AE Base station getting weak?
I have an Airport Extreme Base Station in my office and an Airport Express in my living room to stream music. It has worked well but for a while now we've been experiencing the signal dropping and weak between the two units. I installed istumbler and the signal of my Base Station is between 70 & 80% with my Macbook sitting two feet away from it. The Express signal is between 15 & 25% and I'm maybe 40 feet away from it.
My Base Station is a few years old, model A1143. The Express is model A1264.
Could my AEBS be giving up the ghost and needing replacement?
There have been four AirPort Extreme generations incorporating several significant improvements since your model was produced. Their performance does not degrade over time but due to those improvements you are likely to benefit from a newer model of both the Extreme as well as the Express.
Wireless interference from competing wireless networks and devices is a common and growing problem. That may explain what appears to be signal degradation.
Similar Messages
-
Very weak Airport Extreme Base Station signal...
Hi --
I've been searching the forums here for some solution but haven't been able to find anything. I'm trying to upgrade my parent's wireless network in their home and they've had an Airport Extreme base station for a couple of years now. I recently switched them to broadband which is much faster than the crappy DSL they used to have but the problem that still exists (one that they've always had) is an incredibly weak Airport Base Station signal.
I've tried using different laptops and computers on it, but all of them register the same weak signal. Having my laptop 12 inches from the base station only gives me three bars. From three feet away it drops to two and anything over six feet is a 1 bar or nothing and that's all int he same room. Trying to access it from an adjacent room is fruitless.
Like I said, it's like this for all computers I've tested. Anyone know what's up with this? Is the base station on the fritz? I have the latest software update for it as far as I know.
Thanks.That's a good, helpful list but we don't really have any of those potential interfereces. Like I said, this signal is down to two bars from five feet away and only three bars from literally six inches away, so there's really not a lot of room for intererence from that distance anywat.
I've seen people wondering if the latest firmware update for Airport might be causing this, but I'm wondering if the Airport base station itself is maybe in the fritz. I guess I could try getting a new one. Anyone else out there have any other ideas? -
Intermittent Weak Signal; is base station dying? (Graphite)
I have a graphite base station running through a Netgear router and then a cable modem. For the past few months I've been experiencing an intermittent weak signal, which makes internet browsing extremely frustrating. There are 3 computers that use the internet through the base station - 2 running Jaguar, 1 with Panther. (Planning to update the Jaguars to Tiger very soon). The base station has been in the same location for years. This seems to be a dense wireless location, so I suspected interference. So, I tried several things including changing the channel several times, physically moving the station somewhat, changing multicast rate, changing password, etc. Though there are times when I do get a relatively normal speed internet transmission, I'm still experiencing the random periods of extreme slowness. The slowness seems to occur most often when I've been online for awhile or late in the day.
Any opinions? Should I think about replacing the base station or is it possible that some interference problems are insurmountable? Other ideas? Thanks for suggestions.
JenNo, there isn't any unusual LED behavior. The signal/transmission is just very very slow sometimes.
The utility program connects and functions normally. Also, I checked the router via an ethernet cable. It is running normally, at normal speed. The problem appears to be occurring in the ABS (v 3.84). -
since latest update to airport extreme im getting 10 unknown base stations and time caps showing up as though they are a part of my network. sometimes i can "forget" them and they will disappear initially but soon return. i need and want only my connection inside my home . any ideas. i have done a factory reset and set up a new network but they continue to show up.
I'm not convinced that the problem lies in Airport Utility. This same thing was happening to me, nearly exactly as you describe it. The thing is that with me, the problems clearly started when I updated the firmware in my Airport Express (n). That's when all the wacky stuff started happening. Sometimes it would show up in AU, sometimes it didn't and even if it didn't, I could still access the internet through it.
But as you said, the problems got really bad when another Express (b/g) was put on the network with it. Even when it did work, the (b/g) would make it impossibly slow.
You know more about this than me, and clearly have more patience if you've restarted the network fifty times. I gave up at about ten.
In any case, your solution is more of a work around and if you're still having that slow connection problem, I'm not sure you've got it. But thanks for your reporting of this. At least I know I'm not crazy. -
How do I get a VPN acct accessed using Airport Extreme Base station?
I have PC running Windows 2000. For my job, I access a hospital VPN at home. In my home, I am able to set up the Extreme Base Station for wireless conductivity with computers in my home and all have access internet wirelessly. No problem.
The problem is that I cant get it all to work together. How do I configure the base station to recognize/allow the VPN client to enter my network?
I currently have WEP 128 on. The computer used for VPN is hardwired to the base station. Even with security turn-off, I cant access the VPN via base station set up as it is.
help!
