Airport Network Hierarchy Changes Randomly in Utility

I have a Time Capsule (4th Generation) and two AirPort Expresses (2nd Generation). The TC is my primary station/router. The two AEs are located in different parts of the house. The TC is broadcasting a wireless signal. It is also feeding the two AEs via MoCA/Ethernet. When I setup the two AEs the utility automatically set them both to extend the primary network via Ethernet which is what I had in mind. So at any given time, I can open up the utility and see the globe for internet, directly below it is the TC and forked below are the two AEs. I know that is how it should be when its running normally. However, every so often the hierarchy map will change and will play them all in one vertical line. In that instance, its the globe on top, TC right below, one AE right below that and the last AE right below the first AE. I'm trying to imagine what that topology change is telling me. Can someone tell me what? Then after whatever amount of time, the topology reverts back to what it should be. Globe, TC then forked below are the two AEs on the same level.
What is the randomly changing topology telling me? Lol. Oh, btw, the random change will show up both on my iPhone (iOS 7 latest version) and Yosemite beta.
Thanks for any input.

From experience, I have found that network topology map in the AirPort Utility to be a bit "random" at times. So, I would not be too concerned on what you have noticed as well.
As a bit of background, solid lines in the map represent wired connections with dotted lines representing wireless ones. When the map displays all of the base stations in a row, it would generally indicated that they are all connected in a series fashion ... but, again, this may be totally different than the actual configuration.

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You really should change both the wireless network name and password to avoid potential conflicts with the old and new settings.
Suggest you give that a try.

My iphone will not connect to the airport network since I added a security password. The ipad connected immediately. Is there a setting on the phone that I need to change?

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Help - Airport network not working - confused!!

Hello, I wonder if anyone out there can help. I have got a problem with my airport network that doesn't make any sense and I havent seen another post with the same problems.
I have an imac G5 with 10.3.9. I have a wireless network set up, with an airport wireless card and two ax boxes (the second was bought later to boost the signal when we moved the Mac to another room). Initially it set up fine and worked for about 8-9 months. Then I noticed the second ax started behaving strangely. It would occasionally turn from 'green' to flashing amber for no reason - often after it had been on for a while. Turning it off and on did not change anything. Usually though it would work again the next day after being off all night. This continued to happen randomly until a couple of months later it switched to flashing amber continually.
I thought it had 'lost' the network so I tried using the airport set up assistant to reconnect it. However the set up assistant does not recognise ax number 2 any more, so I am not able to reconnect it. At the moment I am running off a faint signal from ax number 1.
I also tried setting up a completely new network from scratch. Again the new network is fine from the base ax bx but ax number 2 is still not recognised by my mac.
I also have a wireless printer connected to the network which does not work any more. This is where things became more confusing. The printer needs a boost signal to operate so when my booster ax went wrong the printer would not work. So I moved the printer and mac nearer ax number 1 to ensure it would pick up the network. However it still didn't work. So I attempted to set up the printer as wireless again, thinking it had become 'disconnected' somehow. However during installation you have to select the network to connect to. The computer would not pick up the apple network at all from ax number 1, yet it easily recognises our neighbours network from the flat above us. Strangely when I tried turning on the faulty ax box, the printer set up program picked up the faulty ax and not the original ax. But obviously I can't use the printer from the faulty ax box because it doesnt connect to the rest of the network.
So now I am confused. I am not sure what has gone wrong and what I need to replace. Originally I thought it was the second ax box that had gone wrong. But as the printer software can identify the second ax box I am not sure that this is the problem. Could there be something wrong with the airport card? I have checked that the card is properly connected and there is nothing visibly wrong there.
If anyone can help - please reply as I am going crazy here with things not working and don't know what to do next.
Thanks, Wrenster

