Airport express cannot connect to network

I have a Time Capsule connecting my internal network to the internet. I wanted to extend this so I could have more coverage in the back yard, so I got an Airport Express. I've gone through the setup several times, both wirelessly and using an ethernet cable connected to my Time Capsule, but after restarting, the Express simply does not connect to my network. I've done a hard reset by depressing the button on its bottom before every attempt. I followed the instructions here http://bit.ly/p5MVzv. When I first tried to set it up, it did not appear in the Airport Utility. I had to give it a reset. After every reset, it will show up in the utility, and I can configure it, but after I click the update button, the device restarts, shows a solid amber light, indicating its starting up. After a few minutes, the light begins to flash amber, a few minutes later, the utility says it can't find it and the unit just keeps flashing amber, until I reset it again.
I'm at a loss, can someone offer some advice? I've had my Time Capsule for about 4 months and the express two days.

The first order of business is to make sure that the Time Capsule is configured correctly for the wireless network extension. Keep the AirPort Express (AX) powered off for now.
Open AirPort Utility -Select the Time Capsule - Click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab just below the row of icons
Make sure that there is a check mark next to "Allow this network to be extended"
Jot down the name of the Time Capsule wireless network and the exact security setting for the wireless network (probably WPA2 Personal)
Click Update to save any changes and allow 25-30 seconds for the Time Capsule to restart.
Move the AirPort Express near your computer and the Time Capsule
Perform a Factory Default Reset on the AirPort Express (AX) as follows:
Power off the AX if it is on
Wait a few minutes
Hold in the reset button and keep holding the reset button in for another 10-12 seconds while you plug the AX back in to power
Release the reset button and give the AX about 40-45 seconds to restart, at which time the amber light will be blinking slowly
Connect the AX to your Mac with a good Ethernet cable that you know is working correctly
Open AirPort Utility -Select the AX - Click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab below the row of icons to name the AX, assign a device password and adjust Time Zone settings
Click the Wireless tab
Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Exact same name as your Time Capsule wireless network
Enter a check mark next to "Allow wireless clients"
Wireless Security = Exact same setting as the Time Capsule wireless network
Wireless Password = Same password as the Time Capsule wireless network
Confirm Password
Click Update to save settings
As soon as you see the message that the settings have been stored, close AirPort Utility immediately and disconnect the Ethernet cable
Wait 40-45 seconds for the AX to restart and you should have a green light
Locate the AX approximately half way between the Time Capsule and the area that needs more wireless coverage. Minimize obstructions in the signal path as much as possible for best results
Power up the AirPort Express and you should have a green light in 40-45 seconds
Post back on your results

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AirPort Express cannot connect in client mode when encryption used

