Adding another Airport Extreme – I'm having problems-

…please help.
I am a total novice when it comes to networking so please explain clearly. I had one AE connected to some speakers in the kitchen so I could stream music there. I got another AE today to connect to my router to hopefully provide a quicker and more reliable wireless connection.
I'm having problems adding the 2 AE to the same network. Tried lots of different ways but nothings worked. I can't my mac to find them both at the same time? When I try to add the other one it asks me to switch networks. When I switch networks i can't see the previous one so I can't add it.
is there any step by step guide to getting 2 AE up and running i.e. adding another AE to an existing network?
Cheers in advance.

kroc_kroc, Welcome to the discussion area!
Even though the title of your thread says "Extreme" I thing you really mean "Express".
If you are trying to connect the 2nd AirPort Express (AX) wirelessly...
(1) Make sure that the 2nd AX is in an area with a good wireless signal from your current wireless network.
(2) Configure the 2nd AX to join a wireless network and select your current wireless network.

Similar Messages

I am trying to extend my airport extreme signal to another airport extreme can this be done? I have tried several time using the automated set up but it keeps failing... What am I doing wrong?

I am trying to extend my airport extreme signal to another airport extreme can this be done? I have tried several time using the automated set up but it keeps failing... I have selected every possible security/password encryption level... What am I doing wrong? If it os possible where can I find step by step instructions? Please & Thank you!

The challenge with the older round AirPort Extremes are that they are "g" wireless devices.
When you configure them for WDS, the speed on the wireless network is cut in half...and probably will not have the bandwidth required to stream video reliably from either AirPort Extreme since both are affected by the WDS setup.
There is not an "automated" setup for WDS. You have to do this manually on both AirPort Extremes. Unfortunately, it is not an easy configuration and it's easy to make a mistake and hard to recover without starting all over again.
Apple's instructions for WDS are here if you want to give it a try.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262
It is possible that it might work. Keep us posted on your progress
Adding a single AirPort Express will unfortunately not help. You have to have "n" wireless devices at all router points.

HT4145 I have an Airport Extreme bas station now and I want to know if I can use an Airport Express to extend my network or do I have to use another Airport Extreme base.

I have an Airport Extreme Base Station now and I would like to know if I can use an Airport Express to extend my wifi network or do I have to use another Airport Extreme Base Station.

This AirPort Express:
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
It is the only Express with 2 Ethernet ports. All others are "old"
Apple does not specify a model number in their product information, but it is A1392 in the U.S. I do not know if Apple uses different model numbers in other countries.

Can an airport extreme base station attached to another airport extreme base station as an extender transmit a different network name and have it's own security?

Can an airport extreme base station attached to another airport extreme base station set up as an extender transmit a different network name and have it's own security?

No. The AirPort cannot extend another AirPort's wireless network and simultaneously broadcast its own wireless network.
It can however, be connected to another router (including another AirPort) by Ethernet, and then, be configured to broadcast a wireless network with another Network Name and Security Type.

Airport extreme will not fix problems or allow manual settings

So I have a recently purchased airport extreme and the dreaded "flashing amber light" problem, but I can't find a solution that works. When I open my airport utility it says it has found an airport extreme that is experiencing problems, and then gives all the specs of my airport extreme (e.g. name, ip address, etc.) and says it is reporting problems.
It then instructs me to press the continue button to resolve the problems. However, when I do that (or attempt to open the manual settings), it thinks and thinks and thinks while reading the configuration and then finally tells me that an error occurred while reading my configuration and I should make sure the airport is properly plugged in and in range of my computer, though it's plugged in properly and sitting immediately next to the computer.
I would also note that the internet works fine on my desktop (being run through the airport to my mac), but just will not work on the danged airport.
Any idea of what I can do now?