Hello Wrenster,
I understand why you are confused, I was too while reading your post. However I have the solution for you. I believe you are a victim of environmental interference. Someone in your neighborhood just moved in with a another network, someone had a baby and is using a baby monitor, or maybe a local ham radio operator just got his license. Who knows!
This is what you need to do. Get all the devices in the same room and preform a hard restart on each one them per http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108044. Remember to preform a hard restart! After performing a hard restart on all three devices check the wireless networks available. You should have 3 ( one main and 2 airport expresses) ( or two depending on how many airports you own, I am not sure from your post). If you don't have the correct amount you may a bum base station and it may need to be replaced. But if you have the correct number of wireless networks ( Apple network XXXXXXX), use the airport admin utility ( inside of the utility folder ) to locate the main base station and configure it.
You will know when you are on the configuration page when you can read Name, Contact and Location.
First change the name to the location of the main base station, ie; it is the den so name should read DEN. leave the contact and location alone. On the bottom half of the page is where you create your network, so under network name change it to your desired network name ie; when others come over to my house I have them select COWSWEAT from the network list.
Second click on the change wireless security and set the security to WEP 128 BIT and make your password. Once you have configured a successful password be sure to click on the lock on the main configuration page ( the one with password under it) to get the HEX password for your PC friends.
Third ( we are almost done ) Select the WDS tab at the top and enable this base station as a main station. Select allow other wireless client on this base station as well. Now on that empty list box below click the plus sign to the right to add other base stations to this WDS network. From here you should be able to select the other 2 base station that we have not configure yet ( but preformed a hard restart on). After you have added them ( be sure the check box for auto configure is selected) they should read in the list that was empty on the WDS page.
Now update this should start the update process and may take 5-10 mins, it should provide a summery pop-up when with each station is done.
( Also you may get a message that there is update for the base station, please preform the updates for the selected base stations)
Now when it is completed check to see how many networks you have available ( it should only be one ). Select the network and confirm that all of your base stations appear under the select a base station in Airport admin utility, then move them back to their homes around the house. Giving them 45 secs to restart they should turn green if not , they could out of range of each other or the environmental interference could be affecting them. So you my need to rearrange them until they all green.
Good Luck,
Cowsweat

XP Pro on MacBook Pro Cannot Connect to AirPort Network

I just installed Windows XP using the Boot Camp set up utility. After I installed Windows, I went to set up a wireless network and went through the full process of setting it up. Since I've done that several times, XP Pro on my MacBook will not connect to my AirPort network. I have an airport network on one end of the house and on the other end, I have an airport express to increase the signal.
Any ideas?

I feel your pain! I can tell you how to get into a protected net ... just not how to STAY connected for any appreciable time! Haven't figured that one out!
Go to your wireless connection icon ... bottom rhs of tool bar (XP)
- 2x click that icon ... that'll bring up your connection
- Highlight your connection
- Select the "Change Advanced settings"... lower lhs of screen
- When the next window pops-up, select the "Wireless Networks " tab
- The next window should display your connection ... if not highlight it
- Select properties
- In this window you should select:
- Shared for Network Auth
- Select WEP for Data Encrypt
- Input your Network Key (You can get this off your Airport Admin Utility by bringing up the Airport and selecting the "Lock" icon that's named "Password". Select password and it'll give you the hexadecimal equivalent. Input that into your Network Key window and authenticate.
- Select OK and you should be good for about 5 mins!

Slow file open and save across airport network

Hello -
I just purchased an Airport Extreme base station and am having some problems. I could not seem to find an answer to this issue in the archives.
I have a small architecture firm and have 3 computers networked together (iBook G4, mac-mini, and Powermac G5). The G5 is our file server. A typical CAD file size is on the order of 10 mb. Since going wireless with the Airport Extreme, opening these files has become painfully slow - 2 minutes for a 11 mb file, for example.
All computers have a strong airport signal (four bars), and internet connection on all machines is fast.
Security: WPA2
Robustness: ON
Thanks for any help you may have to offer.

