AirPort Extreme WiFi's to only 3 devices at a time

After four+ years of pretty solid network performance at home connecting to Wide Open West, my MacBookPro reported no WiFi internet connection on my network. Hmm. I turned off AirPort in the menu bar, then back on -- still no internet. After rebooting the WOW modem, then rebooting the Air Port Extreme, and reentering my network Password, I got the Mac to connect.
A couple hours later, my iPhone 5s didn't connect to WiFi when I woke it up after a couple hours of sleep. Hmmm. I turned WiFi off and back on, I Forgot the Network and tried it again, I rebooted the router -- still it wouldn't connect, so I called AppleCare. The advisor walked me through what I had already done, then had me reenter my network name as an "Other" network. That forced a password reentry and it connected. Then the WiFi cutout on my old 4s that was being used to talk to AppleCare. Along the way, he had me backup and restore my iPhone, which of course is a pain because when I went to my newer Mac with the iTunes backups for my phone, it didn't show WiFi connection. So I reasoned that the router was "wearing out", ala would only talk to three devices at once.
Genius Bar listened to my description and agreed. Didn't do any physical diagnosis, just offered me a Service Replacement at reduced cost vs a new router.
So my questions are, has anyone had this symptom show up, and has anyone had Apple repair their unit for this?
Hardware/software details:
I have leased three different WOW modems from time to time, this one installed only a month ago.
Network also includes my AirPort Express with uptodate firmware used as network extender

Hi Allison,
Just addition. Did you check if those problematic VMs can access internet at the same time? For example, can
those VMs browser any webpage successfully at the same time, not just download updates? Meanwhile, please check if there has policies on router ports to limit the number of MAC addresses per port.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

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Recently bought airport Extreme and have connected the device to the modem. WIFI works. However when I connect the LAN port to a switch I do not see the LAN printer and my NAS. Which setting do I miss?

I have installed my Airport Extreme and have conencted it directly to a modem. WIFI works fine. However I do not see my LAN network (printer. NAS,..).
Analysis:
Scen#1: When I connect the LAN port of the Airport Extreme to a switch (as input) and connect the other LAN devices also to the switch, those LAN devices do not have access to the internet. Also connecting the iPAD with WIFI to the Airport Extreme I cannot find my LAN printer and other devices.
Scen#2: When I connect the LAN port of the Airport Extreme to a router X (as input) and connect the router X to the same switch, and the LAN devices to the switch, those LAN devices do have access to the internet. Also connecting the iPAD with WIFI to the router X I can find my LAN printer and other devices in the LAN network.
Question what has impacted the behaviour of the Airport Extreme, not to detect the devices in the LAN network. Why is the use of a switch directly behind the Airport Extreme not working (no internet access for the other devices and Airport Extreme is not the basis station for the LAN network)?

Your scenario #1 is a correct configuration and should work. It seems as though your Extreme is not acting as a router as I believe you intend.
Most likely, you need to reset your modem. Power it down and let it rest for a few moments. Some need longer than others. Then, I recommend you "hard reset" your Extreme (see below) and configure it again, after the modem has been reset. From then on do not change what is connected to your modem without powering it down first.
Once configured, confirm your Extreme's wireless network works as expected and that your iPad and every other wireless device can load web pages. Then, connect the printer directly to one of the Extreme's LAN ports and confirm that it works as well. After that it should work equally well with a switch between it and the Extreme, as should every other wired device connected to the switch. This assumes your switch is an unmanaged device requiring no specific configuration.
Scenario #2: Having a router connected downstream of another is not a normal configuration, so don't pursue that as a solution. It will only distract you from determining the problem. If you want to repurpose Router X as another device do so only after everything else is working to your satisfaction.
To "hard reset" an AirPort Base Station: make sure it's powered up, then press and hold its tiny reset button and keep it depressed for five to ten seconds, long enough for its LED to flash amber rapidly. Release the reset button. Then, the LED will glow amber steadily for about a minute. Then, it will flash amber, slowly, about once every second or two, waiting for you to configure it with AirPort Utility.

I am unable to get Airport Extreme WiFi to work with Windows 8 Sony Laptop

My Airport Extreme WiFi works with my Mac Book Pro, iphones, ipad and DVR's, but will not work WiFi with my Sony VAIO laptop running Windows 8. Although it does work with the laptop using a ethernet cable. Has anyone else had this issue and can you please tell me how to resolve the problem?