PC Windows 2000I recently got my roommate's Lenovo t43p with VPN to finally work with my Airport Extreme.
1. Open the Airport Utility
2. Double click on your Airport Express on the left side to open up the panel.
3. Click on the "Internet" tab and then select the "DHCP" tab.
4. Click the "+" sign under "DHCP Reservations"
5. Create a name for the profile like "XP Work Laptop" or whatever, and then click Continue
6. You'll need to get your Windows laptop's MAC address which is sometimes under your laptop on a sticker, or you'll have to dig through XP's ridiculous Control Panel to find it.
7. Enter your laptop's MAC address in the field.
8. Lastly, in the 'IPv4 Address" field designate an IP address for your XP laptop that is within your router's range, if you're not sure of the range, the "IPv4 Address" range should be auto-populated with an IP address and you can just try it with that, or if it doesn't work you can change the last number to something higher but no more than like 4-5 digits more.
Hope this helps, Good luck!! -
Directions require that I change settings on the base station on the screen that interent connection, TCP/IP DHCP NAT how do I get to that screen through airport utility.
Then I need to for my express to get to the screen the screen for wireless.
This has changed since last time I did this.
How do I get to the screens.Your existing Extreme might already be configured in Bridge Mode. As long as the Extreme is working now, do not change any settings on the Extreme.
Apple incorrectly assumes that all users are connecting to a simple modem when most users are connecting to gateway devices....combination modem/routers.
You probably are as well and Bridge Mode would be the correct setting when connecting to that type of device. -
Where has my airport utility window gone? When I double click on the airport utility icon all I get is a picture of a globe and a base station with no further options available to modify my airport extreme.
Sorry, you lost me on that last post.
Let's start over again.
Open AirPort Utility on your Mac
Are you asked for a password at this point? If yes, enter the base station or device password that you used when you originally set up the AirPort router. Depending when you did this originally, you might have been given an option to use the same password as the wireless network. If you were not, then you have a separate password for the base station.
You need that password to be able to access the settings for the AirPort router in AirPort Utility.
If you see a window listing basic information, click Edit in the upper right corner of the window.
If you are asked for a password, you must enter the device password or base station password that you established when you first set up the AirPort router as explained above.
If you forgot the password, a Soft Reset will allow you to go in and reset the base station password. Might be a good idea to write down that password.
If you are still stuck, then the only option that you have at this point is to perform a Hard Reset to return the settings to factory defaults and then set up the AirPort router again.
If you prefer, you can also do a Factory Default Reset. It's the same as a Hard Reset except for the timing of holding in the reset button. -
How can I get Time Machine to back up an external hard drive (iPhotos) that is attached to airport extreme base station. Note: Time machine is usb to macbook pro and external drive with iphotos is usb to airport extreme base station. Help please. Thanks!
Once you have the drive connected to your Mac, click System Preferences (gear icon) on the dock
Click Time Machine
Click Options
Be default, the hard drive will be Excluded from backups. Click the drive to highlight it, then click the "-" (minus) button at the bottom of the list to remove the drive from Excluded items.
The drive will be backed up on the next Time Machine pass
Everything above assumes that the hard drive has been formatted in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as Time Machine will only backup drives in that format. -
I deleted Bonjour since I don't need it for remote printing. Now on start-up I get the message: "Airport Base Station Agent has stopped working" and also message: "can't find APAgent.exe.: Do I need AP Agent?? What to do?? Thanks.
The APAgent monitors your AirPort base station and informs you if there are things like firmware updates available. This utility relies on Bonjour, but is not required for base station operation. However, Bonjour makes it easier for your PC to "find" the base station via the AirPort Utility and I would recommend that you keep it installed. If you don't want the APAgent, you can just use the Apple Updater utility (that was also installed when the AirPort Utility was installed) to remove it.
-
My roommates' computers can't get a signal from my Airport base station
I just bought a used Airport Extreme (the round one) off Craig's List and set up a network in my apartment using Airport Utility on my MacBook. I've set it up with WPA, and I can connect to it. Works great....
Until my roommates try to connect from their computers. One is on a ~5 year-old iMac and the other is on a Thinkpad. Their machines can see the SSID but can't get a signal from it or connect to it. I've tried removing the password and unsecuring the network. I've tried resetting the router entirely and reconfiguring. Same story.
I know this is an Apple issue because their machines can connect just fine to our previous crappy router that was slowing down our connection (that was meant to be replaced by the shiny new (used) Airport). I've looked into the WEP / hex key issue mentioned on some forums (eg http://www.macwindows.com/airportpc.html#011408b), but I don't think that Apple/PC compatibility is the issue because one of their machines is an iMac.