I'm trying to set up my brand new AirPort Express in client mode to stream my music wirelessly to my receiver, which is on another floor of my house. I can't get it to associate with my Linksys WRV200 wireless router when using any kind of encryption. It works fine with encryption disabled, but I really don't want to leave that kind of security hole in my network.
-Equipment-
AirPort Extreme - v6.3 firmware
AirPort Admin - v4.2
WRV200 - v1.0.12 firmware (latest version)
Dell desktop with Windows XP SP2 (Running iTunes 6.0.5.20)
Dell laptop with Windows XP SP2 (running AirPort Admin)
IBM laptop with Fedora Core 5 (for connection testing)
-Procedure-
Various encryption methods were set on the WRV200's primary SSID and matching settings were set on the AirPort. All changes to the AirPort Extreme were done wirelessly with AirPort Admin 4.2 on Windows XP SP2+latest updates. Here are the changes from default that I made on the AirPort:
AirPort Tab
-Name and password were changed
-Wireless mode was set to "Join an existing wireless network (wireless client)"
-Network name was changed but stayed consistent throughout the tests
-Security setting was changed for each test
Internet Tab
-DHCP or manual IP were specified depending on the test.
Music Tab
-"Enable Air Tunes" was checked
-A name was given to the share
-Results-
No Encryption - iTunes sees the AirPort Extreme and can stream music to it. This works in both DHCP and manual IP mode. Interestingly enough, when set to DHCP, it grabs the same address as the manual one I input, which isn't the next one in sequence for the DHCP server (192.168.1.250 instead of 192.168.1.103)
128 bit WEP - Flashing orange light on the AirPort, no DHCP lease, no connection. Still doesn't work when a manual IP address is provided.
WPA2 Personal - Solid green light for 10 seconds, then two amber flashes and back to solid green. I can see association requests in my router's log every 10 seconds or so while this is going on. The strange light pattern only happens when a manual IP is selected. I still see the association requests when DHCP is selected, but the light on the AirPort just flashes amber all the time.
I know that the router's working correctly as my Linux and Windows laptops can DHCP and connect to the Internet with WEP or WPA2, but for some reason I can't connect the AirPort Express to the wireless router when I use encryption. I'd switch out the Linksys box, but I don't know of any other consumer-level wireless routers that allow multiple simultaneous wireless SSIDs.
Does anyone have a suggestion of what to try next?
AirPort Express Other OS

One of the problems with WEP is that the actual standard relies on a 10 character HEX key for 40bit WEP and a 26 character HEX key for 128bit WEP.
In order to make things easier for people, vendors use certain algorithms to convert simple alphanumeric passwords (or passphrases) into HEX keys, thus enabling people to use simple memorable WEP password rather than lengthy HEX keys.
The problem is that different vendors use different algorithms to generate the HEX key and therefore a ASCII password on an AEBS will be hashed differently on a Netgear client and vice versa.
One thing is a 13 character 128 bit WEP password will be hashed by all vendors in the same way (if you use 40bit WEP then a 5 character password is required).
Though sometimes not even that works and the HEX key must be used regardless.
AirPort: Joining an encrypted wireless network
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106424
Choosing a password for networks that use Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108058

Can Slingbox solo be plugged into the Ethernet port on airport express to connect to network?

Slim box requires a wired connection to your network unless you purchase their sling link to create a wireless connection through your home electrical outlets. Can an airport express be used instead? Would the sling box plug into the Ethernet port on the express or though the USB port.

It may be possible as the 802.11n AirPort Express can be configured to enable its Ethernet port for wired clients in one of two methods: 1) The Express is extending another AirPort, or 2) The Express is configured as a wireless Ethernet bridge.

Airport Express cannot connect to Netgear WNAP210

I changed my old netgear access point (WG602) to a netgear WNAP210. I cannot connect my airport express to the base station, neighter as access point nor as repeater. The WNAP210 is on standard configuration. I tried WPA, WPA2 and no protection but I was not possible to connect.
Which settings do I need that I can use the WNAP210 as base station and the airport express as repeater?
Which setting do I need that I can use the WNAP210 as base station and the airport express as access point just for listening music?

WOW so after all that it turns out somehow in memory even after a factory reset it was looking for my original SSID which was on dual 2.4 and 5 ghz when I first set it up..after some more troubleshooting I hooked it up to my PC with factory settings and couldn't even find the 5 ghz SSID..after that I disabled the 2.4 ghz SSID completely from the router and then I couldn't see anything..after more troubleshooting I renamed the SSID name to something new and now the airport connected to the 5 ghz, re-enabled the 2.4 with a new name and everything is working great! Thank goodness!

ITunes 8 / Airport Express Cannot Connect To Speakers

I upgraded to iTunes 8 today for Windows and now when I try to connect to my Airport Express remote speakers I get "An error occurred while connecting to the remote speaker <name>" An unknown error occurred (-3256). The Airport Express Admin Utility sees the airport express and can retrieve it's configuration, but iTunes can no longer use it as a remote speaker. Any ideas?

answer w/ links:
go to:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airportexpressfirmwareupdate63formacosx.h tml
download the firmware updater for your type of airport, then run the application.
after the firmware is updated, you will have to wait for a bit to get your internet connection back. once it is, restart iTunes. worked for me. if it still isn’t working, you probably need to run software updater (use sherlock to find it if you don't use it regularly) and update the software for your airport as well.

