Airport Express is weak extending my network

I have a 1 year old Airport Extreme (n) and moved into a new longer house, so I bought a new Airport Express (n) yesterday in order to extend the network. After going through the manual setup process, checked "extend this network" on both Extreme and Express, I still find the Express throws off a very weak signal. My computer is 10 feet from the Express and it's only at 2 bars of strength. It's starting to make me think that my computer is trying to connect with the Extreme (other end of the house), not the Express.
This is somewhat difficult to troubleshoot since both have the same network name.
Any help?

Open AirPort Utility and click on the AirPort Extreme. Write down the AirPort ID of the device that you see in the window. Then do the same for the AirPort Express.
Move your laptop near the AirPort Express. Hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen. Look for the BSSID. That is the AirPort ID of the device that your Mac is connected to.
If you are close to the AirPort Express, but see the ID of the AirPort Extreme, you are connected to the AirPort Extreme. Something is wrong with your setup, or the Express may be located too far away from the Extreme to pick up a good signal.
You want the Express located about 1/2 the distance from the AirPort Extreme to the area that needs more wireless coverage. Try different locations and be sure to restart both the Extreme and Express when you make any location changes.

Similar Messages

AirPort Express will not extend Wireless Network

Hello. My airport express will not extend my wireless network. It was green for about the first 4 hours and then I've had a flashing yellow light since that time. I've reset it a bunch of times and even have the AE in the same room as my AP Extreme. I complete the setup and then it continues to flash yellow. Can ayone give me a hand?

In the cases where the AirPort base stations would be interconnected by Ethernet you want to configure then for a roaming network, NOT an extended network. Apple uses the term "extended" when the base stations use wireless connection. Regardless of naming convention the end results is pretty much the same.
The link I provided should provide you with the necessary steps to set this type of network up.
If you need additional help, please start a new post as the solution for you will be different than the OPs. Thx!

Airport express just stopped extending the network

I have an airport express that I have been using for 3 years to extend the network in my house.
All of a sudden it started flashing amber. I've tried soft resets, hard resets, factory resets, and I can't get it to extend the network anymore.
I have 3 other expresses in the house that still extend the network, but this one won't.
Everytime I go run airport utility, it sees the express, and will actually allow me to JOIN the network (I get a solid green light, everything is good) but everytime I ask it to EXTEND the network, it gives me an error message and says it can't do it.
It's an old extreme, that I bought refurbished, so I might be able to accept it's old and needs to be replaced, but then why can I join the network, but not EXTEND the network?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Apple's instructions to "extend a wireless network" are on the main forum page and also here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Although the example pictures an AirPort Extreme as the "extending" device, the setup for an AirPort Express would be exactly the same.

Airport express failing to extend wireless network

Have got an airport extreme connected via ethernet to my Virgin Media hub (hub is in modem mode). Also have an airport express to extend the wireless network. Setup has been working perfectly for over a year, then this weekend, literally no settings have been changed, and airport express is giving me a status message of "This airport base station was unable to extend the wireless network. Make sure the wireless network you're trying to extend was setup and is working correctly, that you entered a matching wireless network password into this device and that this device is in range of the wireless network"
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
Any ideas?

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.
Wait a minute
Power up the main AirPort Express.....the one directly connected to the Virgin hub....and let it run a full minute
Then, power up the extending Express
Check the network and report on your results

Airport Express used to extend wireless network from Linksys?

I've been asked if I can straighten out a wireless mess at a local church. They have a wireless network in their office (a seperate small building) using a linksys transmitter.
The church (a seperate building 50 yards away is where they want to extend the network to.
Currently, I can read the network there on whqat they have now but something is misconfigured and the manufacturer is being of little assistance.
Has anyone used an Apple Airport Express to extend a 3rd party wireless router? Ive decided it may just be worth the cost to dump the relay they have and simply buy an airport express.
Suggestions?

The Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS (not latest versions v5) are the only 2 known Linksys routers compatible with Apple's WDS.
So if you are using one of those routers you should be able to do it.
If you are using a different router it probably will not work.

Airport Express wouldn't extend wireless network

Am posting this in case it helps someone else. I have an Airport Extreme set up as a base station and couldn't get an Airport Express to "extend wireless network". I finally found a checkbox in the "Wireless" tab of the "Manually Configure" dialog box for the Extreme that says: "Allow this network to be extended". I could not find this referenced anywhere in Apple documentation, so you have to know to go and check this box. Apologies to the techies if this is a no-brainer, but I only found it by accident. Apple should include a brief paragraph in their wireless troubleshooting guide on extending your network.

When you configure the Express to "join a wireless network" it becomes part of the network so that you can stream AirTunes to the device or use a remote printer connected to the USB port, but it does not provide any additional wireless coverage in this type of configuration.
"Extend a wireless network" does the same thing as above, except the Express will also provide more wireless coverage in the area where it is located.

Airport express can't extend wireless network

Airport express(A1264) can't extend wireless network. It seems that Airport express can't find my home Wi-Fi network. Amber light is blinking, and AirPort Utility of MacBook also can't find Airport express.
If AE is connected with TC via LAN cable, amber light is blinking with message "Wireless Network" (This Airport base station is set up to join a specific wireless network that can't be found...)
It was successful only once, but all failed after that.
Is there solution for this problem?
[My system]
Time capsule 4th generation
Airport express 1st generation (A1264)
[Settings]
Time capsule (ethernet connected)
- Create a wireless network
- 802.11a/n - 802.11b/g/n (Automatic)
- 2.4GHz / 5GHz Channel (Autmatic)
- WPA2 Personal
Airport express
- Extend a wireless network
- WPA2 Personal
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network name and Password is set up

If AE is connected with TC via LAN cable, amber light is blinking with message "Wireless Network" (This Airport base station is set up to join a specific wireless network that can't be found...)
Sorry, I misunderstood what you wanted to do.
Since you did tell us that you had the Express connected with an Ethernet cable, I assumed that was how you wanted to configure the Express.
But I want to extend a wireless network (not using ethernet)
Because Airport Express and Time Capsule cannot be connect via ethernet cable.
Follow the same setup as above....and do not connect an Ethernet cable.
Keep the Express near the Time Capsule for the setup. Once you have a green light, move the Express to a point that is about half way between the Time Capsule and area that needs more wireless coverage.
If you reset the Express several times and try the setup several times without success, I think you have to suspect a defective Express.