Windows can have issues with the wireless name.
Make sure the name conforms to windows standard.
Short, 2-20 characters
No spaces,
Pure alphanumeric.
eg AEwifi is a good wireless name.
Fred Blog's Airport Extreme Wireless87AD34 is a really bad name.
Test also by removing the security and just see if you can connect if the short name doesn't help.
WPA2 Personal is really the only security worthy of the name and the password should be mix of upper and lower case plus numbers.. keep it pure alphanumeric also.
Set fixed wireless channels at least for 2.4ghz may help, depending on your location geo standards wise.
Test 11, 6, 1 in that order. With no security briefly. And a short name. (different name on the two bands is also a good idea).
Then wireless is not compatible.. you should download another driver for whatever wireless card the Sony uses.. intel most likely and they have a reputation as lousy. So download latest and a few prior to that as well.

Problems using wired airport express to extend airport extreme wifi

I've followed the instructions in this community to use a wired airport express to extend an airport extreme wifi network. Here is the issue I'm having.
The airport express wifi network has the same name as the airport extreme wifi network. So far so good. My laptop will pick up the airport express wifi in my office, and the airport extreme wifi in the other part of the house without any problems.
However, where the signals for the two overlap, my laptop will often latch on to the weaker wifi signal (I can tell by the number of bars) and my connection speed slows down significantly. Since both airports have the same wifi name, I can't manually switch it to the better signal.
Has anyone encountered this and have suggestions? My only solution was to give the two separate wifi names so i can switch manually, but this is an inelegant solution.

Hey dude, i'm having the same problem and i didn't find a proper solution for it, appart of creating another network as you said.
Its weired cuz in my case only the small things doesn't connect to the new router(using 2 airport extreme's) such as the iphones ipods and apple tv, but my mac did it great change the signal all the time i went from the basement to my room. So i just create another network and for me it wasn't a big deal to change it all the time i go to the basement, even more when use a mac.
I know thats not the point when you have two wifi routers, but you know it's tolerable.
Greetings!

DNS Server Issues with Comcast and Airport Extreme wifi routers

I am having significant challenges with 3 Airport Extreme (latest gen) wifi routers and my Comcast Xfinitity service. It once worked just fine, but now I continually get the blinking amber lights stating "No DNS servers" for each of the Airport Extreme (AE) routers. My configuration is:
Coax cable -> Comcast Xfinity cable modem -> ethernet to 16-port gigabit ethernet switch ->->-> ethernet to 3 Airport Extremes around the house direct connected with switch
I have many wifi devices throughout the house (iPads, MacBooks, home automation devices) as well as direct-connected devices via ethernet (one PC connected to AE router).
Each Airport Extreme router is set with these settings in the Airport Utility app:
Internet tab= Connect using: DHCP
Wireless tab= Network mode: Create a wireless network
Network tab= Router mode: Off (Bridge Mode)
I have attempted to put the Xfinity cable modem in bridge mode, and use the Airport Extreme to serve up the IP addresses, but still lost internet connectivity.
I have also attempted to set the Network tab=> Router Mode to "DHCP and NAT" but get "Double NAT" error issues as well.
I have tried using the Comcast DNS server addresses (75.75.75.75;75.75.76.76) setting on the Internet tab for the routers and do end up getting a green light, but NO internet connectivity.
Lastly, I have tried using the Google DNS servers (8.8.8.8;8.8.4.4) setting on the Internet tab the routers giving me the No DNS servers amber light error and again, no Internet connectivity for either wifi-connected or even ethernet connected (directly to Airport Extreme router) devices (like my PC) despite getting a green light on the router.
Any this point, it really seems that these AE routers are NOT compatible with the Xfinity cable modem or service… (and yes, I've tried power-cycling and restarting the modem, and then the AE routers, MANY times to little avail).
Should I move one of these Airport Extreme wifi routers to before the switch, and have the other 2 in Bridge mode after the switch? Do I need to setup a specific range of DHCP reservation addresses for each different AE router?
Appreciate any insight anyone can share with this aggravating DNS server issue between Comcast & multiple Airport Extreme wifi routers.

I do not see anything wrong with your basic setup.. the issue is indeed the WAN ports of the AE.. AC version are having problems with some network equipment.
You have listed a stack of things you have tried.. but I want you to move the ethernet patch cable you use on each AE to its LAN port instead of WAN.
Restart the airport when you do that.. and then see if it becomes stable.
In bridge mode the airport moves the WAN port to LAN.. but the WAN port setup itself seems more problematic than the LAN ports.
There are other methods we can try if this does not work.. but in the end.. I would be tempted to take the whole lot back to apple.. they need to start making equipment that works with standard modems and switches.
BTW what brand is the 16 port switch?? Does it happen to be managed (smart type)?