It opens up a new window, but still gives me the exact same error message about not being plugged in or in range, though it is both of those

Time Machine Backups Not Recognized When Drive Added to Airport Extreme

Since January, I have been taking backups of my Mac Pro with Time Machine and a SimpleTech external drive plugged into a USB port.
Recently, I purchased an Airport Extreme router and decided that plugging the SimpeTech drive into the router would provide access all the times. After plugging the drive into the router and providing the correct password, Voila!, instant access.
Later, when it became time for the next scheduled backup, initially TM could not find the drive. No problem... in TM preferences, the SimpleTech drive was listed as available, and so it was a simple matter to telling TM to use that drive.
So far, so good... but now the issue.
Instead of creating the next incremental backup in the set, Time Machine created a new folder and started taking a full backup of the entire HD as if it were the first backup being taken. Incidentally, the name of the computer in the original backup set was "Ron's Computer". Now, TM says that it is backing up "Ron's Computer 78989018975923789637289795278957928". Obviously, I would like TM to continue taking backups of "Ron's Computer" using the original set of incremental backups.
Have I incorrectly added the drive to the network?
Was there something I failed to do in the TM setup?
I interrupted the full backup assuming that (a) it could not be merged with the original set of incrementals and (b) I would not/should not do so anyway.
Anyone else have this issue? Resolution?

I commented on another thread and came to a surprising revelation:
Time Machine backups are created differently depending on if the target drive is connected locally or if it is connected as a network attached storage (NAS) device.
Your initial backup was via a local HDD. Once connected to your AXBS, TM treats your external HDD as a NAS. Now TM will create a sparsebundle backup which is DIFFERENT than your initial local backup. It cannot add to your first backup even though it's right there on the drive. I believe you can still access the backups (ctrl-click the TM icon -> Browse other TM disks). If the old backup doesn't have too much important info, just continue with the new backup as the wireless backup option is functional. I don't know if the old backup will be deleted without warning if space starts to run out, though.
If you are intent on continuing with the old backup (January is a long time), check out these links (not really for the faint of heart):
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7860904&#7860904
http://rolf.haynberg.de/?p=83
Good luck and welcome to Apple Discussions!

HELP - Airport Extreme Disconnect and Connection problems

Hi everybody,
I recently (~2 months) got an Airport Extreme (Early 2009 Model). I was very happy with it, and everything worked fine, until a few weeks ago, when I started getting the following problems.
First, my iTouch wouldn't connect automatically anymore and when I tried connecting, it would say "Unable to Connect" around 5 times until I could connect, and then I would remain connected (full three bars) with internet for about 30 seconds, and then my connection would suddenly drop to 1 bar and my internet would stop working, and then it would eventually disconnect. May I just say that this was happening when I was sitting right next to the WiFi.
Secondly, all of the computers (both Windows and Mac) started having a similar problem: Connection Time Outs around five times until I can connect, and eventually signal dropping without the computer or anything moving. (BTW, the cable connections work fine, it's the the WiFi that doesn't work).
I tried changing channels, enabling Interference Robustness, and reverting to previous software updates,and also eventually Hard Reseting the box, without any results...
What could be my problem, and how could I fix it please?
Thanks a lot...

Roger, you must be psychically broadcasting this because I just seconds ago posted the following on another thread...
I hope I am not "typing" too soon but I seem to have identified my wireless problem. After trying EVERYTHING in the world to try and figure out why my own network wouldn't work, I had a flash of inspiration. I changed the Channel setting in airport utility from "automatic" to 11. I just picked 11 because I liked the number - no other reason. Now, I am wirelessly connected again. I do not know why this worked; The channel setting has been on automatic for months and worked fine until late Friday night. So those of you who have been fighting this issue, give the channel fix a try. Your mileage may vary and may the force be with you.
(Will post this on another thread pertaining to this subject too. If I can keep just one soul from sacrificing many precious hours on this frustrating issue, then I will consider myself one good deed up on my Karmic calendar.)

