Airport Express fails to join existing network

Hi,
I have an Airport Express (old model) which I wanted to connect to an existing wireless network in order to use it for remote speakers, but can't.
Here's the setup:
Wireless network with D-Link DIR-615 wireless router. It's set to be transmitting in 802.11 n/g/b mode.
Airport Express, 802.11 g model, latest firmware installed.
Multiple Macs for setup and testing available, all latest MacOS X versions installed.
Now, my Airport Express works fine for creating a new network. This I tried, no problem.
But when I reset my Airport Express to factory settings, then use the Airport admin utility program to configure it (activate remote speakers, connect to the wireless network of the D-Link router, which the AEX finds without problem), then activate the new settings, the AEX starts rebooting but then it's gone. Yellow lamp blinking and no longer visible anywhere. No default wireless network and not working as a client of the D-Link network. I can't see the remote speakers in iTunes, and it's also no longer showing in the Airport utility.
I don't know what's wrong. I reseted it now a couple of times (otherwise it'll not become visible again) and tried again, but with no success. I was first thinking that it might be a problem with the newer 802.11 n standard of the D-Link router, but since it's also transmitting in g and b mode, I can't really see how this should be a problem.
Any ideas? Someone with the same problem?
Thanks a lot in advance!

Hi again,
sorry, it took me a while to reply.
I didn't proceed with my attempt to make this setup run, but now I finally want to give it another try.
This screen shot shows the D-Link's advanced wireless settings. They are pretty much the default settings.
Sorry, that's in German, but I guess you get the idea.
So maybe WPA/WPA2 is too new? Or TKIP/AES or PSK/EAP?
No idea...
Many thanks in advance!

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Airport Express does not "Join Existing Network"

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3. After restart the AX can not be found on Utility.
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Hi.
I have a similar problem. I have recently switched ISPs. The new provider has supplied me with a ADSL modem (wired) which I have connected to one of the lan ports in my linksys wifi router.
Due to certain space and time constraints, my desktop (which does not have a wifi card) cannot be connected to the wifi router / ADSL modem via RJ45 cable. I would consider doing the wiring, but am planning to move out of this apartment in a month or two.
Current set-up
Tel. line >> ADSL modem >> Lan port of wifi router >> Wireless network which my notebooks can access
In my opinion, i now have the following options;
1. Buy a usb wireless dongle for my desktop - and have it join the network.
2. Use an airport express - I plan to have the airport express join the network created by my linksys router and then use the lan port on the AE to connect the desktop to the network. (Is is possible to use USB to connect AE & desktop incase lan doesn't function). Would the airport express work in this manner?
Alternate AE uses (which may help justify the purchase )
Currently the linksys wifi router is placed in one corner of my apartment. I don't intend to move it as that will require me to do some sort of wiring - which will become useless in a month or so.
Can I use an AE to increase the strength of my current wifi network i.e. have it join this network (wirelessly) and increase the signal strength in certain areas with weak signal.
PS i have a spare wifi router (Linksys, no usb support) - could i use that and save to serve the same purpose and save some money.

I did set up my Airport Express to extend my existing network. It did ok but I can't see the name assigned to the Airport Express name in my available networks. Is that normal?

I did set up my Airport Express to extend my existing network. It did ok but I can't see the name assigned to the Airport Express name in my available networks. Is that normal?

If the AirPort Express is extending your network it is using the same wireless network name as your "main" router.
Your main router and the Express act like one "big" network now.
Your computer will connect to either the main router or the Express automatically....depending on where it sees the best signal.

Airport express failing to extend wireless network

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I have reset to factory settings 3 times now and whilst it goes through the initial setup, i always get the same status message. Front light is green.
The express version I'm using is the 2012 redesigned version, looks like a white Apple TV and it has the latest firmware. I've tried configuring via my MBA, windows desktop pc (windows 7) and ipad, nothing works
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You have to think of the Express devices as matching pairs when you have one set up to create a wireless and the other to extend it. Here, I assume that you still have the extending Express set up to extend the network.
Power off both AirPort Express devices. The power down order does not matter.
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We added an Airport Express to support Airtunes on a stereo system to an existing Airport Extreme 802.11g network. The original Extreme had an antenna to extend its range as well. The problem we are having is that the connection from an iMac keeps going up and down. Is there an issue using WDS between Airport units that are of different speeds? Any thoughts on why this might be doing this and how we can get it to operate stably again as it was with just the old Airport Extreme.