Windows Mobile 5.0 Cingular 8525 phone and Airport Extreme WiFi

Does anyone know how to get the cingular 8525 phone which runs windows mobile 5.0 to connect with my current airport extreme wifi? Are they even compatible? I can connect to other wifis, but they have all been open to the public.

You'll probably get a better set of responses if you post your question in Apple's forum for Airport and Windows <http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1014> rather than this one, which is dedicated to Mac and Windows compatiblity issues.
Good luck! bill
1 GHz Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

SLOW download on Airport Extreme wifi. WireThe download speeds are next to nothing above 25 feet away. When i stand next to the AEB it is fine. Anyone know why? Doubt ill get another AEB, very unreliable and has been for some time.

SLOW download on Airport Extreme wifi. Wired is great. The download speeds are next to nothing above 25 feet away. When i stand next to the AEB it is fine. Anyone know why? Doubt ill get another AEB, very unreliable and has been for some time.

No cordless phone (two iPhones and two iPads though). It does have one or two walls on line of sight. A few wireless door security zones. And a large china cabinet that my wife sure wouldn't let me move. Do any of these sound significant enough to drop the dowload from 30Gb to .1GB...while upload stays consistent. I have had better signal strength through two walls 100 feet out from my house, havent tried recently though. I am suddenly aware as my switch is acting up and i had to use wifi on my xbox.

My Windows Airport Extreme wifi connection keeps dropping on a partitioned MacBook Pro.

My Windows Airport Extreme wifi connection keeps dropping on a partitioned MacBook Pro. I have read many online threads without a solution. Do you have one?

My Windows Airport Extreme wifi connection keeps dropping on a partitioned MacBook Pro. I have read many online threads without a solution. Do you have one?

Since latest update to airport extreme im getting 10 unknown base station and time capsule items showing in airport utility as a network. when able to "forget" them they initially drop off but soon return. how do i get them deleted and stay that way

since latest update to airport extreme im getting 10 unknown base stations and time caps showing up as though they are a part of my network. sometimes i can "forget" them and they will disappear initially but soon return. i need and want only my connection inside my home . any ideas. i have done a factory reset and set up a new network but they continue to show up.

I'm not convinced that the problem lies in Airport Utility. This same thing was happening to me, nearly exactly as you describe it. The thing is that with me, the problems clearly started when I updated the firmware in my Airport Express (n). That's when all the wacky stuff started happening. Sometimes it would show up in AU, sometimes it didn't and even if it didn't, I could still access the internet through it.
But as you said, the problems got really bad when another Express (b/g) was put on the network with it. Even when it did work, the (b/g) would make it impossibly slow.
You know more about this than me, and clearly have more patience if you've restarted the network fifty times. I gave up at about ten.
In any case, your solution is more of a work around and if you're still having that slow connection problem, I'm not sure you've got it. But thanks for your reporting of this. At least I know I'm not crazy.

Airport Extreme Upstairs conected via switch and cat6 to time capsule downstairs. Is it possible?

I have used an airport extreme connected to my cable modem for a while. This is upstairs in my office. Reception downstairs in my den was spotty at best. I had a time capsule I was no longer using, and set it up downstairs as an extender. This some what worked, but the reception was still hit or miss. I have now wired my house with Cat 6, and have a switch set up in my office. My question is: Is there any way to hard wire the time capsule in with the wired network, but still have it extend my wireless network? I would also be ok if it had to be a second wireless network all together. I forgot to mention, any time I hook the time capsule up to the network, either through the WAN port or one of the others, it seems to crash the network. Thanks!
The set up is as follows:
Cable Modem - Airport extreme - Switch - wall - Time Capsule (I hope). Any input would be appreciated.

OK, thanks for the info.
I assume that you have verified that the Ethernet cable is working at the end where the Time Capsule will be located. If not, temporarily connect the Ethernet cable to the laptop and turn off the wireless on the laptop.
Make sure that you can get a good Internet connection that way, which will verify that the Ethernet cable is working.
If you cannot get a good Internet connection this way, do not proceed until the issue has been resolved. Turn the wireless back on at the laptop when you are done with the testing.
With the Time Capsule powered on for a few minutes...but the Ethernet cable not connected yet....hold in the reset button on the back of the Time Capsule for 7-8 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the Time Capsule to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.
Connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule
Click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the Mac's screen and wait a few seconds for a listing of New AirPort Base Station to appear. Just below that, click on Time Capsule
(The screen shot below illustrates an AirPort Express instead of a Time Capsule)
As soon as you click on Time Capsule, AirPort Setup will open automatically and take a minute to analyze the network.
After a minute or so, AirPort Setup will indicate that the Time Capsule will be set up to "extend" the AirPort Extreme network.
Enter a device name that you want to use for the Time Capsule and click Next
AirPort Setup will indicate that the network is being setup to "extend using Ethernet". When you see the message of Set Up Complete, click Done.
The Time Capsule is now providing a wireless signal with the same name and password as the AirPort Extreme network, so devices will be able to move or "roam" from one area to another and stay on the same "big" wireless network.
If you want to assign a different name to the Time Capsule network, open AirPort Utility and click on the Time Capsule icon, then click Edit
Click the Wireless tab at the top of the window
Change setting for Wireless Network Name. You can keep the same password if you want, or assign new passwords for the Time Capsule network.
Click Update to save the new settings.

