Adding Express to new AEBS network

I've had a simple setup with an older Extreme Base station and an Airport Express(2004) to extend the network. I recently replaced the AEBS with a new dual band base station and found that I have greater coverage and do not need the AE. The connection is more stable and faster.
I will be moving the dual band AEBS to a back corner of the house and connecting a Dell PC to it by ethernet cable. (I am a ham radio operator and trying to set up a remote connection via the internet to my radio at another location--someplace away from the electrical noise of the city!) Since the AEBS will be in a far corner, I am anticipating that I will once again need to extend the network so that we have wireless coverage in the remainder of the house. What are the tradeoffs by using my 2004 AE, vs
a new AE vs another dual band AEBS? I don't want to lose the stability and speed to which I've grown accustomed.
Thank you!

What are the tradeoffs by using my 2004 AE, vs
a new AE vs another dual band AEBS?
If you use your older AirPort Express to extend the network, you'll need to use the WDS type of configuration. The downsides to WDS are significant:
1) WDS operates only at "g" wireless speeds, so you will lose any benefit of having faster speeds on your AEBS as it will drop down to "g" wireless when you configure it to participate in the WDS network
2) There will be a 50% drop in bandwidth on the entire network with WDS. In effect, you'll have a "g" wireless network operating at half speed....exactly the same setup that you had before with the older AirPort Extreme
I don't want to lose the stability and speed to which I've grown accustomed.
Then you will need to use the 802.11"n" version of the AirPort Express to maintain the faster "n" speed that you have grown accustomed to. Instead of WDS, you'll configure the new Express to "extend a wireless network".
Since you have a dual band AEBS, you may want to consider getting another dual band AEBS to "extend" both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz networks that your new AEBS is providing.
The AirPort Express can only extend one band...either the 2.4 GHz network or 5 GHz, but not both simultaneously. Only the AEBS can do that.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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Presumably your Airport Extreme is now being used as your wireless network's "base station". Therefore, your Airport Express now needs to be reconfigured to "join" the wireless network being created by your new Airport Extreme. Have you done so? If not, run the Airport Setup Assistant and follow its directions for setting this up.

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Can't extend my existing Express b/g WDS network with new Express n

Hi all,
For the past 2 years I have been using a very simple Airport Express b/g wireless network setup. I have two of the older generation b/g Expresses and I've created a WDS network where the main Express is connected to my broadband modem and participates to my WDS as "main" and the relay Express is configured to participate to this WDS as "relay". This setup works flawlessly and I was very happy with it. Note: the firmware version on both units is 6.3.
Recently, I wanted to extend the range of this network. I've bought and received the newer generation Express n. To my surprise, setting it up to extend my already existing b/g WDS is simply impossible. Below is a summary of the situation:
1) The firmware was updated to 7.3.1 as soon as I opened the Airport Utility.
2) The automatic setup wizard in Airport Utility was incapable of extending my current b/g WDS with the Express n. (Green light on but no wifi coming from the new Express n).
3) I've tried countless times to reset and manually reconfigure the new Express n as "remote" in the WDS configuration panel and connect it to either my "main" Express (b/g) or the "relay" Express (b/g). Both "main" and "relay" Expresses (b/g) were also configured to extend WDS to the new "remote" Express n. I've tried to scrupulously follow instructions found in other posts/discussion forums on how to do that.
4) I then tried to make the new Express n as the "main" base station in the WDS. I could successfully connect it to the Internet (Express n connected to broaddand modem via ethernet) and receive wifi from it, but it was impossible to establish a working WDS with my other two b/g Expresses, both reconfigured as "relay" and "remote" in the WDS (again using the instructions from people who succeeded in having both b/g and n units in the same WDS).
5) Adding to all the difficulties in configuring, hard-reseting and reconfiguring each Express, I would very often be in a situation where Airport Utility only sees 1, 2 or none of my 3 Expresses. Rebooting my Mac was the only thing that enabled me to see them again.
6) After about 7 hours trying to figure out how to work this thing without any good results, I've decided to call out for help. In my situation, there seems to be an intrinsic incompatibility between older b/g Express and the newer Express n, at least for WDS network setup.
If anyone is in the same situation and has found a solution to the problem your help will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Good news everyone: don't despair, there is hope! After nearly 10 hours of configuration, I finally have a WDS with all three AXs (two b/gs and one n). woohoo!
OK, so here's how I did it:
The main idea here was to replace my "relay" b/g AX with the new n AX.
1) The first thing I did was to reconfigure my "main" b/g AX (the one connected to my modem) so that it can transmit to the new n AX: I simply added the Airport ID of my new n AX in the WDS "remotes" list inside the WDS configuration panel of the "main" b/g AX. I then did an Update Reboot on the "main" b/g AX.
2) After that, I did a Hard reset on the new n AX and plugged it near my old "relay" b/g AX. I then went in Airport Utility, scanned for the new n AX and asked the wizard to "Replace an existing Base Station". It gives you a list of all the base stations your computer has interacted with. I selected the old "relay" b/g AX. The wizard then asked to unplug the base station that is going to be replaced. Did that, and then I did an Update Reboot on the newly configured "relay" n AX.
3) I've rechecked the configuration of the new "relay" n AX, and to my surprise, it wasn't exactly the same as the one for my old "relay" b/g AX. Specifically, I had to manually reconfiguring the whole WDS settings. I had to tell it to "Participate in a WDS", re-input the Aiport ID of the "main" AX and also put the Airport ID of the "remote" AX (the old b/g I'd replaced see below - 5) in the "remotes" list. Once that was re-configured, I updated and rebooted.
4) At that point I had wifi coming from: my "main" b/g AX and now my new "relay" n AX. Yeay! that was the first time I had interaction between b/g and n units.
5) I then went to reconfigure the old "relay" b/g AX and set it up as "remote" and connected it via WDS to the new "relay" n AX. Configuring a b/g AX is a piece of cake compared to the newer n AX!
6) I am very happy to report that it all simply works now! All three AXs are happily talking to each other now. Hooray!
I am almost clueless on why performing these specific steps made it work but it did. My reasoning is that by letting Airport Utility automatically configure the n AX with the configuration data of an old b/g AX it might have changed some settings that were too hidden from view when done manually.
Thanks to dchao99 for input, and Mike hang in there. Try to follow my steps, it might also work for you!
Good luck to all of you.

