireless, about half of the potential speed on the network is lost in the process.
Adding a second Express can really complicate things and really drag down the performance of the network significantly.
It is possible to have two Expresses both connect using wireless to extend the network, but here is the rub:
1) Both Express devices need to be about the same distance from the AirPort Extreme
2) Both Expresses need to be closer to the AirPort Extreme than they are to each other
The second Express cannot extend the signal from the first Express, it must connect to the AirPort Extreme and extend that signal. If both Expresses are connecting to the AirPort Extreme and extending the AirPort Extreme signal, both Expresses will appear side by side horizontally under the AirPort Extreme in the AirPort Utility network display.
You do not want the AirPort Express devices to appear vertically, one on top of the other, in the display.
Notice that the Downstairs has a (4) in the name.
I have not ever seen that type of error, so more troubleshooting will be required.

How do I add a second Airport Express for Airtunes only?

I already have one Airport Express hooked up to my G5 for wireless internet. Works just fine. How, in simple english, do I add a second Airport Express to my downstairs stereo fot playing my iTunes music through.
I have looked through the help sections, but it all comes across too complicated sounding. It can't be that hard.
What do I do to set it up & NOT screw up my already working internet conection?
I have the audio cable hooked up to my stereo/Airport Express downstairs & the Airport Express plugged in... "Yellow Light" lit on Express, what next?
Thanks fellow Mac Fans!

For the AX connected to the speakers:
To set up AirTunes on the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), using the AirPort Admin Utility, connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to the Ethernet port of the AX, and then, try these settings:
AirPort tab
- Base Station Name: <whatever you wish or use the default>
- Wireless Mode: Join an Existing Wireless Network (Wireless Client)
- Wireless Network: <select the existing wireless network>
Music tab
- Enable AirTunes on this base station (checked)
- Enable AirTunes over the Ethernet port (optional)
- iTunes Speaker Name: <whatever you wish>
- iTunes Speaker Password (optional)
In iTunes:
iTunes > Preferences... > Advanced > General
- Look for remote speakers connected with AirTunes (checked)

Adding a new Airport express N to an older system with Airport express b/g

I have the following setup:
iMac with OS X 10.4.11
Airport Express with 802.11b/g software V6.3(used only for airtunes- with wired speakers)
Airport Admin. Utility V4.2
Older style airport extreme base station for internet access
I'd like to add another pair of wired speakers in another room via a second Airport express, but am wondering if I can mix and match the 2 "vintage" expresses?
Will my current version of Airport Admin Utility be able to setup the new airport? If not, will the updated utility recognize my older systems?
Any thoughts or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Sointly, Ollie! (Think Laurel & Hardy) I currently have three fairly ancient AX's that worked just fine on the first gen Extreme, then moved over to Time Capsule (still on B/G speeds, working OK). Also, three USB printers and a 500 GB Seagate USB. Sometimes, the smallest printer, iP90, gets moved around to another AX or a laptop. Each of the Expresses is supplying an independent set of speakers which can be assigned to any source (my wife likes to have her laptop in the bedroom with her own sounds and her own printer). With the coming of Remote on the iPhone, the whole setup can be changed at will.
Can you use Airport Utility ver 5.3.2? Or move up to Leopard? Much easier to use.....

While trying to connect / configurate a second airport express it has suddenly can´t be found by the computer/ airport express manager. Any suggestions to how I can "find" it again?

I have tried to connect a second airport express to my Mac. But the configuration was interrupted and now I can´t find the second airport on the Airport Express manager display. Although I find it on network/ system settings. I appriciate any suggestions!

Hold in the reset button on the AirPort Express for 7-8 seconds, then release and allow 40-45 seconds for a restart to a slow, blinking amber light. Then reconfigure the device again.
You can also temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your computer to the Express to establish a direct connection for the setup, rather than using wireless. Once you have the Express configured, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable.

How to extend the range with a second Airport Express? Do I need a DSL cable?

How to extend the range with a second Airport Express? Do I need a DSL cable?

Thanks, now we need a bit more information, please, in order to provide you with the correct information that you need.
I assume that you already have one AirPort Express.....either a model A1264 or A1392.....set up and operating OK, is that correct?
If yes, you can extend the network either by using wireless or an Ethernet cable with a second AirPort Express.....either the A1264 or A1392 model. A wired connection is the way to go, if possible, since it provides better performance. But, wireless might work OK for you if you want to try that.
Let us know "how" you want to extend......wireless or wired?