Is the Time Capsule wi-fi router compatible with the Nest thermostat? I've read where there are issues with the Nest and Airport Extreme (AE)? Is AE used in the Time Capsule?

I've read where there are issues with the Nest and Airport Extreme (AE)? Is AE used in the Time Capsule?
If so, i already have a wi-fi router, so can the Time Capsule simply be used for wireless backup instead of as a router if there is conflict?

A TC is fundamentally a AE with a sata chip included to drive the hard disk. Some slightly different bios to include disk functions, although most of those are also on the AE. So as a router it is 99.999% identical.
And yes, if you have another router you can easily bridge the TC and use wireless for backups and internet connection. Once you no longer route through the TC the issues with most NAT problems including port forwarding should disappear.. mostly this is due to all apple routers using NAT-PMP instead of upnp which is the near universal standard for opening ports.. without upnp apple keep their routers more exclusive.

We have an airport extreme wifi in house, but also want to set up a hardwired ethernet connection for gaming and streaming of netflix. The computer only sees one or the other not both at same time.

We have a new iMac 2.9ghz and are running an airport extreme set up in house with several express entenders. The problem is that our son is streaming netflix and doing on line gaming and hogging all the band width. Time Warner tech suggested a hard wired ethernet connection to computer base sattion next to computer so that it can have direct conenction to internet. After much fishing of wire the connection worked great, but the wifi connection for the house is gone. I unplugged the ethernet connection and everything is fine. I read the articles about adjusting network preferences, but the issue seems to be in the extreme not in the computer. the connection goes from cable modem to extreme, from extreme to house and to hard wired conenction to other computer. Do we need a splitter before the extreme?

No. Something else is going on.
Your son may be hogging all the bandwidth but your wireless network should never simply disappear. Moreover, if your son isn't doing anything the available bandwidth for other devices should remain unaffected.
I suspect that something is miswired, and from what you describe I suspect that link is between the Extreme and the "other computer".
The way to accomplish what you propose is
Modem > Ethernet cable to Extreme's WAN port
Extreme's LAN ports > wired Ethernet devices.
There should be nothing but an Ethernet cable linking an Extreme LAN port and any other wired device. If you run out of available LAN ports on the Extreme, you need to by an "Ethernet switch" - they are not expensive, but don't call it a "splitter" or you will only confuse yourself. The switch would be connected to one of the Extreme's LAN ports, and you would connect additional devices to it. You can also use one of your Expresses for that purpose, assuming it is the current generation model with two Ethernet ports.

New Airport Extreme in Bridge mode -- some devices have no internet access

I just bought a new Airport Extreme as my old one which was probably 7 years old required restarting every day. My setup is as follows: DSL cable modem to Linksys Router (for a long set of convoluted reasons, I can't remove this layer) and then Airport Extreme. This is how I had it set up with my old one. The only difference is I recently started looking into using "Back to the Mac" on MobileMe and in order for it to work, I set my new Airport Extreme to Bridge mode due to dual NAT. I have an iMac, PC, MBP, MBA, iphone 4, AppleTV and ipad. All was working fine last night when I set it up. 24 hours later, for some odd reasons, I can't have my PC accessing the wireless network at the same time. If I did, it would knock my iMac off the network and says some other device is using the same IP address. For a while, only my iMac (my main computer) can access it and even my iphone can't. At this very moment, my iphone, imac and MBP all have access to the wireless network. My MBA and iPad has no internet connection. I've restarted Airport Extreme, Linksys, and modem more than once... If I switch back to "Use Public IP Address" instead of Bridge mode, everything works except for "Back to the Mac"... Help!