Airport Express Cannot Connect to Third Party WPA Network

I am using a Buffalo wireless router using WPA encryption as my access point and am trying to add AE to the network for airtunes. Each time I try and have my AE connect, I end up with flashing amber light and have to do a soft reset (also have tried hard resets). The AE will connect if I turn off encryption on the Buffalo router altogether. I am entering the password correctly, too.
Any ideas what I am doing wrong?

Ok, I managed to figure this one out myself. Turns out that the AEX cannot handle WPA-AES encryption. Once I lowered the encryption to WPA-TKIP everything worked fine.
Go figure.

Help!! can't get my airport express to connect to my network

I have set up my airport express to connect to my network so I can play itunes with it but it says that the Airport has been set up but cannot connect To my network. I've tried it on both my computer and my wife's computer and we have the same problem. I have been able to connect in the past with my Airport express that I had for this one but for some reason I can't seem to connect it using this airport express. Any help would be much appreciated.

When joining a non-Apple WEP encrypted wireless network with an AirPort, you must use one of two different styles for password entry depending on whether the network is protected with an ASCII or HEX key.
ASCII password
If using a password that is plain ASCII text, use the double quotation mark (") before and after the password. These are case-sensitive, and they are at least five characters long for 40-bit encrypted networks or at least 13 characters long for 128-bit encrypted networks.
Hexadecimal password
If using a password that uses only the hexadecimal range of characters, add a dollar sign ($) before the password. These passwords are at least 10 characters long for 40-bit encrypted networks or at least 26 characters long for 128-bit encrypted networks.

AirPort Express not connecting to my network

I have an AirPort express that I was using as it's own router that I now want to connect to the network at my parents' house so I can use AirTunes with their amazing stereo. I am having problems getting it set up though.
I plugged it in, and went to adjust the settings on my AirPort from sharing its own wireless connection to joining an existing connection. After I did this is when I ran into issues. It found the existing network just fine, and I entered the password (WEP key) and everything, just fine. After a few steps like that, I got the confirmation screen "please wait while the AirPort Express resets" blah blah blah.
After it resets, my AirPort Utility can't find it anymore. I can click "rescan" a hundred times, but nothing happens. I have a flashing amber light.
I thought it might be the WEP key problem, so I adjusted the settings on my parents' router (Netgear... not my favorite) so that the network is secured via WPA. I did a hard reset on the AirPort, followed all the steps again, said that i wanted to join the existing connection, found the network, entered the password all just like before and the same problem. I have tried doing hard resets about 5 times now seeing if I missed something in one of the steps and I can't find what I have missed.
Still have the flashing amber light.
Someone help me! I am stuck.

After many, what seemed like, hours and hours of trial and error, I finally got my AirPort Express to join my network via 802.11n.
My network setup:
A Linksys 802.11g router set with no security, MAC Filter, G-Only
A Linksys 802.11g access point set with WPA-PSK (TKIP) G-Only
A TrendNet 802.11n access point set with WPA-PSK (TKIP) N-Only
All are on different channels.
I have 8 devices that are wirelessly connected.
Symtom:
AirPort Express will extend or join a network on 802.11g networks.
AirPort Express will not extend or join my 802.11n network.
Solution:
After trying many many different setting combinations, I was NOT able to get AirPort Express to extend my 802.11n network. But that didn't matter since I want to set up AX as bridge.
AirPort Express will join my 802.11n network after I configured the access point security to WPA2-PSK (AES). I've confirmed it a few times. AX fails to connect whenever I set wpa algorithm to TKIP. This is not a problem on 802.11g mode. This was a pain since some of my devices can't do AES. At this point, AX connects to the network and I can connect devices to the ethernet port and the devices can grab an ip address from the router but cannot access network beyond AX. Can't even ping the router.. only the AX.
After a while I decided to configure TrendNet AP to limit Channel Bandwidth to 20Mhz HT Green Field and lo and behold, I have internet access. Again, this required reconfiguring my other wireless network since Green Field mode interferes with 802.11 b/g networks. I'm not sure if Green Field is necessary but I'm too frustrated to try to go back to Mixed mode. In any case, setting the bandwidth to 20/40 definitely does not work.. which kinda *****.
Anyway. Now, I have AX running in Bridge mode connected to a switch and a few machines happily connected to the switch and accessing the internet. I'm too spent to tinker anymore with this network.
Hope this is useful to someone.

