Airport extreme won't extend wireless network

I have two airport extreme base stations (the 802.11n versions, both of them), both with the latest firmware. One is the main base station, connected to the cable modem. The second is set up to extend the network where the signal from the first is weak.
After working flawlessly for about 6 months, the second airport extreme, the one that extends the network, will not do anything but blink yellow. I have turned the power off and on, restored default settings through Airport Utility, and performed a hard reset. After the latter two, I am able to "see" the unit again, and configure it again to extend the network, but immediately after doing so it goes back to non-functioning blinking yellow signal.
Is this just likely a hardware problem so that I need to bring it in? Or is there something more I can try?
Many thanks.

Is this just likely a hardware problem so that I need to bring it in? Or is there something more I can try?
Before bringing it back I would suggest that you temporarily relocate the extending Extreme into the same room as the Extreme it is extending. Go ahead and reconfigure them for an extended network. This time does the extending Extreme provide you with a steady green status light?
If this is the case, you may find that just need to reposition the extending Extreme in a different location so that it is within a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) range greater than 25 dB. Let me know if you would like for me to provide you with step-by-step direction on how to calculate SNR jusing a Mac laptop.
The other thing would be to verify that there isn't some new form of Wi-Fi interference present that is preventing the extending base station from receiving a quality signal.

Similar Messages

How do i set up time capsule to work with airport extreme base to extend wireless network?

i have a airport extreme base, how do i set up a time machine to extend the wireless network i have with airport extreme? i have also 3 airport express's connected to the same network to extend my wifi all over my house. thanks in advance.

Much better graphics, thanks.
You can leave the Time Capsule connected by Ethernet from the Linksys and configure for a "roaming" network as mentioned previously.
To do this, open AirPort Utility - Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the icons
Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Same name as the AirPort Extreme
No check mark needed next to Allow this network to be extended
Radio Mode = Same setting as the AirPort Extreme
Channel = Automatic
Wireless Security = Same setting as the AirPort Extreme
Wireless Password = Same password as the AirPort Extreme
Confirm Password
Click the Internet icon, then the Internet Connection tab
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Update to save settings and allow the Time Capsue to restart
Then power down the entire network
Wait a minute or two
Start the modem first and let it run a full minute
Start the AirPort Extreme the same way
Power up the switch
Power up the Time Capsule for a minute
Keep starting devices one at a time about a minute apart
Now, your computer will automatically pick up a wireless signal from either the AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule, whichever device is closer and providing the stronger signal.

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 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 Extreme in a Windows wireless network

Hello
I am connected to the internet via a Windows based NetGear wireless network. There are also other computers on this network, though they are running Windows (which is why I say it is a Win based network). I want to connect a wireless enabled printer to my network. My question is can I connect a USB printer to an 802.11g Airport Extreme base station so I can print wirelessly from anywhere on the network. Is so how can this be done?
I created a separate Airport network (it even had the same network name as the NetGear network) with my Mac and the Airport Extreme, the problem is that I can't be on both networks simultaneously and I have to forgo internet access or printing capabilities.
Has anyone had a similar experience. Any help would be appreciated. thank you

The only way you can integrate your Airport Extreme base station into your existing network is to run an ethernet cable between it and your existing Netgear wireless router. Then turn off the router and radio built into the Airport base station (since both of those functions are provided by your Netgear wireless router).
It is not possible to have the Airport Extreme base station communicate wirelessly with your Netgear wireless router. The Airport Extreme WDS feature can only be used in association with another Airport Extreme base station - Apple's implementation of WDS is not supported by your Netgear router.
Note that you could use an Apple Airport Express. That device can connect to a USB printer and it can be configured to wirelessly "join" the existing wireless network created by your Netgear router. Again, this is a feature not possible with Apple's Airport Extreme base stations.

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.

After setting up airport extreme to my existing wireless network after restart unable to conect even the light is green is telling me need to manage network im usin airport utility in pc

I try to set up my airport extreme thru my existing wifi network using airport utility 5.6 on pc after i was done said that after restarting unable to located extreme to check in my manage networks Ican se green light on extreme but can not find in network to manually add on. Any help woul be appreciated!