HT4587 How do you extend an airplay signal with a second airport express?

I have a speaker system hooked up to an existing AirPort Express. I just bought another AirPort Express to extend that WiFi signal, but also wanted to extend the existing AirPlay signal as well. I set it up as a WiFi extender and it worked fine; however, it created a seperate option for AirPlay and won't "piggyback" the AirPlay signal off the original AirPort Express. Any help on how to resolve this would be appreicated. Thanks!

I have a modem hooked up to an ethernet hub. From the hub I have an ethernet plugged into the first AirPort Express. In that AirPort Express under the Wireless tab the Network Mode is in Create a wireless network, and under the Network tab the Router Mode is on Off (Bridge Mode). Under the AirPlay tab the Enable AirPlay is checked
The second AirPort Express is just plugged into an outlet with no ethernet hook ups. In that AirPort Express under the Wireless tab the Network Mode is in Extend a Wireless Network, and under the Network tab all the options are greyed out and unclickable. Under the AirPlay tab the Endable AirPay is unchecked. (I have tried checking that box and unchecking the box to see if either has an effect on AirPlay from the original AirPort Express, and either way it does not work). Checking the box just creates a seperate AirPlay channel.
Let me know if you need any other info.

How do you "talk" to a second Airport Express?

I have an Airport Express with ethernet connection to a modem wirelessly supporting my iMac. I thought I could add a second Airport Express in another room, connect it to my stereo receiver and play my iTunes library. I connected the second Airport Express to my receiver audio and plugged it in, but can't get my existing wireless network to "see" it. Just get a continuous blinking yellow light.
How do I communicate with it to either configure it or enter a security password to connect it?
Thru my System Preferences/Network how do I differentiate one Airport Express from another? Do I go thru the process to setup a second wireless network? Not as simple as just plugging it in is it?

juspur wrote:
I have an Airport Express with ethernet connection to a modem wirelessly supporting my iMac. I thought I could add a second Airport Express in another room, connect it to my stereo receiver and play my iTunes library. I connected the second Airport Express to my receiver audio and plugged it in, but can't get my existing wireless network to "see" it.
You have to slave the new AirPort Express off the old one. The easiest way to configure it would be to connect your Mac to it with an Ethernet cable, which will make it a lot easier for AirPort Utility to see it.
If both Express units are 802.11n-capable (model A1264), you should configure the first Express to "Allow this network to be extended" and the second to "Extend a wireless network". You should give each Express its own base station name to allow iTunes to distinguish between them.

I am trying to install a second airport express to extend my network. When I use the aiport utility it does not see the second airport express.

I am trying to install a second airport express to extend my network. When I use the aiport utility it does not see the second airport express.

Suggest that you perform a Factory Default Reset as follows:
Pull the Express from power
Wait a few moments
Hold in the reset button and keep holding it an additonal 8-10 seconds while you plug the Express back in to power
Release the reset button and allow 40-45 seconds for the Express to restart
Apple's instructions to do what you want are here:
It will often help to temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the AirPort Express for the setup. Once the Express is configured, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable and move the Express to the desired location.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Although an AirPort Extreme is shown as the extending device in the example, the setup for an AirPort Express is exactly the same

Connecting printer only to a second airport express

My three Macs are on an Airport Express network connected to my cable internet service. It is not convenient to connect a printer to this Airport Express. Can I connect a printer only to a second airport express in another room and then print from any of the networked macs? The 2 possible printers are an HP Photosmart C1380 and a Brother HL-2070N. I've seen directions for doing something like this but cannot find them again on this site.

EmilyinHMB, Welcome to the discussion area!
Can I connect a printer only to a second airport express in another room and then print from any of the networked macs?
Yes
Mac OS X 10.4 Help: Connecting a USB printer to an AirPort base station

Can I use a second Airport Express unit to printe wirelessly?

I have an Airport Express unit connected to my amplifier and my modem in order to listen to music wirelessly. I would like to use my Cannon ip4300 printer the same way. Can I use a second Airport Express unit to connect the printer to my modem? If so, how is it done? I am concerned about a conflict between the two Airport Express units. Thank you.

I do just this with a ip4200 printer - you "extend" the Airport network with the second Airport then plug the printer into the USB port, (you could plug it into the USB port of the first Airport as well)
In the Airport utility (use 5.6 or 5.6.1) select the Printers tab and it should be there.
Regards,
Shawn

Adding a Second Airport Express

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