How to connect a 2nd airport express in a home network?

I'm triying to connect a second airport express in my home network but when I plug in and go to Airpot Utility says :
"This version of AirPort Utility doesn’t support this base station. Go to AirPort Service and Support for more information."
I don't know what to do to get connect the second airport exprees?, Do I miss something ?

You need AirPort Utility 5.6 to configure that model Express. The problem with that version is that Mountain Lion will refuse to let you install it.
This dilemma is easily solved. You simply need to extract the app from the installer package using a package extractor like Pacifist or unpkg. Pacifist is shareware, unpkg is free.
Download Pacifist here: http://www.charlessoft.com/
Download unpkg here: http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/
Download AirPort Utility 5.6 here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
When the AirPort Utility .dmg file finishes downloading, open it to expand and reveal the AirPortUtility56.pkg package installer file.
Directions for Pacifist (I do not have screenshots for unpkg but the idea is similar):
Open Pacifist and from its File menu, navigate to the package and open it.
Click the "reveal triangles" until you see AirPort Utility 5.6.app:
Select it and then click Install from Pacifist's toolbar. It will then be installed in your Utilities folder, and you can quit Pacifist.
Mountain Lion will not allow you to delete its existing version of AirPort Utility. Just ignore it. It and the older version (which will bear the unique name "AirPort Utility 5.6") can peacefully coexist.
If you happen to have an archived copy of the AU 5.6 app somewhere, such as a Time Machine backup or equivalent, you can simply restore it or drag the app to your Mountain Lion system's Utilities folder instead of resorting to the above procedure. It will run without complaint. It is only the package installer that is the problem.
If you have an older computer with a version of AirPort Utility earlier than 6.0, you can administer it that way as well.

Can I use the Airport Express to connect to a Linksys Wireless Network and then use the Ethernet port on the Airport for a wired connection to a device for internet access? Would I be able to then also use that Ethernet pt to a Ntwk Hub for more wired c

Thanks for the help. Looked but not clear on what I am trying to do as being possible. Can I use an Airport Express to connect wireless to a Linksys Wireless Router, such that I can then use the Ethernet ports on the Airport to either connected to a PC wired, or even use a hub off the Airport Express to allow multiple wired connections to it?
I am not looking to have the Airport Express extend my wireless network, just connect to it and provide me wired connections in a different location from where my Linksys Route is located. Would prefer to replace Linksys with all Apple, but just not possible financially yet. Thanks for the help.

If the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) is an 802.11n model, then yes, you can reconfigure it as a wireless Ethernet bridge. In this configuration, the AX would join the wireless network provided by the Linksys router and its Ethernet port would be enabled for either a single wired device or for an Ethernet hub or switch for multiple devices.