If nothing works, try a factory reset: disconnect the Extreme from power, press the reset button, plug in power while still pressing the reset button, release reset button after 5 seconds or so.
This method usually helps me with problems with my Airport Extreme and Express (this happens seldom by the way). The only disadvantage is that you have to set it up again completely.

Getting Airport Extreme (gigabit) to extend wireless onto Ethernet network

The people at the Apple store told me I could do this but I'm having a heck of a time figuring it out.
I have a wireless network (satellite internet with a netgear wireless router)...I also have a couple old Mac computers that don't have wireless but DO have Ethernet (the router and the old macs are at different ends of the house and I really can't run a cable).
So what I'm trying to do is get the Airport Extreme to pick up the wireless signal coming from the Netgear router and share it out to the old macs that are currently all Ethernetted together. I was able to accomplish this very easy using my iBook...I just signed the iBook onto the wireless network, went into the Sharing panel and set it to share the connection from wireless to computers using Ethernet...worked perfectly! But I just can't figure out how to do this with the Airport. I don't think this is a WDS situation, so I've been trying to use the 'Extend a wireless network' option in the Airport Utility, but nothing has worked. It seems like one of the main problems is Airport Utility's reluctance to let me use the 64-bit wep password that the netgear router uses. It's a 10 character password that's acceptable by all the computers I have with built in wireless, including my iPhone but the Airport software keeps telling me that it has to be 13 characters.
I'm just lost...any ideas?
Thanks everyone!

Hello Agent*Cooper. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
So what I'm trying to do is get the Airport Extreme to pick up the wireless signal coming from the Netgear router and share it out to the old macs that are currently all Ethernetted together.
This would be an example of creating a Wireless Distribution System (WDS) between the Netgear wireless router and the 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn). Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of WDS ... so it very unlikely that your Netgear router can be extended wirelessly with the AEBSn ... unless it's the Netgear WGR614 v6 model.
I was able to accomplish this very easy using my iBook...I just signed the iBook onto the wireless network, went into the Sharing panel and set it to share the connection from wireless to computers using Ethernet...worked perfectly! But I just can't figure out how to do this with the Airport. I don't think this is a WDS situation, so I've been trying to use the 'Extend a wireless network' option in the Airport Utility,
As you already know, Internet Sharing is a feature of OS X and not the AirPort base stations. In addition, the "Extend" feature of the AEBSn is meant to extend the wireless network of an existing AEBSn with another one. Sorry!
I'm afraid that you got a bit of a "bum steer" from the Apple Store folks.

Airport extreme won't see wireless signal

Hiya
I have an early 2005 mac mini. i had an airport extreme card installed a few months ago and have been able to log onto wireless internet no problems.
i have now moved house and can not connect to the new wireless network. My mac book pro can find my "beboX" signal no problems, although it does seem slower than my housemates connection on PC. The mac mini can sometimesfind the bebox but is unable to connect to it.
my feeling is that there is a problem with my mac mini's airport... i have downloaded the latest airport software and am wondering if i need to upload latest firmware...HOWEVER can not find latest firmware for 2005 mac mini on the apple website.
Please please please can someone help. i need to get my little mini online and have no idea why it won't. perhaps because there are several people using our wireless connection and and the mac mini is the slowest so canb't get on...?
charlotte

Probaly the computer is to far away,to many obsticalls,or set up rong. from what you said it sounds like it is not set up corectly. go to systemprefrences/network. on the drop down menu for "Show" go to network port configurations. there it will show ways to conect to the internet. un check the ones you are not going to use. the one you are using is airport so drag it to the top of the list. this is how it is on os x 10.4. depending on how many computers are conected the router may not suport that many computers. for the firmware run sowftware up date under the apple at the top of the screen.
Mac Mini late 2006 Mac OS X (10.4.10)
Mac Mini late 2006 Mac OS X (10.4.10)

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 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 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 wireless