ANOTHER Airport Extreme base station dropping connections

I think my network connectivity problems predate the latest Airport software update by a few days.
Our MacBook Pro's randomly drop an Airport connection when they are near a secondary access point operated in Bridged Mode.
My one-year-old Airport Extreme/Time Capsule had been working fine in 2.4GHz b/g/n mode with a gigabit switch and a link to a Comcast cable modem, all set up in the northwest corner of the house. I decided to replace it with a new, dual-band Airport Extreme/Time Capsule so that we could separately operate a faster 5GHz "n" network for modern notebooks along with the 2.4GHZ b/g/n network for older notebooks and iPhones.
We substituted the new Airport Extreme/Time Capsule for the old model and it now serves IP addresses to 5GHZ network devices. The old Time Capsule was moved to a new location in the southeast corner of the house, connected to the network via Cat 6 Ethernet, and also set it up to join the same 5GHz wireless "n" network in Bridge Mode -- it is an access point, but not serving DHCP addresses.
Now, whenever a laptop is near that device, it accesses the LAN through that Airport Extreme's 5GHz WIFi connection. The problem is this: every few hours (though sometimes sooner - its random), our MacBook Pro's lose their network and Internet connections (not simultaneously though). This only happens if the laptops are physically closest to the older, Bridged wireless access point. It can happen in the middle of Web surfing and always, when they wake from sleep. It NEVER happens if the notebooks are physically closer to the new Airport Extreme (and hitting it's 5GHz signal) and the iPhones NEVER lose their Internet connection to the separate 2.4GHz b/g/n network.
When it does happen, we have to Restart the notebooks to re-establish an Internet connection, though I suppose restarting the Airport Extreme/Time Capsule also might re-establish the connection. Sometimes, I can just move my laptop back to the northwest corner where the main Airport Extreme/Time Capsule is located and get right back online through that access point. But usually, I just sit in the back room, restart and rejoin the network through the secondary, wireless access point. Turning off/on Airport (at the MacBooks) accomplishes nothing and neither does Network Diagnostics.
This affects two new, MacBook Pro "n" laptops running 10.5.8, but does not affect the iPhones. So, it only seems to be a 5GHz issue. I don't think it's RF interference because I've tried three different 5 GHz channels. I've also tried reducing the secondary Airport Extreme's transmission power to 50% and, more recently 25%, to no avail.
This morning, it started happening again, so I finally used the Airport Utility to turn off the Wireless Mode of the secondary device for my next test (thanks to the Ethernet connections, it's still visible on the wireless network). We'll see if this solves the wireless connectivity problem.
Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? I wonder if it is some odd, configuration issue.

I just started having a similar problem in the last week. I have three devices: the Gigabit AEBS is connected to my cable modem and is the DHCP server. An Airport Express (N) extends the wireless network. A second (G-Only) Airport Express is connected to one of the gigabit ports on the AEBS and creates a second wireless network for iPhone, G-devices and guests.
Lately, the connection from my May 2009 MacBook Pro has started acting strange. The Airport icon in the menubar shows I have full signal strength, but I'm no longer connected to the Internet and I can't browse other N computers on the network. Devices that are connected via the G network continue working fine and remain connected to the Internet. This is interesting because even the G network has to go through the AEBS to get to the Internet. It only appears to affect the Internet connection via the AEBS's own WiFi but not its ethernet ports. If I open Airport Utility from the MacBook Pro, the AEBS status shows as Normal. Turning off/on the Airport on the MacBook accomplishes nothing but I can restart the AEBS from the Airport Utility and then everything goes back to normal. A few hours or more later, the problem occurs again.
By holding the Option key when clicking on the Airport icon and looking at the Airport MAC address I can tell that the MacBook Pro is connected to the WiFi-N via the Airport Express extender. Like you, I may have to try and shut that one off and see if the problems occurs when it is connected directly to the AEBS. The problem with that is that since it is farther away in the house, the signal strength and thus my transmit rate will be slower. I'd be curious to see if your experiment by shutting down your secondary AE will still cause drops.