How to Connect Airport Express to Existing Wireless Network (Client Mode)

I am posting this for everyone tearing their hair out trying to connect the Airport Express to your own existing home wireless network. After spending 2 hours last night installing this on my father-in-law's home network, I hope to be able to save someone else the agony we went through.
So here's the situation:
Say you already have your own home network set up, and all you want is to be able to use AirTunes to play music off iTunes into your speaker system. And, you don't need the printer sharing capability nor creation of another wireless network (2 of the features of Airport Express). Then this solution is for you - read on.
Unfortunately, Apple's user manual is very unclear how to connect Airport Express to your own network. When you look at the picture diagram they provide, they show Airport Express picking up its signal from another Apple-oriented base. This can make you think you need to buy another piece of hardware to make it work. DON'T If you read through the manual, the Support section here, etc., you will hear lots of talk about "Client Mode" - and that this is the only way to get it to work. Nice - but no one really tells you how to set up the Airport in client mode.
Do yourself a favor, toss that user manual aside and run these steps.
(Note: These directions assume your DSL/Cable Modem is hooked up to a wireless router or acts as its own wireless router)
1. Get a cat5 Ethernet cable (anything but an orange cable - that's a crossover cable) like you would use to connect your PC to your router to pick up the Internet.
2. Connect the Ethernet cable to the router on one end, and to the Airport Express unit on the other end.
3. Plug in your Airport Express unit to the wall (this will not necessarily become its permanent location - you will be able to move it later). The light will glow solid Amber for about 30-45 seconds while it starts up, then blink Amber. At this point, the unit is ready to operate.
4. Install the CD to the PC where your iTunes music is stored. This should be painless. Once you open the program, it should detect the Airport unit.
5. At this point, the on-screen wizard will present you with your options, and walk you through the setup. This is much like the user manual describes - and you should be good to go form here forward.
Some pointers:
- When asked if you want to create a new network, join an existing network, or connect via Ethernet, choose the middle option for joining an existing network. You will need to know the name of your network, the password to connect to the network (if present), and the type of encryption used on the network (e.g. WEP, WPA, etc.). Side note, WPA is recommended, as it is a higher level of security than WEP. You will be able to configure the Airport Express unit to automatically login to your network.
- I would recommend, when creating a password for the Airport Express unit, use the same password as your network, to avoid confusion.
6. The very last step will ask you to save the settings to the Airport Express. Here's the kicker - when you save the settings, you are TRICKING the Airport Express into no longer acting as a network broadcaster, but instead being a "slave" to your own network. What do I mean? You will lose the connection from your PC to the Airport Express - an error message will pop up telling you the unit can no longer be found. While you might think you did something wrong, you actually were successful!
7. Unplug your Airport Express, and disconnect the Ethernet cable from your router and the Airport unit. This will no longer be needed.
8. Go to your desired location where you want to plug in your Airport Express unit. Before plugging it in, connect your Audio cable from the Airport Express to your audio receiver. Once that is connected, then plug in the Airport Express unit. The light will glow solid Amber for 30-45 seconds while it loads, and then will blink Amber for a brief period of time before turning solid GREEN. When this happens, you have successfully connected the Airport Express to your home network!
9. Go back to your PC with iTunes. Open the Airport software - you should now have a listing for your Airport Express unit in the upper left. Click on this, and the wizard will guide you through connecting - you will need the password you created for the unit. You only need to go through this wizard once, and when finished, the software will tell you that can now use iTunes with your Airport unit.
10. Open iTunes. On the lower right, you will see a dropdown for Speakers, and it should be defaulted to My Computer. Click on that drop-down, and you will see the name of your Airport unit. Click on that name, and now your music will broadcast to the Airport unit!
11. Play a song in iTunes. Go to your audio receiver, and connect it to the channel for your external connection to the Airport Express unit. You should hear your music from iTunes. CONGRATULATIONS! =)
I hope these instructions were helpful - I am happy to answer any questions, so feel free to contact me, *******************@*****.**.
<Edited by Moderator>

Thanks for the detailed directions. You are absolutely correct in stating that people should toss the user manual; it's pretty worthless. I have had a problem setting up my new Airport Express as I have described in an earlier post - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1839873&tstart=45
One quick question - does using your setup process set the AE up as part of a distributed network where the AE is acting as a wireless router where it is extending the range of your network? Or, is it simply a wireless connection to your stereo for iTunes? I am interested in having both, since my AE will be at the other end of the house from the main wireless router.
Thanks

Do I need to have Airport Express to connect to other computers on our homer network?