Help?Hello amandalotti. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Per chance, do you have Access Controls enabled? (ref: AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > AirPort > Access tab) If so, disable it.
If not, I suggest performing a "factory default" reset on the base station to get it back to its original "out-of-the-box" configuration to see if this will help. -
i have an airport extreme attached to cable, then one airport express to extend the range. when i try to add an additional airport express to extend range in another area of house, can't get it to work. utility says it has found a new base station and asks if i want to use it. if i click yes, then the old setup is disabled.
Ok, thanks for clarifying which models you have. Please see the following Apple Support article on how to configure these older base stations for a Wireless Distribution System (WDS).
-
I cannot get my Vista laptop to print to the printer on the base station
I cannot get my laptop windows pc to wirelessly print to the printer on the base station. the mac have no problem with it. but not the pc vista laptop or xp running on boot camp on my imac Leopard.
How do you make this happen?
It's an HP business Inkjet 1200 bubble jet printer, hooked to my EBSTry resetting the printing system:
OS X Mavericks: Reset the printing system
Next try deleting the system and reinstall the printer..
BTW this is Mac Pro desktop forum -
I have a WiFi system in the house that uses the Airport Extreme for a hub and an older Express for sending music from my Mac to my sound system. Everything worked great till yesterday. When I go to Networks I see the Extreme and I see the Express but the Express is no longer connected and I get an error message "this version of AirPort Utility doesn't support this base station". Any ideas?
This sounds as if you have an older AirPort Express that is no longer supported by the newer Mavericks operating system.
To check and see if that might be the case, locate the model number on the side of the AirPort Express. It will start with an "A" followed by four numbers. Hard to see in the faint print.....so you may need reading glasses or a magnifying class to see the model number clearly.
Model numbers A1084 and A1088 of the AirPort Express are no longer supported by AirPort Utility in Mavericks.
You will need to use a Mac running Leopard, Snow Leopard, or a PC to be able to administer the older AirPort Express. -
Can't get PC laptop to connect to Airport Extreme base station. Help!
I've spent a lot of quality time on the phone with support staff at Apple, Earthlink, and Netgear. Now I turn to you fine folks.
I have an Airport Extreme base station. My G4 is connected to the base station via ethernet, and that works fine. My problem is with the wireless networking with our Dell laptop running Windows XP SP2. Wireless card is a Netgear WG511 with updated firmware. I've configured the network on the PC end using the Netgear Smart Wizard, rather than Windows (I don't know if that makes any difference).
Smart Wizard says the PC is connected to the network, and says that signal strength is excellent. However, there is no connection. I've tried pinging, but get no reply.
The status bar in the Smart Wizard window switches every 2 seconds from "Connected" with excellent signal to "Searching" with virtually no signal. The log shows that it's constantly connecting to and disconnecting from the network.
I've gone over IP and MAC addresses and whatever other settings I could check with all of the respective phone support people. I'm using WPA/WPA2 Personal security, and have double-checked the 13-digit password on both ends. I'm connecting using PPPoE, per Earthlink's settings.
This is maddening! Any suggestions? I'd really appreciate it.
G4 Mac OS X (10.4.10)See if iFelix's suggestions work for you.
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1000.html
Remember all the smart wizard stuff is strickley for PC Hadrware and Software and does you no good at all with a Mac.
Don -
just got a used airport base station. Set it up and getting wif signal. when I try to hook up on a computer it asks for a security key. where can I locate key?
If you mean the hexidecimal equivalent of the alphanumeric password, then you can find this via the AirPort Utility, as follows:
AirPort Utility > Select the AirPort > Manual Setup
On the AirPort Utility's menubar select Base Station > Equivalent Network Password
Maybe you are looking for
-
How do I edit photos on my PC?
I found my pics in my library and clicked on the one I want to edt but there is no editing button there. How do I edit my pics?
-
Why is it taking so long to back up my Ipod
Why is it taking so long to back up my Ipod...it's been backing up for 14 hours now.
-
What does the "conversion error" I get when converting a pdf file to Microsoft word?
What is the "conversion error" I get when converfting a pdf file to aMicrosoft word?
-
Can LVs minimization functions minimize a function with a summation in it?
Hello all, I am trying to minimize U-X, where U is a n point array of measured data, and X=f(U), a n-point summation function of 7 variables: I have made efficient sub-VI's to calculate this function, and normally would solve this using an amoeba lik
-
How do i get to the tool bar choices for safari
Where do i find the choices to add to the tool bar for safari in Lion how do i get to it? also anyone know how we can customize the left side panel on mail??