Hey Bob, Thanks...I have already repeated that multiple times yesterday and today but to no avail. I tried to get into the Linksys router control panel but unfortunately we can't remember the username and password (the router is not mine). The make things even more complicated, the router is actually part of the internet package provided by the ISP and they use a PPPoE to log in. Theoretically, we could do a hard reset but the problem is the ISP will not release the PPPoE information unless we sign a long and complicated form saying we want to bypass their Linksys router. We can do that but this process will take days and weeks... Our ISP confirmed that the Linksys router is set to max out at 5 DHCP but we can only connect 3 machines at a time. They are coming out to take a look tomorrow but in the meantime I have reset the Airport Extreme to "Distribute a Public IP Address" mode which will allow access to all computers/devices. What's even more weird is that if I did the Bridge mode, it messes up the Linksys router's own network as well. We can't even just sign into that network... Any ideas why?

Airport Extreme WiFi password change

I want to change the network password on my Airport router. When I open Airport Utility it attempts to locate the Airport base station but never finds it. It says "no configured Airport base stations have been found...will continue searching" The Airport is working and is connected to the Internet. I have Wifi access from this Mac & mobile devices in the house.
Any ideas on what I can do to access the base station to make the password change?

Also, is your Mac connected to the AirPort Extreme/Express (either by ethernet cable or the AirPort's own wifi) or might it have gotten connected to some other wifi network (possibly associated with your ISP's modem, gateway, or router)?

HT2275 Do I need to choose "Share this printer on the network" for printers that are not connected directly to my MacBook Pro? I have two HP printers connected to an Airport Extreme (WiFi turned off). I connect by WiFi to another Airport Extreme w cable t

I have three Airport Extreme (AE) routers in my home network.
The main AE is set up for wifi access. The other two are connected by ethernet cables to the main AE. My MacBook Pro connects to the network wirelessly through the main AE. The AE in my office has two HP printers connected to it by ethernet cables. I have a Kodak All-in-one that is connected by USB to my MacBook Pro.
I reset my printer connections on my MacBook Pro and had to add all the printers back to my printer list. I don't know if I understand what the checkbox "Share this printer on the network" in the Print & Fax System Preferences window is for. My guess is that I don't need to share printers unless they are connected to my MacBook Pro by USB, so I should uncheck the "Share this printer on the network" box for the two HP printers that are connected to the AE. I print to them over the network, but they're not connected directly to any computer. I thought if my MacBook Pro wasset to share them and was shutdown, the printers might not be available to my Mac mini or Dell PC, which connect by ethernet to the office AE (which has the two printers connected to it).
What should I do?
For printers connected directly to a Mac (or PC) by USB, check the "Share this printer on the network" box? In my Sharing Preferences, I check "Share Printers."
For printers connected to the AE by ethernet, UNcheck the "Share this printer on the network" box on my Macs (& PCs?) when I add the printers to my printer list? In my Sharing Preferences, I UNcheck "Share Printers?"
FYI
HP LaserJet Firmware Update Utility for HP P2035n is available
Version: 20120105 (19 Mar 2012)
Operating System(s): Mac OS X, Mac OS X 10.5, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.7
File name: P2035_FW_Update_Utility_20120105_v1_4.dmg (3.8 MB)
line: <http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en &cc=us&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=3662025&prodNameId=3662049&swEnvOID=219&swL ang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=lj-94537-3>

Question is - will the 2 networks (using auto channel negotiations) exist well in the same house or will there be interference?
Things will be fine since the AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme will automatically search for a good wireless channel. If you assign a separate name for the wireless network, then devices will need to log in separately to this network. The extending device will need to be configured in Bridge Mode.
My suggestion would be to configure what is known as a "roaming" network in your question #2. In this case, you would assign the same wireless network name, security and password settings to the extending device and configure it in Bridge Mode.
The advantage to #2 is that you will be able to walk your laptop from a location near the Time Capsule and as you move close to the extending device, the laptop will automatically switch to pick up the stronger signal from the extending AirPort.
You are actually creating a separate network in #2, so you have the advantage of maximum bandwidth for both the TC network and the AirPort network.
Question - does the Airport Express have to be directly connected to the TC or can that connected be through a switched network?
I'm assuming that you are asking about an Ethernet switch here, correct? The AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme can connect to the Ethernet switch, or directly back to a LAN port on the Time Capsule, whichever is easier to setup.
Question 2 - assuming I can connect the Airport Express to the TC over a switched network, will "extending" the network using the Ethernet network still reduce my overall wireless bandwidth?
Connecting the remote device using Ethernet is by far the best way to extend a wireless network because it maintains maximum bandwidth on the network. This is the way that any good commercial network is designed.
Post back if you need any tips to get things setup.

AirPort Extreme WiFi's to only 3 devices at a time

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