Do I need to have Airport Express to connect to other computers on our homer network?

Not necessarily. You could use the "Create Network" feature of your MBP's built-in AirPort card to provide an Ad-hoc wireless network for local wireless-capable computers to connect to.

I have a MacPro 2008 workstation without Airport or Airport Extreme CArd isntalled. Can I use Airport Express to connect (wireless) to my wireless network? If so, can I then connect my Airport Extreme to my MAcPro by a ethernetcable ?

I have a MacPro 2008 workstation. It has no Airport/Airport card so I have to use an ethernetcable to connect to my modem. As the MAcpro
is in my office in the attic and the wireless modem is in the basement I have a problem. I wonder if it is possible to use Airport Express to connect to the wireless network? Itshould be like this: in my office I connect the MacPro with AE through an ethernet cable. If I can then get AE to connect (wireless...) to my wireless network I should be ablle to connect my MacPro to internet/wireless network. Is this possible???? Any suggestions are very much appriciated. Thank you.

Apple calls this configuration a ProxySTA.
To activate ProxySTA, you must set up the Express to join a wireless network and then enable the Allow Ethernet Clients setting; both settings are located in the Wireless tab of AirPort Utility.

Hello I have 2 seperate airport express systems on my network, each connecting to a stereo in a different room. suddenly, the one in the living room will not stop flashing amber, but the one in the bedroom works fine. I have already tried resetting it

Hello
I have 2 seperate airport express systems on my network, each connecting to a stereo in a different room. suddenly, the one in the living room will not stop flashing amber, but the one in the bedroom works fine. I have already tried resetting it with a pin, resetting it while plugging it in, and trying to find it in airport express setup (the setup assistant can't find it at all).
What am i doing wrong?

How do I configure the AX to connect to the hub's wireless network? It will only scan one base station Airport Express at a time in the Airport Utility. I think what I am trying to do is use the hub as a router to the two AX's. Is there a specific way to set this up?
To set up the AX to join a wireless network as a "Wireless Client," using the AirPort Utility, either connect to the AX's wireless network or temporarily connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to the Ethernet port of the AX, and then, try these settings:
Launch the AirPort Utility.
Select the AX.
If not already connected to the AX's wireless network, go ahead and switch to it when prompted.
AirPort Utility > Select the AX > Manual Setup > AirPort > Wireless
Wireless Mode: Join a wireless network
Network Name: <type in the network name/SSID of the wireless network that you want to join or select it from the pop-up menu>
Wireless Security: None OR, if you are using security on your wireless network:
Wireless Security: <Select the appropriate level of security for the existing wireless network: WPA/WPA2 Personal | WPA2 Personal>
Password: <enter your wireless network security password>
Verify Password: <re-enter the same security password>
Click Update to write the new settings to the AX.

Can multiple Airport Expresses be connected via ethernet to an Airport Extreme to extend a single WiFi Network?

I am a big fan of both the Airport Extreme and Airport Express. In my work environment, I need to create a good quality single wireless network around 2 large aircraft hangars and some offices at the perimeters. We have a good quality wired Cat5e ethernet network extended between the buildings and offices now. Is this possible and does it seem like a good practical solution? I think that 4 or 5 Airport expresses would easily provide good wireless coverage in the needed areas.

Can multiple AirPort Expresses be connected via ethernet to an AirPort Extreme to extend a single WiFi Network?
Yes, this will work just fine as long as any individual Ethernet cable run will not exceed much over 330 feet or about 100 meters.

Airport express cannot connect to network

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