Airport extreme network and bizarre issue...

Question

Thanks for any and all help but let's start with the setup...
Airport Extreme (dual band) is my main station connected to the modem and also to an imac (wired).
Two airport expresses both using the extend wireless network option
Exp. 1 is connected to the TV through ethernet
Exp. 2 extends wireless network. Used to extend wireless connection to the outside
Now here is my issue. Up until last week my main station was a first generation airport extreme n (fast ethernet).
I tried to add access to the bottom floor with this station and hook up an old pc (no wireless card) to it with ethernet. This works without a problem with an airport express but NOT with the bigger brother...
It will work for about fifty odd seconds (internet and everything), it even has a green light, then boom loses the connection for about 30 seconds (blinking orange). Then back to green... This over and over again. I reset it a couple of times, have even tried to change the firmware to no benefit. I thought maybe it had a reception issue and moved it next to the new main station. Same problem...
Any ideas?
Years ago, I did try to setup a WDS and failed miserably and would like to skip the experience. Are they easier and is that the way to go? If yes, can a relay station (the exp. 1) still send data to the tv through the ethernet port?
Thanks for any and all help.
Phillyman
Message was edited by: Phillyman

Answer 1

Here a small update.... I went through the assistant and it took me through a couple of steps and I think at the very end I read setting up WDS. I could be wrong but here a protocol from the affected station.
Jul 05 13:44:20 Severity:5 Joined BSS xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:dc
Jul 05 13:44:20 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:dc
Jul 05 13:44:20 Severity:5 Deauthenticating with station ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff (reserved 3).
Jul 05 13:44:20 Severity:5 Deauthenticating with station ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff (reserved 2).
Jul 05 13:44:20 Severity:5 Rotated CCMP group key.
Jul 05 13:44:21 Severity:5 Internet Configuration leased -- host <10.0.1.5/255.255.255.0> gateway <10.0.1.1> dns <10.0.1.1> wins lease <86400> domain
Jul 05 13:44:23 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [::ffff:10.0.1.4]:52206.
Jul 05 13:44:23 Severity:5 Internet Configuration leased -- host <10.0.1.5/255.255.255.0> gateway <10.0.1.1> dns <10.0.1.1> wins lease <86400> domain
Jul 05 13:44:27 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52208.
Jul 05 13:44:27 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52207.
Then it dies and it disappears from the airport utility, when it comes back we get this:
Jul 05 13:47:37 Severity:5 Initialized (firmware 7.4.2).
Jul 05 13:47:40 Severity:3 No Address for NTP server time.apple.com.
Jul 05 13:47:45 Severity:5 Joined BSS xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:dc
Jul 05 13:47:45 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:dc
Jul 05 13:47:45 Severity:5 Deauthenticating with station ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff (reserved 3).
Jul 05 13:47:45 Severity:5 Deauthenticating with station ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff (reserved 2).
Jul 05 13:47:45 Severity:5 Rotated CCMP group key.
Jul 05 13:47:48 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52223.
Jul 05 13:47:48 Severity:5 Internet Configuration leased -- host <10.0.1.5/255.255.255.0> gateway <10.0.1.1> dns <10.0.1.1> wins lease <86400> domain
Jul 05 13:47:55 Severity:5 Clock synchronized to network time server time.apple.com (adjusted +4 seconds).
and here the last set, it never lists when and why the connection is dropped. It cannot be reception since all other wireless products are fine (airport expresses, ipod touches, ipad)
Jul 05 13:51:01 Severity:5 Initialized (firmware 7.4.2).
Jul 05 13:51:04 Severity:3 No Address for NTP server time.apple.com.
Jul 05 13:51:09 Severity:5 Joined BSS xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:dc
Jul 05 13:51:09 Severity:5 Installed unicast CCMP key for authenticator xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:dc
Jul 05 13:51:09 Severity:5 Deauthenticating with station ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff (reserved 3).
Jul 05 13:51:09 Severity:5 Deauthenticating with station ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff (reserved 2).
Jul 05 13:51:09 Severity:5 Rotated CCMP group key.
Jul 05 13:51:11 Severity:5 Internet Configuration leased -- host <10.0.1.5/255.255.255.0> gateway <10.0.1.1> dns <10.0.1.1> wins lease <86400> domain
Jul 05 13:51:15 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52237.
Jul 05 13:51:15 Severity:5 Internet Configuration leased -- host <10.0.1.5/255.255.255.0> gateway <10.0.1.1> dns <10.0.1.1> wins lease <86400> domain
Jul 05 13:51:19 Severity:5 Clock synchronized to network time server time.apple.com (adjusted +5 seconds).
Jul 05 13:51:43 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52238.
Jul 05 13:51:44 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52239.
Jul 05 13:51:47 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52240.
Jul 05 13:51:49 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52243.
Jul 05 13:51:49 Severity:5 Connection accepted from [fe80::222:41ff:fe38:b149%bridge0]:52242.