I am concerned with the speed being reduced by half per node. Do you mean if I had three access points in a WDS network the speed would be half or does it reduce to one third?
Also, I want to point out in the latest manual, WDS does support 802.11n and mixed, including wide channel, which may over come being halfed but not further reductions.
http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Designing_AirPort_Networks10.5-Windows.pdf
--------excerpt from apple manual -------------------------------------
Setting Up a Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
When you connect devices wirelessly in a WDS, you set up each device as
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You can connect AirPort Extreme 802.11n Base Stations or Time Capsules and use the
5 GHz frequency band in the network. Only client computers that have 802.11n wireless
cards installed can join the network. If you want client computers using 802.11b or
802.11g wireless cards to join the network, set up the network using the 2.4 GHz
frequency band, or add 802.11g AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express to the network. See
“Choosing the Radio Mode” on page 21 for information about setting the frequency
band of the network. You can also set up a dual-band network that utilizes both the
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, so client computers using 802.11n wireless cards
can join the 5 GHz segment of the network, and computers using 802.11b or 802.11g
wireless cards can join the 2.4 GHz segment. See “Setting up a Dual-Band (2.4 GHz and
5 GHz) Network” on page 48.
----------------------------------------------------------------

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Thanks.

However, it still tells me that it cannot extend the network, but gives no details why.
Suggest that you check your AirPort Extreme to make sure that you have enabled the wireless network to be extended.
Open AirPort Utility, select the AirPort Extreme, and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Just under the setting for Wireless Network name......make sure that there is a check mark next to "Allow this network to be exended".
Update to save changes
Now, try the configuration with the AirPort Express set to "Extend a wireless network"

Airport Express connecting to an existing wired network

Hello,
I'm trying to connect an Airport Express unit to an existing wired network, can someone please help me to set this up or what I need to do? I originally connected the ethernet cable from the device (airport express) to the switch it was on but it didn't work and the other computers were connecting to that network. Should I setup the Airport Express in Bridge Mode or will i need to fiddle around with the settings a bit?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
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Not sure what the difficulty is here.
All you really need to do is connect the Express to the switch with an Ethernet connection, open AirPort Utility on your Windows machine, and click Continue to get the process going.
If you need to download and install AirPort Utility for the PC, it is here:
AirPort Utility 5.6.1 for Windows
Select the "Create a wireless network" option, assign a device name and password to the Express, then assign a wireless network name and password for the wireless network that you want the Express to provide.
Select the Bridge Mode option when it appears and click Update to save the settings.
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I'm trying 2 add an AIRPORT EXPRESS to an already existing AIRPORT EXTREME network in my home.
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I am using a MACBOOK PRO (MAC OS X 10.6.8)
Can someone offer me help with this?
Thanks!

Hi, I have a similiar setup. When you click onto the express, and it asks you to switch networks, it's not actually asking you to "change" networks. It's just actually switching to the xpress. When the xpress comes up, you'll input the name of your existing network, which you set up and named for the extreme. You'll have to change the extreme to "participate in a network", which is what you'll also do for the xpress. In the extreme under the WDS tab, you'll input the wds mode as "wds main". And then put a check mark in the "allow wireless clients". Where it says wds remotes, you'll input the the airport id's for the xpress's. In each of the xpress's, you'll set up as participating in a wds network. In the xpress's, under the wds tab, you'll set the wds mode to remote, and check
mark in the allow wireless clients. You'll have to input the airport id of the extreme in the wds main block. Under the internet icon on top, in internet conect tab for connect using: airport (wds), connect sharing: off (bridge mode).
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Airport Express won't join network and disappears from view once configured

Hi. I am having trouble getting my brand new Airport Express to connect to my network. I would appreciate any help you can provide. Here are the details:
Computer: iMac, G5 running OS X Tiger.
Network: Cable modem hooked to a netgear wireless b/g router. The router is configured to use WEP 128 bit encryption. I have connectivity on the router throughout the house on several computers and handheld devices (iPhone, etc).
Airport Express Version: 5.3.1
My goal is to add the AE to my current network in order to stream music from iTunes to my receiver.
When I initially opened up the airtunes utility to set up the AE the setup program was able to find the AE and walk through the configuration process. I followed the steps, entered the correct network name, encryption algorithm, password, etc. When I completed setup and hit the update AE button the AE disappeared from the setup application and the device began to flash yellow. While troubleshooting I have reset the AE dozens of times over the past couple of days. I have done both the reset with power on (press reset for 10 seconds waiting for the quickflash) and the hard reset (plugging the AE in with the reset button depressed until the quickflash starts). In either case, the AE is rarely detected by the setup utility (about 1 in 10 times). When it is detected, I walk through the set up and get the same results. I have attempted configuration using both the manual configuration option and the automatic "wizard-like" method.
I have tried to configure the AE wirelessly with it plugged in next to the computer and using a direct hookup via ethernet cable. Both methods produce the same results - flashing yellow light with AE undetectable by any Airport applications.
I have also tried to load an older version of the firmware (5.3) on the AE. When I hit the update AE button after configuring the update to go from the current version to version 5.3 I get an error message stating that "an error occured while attempting to update."
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Hi guys,
I think I'm having the same problem as you all, and its driving me crazzzzy!. I added an AX to my existing network with a AEX all thru gigabyte switch, including the new AX. I set the brand new AX up with all the settings, hit update, all settings were configured and its working fine (i can see it in iTunes, stream music to it, all works fine) EXCEPT when i go to AU and try to go into the manual setting of the AX it just hangs, and after about 2 min, i get an error message:
"An error occurred while reading the configuration. Please make sure your Apple wireless device is plugged in and in range of your computer or connected via Ethernet and try again. (-6722)"
I have tried resetting it hard/soft/default but not sure if it really does reset it, still keeps same password, and network settings. Tried connecting it next to my existing AEX incase the AX is trying to communicate via WIFI instead of the hard wired ethernet. I'll try hard wiring it directly to my mac as some have had success.
I have tried using OX 10.5.3, but still misbehaves as b4 with OSX.4.11. So its not my mac setup.
I'll try to find the old firmwares as some have described, that might work....????
This seems a common problem to many, I hope that Steve & the Apple engineers have got these messages and are fixing the problem as we speak.
marc