(I posted this elsewhere, hope this helps you as you did not have any responses. )
Big horrible slowdowns in file transfer over wireless have me pulling my (remaining) hair out.
I had given my Apple Airport base station (b) to my brother in Pakistan after I found a Belkin (g) at Staples for free (after rebates) and have been using it for a while. Not a pretty box but the price is beautiful and it works OK.
My real use for it is for my eMac and a couple of older PowerBooks I keep downstaors as a "music studio" for my music and podcast recording (and transferring upstairs to my server folder over wireless) and web browsing.
All worked OK as I would transfer the files to my PowerBook upstairs (connected Ethernet to a router connected to the wireless router or sometimes directly via Airport connection if laptop was not at my desk). Both configurations worked fine (only limitation being my eMac's (b) speed older Airport speed).
Since 10.4.5 (as that is the last "change" I can see made on my system overall, I have discpovered I cannot even transfer a 3.5 MB file from the eMac to ANY of the other machines. After reading several threads here it seems several people have noticed the HORRIBLE SLOWDOWN if not complete death of Airport usability for file transfer. People are being made to go around changing router settings, channel IDs etc.
That sounds like typical tech support bunk to me. After all, if the channel ID on the wireless router is a problem why is my web browing going on at normal speed but a 120 MB file transfer just told me it will take 2023642128 hours. No, I am not kidding. That is the time it would take to get man to Mars. Someone else was told to hook up the machines over Ethernet. Sure, that works for machines in the same room - and is a bearable temporary solution in that case - but not in an upstairs/downstairs situation. Burning CD-Rs to transfer 120 MB files every time is also not a good way to show off Apple technology.
So, in my humble opinion, some recent update from Apple just broke something in Airport networking or Appleshare. (Much like I have found out that DiskWarrior, a hard disk repair utility will crash after completing a current task unless you downgrade QuickTime from 7.0.4 or something to a lower version. Go figure.)
I love Apple, getting friends to switch all the time, but annoyed at these bugs that basically render standard applications unusable. So far I have not been able to figure out what the problem is.
I already deleted all the network port configurations on the eMac except wireless. Activity Monitor shows 0.1 to 11 kbps speed (yes, that is 0.1 to 11 Kbps not Mbps). No other apps are running, Tried connecting to different machines. All machines can transfer data at high speed except over Airport/wireless.
Hope you can suggest a solution when you find one.
Imran

Airport Express is no longer able to extend my Airport network.

After the 7.6.1 upgrade, my Airport Express is no longer able to extend my Airport network. I didn't change any configuration, but as I was confirming the configuration options in Airport Utility, I noticed that the option for the Airport Extreme to "allow this network to be extended" is missing and that my Airport Express had been changed to client mode. I really need the capability of extending the range of my network, it worked before the firmware upgrade, so how can I get it back? The hardware are both less than a year old (I bought them in the summer of 2011).

I suggest downloading Airport Utility 5.6
It was released the sameday as 6.0 but it doesn't have the features you used to have as you just found out.
Airport Utility 5.6
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

Internet working but can't access AirPort for configuration changes

I have an AirPort Express and it connects to the internet properly through my cable modem -- solid green light and all -- and allows my PC to surf wirelessly.
Sounds pretty good, but...
For some reason I can't access the AirPort Express to change any of the settings. For example, I would like to change the SSID and the IP numbering scheme to give out 192 IPs, but when I open the Admin Utility I can't see the AirPort Express. When I try to access it manually in the utility by hitting "Other..." and entering the IP that my PC is assigned on the network (10.0.1.2), it puts up a window that says "Reading configuration from base station", then an error message with code -6753.
I know it is working, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this right now, but how to I access it???
Thanks in advance for someone helping me out.

journey778, Welcome to the discussion area!
Your system information states OS 10.0.x. If you are using that version of OS X you do not have an Intel based iMac. I would suggest that you upgrade to OS 10.2 at least.
If you do have an Intel based iMac, you may want to try renewing the DHCP lease. Open System Preferences->Ethernet->Advanced... and click on the "Renew DHCP Lease".

Changing airtunes name after Airport Express name change

I'm running 7.0.1 and an Airport network. Last night I changed my Airport Express name, having moved the express to a different room. When I start iTunes, it still has the old Express name in the list. I can't seem to find a way to have it reset its list. Basically I think iTunes needs to do a new search for Airtunes points to change that list.
Suggestions?

I have the same issue - applicable to iTunes 7.0 and 7.1. I updated both of my airport express units with new names. The airport admin utility sees the new names properly. iTunes however still displays the old name. Airtunes functionality still works - but I'd like the names in iTunes to be displayed properly.
Anyone have ideas on how to solve this?

Airport express does not see password protected airport network

When I try and password protect my Airport network, my Airport Express, set to join an existing network to play music on my stereo, can no longer see the network. I have my Airport Express plugged in via ethernet to configure it, and the Admin Utility shows a pop up menu for available networks to join, but this menu only shows my Airport network when password protection for the network is turned off. I never set my network to be hidden, so that's not the problem, and my laptop(s) can always see the Airprort network, regardless of password protection being enabled or not.
Supposedly you can select a password protected network for the Express to join and then it will prompt you to enter the password, but if it is not in the list then I can't select it. I can type in the network name, but again, it only joins if I turn off password protection for the network.
Is there a work around for this?
-Lewis

Your express will need to see the SSID in order to connect. I would suggest that you temporarily turn off the security (WPA2) on your D-Link router, make sure it is broadcasting the SSID, and then see if the express detects it. If the express doesn't see it, make sure some other device can.
You also might try changing the SSID, or turning it off and back on and see if that helps.
Once you can see it in the clear, add the security, and be sure to enter it in exactly, be careful of capitals,etc.