Hello
Know there are countless of these out there already but would appreciate if someone knew this one. Since 2-3 weeks back my wireless set-up has not worked properly. Set-up;
ISP Router in bridge to a Airport Extreme, Extreme running DHCP and NAT.
I have two A1264 or first generation AEs
I have one A1392 or second generation AE
So this summer all three was extending the network and it all worked fine. Now I understand the A1264 cannot do that anymore (why?) but also the A1392 wont extend the wifi either. Currently I am using the A1264 as just connecting to wireless and the A1392 to extend, but the last part does not work. It just says unable to extend the network.
Still all three AEs are green and happy, I have tired re-booting and reconfiguring but nothing seems to get the A1392 to extend. is there some switch or option I could have forgotten?
Thanks in advance

Oh man this is so annoying.

Airport Extreme / Express: join/extend/wireless/ethernet

Greetings,
I have large house with a bunch of rooms, two home offices, 12+ devices(Mac's, iPad's, iPhone's, PC's & printers) that connect daily.
I have two Airport Extreme's (5th Gen). Primary is downstairts in office hooked directly to cable modem. Second Extreme is upstairs setup to extend Primary network hooked up through Gigabit Ethernet. I get good coverage all over the house with this configuration. Near each base station I get as high as 450 mbs on my 2011 MBP, none of my Mac's get below 144 mbs anywhere in the house. You may be thinking this is all good so what is the question?
My question relates to my 3 Airport Express's (latest model) that are used primarily for AirPlay Music (works great). Right now all 3 Aiport Express's are configured to join my wireless network. I recently had some work done at the house and had Gigabit ethernet drops put in most rooms of my house.
Would there be any benefit in hooking up my Express's to Ethernet to extend the coverage and make it even stronger.
I have read that an optimal wireless network should be as simple as possible to reduce overhead, etc. Would this help, hurt, or have no implact on my network performance? If I could boost my wireless speed in my weaker zones from 144 to + I will get the cables and make it happen. If not, I will just keep it as it is.
Thanks for any input, advice, experience.

I thought about that and was very suprised the AEx did not support Gigabit (I guess it has been out a while with not update). Thinking along those lines, it wouldn't buy me anything and may slow things down. Guess we can hope they release a new AEx with Gigabit support.
I know there are many other range extenders out there that I could buy and would suport Gigabit but I'm not sure how well they would play with all my Apple Network gear (plus my range is fine just wanting close to base station speed)? My question now is should I just leave it alone, would I really see any gains in speed, and would it tax my network performace if I added extra gear anyway.
Leaning towards just leaving it alone - 144mbs in the worst spot is still pretty good I guess
Thanks for the fast response!

Airport extreme didn't extend WIFI network well

My major airport extreme(connect with cable) on the 2nd floor. I want to extend WIFI to the ground floor. I used 2 extra airports extreme to entend WIFI one by one. I set up the airports accoding to introdcution. I saw every airports light are green. But I can't get the network when I stand beside the farthest airport (from the major one).
My wireless options setting:
Radio Mode: "802.1a/n - 802.1b/g", i used to set it on "802.1a/n - 802.1b/g/n(automatic)" but not work.
2.4GHz Channel: Aitomatic
5GHz Channel: Aitomatic
I don't know which gen. whose aiports are. The mayjor airport be marked 2009 on the bottom. The other 2 are marked 2006. All airports are updated to the latest version 7.6.4.
Anyone know what I missed? Or What I should change setting? Thanks.

Do you mean I can't use "Apple-PT3" to extend "Apple-PT2"? Currently, the diagram looks like a line. But the system asked me to choose a device to be extended when finish step up "Apple-PT3" wifi extend before. I have chosen "Apple-PT1", the diagram is not like the picture I have attached. It looks like "Apple-PT2" and "Apple-PT3" are on the same level. Both connect to "Apple-PT1". But it doesn't work as well.
I have read you post. Do you mean if a place SNR level is 25dB, then the wifi SNR level which I can extend will be no more then 25dB if I put "Apple-PT2" there?

Airport extreme won't extend wireless network

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