Trying to hard wire 2nd mac using another airport extreme

Ok. i currently have an airport express(in my kitchen)that i use with my ibook (wirelessly) and everything works great.
The problem is that i have another mac that is upstairs that i wish to have hooked up as well via LAN. (i have to do it this way because it is an old imac that supports the old wireless card and requires a cradle.)
I would prefer to buy another airport express but was informed that it would not work that way.
Is this true?
How can i do this?
thanks.

Henry,
First I want to Thank you for all you help on many matters.
I am having a problem and i'm hoping you can help.
I bought my 2nd airport express and put it upstairs in my house next to an i mac that does not have a wireless card.
My airport downstairs is connected to my cable modem and is already acting wireless to my ibook.
I want to be able to connect an ethernet wire to the imac from the second airport express, while the airport express is picking up the wireless signal from downstairs.
In the past you have said this can be done.
How can this be done? Is there some sort of link or
instructions you can point me too?
I don't know how to do this and i'm not sure if it needs to be set-up as a bridge, or client. (are these two the same thing?)
Sorry to be so dumb, but i guess i'm one of those people that need direction step by step.
Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.
Scott

Airport Extreme 6th Gens having trouble (one bridge, one router)

I have two brand new Airport Extremes that I'm trying to troubleshoot. The problem that I'm seeing is that occasionally one (or both) will stop functioning entirely on a weekly basis.
Details on our setup:
These are servicing a small business, generally about 40-70 devices are connected between the two. They are located apart from one another to maximize the reach of our wireless network.
One is set up as a router (DHCP and NAT), it is connected to a switch which is connected to a Time Warner modem that is serviced by our building's IT contractors (I do not have access to those devices as a result). This has led to us receiving warnings about a double NAT, which hasn't been a real problem for us but could a potential point of where these are breaking so I figured I'd mention it.
The other is set up as a bridge and extends the wireless network, so they are both broadcasting the same SSID. This was set up automatically upon installation of the device.
I'm only utilizing two of the router's ethernet ports: one goes to a switch that handles our non-wireless boxes. This issue has happened regardless of the switch's presence, though, as previously we just used the ethernet ports on the Extremes and had the same problem; the other goes to the bridge.
I'm curious as to what in the configuration may be causing this problem, because I'm not totally certain if it is the fault of the Extremes and possibly due to us using our own range of IP addresses with the . Usually it is the bridge that dies and it's a PITA to get working again - I usually have to power cycle both the bridge and the router to get the bridge to function again.
Thanks for any tips you can provide.

double nat means you have 2 routers trying to, well route, basically so i suspect that tw modem is really a tw modem/router. if not, think about it, if it is just a modem, what is doing the routing before the switch?
in a clean setup, it would look like this
tw box connected to 1st extreme via eth (tw LAN port to ext WAN port, extreme in bridge mode)
1st extreme to 2nd extreme via eth (again, 1st ext LAN port going into 2nd ext WAN port, extending via a wired connection)
this is simplified. you can elongate the connections with your switch and wall jacks but the connections should be the same

Airport Extreme Gigabit Base Station problem

Today when I tried to get on the internet, my MacBook Pro would not recognize my AEBS. It cannot find it in the AirPort Utility or when I type the name of my network and password into Airport from the Menu Bar. My PowerBook is running fine on the same network. It recognizes and joins the network when it wakes from sleep and it sees the AEBS in Airport Utility.
Last week my MacBook Pro experienced a kernel panic while using Safari over a different wireless network. My best guess is that I may have a bad Airport Express card... is there any way to run a test on it to find out?
Also, my MBP never remembers my networks that I visit requently.... all of them are hidden networks and I have to retype the network and password every time I visit that same network. This is not the case with my PowerBook... and I have no clue why.
Any help is appreciated.
Computer Stats:
PowerBook G4, 1.67 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 10.4.10
MacBook Pro, 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 10.4.9
Just ask if you need any more info about my computers or about my AEBS.