After the Airport update today, Airport Utility no longer sees my new Extreme or my 2 new Airport Express relay stations (same network); however, my internet is working and all Airports are green?

After the Airport update today, Airport Utility 6.0 no longer sees my new Extreme or my 2 new Airport Express relay stations (same network); however, my internet is working and all Airports are green? I'm running Lion on my iMac and updated when Airport Utility prompted me to do so a few hours ago. After applying the updates is when Airport Utility stopped seeing my routers. But they are working? Thoughts?

Did you remember to completely power cycle the entire network?
You would want to do this after any update or change to the network.
If you did not do this yet......things are out of sequence.
Power off everything on the network.....all devices.....power down order is not important
Wait a few minutes
Start the modem first and let it run a minute or two by itself
Start the next device connected to the modem the same way
Work your way out on the network starting each device about a minute apart
Check the network

New aebs and airport utility won't recognize my (2) airport express'

I have an new (n) aebs and can't get airtunes to work now. Only get flashing amber on the two ax and the new airport utility won't pull up the ax's, only the aebs. Have turned off ipv6 but no difference.

How are you connected? Meaning, how is the Mac
running the AirPort Utility attached to the new
AEBS(n) and the AX's? Your problem is likely that the
AX's are already named and configured to operate in
the old network, but your connection method doesn't
provide visibility to them...
Thank you for posting back to me. I finally got them to work and your explanation I thinks explains to me what happened. (I got them up and running just before I saw your reply.) I unplugged both of them and connected them via an ethernet cable to the new aebs and also did a hard restart for both. They then showed up with their alphanumeric titles, not the titles I had given them. Airport Utility recognized them after that. Hopefully my experience and your explanation will help others too. Thanks again.

Benefit of having different network names for n- b/g networks on new AEBS?

This option is available when selecting simultaneous dual-band on the new AEBS, but I'm not sure of the benefit?

There are two main reasons you might want to do this:
1) You want to manually force your "n" devices to connect only to the "n" network regardless of signal strength.
2) You use your system in an area where signal strength varies such that your system switches back and forth between the 802.11b/g and 802.11n networks frequently.
You might also want to do it if you are for whatever reasons having problems with the AirPort driver's auto-switching.

