Airport Express disconnects every 5mins (Client Mode)

Hi all,
I recently bought an Airport Express (n) so I could stream music to my Hi-Fi and bridge my Xbox 360.
I have configured the AX to connect to my existing wireless network which is served up by a Billion 7800n router (G+N mode).
However, every 5 minutes it disconnects from the network, here are sample of the logs..
Dec 16 06:29:45 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:34:59 Severity:5 Disconnected from network.
Dec 16 06:35:05 Severity:5 Joined BSS 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:35:05 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:40:10 Severity:5 Disconnected from network.
Dec 16 06:40:16 Severity:5 Joined BSS 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:40:16 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:45:21 Severity:5 Disconnected from network.
Dec 16 06:45:27 Severity:5 Joined BSS 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:45:27 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:50:33 Severity:5 Disconnected from network.
Dec 16 06:50:38 Severity:5 Joined BSS 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:50:39 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
Dec 16 06:55:44 Severity:5 Disconnected from network.
Dec 16 06:55:49 Severity:5 Joined BSS 00:04:ed:9b:bf:39
I'm using WPA2 AES encryption, wireless is on a non-competing channel and the airport is only 2-3 meters away from the router in the same room.
Things I've tried are upgrading Router firmware to latest (1.6), switching Wi-Fi channels, enabling B mode on the router (BGN) but nothing seems to work.
I don't think it's interference as it disconnects almost every 5 minutes which suggests some config/hardware issue.
Anyone have any ideas? I've hit a brick wall.
Thanks...

Update:
This appears to be by design? - connection doesn't drop when using AirTunes/Airfoil which is what I bought it for.
However I thought the Ethernet port wouldn't work when used in Client mode (according to the FAQ). I was able to connect my Xbox 360 to the AX when in Client mode using a network cable and it is able to connect to Xbox Live. When doing this it drops off on the 5 minute intervals when the AX disconnects and reconnects.
I guess if I used AirTunes at the same time as the X360 it would work.
Would be nice if it worked as a stable bridge in client mode as I could bin off my other wireless bridges. Never mind - I ain't forking out for another AX so I can use "Apple's" WDS.
Message was edited by: MonkeeBoy_UK

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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)
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AirPort Tab
-Name and password were changed
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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?
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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
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Airport Express Ethernet Port in Client Mode Please

Hi,
I am writing here as I can find anywhere to post feedback on Airport Express. I would really like to see the Ethernet port work in client mode. I am sure not the only one (a search on the net tells me so). If someone from apple could explain why this is not possible, I would be interested so that this subject can be put to rest.
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Simple reason - Apple's engineers made a design decision not to support it. Speculation as to the reasons for that decision are not permitted in these forums. Apple won't tell us here either, since their employees don't post to these forums on matters of this nature.
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(ref: Page 46 of "Designing AirPort Networks Using AirPort Utility).

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I have had an Airport Express for 3 years and it sometimes disconnects after a few minutes. Actually, it more looks like that the Airport crashes: the "PC Link" light on the cable modem goes off, the Airport lights go off and I cannot find my Airport Network any more on my computer.
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First, my mistake: I have an Airport Extreme base, not Express.
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Powerbook G4 12in 867MHz Mac OS X (10.4.6)
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Hi all,
My airport express keeps disconnecting repeatedly. It's connected to a router via ethernet, using DHCP, and in bridge mode, to create a wireless network, has all the latest updates and it has been reset.
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Welcome to the discussions!
Temporarily, can you connect a short ethernet cable to the Express and let it run for a few hours as a test to see if the connection drops continue?
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I phoned Apple Care and brought the AirPort to the Apple Store

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My AirPort Express is disconnecting after some time of usage... It disappears in AirPort Utility and internet connection is lost. This happens to both my & my sisters computers which are both MacBooks. The only solution I found to solve this is plugging it out, and back in mechanically. This way it's solved for some time but it gets disconnected again..
So, I would like to find some solution to fix it forever. Thank You.

Hi, all -
I'm having the same problem, but may be able to add a few more clues:
I bought a new AirPort Express (version 7.3.2) over the holidays to stream music (only), and have successfully added it as a client to my existing wireless (WPA2) network. When I plug it in near my stereo, it eventually connects to the network and shows the solid green light, and is picked up by Airport Utility (version 5.3.2) on my IBM Thinkpad T42, and plays music from iTunes (version 8.0.2) to my stereo speakers just like I'd hoped.
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Perform the Factory Default Reset one more time. Hold the reset button until the amber light has been blinking rapidly for 8-10 seconds before you release the reset button
Run the setup wizard, and wait for screen similar to this to appear, then click on Other Options:
Select the Add to an existing network option, then click Next and follow the prompts.
If you are still having difficulty, try running the setup utility on an iPhone or iPad, since Yosemite has a number of bugs in the setup process.

Airport express disconnect

Although it used to workk seamlessly, the Airport Express keeps disconnecting after a little while. This means that every time I want to stream, I have to reconnect, and then works perfectly, until I come back the next day and find it gone...
has anyone had the same problem? any idea on how to fix it? thank you in advance!

Is your AirPort Express Base Station (AX) the only wireless router in your current network configuration? That is, is it connected directly to the Internet modem and not to another router upstream of it?
Do you happen to live in an area with a high concentration of other Wi-Fi networks present, like in an apartment, condo, or dorm complex?
Finally, did you make any software/firmware updates recently that may be the origin of this new issue?

Airport Express disconnects every 5mins (Client Mode)

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