Hi K,
I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this problem. I was beginning to think that I made a mistake in purchasing the Airport Extreme BS (Gig). Since our jobs are printing perfectly when the printer is directly attached to our macs running Leopard, I have to assume this is a wireless issue. Currently, my Extreme Station is configured to run at 5 GHz and backward compatible with the other devices. Unfortunately, because my Powerbook is the only one that can take advantage of the 5GHz range, the base station has to allow for 2.4 GHz as well, and I'm beginning to think this is the culprit but I guess we have no choice. Because the 2.4 range is quite crowded (my cordless phone runs at that frequency), I imagine this might be what's causing the computer and base station to be confused. I hope Apple can fix this and make it more rubust. Incidentally, there is a toggle option in the Airport Utility where it does allow for more "robustness" but warns that this could slow down the overall performance of the network. I tried, but I'm still having the same sort of printer issue as you described. What do you think?

4Gen Airport Extreme Firmware 7.6 problems

I installed the 7.6 firmware and started to have some strange problems, they seem DNS related, Most sites work fine but there are a handful of sites and online games that no longer work, I try to goto the game websites such as secondlife.com and the page cant be displayed, i try to ping the site and get a DNS error no such site. I then reverted the extreme back to 7.5.2 and everything is working fine again, I upgrade back to 7.6 and the problem is back, there seems to be some type of DNS routing problem with the 7.6 firmware, has anyone else had similar problems?
P.S. I also noticed that with the 7.6 firmware installed my iphone is no longer able to upload photos to a photo website I use and after going back down to the 7.5.2 firmware the iphone works fine with the photo site.

As you know, this type of setup for Time Machine backups is not supported by Apple.
So, in effect you are asking us for help on a configuration that is not supported. We'll try.
Did you power cycle the entire network?
This would involve powering each device down, waiting a few minutes, starting the modem first, then AirPort Extreme, then hard drives and other devices one at a time about a minute apart.
If you try this a few times with no help, it is very possible that the 7.6 update has further limited the ability to set up Time Machine backups to a drive at the USB port of the AirPort Extreme. We've seen other similar posts from users who are having the same types issues that you are.
If that is the case, the only thing that might help is rolling the firmware back to 7.5.2.

Airport Extreme and Time Capsule problems

I have had an Airport Extreme 802.11g, version 5.7 for several years and have some problems that is get stuck now and then, so I have to restart it. I have tried to upgrade software, but cannot find anything appropriate. Assume 7.5 is a software version, but where and how to upgrade?
I got another problem when I bought a Time Capsule. It interferes with my Siemens Gigaset wireless phone. I have tried to change channel etc, but it does not seem to help. Any tips?
The two problems are not related, as I had the first problem before I got the Time Capsule.
Tor

v5.7 is the latest firmware for your AEB 802.11g.
v7.3.2 is the latest firmware for the TC.
You should probably do these simple maintenance tasks:
Simple Maintenance Tasks:
1. Repair Permissions - /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app. Start Disk Utility, select your HD and click on Repair Permissions. When finished, quit Disk Utility and then restart your computer.
2. Reset PRAM - hold down Option-Command-P-R keys when starting until you hear the startup chime a 2nd time.
3. Safe Mode Startup - hold down the Shift-key at startup until you see the login screen. When logged-in, then go to System Preferences/Network/AirPort
- click on the 'Network Name:' roll-button, select 'Join Other Network...', enter 'Network Name and select the security type you are using, and finally, enter your Password and click 'Join'.
- click on 'Advanced', TCP/IP and confirm that 'Configure IPv4:' is set to 'Using DHCP', click 'OK'.
- click the 'Apply' button and exit System Preferences.
Make sure you separate the AirPort Base Station and the wireless phone by as large a distance as you can.
You could enact Interference Robustness, but it will reduce the range of your AirPort base station:
1. Open AirPort Utility, select the AirPort Base Station (main) and click on 'Manual Setup'.
2. Click on 'Wireless' tab and click 'Wireless Options'.
3. Tick 'Use interference robustness, click 'Done', and click 'Update'.
4. Wait for ABS to restart. Restart your computer and test.