Adding a 2nd Airport Express to extend the network using WDS

I am a bit of a novice, but after I installed an airport express with my d-link wireless router to play itunes on my home stero, the music kept breaking up and stopping. I tried to change the channel, but it said mine was set on automatic and I cannot figure out how to change manually.
So reading apple's suggestions, they said to get another aiport express and extend the network with WDS. I purchased my 2nd express today and have been trying to install it using the airport express assistant. I have had to reset the 2nd express and the original several times. However, what i keep running into is after it gets through all the steps, it asks me for a password for "this basestation". I have read several help topics and it looks like i need to use "public" for this new airport express. I get through that step and then it gives me an unknown error (-6753). Does anyone know what this is? Or is there a way to set-up the 2nd airport express manually? Do I even need a 2nd one? Should I just get an airport extreme? Will that extend the range of my wireless network? Any help is greatly appreciated. I have been at this for about 6 hours now. My wife is going to kill me.

Will the manual for D-Link describe how to set up the
first airport express as a roaming network
No
do that via the apple settings once its connected via
ethernet cable?
Yes
Different channel.
Same network name, same security.
Ensure that distribute IP addresses (under Network) is unchecked.
When this is done, will I still be able to play
itunes through the first airport express?
Yes
Also, then once I do that with the first, then do I
just do the regular set-up for the second as a
network extender via the airport express assistant?
Yes
iFelix

HT4260 Can I use a new airport express to extend a network?

If I am using an AirPort Extreme as my main wifi, but it is in bridge mode because I already have another router setup in dhcp on my network, can I use an airport express to extend my network, but use it hard wired?

can I use an airport express to extend my network, but use it hard wired?
Yes, assuming that you are asking about a new Express, or the 802.11n version.
This is very easy to do with the Mountain Lion operating system that you have.
(The "roaming network" link above assumes that you are using the Leopard or Snow Leopard operating system...although the general information there is good).
Connect an Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports on the AirPort Extreme to the WAN "O" port on the AirPort Express.
Power up the AirPort Express and wait a full minute
Click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the Mac's screen and look for the heading of New AirPort Base Station. Just below that, click directly on AirPort Express there
AirPort Setup will open automatically and take a minute to analyze your network and then announce that the Express will be setup to "extend" your AirPort Extreme network
Enter a device name for the Express and click Next
AirPort Setup will take another minute to configure the Express
When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done
That's it.

Airport Express can only extend network, not create new one. Why?

I am sharing a flat with some friends. The shared broadband router is placed in the living room. To strengthen the signal and make it easier for me to manage, I bought an Airport Express, connected it to the shared router with an ethernet cable and set up a wireless network of my own in my room. It was working fine, until recently we renewed our broadband contract. The router had been replaced by a new one (I don't know why) and the network configration had been changed. Since then I was not able to use my own network. In the Airport Utility display, the light of Airport Express is green, but the light of Internet is yellow, and the status is disconnected. I tried to change various other configuration on the Airport Express, and all in vain. Until I switched the network mode from 'Create a new wireless network' to 'Extend a wireless network', the Internet connection was finally back online. But this merely extends the existing network and not what I want. Why this happens? Why my Airport Express can only extend a network, not create one?

Here is the situation on my Airport Express.
If I choose to extend the existing wireless network, the Airport Utility shows like this:
If I set up a wireless network of my own, what I get in the Airport Utility is this:
See my problems here? The Airport Express does not show anything in amble, but the Internet complains that there is no connection.
This problem did not occur before the broadband was renewed and the rounter was replaced.

Do i need to use airport express to extend my network to use AirTunes?

I use an AEBS connected to my cable modem and just bought the Airport Express just to be able to stream my iTunes music to a set of powered speakers conncted to it.
When I got into Airport Utility, the only options it provides is to Set up a new network, add to an existing network or replace an existing network.
I just to add to an existing network and it says Airport Express will be used to extend my network.
Now - is that how it's supposed to work? Does it have to extend my network in order to use Air Tunes? The reason I ask is that I remember reading on the forums that extended your network can slow it down....

Bob Timmons wrote:
Version 6.0 will not allow you to configure the Express to "Join a wireless network" if you have another AirPort providing the wireless signal.
If you want the Express to "join" the network, you will need to download and install the much more functional AirPort Utility 5.6 for Mac OS X Lion , which was available on the same day as AirPort Utility 6.0.
Apparently, a number of users missed this.
Suggest that you keep both 5.6 and 6.0 on your Mac and use the one that is most useful.
That is NOT correct.
Version 6.0 will allow you to "Join a wireless network" if you have another Airport providing the wireless signal.
I have an Extreme provinding the wireless network and have 2 Express units Joining the network.
Here is a screen shot of version 6.0 and the Express settings.
You must have missed this in your settings.