Daisy Chained Airport Network Wireless Client Problem

It's a long distance from my cable modem to the last area in my house I want to establish a wireless network in, so I set up a three-Airport network, with a Time Capsule at the cable modem, connected to an Airport Extreme (wirelessly), which is connected to another Extreme (wirelessly). Airport Utility shows the three in a chained arrangement:
The problem I'm having is that the last Airport won't allow any wireless clients. It does allow several devices to connect to it with a wired connection, just fine. Any suggestions how I can allow the last Airport to extend my network wirelessly as well as wired?

When I add a few clients to the list with their Mac addresses and change the Unlimited settings to No Access, the Airport Express stops working.
The last AirPort is configured to "join" the wireless network....even if you think that it might be set to "extend" a wireless network. In this type of configuration, the last AirPort provides no wireless signal extension.....but.... the Ethernet ports are enabled.
If you want the last AirPort to extend the wireless signal coverage, it will need to be connected using a wired Ethernet connection to your main router.....or.....it will need to be moved much closer to the Time Capsule if you want to try to extend wirelessly.
Maybe they're all really connected in a hub-spoke arrangement after all, and Airport Utiity is just showing them wrong?
No, they are not configured in a hub-spoke setup. If they were, then both of the AirPort Extremes would be displayed as connecting directly to the Time Capsule.

New dsl modem; existing Airport Network

I'm trying to replace the dsl modem I rent monthly from Centurylink with a DSL router I own. I already have a functioning Airport (AEBS) wireless network. Can I simply unplug the current modem that I'm using and plug in the modem I own? I want the network to just stay the same. Just to be clear: I have a functioning DSL modem and Airport Network. Can I swap out one modem for a new one without having to reconfigure anything?

Maybe ...
Anytime you change networking hardware, it is always a good idea to perform a complete power recycle of your networking components.
I would recommend that you do the following as a minimum:
Power-down the modem, AirPort base station, and computer(s).
Disconnect the AirPort base station from the Internet broadband modem.
Power-up the modem; wait at least 10-15 minutes to allow it adequate time to initialize.
Power-up the AirPort base station; wait at least 5-10 minutes. Note: The AirPort's status light may continue to flash amber after it has intialized. That is because, there may be some additional configuration items necessary, like setting up wireless security, before the overall setup is completed to get a green status.
Power-up your computer(s).
Since you did not make any configuration changes, the AirPort base station should broadcast the same Wi-Fi network with security settings as before. Network clients, connected to the base station either by wire or wireless, should now be able to access the Internet through the ISP's modem. Once Internet connectivity has been verified, you can use the AirPort Utility to configure the base station for wireless security and any other desired options. Please post back your results.

Same IP addresses on AirPort Network

A few weeks ago, we changed our office's WiFi network by installing an AirPort Extreme base station and two AirPort Express stations that extend the WiFi network.
I've configured the nwetwork so that our entire fleet of computers have fixed IP addresses (using DHCP reservations) for Ethernet and WiFi access. Furthermore, I've enabled Timed Access Control for anyone not having a fixed IP address so that the network is unavailable between 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM on weekdays and none at all during weekends (we've tried Guest Networking, but it wasn't a workable solution in the end for us and we dropped it).
Everything worked fine for a while until some of us began receiving the following address:
“Another device on the network is using your computer's IP address (X.X.X.X).”
It seems to happen at random, although I noticed it happens often when we use AirDrop (which requires a WiFi connection). That seems to have no noticeable effect on the network usage (albeit maybe some difficulties using AirDrop between users), but the simple fact of receiving this alert is a bit annoying… and not so reassuring.
Considering the fact that I've made DHCP reservations on the AirPort network, that I've checked that computers have the IP addresses they have been allocated, and that I've checked every MAC address to make sure there's no mistake, what is causing this odd behaviour from our network?
Should I setup manual IP addresses on every computer and device in the office (from the Network's System Preferences' pane)?
Thanks for your input and solutions!