Airport Express won't extend wireless network

I think due to a fault my airport express wont extend my wireless network around my house , but it will allow for airplay ... is it possiple to extend my network using the express but with an eithernet cable rather than the wireless that is transmitted out of the express unit ??

Is the other wireless router, that you are trying to extend, another AirPort or Time Capsule base station? If so, are both units 802.11n models? Finally, what is the rough distance between the units and are they located in the same room, different room, or different floor?

Airport Express wil not extend wireless network via ethernet

I need maximum bandwidth in a area with poor signal. No matter what I do, the AE will not extend my APEBS dual band via ethernet. It will alway connect wirlessly giving me half the speed. I have 1 main network to extend. I have tried to extend the 5 GHz wide channel as a seperate network but this wont work either.(but thats what I want really. Please help. I have been at this a couple days already and I need to figure it out before my return policy wears out. Thanks!

If you are connecting the Airport Express to your AirPort Extreme via ethernet, the AirPort Express should be configured as follows:
Open AirPort Utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab just below the row of icons
Wireless Mode should be set to "Create a Wireless Network"
Wireless Network Name would be the exact name of the main network that the Extreme is creating, same security, password.
Radio Mode must be set the same as the main network on the Extreme
Channel should be set to be least 6 channels apart from the channel that the main network is using on the Extreme.
Click the Internet icon above and look for Connection Sharing at the bottom of the page. This should be set to "Off (Bridge Mode)".
Update to save settings.
For more info reference page 42. http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Apple_AirPort_NetworksEarly2009.pdf

Airport Express Won't Extend my Network

I've had my AirPort Express for around 3 months now and it was working fine and extending my network with my base station as the Apple Extreme just fine, until 2 weeks ago. Suddenly, it started flashing amber instead of green, and even though I reset it, disconnected it and re plugged it in, and placed it in another room, it didn't work, so I called Apple. Keep in mind that the whole time this is happening, the light for the Apple Extreme was working, and so was the wi-fi, just the Express which I use as an extender wasn't. I was on the phone for 2 hours with them and eventually they got it to work by resetting the Apple Extreme and setting it up as a completely new network, which was tedious and annoying, but it worked. Now, I have the same problem again, and I have tried the same steps I used before, and it still isn't working. Is there any way I can get it to work without having to reset the Apple Extreme?

yes, you can first do it with a short eth cable so you're still next to your extreme and then run the longer cable when you're ready to put it where you want it
before you connect the eth cord to the express, fully reset it
unplug express
hold in reset and keep holding it down while plugging power back in - only release reset when amber light flashes after 10-20s
now plug in the eth cable
your airport utility should auto see that you're trying to extend your extreme via your express on a wired connection

Can you use a Airport Express N to extend a network with a Comcast Modem/router to get ethernet to a stereo receiver?

Trying to hook up a friends receiver using a AE to get it ethernet. I know how to do it with an Airport Extreme (my own system) but can I do it with his hardware?

You cannot use an extreme to a brand other than Apple for wireless bridge.
You can use an Express. You need to join a wireless network which is a rather tricky setup.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5719954?tstart=0
Or look at a post by Bob TImmons on how to set up express in bridge.

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.

Airport Express won't extend Airport Extreme Network

I use an Airport Extreme (AE) to connect to the internet. I use an Airport Express (AX) to extend the network via a WDS network. Until recently all was fine.
Last week I updated the firmware for my AE. Since then my AX has not been acting as a WDS extension. I have tried several times tonight to make the AE and AX talk to each other in this fashion. I have reset the AX to factory defaults and reset the AE as well. So far, nothing works.
Thought the AX might have failed. However, the AX will connect to the AE network just fine. It just won't extend the network.
Any ideas will be most appreciated.
Thanks.

I have an Airport Extreme Base Station. I just bought an Airport Express to extend my network and connect a wired device in my living room to my network via the Ethernet port. The Airport Express obtains an IP address from the Airport Extreme but I can't seem to get out to the Internet ...at least via the Ethernet port. When I installed the Airport Express, I updated it to 7.3.1.
This sounds like a similar problem to the original post.

With my Airport Express, I can join the network but not extend it.

I just bought a new Airport Express to extend the network I have setup with my Airport Extreme. At first, it seemed the Express was unable to get a correct IP address, I think because I had my DHCP server running from the cable modem, and the Extreme was just acting as a bridge. I switched the Extreme to run a DHCP server and now the Express correctly receives an IP address. However, it still tells me that it cannot extend the network, but gives no details why. It just tells me to make sure I have the correct password and to be sure I am in range.
Clearly I am in range and have the correct password, because when I switch to "join network", all works fine. Though when I do switch, I still get an amber blinking light and Airport Utility still thinks the Express is in Extend mode. When I unplug and replug the Express, then it comes up with a green light and Airport Utility shows it in Join mode and all works fine.
I am thinking there might be something wrong with my Express and am considering exchanging it. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why this may be happening?
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"

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 is weak extending my network

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