WDS between old and new AEBS

First I want to apologize for this lenghty post. I want to provide as much useful info as possible. We just bought the new AEBS Dual Band and tried to add it to our existing WDS network and ran into a few serious snags. I really hope we can find help here. I've already spent many hours pouring through this forum and other sites and can't find any answer. Here's what our existing network look like:
Gigabit AEBS N as WDS Main > 2 "G" AXs as WDS Remotes
Wireless clients include: Tivo (G), MacBook (N), 2 iPhones (G), iBook G3 (B).
Wired clients include: Tivo HD, PowerMac G5, Mac mini, laser printer
What we were trying to accomplish is to make the new Dual Band AEBS as the new WDS Main and create 2 (connected) WiFi networks via WDS:
N network (5GHz) > Dual Band AEBS as WDS Main > Gigabit AEBS N as WDS Remote
G Network (2.4GHz) > 2 "G" AX as WDS Remotes
We want to do this so the Gigabit AEBS N can live in our living room and allow the Tivo to have decent speed when we download the shows to the Macs or to transfer between the Tivos. Since the Dual Band is advertised as being able to broadcast on both frequencies simultaneously, we're assuming it can do this. However, I can't find any info online or otherwise that either confirms or disputes this function.
When I tried to set it up as such, the 2 AXs work as expected. But the Gigabit AEBS N becomes non-responsive. I even tried to hard reset it and re-attach it to the network using 2.4GHz to no avail. At this point, the Gigabit AEBS N either gives the -5 error or, after hard reset, fail to acknowledge the WAN port when I tried to do a "basic" setup to test it.
My first question is: Does the Dual Band AEBS support my desired configuration at all? That is, create separate WDS networks on the 2 frequencies (5GHz vs 2.4). No one I've spoken to at Apple has a clear answer. So I wonder if anyone who reads these forums has tried this.
My second question is: does the 7.4.1 firmware hose the WAN port of the Gigabit AEBS N? I've downgraded it back to 7.3.2 and the WAN port is still not recognized. The AEBS was working 100% before the swap (and the firmware update that followed).
My last question is: Has anyone experienced "stuttering" on the Dual Band AEBS? I haven't noticed it until I tried to playback some QuickTime files off the Airport Disk attached to the Dual Band. On the Gigabit AEBS N, the files all play smooth without any dropped frames (even during substantial network activities). On the Dual Band, frames were dropping every few seconds (even during an otherwise idle network load). When I look at the Airport menu (holding down Option), the Transmit Rate fluctuates between 300 and 1 every few seconds.
Does this mean I now have 2 defective AEBS? Can someone shed some light on this? We would really appreciate any help.
PS: When I take a peek in the "Wireless Clients" pane in Airport Util under the Dual Band, the Rate for the 2 AXs are hovering between 1 and 5. Does this sound right?

I am in a similar situation. I purchased a new dual-band Extreme to replace the older G spaceship with the intent of extending both bands with 2 Expresses, one a new N and other an older G. I extended the N band successfully with the N Express, but when I tried to configure the older G Express I couldn't get the dual band to recognize it when WDS was selected. When I choose "join the existing network" the dual band connected to it, but of course this didn't extend the range.
My first call to Apple Support indicated that I could only extend one or the other with an Express, and that I would have to buy a second dual band Extreme if I wanted to extend the range of both bands at the same time. I took this to mean that I would set up the 2nd unit would act as a dual remote to "extend the network." I returned the new N Express and got a second dual band Extreme, but before I opened it up I checked with another Apple "product specialist", who then told me that I could NOT use the 2nd dual band Extreme to extend both bands at the same time.....only one or the other. According to this guy I would need to hook both routers up together with an ethernet cable, then I could extend each network separately with the Expresses.
There has to be a better way to accomplish this.