"An unexpected error occurred. Try again." Extreme/Express cannot connect to existing network

Recently my Speedstar wired modem died. So I had a relatively unused NETGEAR DG834GT wireless modem. Had no idea the old AirPort Extreme Base Station with modem was giving me crappy Wi-Fi speeds. I am enjoying speeds almost 6 x faster now. However I had to reset my entire Wi-Fi network and create a new one. I have an ethernet cable connected from the NETGEAR to the AirPort Extreme. I just want to extend my new Wi-Fi network so I have AirPlay back up and running on my three separate surround sound systems.
SPECS
OSX 10.9.4 (both MacBook Air and Mac Mini)
AirPort Utility 6.3.2
AirPort Extreme (2nd generation)
AirPort Express (1st and 2nd generation)
NETGEAR DG834GT (Mode g & b, WPA-PSK Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key)
AirPort Utility initially displayed all three Airport devices, but with the exclamation mark. I assume it was because I had set up an new Wi-Fi network with a new wireless modem so I had to "Forget" network and start over again.
I've reseted each and every AirPort device to factory setting. AirPort Utility recognised each "new" device, and I selected "Join existing network." After several tries, AirPort Utility continually tells me that "An unexpected error occurred. Try again." This happens every time.
I followed Apple's Support advice: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4597 "AirPort base station not seen or "An unexpected error occurred" appears in AirPort Utility 6.3" to no avail (configuring it to Link-Local).
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Reset the express to factory settings.
Place it in the same room as the TC..
If you are going to extend wireless do not connect ethernet.. just go through the setup from the airport utility.. if it fails.. welcome to Yosemite. The worst piece of network for ages..
Do you have ipad.. even an iphone .. load the airport utility on and run the setup from there.. it is much more reliable.

Can't get Airport Express to connect to my network

I have a netgear wireless router, and the when I plug in the aiport express, it just blinks yellow. When I run the Airport express assistant, it gives me a warning that windows is not managing my wireless network. This is very frustrating!! What can I do?

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Using Airport Express to extend my wireless network

I recently purchased a Time Capsule but found that I could not see the wireless signal from my bedroom. To solve this I purchased an Airport Express to extend the range. I plugged the AE into an outlet in my bed room and set it up to join my existing network. Everything looked fine from the point of view of the Airport Utility. Unfortunately my iPod Touch still can not see my wireless network from my bedroom. I new iPad can see it but the signal is very weak, even when I hold it right next to the AE. Is there a setting I missed?

Rick, welcome to the discussion area!
I plugged the AE into an outlet in my bed room and set it up to join my existing network.
You need to configure the AirPort Express to "Extend a wireless network". The AX does not provide any additional wireless coverage when it is set to "join".
First, you need to check a setting on your Time Capsule as follows:
AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Wireless tab (below the icons)
Make sure there is a check mark next to "Allow this network to be extended"
Update to save any changes
On the AirPort Express move it close to the Time Capsule for configuration:
AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Wireless tab
Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network" (Hold down the option key on your Mac if you do not see this choice appear when you click the selection box).
Wireless Network Name = Same name as your Time Capsule Network
Check mark next to "Allow wireless clients"
Security = Same setting as your Time Capsule
Password = Same password as your Time Capsule
Confirm Password
Update to save settings
The AirPort Express can only "extend" what it "receives". Most users position it too far away from the main router and consequently, the Express extends a weak signal. Try a location that is about 1/2 to 2/3 the distance between the Time Capsule and the area that needs move coverage. Then experiment a bit to find the best signal.
Post back on your results.

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

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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.
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Airport Express fails to join existing network

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