Adding an Airport Extreme to Existing Time Capsule

Hello - I currently have my Time Capsule connected to an AT&T 2Wire modem/router with U-Verse. The configuration is working to a degree, but I am dropping my connection to iPhones and iPod Touches. Here is what I have working right now:
AT&T 2Wire modem/router is sending a wireless G signal
Time Capsule is in Bridge Mode and is sending a wireless N signal on the 5GHz band
All devices connecting to the Time Capsule are working properly with no issues.
Some devices work well on the 2Wire router, but I am constantly dropping my connection for the kids iPod Touches and my iPhone. Often, the iOS devices will not connect at all to the network, even though they see the network and have the ability to log in to the network. When we launch Safari (or another iOS app) we get the message that there is no connection to the internet.
Since that completely stinks, I am considering an Airport Extreme that will simultaneously transmit both wireless N & G signals. I could then turn off the wireless G from the 2Wire Router. My question is... How can I keep my Time Capsule up and running on the network? I would effectively be taking it out of the loop - and I don't want to do that.
Is it possible to bridge two devices (Time Capsule & Airport Extreme)?
Is there a way to connect the Time Capsule via Ethernet Cable from the Airport Extreme so the Hard Disks on the Time Capsule will continue to provide backup?
Any help you can provide would be extremely... um, helpful :~)

Hello JGerard. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
You have a number of options that both include leaving the wireless disabled on the 2Wire gateway device.
I am assuming, based on your description, that the current Time Capsule (TC), is NOT a simultaneous dual-band model and that you have it configured to provide the "802.11n only (5 GHz)" radio mode ... correct?
If so, I would start by recommending the following configuration with the new simultaneous dual-mode 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn):
Basic Network Configuration
o 2Wire gateway > \[WAN] AEBSn \[LAN] > \[WAN] TC, where ">" is an Ethernet connection.
2Wire Basic Configuration
o NAT & DHCP services enabled
o Wireless service disabled
AEBSn Basic Configuration
o Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
o Radio Mode = 802.11n only (5 GHz) - 802.11b/g/n
o Radio Channel Selection = Automatic
o Wireless Security = WPA2 Personal
o Use wide channels (on the 5 GHz band)
o Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
TC Basic Configuration
o Wireless Mode = Off
o Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
In this configuration, all routers are interconnected by Ethernet and only the AEBSn is broadcasting a wireless network.
Another configuration option would be to leave the TC's radio enabled and have it broadcast using the same Network Name & Security type as the AEBSn. This would create a "roaming" network where you could literally walk a laptop between base stations and still be on the same network.
A third option would be to configure the TC to extend the wireless network created by the AEBSn. In this case the AEBSn and TC would not be connected by wire, but they would have a wireless connection. This is referred to as a WDS.
Let me know which option would be the most preferable and I can help you with more setup details.

Airport Extreme and USB Printer Problem

I have an Epson printer connected to the USB port of my Airport Extreme. This has worked just fine for years. But from today neither my iMac nor my MacBook Air can "see" the printer any more. I have rebooted everything a couple of times, but still no joy.
I have connected the printer directly to a USB port on my iMac, and all is well, so I guess the problem is not with the printer.
The only thing significant done to my system in recent times is the latest security update, which I installed yesterday.
Can anybody give me a clue as to why this problem has suddenly raised its head after all these years?

Hi bricknell,
It sounds like you are experiencing some printing issues after performing an update to your computer’s software. Here is an article for you with some troubleshooting steps that will help you address this issue:
Troubleshooting printer issues in OS X - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203343
Thanks for being a part of the Apple Support Communities!
Regards,
Braden

Adding another Airport Extreme – I'm having problems-

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