I had that similar issue in the past but it wasn't with an Airport extreme but with a soho cisco wireless router. The only thing is that I didn't have a timed access on anything. Every now and then I couldn't access a computer and when I looked into the router I noticed that one of the computers would be offline and it would have the IP conflict message. I would check logs and noticed that a wireless device or any newly connected device would end up booting one off. I thought it was rather strange myself. But I did want to segment the devices that were accessing the network via wirelessly and via ethernet so I can distinquish between and I also had an ACL so I can remotely access to the ethernet devices. So I set up a scope with the range being .15 -.30 for ethernet devices and I actually statically set these up on the computers as well. And I set another range .45 - .80 for all Wi-Fi devices and it has been working correctly ever since then.

And poof! my airport network was gone

this is silly but mystifying to me. i recently moved into a new apartment with a preexistant airport network to which i immediately connected with no trouble at all. a week later, suddenly and for no apparent reason, the house network disappeared from my available networks list. there are other networks on the list (which of course don't belong to us and are password protected), but ours is simply gone. both of my roommates, one of whom is a mac user, are totally fine with their access. i didn't change anything, and i can't find any setting that seems to be awry. i can unplug the airport and connect directly via ethernet. what gives? i don't think it was the cats, but maybe ...

Ok, let's double-check your AX settings:
To set up the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), using the AirPort Admin Utility, connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to the Ethernet port of the AX, and then, try these settings:
AirPort tab
- Base Station Name: <whatever you wish or use the default>
- AirPort Network Name: <whatever you wish or use the default>
- Create a closed network (unchecked)
- Wireless Security: Not enabled
- Channel: Automatic
- Mode: 802.11b/g Compatible
Internet tab
- Connect Using: Ethernet
- Configure: Using DHCP
- WAN Ethernet Port: Automatic
Network tab
- Distribute IP addresses (checked)
- Share a single IP address (using DHCP & NAT) (enabled)
Once you verified that you can get Internet access for all of your computers, you should secure your wireless network. To do so, I suggest that you make these changes:
AirPort tab (optional)
- Create a closed network (checked)
Change Wireless Security
- Wireless Security: WPA Personal
Base Station Options - WAN Ethernet Port
- Enable SNMP Access (unchecked)
- Enable Remote Configuration (unchecked)
- Enable Remote Printer Access (unchecked)
Wireless Options
- Transmitter Power: 10%
Access Control tab (optional)
- + <add the computer(s) that will access this wireless network>
- Apply the new settings.
- Wait at least 5 minutes.

How to connect a Sony Bravia TV to the internet through your Airport network

Since it took me a lot of time to figure out how to connect my Sony Bravia TV to the internet through my Airport network, I better share how to do it. Hopefully saving others a lot of time.
My 32EX600 Sony Bravia TV is Ethernet connected to my Mac Mini, which is part of my Airport network, together with another Mac, an Airport Extreme Base Station and an ADSL modem/router. Moreover, the Mac Mini is connected to the TV by HDMI.
Whatever I tried in the TV’s Wired Network Set-up (Auto, or Manual with manual IP, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS IPs), I couldn’t get it right. Cable Connection and Local Access were mostly OK, Internet Access always Failed.
The solution lies in the Sharing panel of the System Preferences of the Mac Mini. In the Internet Sharing item of that panel, you should choose to “share your internet connection from WiFi to computers (the TV in this case) using Ethernet“, and NOT (as I had chosen before and seemed so obvious) “share your internet connection from Airport to computers using Ethernet“. After that change, the Bravia Network Set-up, using the Wired and Auto options, flawlessly connected to the internet. No expensive (Sony) WiFi USB dongle needed.

I have now had a detailed reply from Sony Europe and the way to do this is to:
1.       Press Home on the TV Setup
2.       Use the right and left arrow to select Setting.
3.       Use the up and down to select Network, press Enter.
4.       Select Network Setup.
5.       Select Wireless setup.
6.       Select Scan
7.       Select your network
8.       A new screen will appear asking for entering the security key.
9.       Enter your WPA2 key.
10.   Select Enter.
11.   It will take you back to the same screen asking for entering the
security key.
12.   Press the right arrow.
13.   Select Auto.
14.   Press the right arrow.
15.   Select Save and connect.
These instructions are not the same as shown on the TV but they worked fine for me so they may help others with a similar problem.

Airport Network Hierarchy Changes Randomly in Utility

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