Airport Extreme and Airport Express on Ethernet Wired Network

I recently did work on my house and now have the house hard-wired for ethernet. I have an AirPort Extreme in my home office. That signal does not reach past the old part of the house (brick apparently blocks some of the signal). So I want to use my Airport Express in the new part of the house to have wireless in the new part as well.
Currently, I have the Airport Extreme plugged into the network, with the Airport Express plugged into the network in the new room. I get wireless connection in the office, but not in the new room.
I am not sure how to configure the base stations.
-- Do I need to use WDS? I am not currently, because each wireless router has its own independent wired link to the network.
-- Do I need to call the wireless networks by different names? Currently I have them both called the same thing.
-- Do I need to set the Airports for a different channel? Currently I have one on 10 and one on 11.
This should be very simple. Unfortunately, my experience has been that the Express base station is very difficult to configure, very quirky and not for the average user.
BTW, the Express is hooked up to the stereo and iTunes plays through that-- but remember it is a hard wired connection. Also both Airports show up in the Admin Utility, so no problem there.
Thanks.
~aviduser
1. Macintosh SE (1988)
2. PowerBook 180 (1993)
3. PowerMacintosh 7600 (1996)
4. PowerMacintosh G4 (2001)
5. PowerBook G4 12" (2003)
(Oh yeah, and there was the Newton MP2k)
G4 867 Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Do you have another router?
If not:
Connecting them together via Ethernet should be done like this:
Internet -> [WAN] AEBS [LAN] --> AirPort Express
The AirPort Express should so that the option to distribute IP addresses is disabled. The AEBS and Express should have the same network name and encryption configuration. The AEBS and Express should be on different channels.
This configuration will put all the computers on the same subnet. All of the computers will get IP addresses from the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS).
OR connecting them via wireless should be done through WDS. The hardware connection should be done like this:
Internet -> [WAN] AEBS
The AirPort Express should not be connected to Ethernet.
See KB 107454, AirPort Extreme and Express: Using WDS to create a network from multiple base stations.
If you do have a router, then both AEBS and Express should be configured so that the option to distribute IP addresses is disabled. The hardware connections should be set up like this:
Internet -> router -+-> [WAN] AEBS [LAN]
....................|-> AirPort Express
The AEBS and Express should have the same network name and encryption configuration. The AEBS and Express should be on different channels.
This configuration will put all the computers on the same subnet. All of the computers will get IP addresses from the router.

Adding Express to a 802.11n Extreme

When I work through the directions (such as they are) I get a prompt that says my Airport Admin Utility software needs to be updated, go to apple.com/support for the latest. I've followed every circuitous path I could try to get the latest update, but without luck. Anyone know (in a couple of steps) where I can locate it? I've tried support, downloads and found a boatload of Extreme and Express updates, but no Admin Utility updates. Thanks

first reset your airport express to factory default. if your airport express is new u can skip that step.
now open airport utility and it should recognise the presence of your express. highlight the express and click continue.
when the airport utility prompts u to switch networks click switch. u then have the option of using your airport express or adding it to your extreme base station to send airtunes to your stereo just follow the prompts and its easy from here on. don't worry your extreme will remain your primary base station if u select the airtunes option.
to reset your airport express: press the rest button and while holding button down connect it to a power socket. a green light will blink 4 times and turn amber/yellow and its done u have reset the airport express

Time Capsule gives MobileMe/Apple ID password error after adding Express

I have a 1st Gen Time Capsule at the top of my network plugged into my cable modem. I just purchased one of the new Airport Expresses to extned my network.
I plugged the Airport Express in and used the iOS "Airport Utility" app to set it up. The utility (both on the the iOS and on my Mac) show the new Airport Express with a green light and connected. However, my Time Capsule now has a warning error with an orange light.
On the iOS device, it says "Unrecognized Apple ID or password--An Apple ID or password is incorrect. Enter the correct Apple ID and password and try again." Of course, on the iOS, there's no way to enter it, so I went to the Mac's Airport Utility (I have both 5.6 and 6.0, but I used 5.6). On the Mac's Airport Utility, the error says that the MobileMe member name or password is incorrect. (Note, wireless continues to work--I just have the error).
Since the Mac's utility asks to correct the MobileMe username/password, I type those in and let it update. I know that I am typing the correct username/password, but the error continues to occur. I could click "ignore this issue" on the iOS Airport Utility and all lights so green, but the issue shouldn't be there to begin with. I'd like to figure out what is causing the error. Is there another location that I should be entering the information?
I do have a separate Apple ID, but it's asking for my MobileMe credentials (which migrated over to iCloud).
It's bizarre that the NEW device has no errors and my wireless is still working. But the original Time Capsule which was working fine with no errors, now has an error after adding the new device.

Crazy, but attempting to fix the information in Airport Utility 6.0 worked fine--but it wouldn't work in AU 5.6.
It does seem odd that I couldn't attempt to fix the username/password issue from within the iOS app to begin with. It told me what the error was, but didn't seem to give me a place to edit the information.

Adding Express to new AEBS network

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