Cannot create a WDS network with two Airport Express

so i have one airport express here at my parents house acting as a wireless router. i brought a second express from my house and my playstation3 and want to connect the ps3 via Ethernet, i reset my express from home by holding the small pin-sized button. i open up airport utility choose the default named airport express, hit continue>switch>name it and give it a password>I want it to join my current network>Extend the Range of my Network>Chose my network (Twice)>watch the 'configure' WDS screen. then i get this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3420465586a2f1864300o.png
both expresses have been recently updated with 6.3 firmware and i'm accessing both wirelessly. i've tried over and over again resulting in the above image, can anyone please help?
btw there is no 'allow this network to be extended' box.

Psych,
Do the setup hard wired to your Mac - so connect an ethernet cable between your Mac and the AX you're trying to set up. Do the setup as usual, and once the configuration has written to the AX, restarted and you have a green light, you can remove the cable and connect wirelessly.
Sometimes, and for some reason, the configuration has problems writing to the AX wirelessly, especially after a reset.

Similar Messages

Solution for Poor signal in a wireless WDS network with two Airport Extreme

I have just bought my second Airport Extreme to create a wireless network with the best possible signal. I have one Airport Extreme in my office and the second one (supposedly the remote base) in the living room, two brick walls and 7 meters away. I have follow Apple instructions for the setup, main base "Create a Wifi Network" and Extend network option selected. The remote "join an existent network" and Allow wifi clients selected. According to Apple this is a WDS network between two Airport Extreme.
The network is working and the signal from my iMac is very good in my Office. In the living room the signal with my PC laptop is also very good.
Problem is that my iPod Touch OS 3.0 (I use it as a remote control in my living room with a twonky media server) gets now a very weak wifi signal in my living room, in many cases I lose the wifi sgnal although I sit two meters away from the remote Airport Extreme in the Living Room. If I go to my office with the iPod, then I get a good signal.
I think that only the first Airport Extreme in my Office (Main Base) is emitting a wifi signal and the second Airport Extreme (remote) is only receiving the wifi signal not making a repetition of the wifi signal. (Sorry for my explanation, I am not technical on this.)
I thought that, in a WDS configuration, the remote Airport Extreme WAS suppose to also replicate the wifi signal in my living room.
I have also tried a WDS manual setup with the two airport with the same results.
Is there a solution for this?. Do I have to connect the two Airport Extreme with a wire ethernet in order to be able to have a wifi signal strong enough in my living room for my iPod Touch?.
Thank you for your time.

Thank you Bob for your time.
I understand from your words that with a DHCP reservation I can force de Airport Extreme Main Base to assign an specific IP to a particular client in the network. Is that correct?. If that is the case, I will reserve the 10.0.1.3 to the Twonky Media Server (I need this to be fixed to this IP) and I will change the configuration of the remote Airport Extreme to DHCP automatic.
I will give it a try in a few days. I have spent so many hours with this set up that I am a bit terrified to start again today, to tired from work.
Just one last question. Setting up the remote Airport was very difficult with the Airport Utility. I had to reset and start many times as I always got two errors in the set up:
1.- Internet not connected.
After a minute or so, most of the time the problem was corrected automatically as the remote found the main base that is connected to the internet. I got a confirmation message for this.
2.- Second problem was that Airport Utility said that it could no connect the remote to the specified network. Sometimes (not always) the remote light turn green both in the Airport Extreme and in the Airport Utility, BUT I never got confirmation of a successful installation. Nevertheless, the connection was established because the wifi network exist.
Do I have to "disable the WAN port" during the installation of the remote Airport to avoid the problems?.
Best Regards,
Fernando

Unable to create a wireless network with my airport express. Please help!

I am trying to setup a wireless network with an airport express, and connect to it with my Macbook. I just bought both of these and haven't been able to get wireless to work.
I initially plugged the ethernet cable from my cable modem into the airport express and plugged it into the wall. The macbook detected it when I opened airport utility, but the express had a flashing amber light and I was unable to connect. I then unplugged the express and re-started the cable modem. This time, the airport express showed a solid green light -which should mean that it is working correctly. However, the macbook did not find the airport express device when i searched for it using airport utility. I am able to connect the macbook directly to the cable modem, after re-starting the modem, and access the internet so at least some of the systems are go.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help.
Tom

Is the issue that you cannot access the 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) with the AirPort Utility that is running on your Win7 PC? ... or that once you have configured the AXn, the PC is unable either to find the new wireless network or can find it but cannot connect to it?

Creating and Extended Network with 2 Airport Express Units

I had an extended network using 2 express units but one of them broke. The old network was setup with an older version of Airport Utility and I can't seem to repeat the set up a new network with the new express unit I have bought.
The simple setup procedure using Airport Utility 5.5.1 only appears to allow you to 'join' the remote Express unit to an existing network, there is no 'extend remotely' option.
I remember doing it last time by creating a WDS network which agrees with instructions I have found here - http://broadcast.oreilly.com/2009/03/taming-an-airport-express-wds.html
I set up the first Express as a base station with a network and select 'Participate in a WDS network' and 'Allow this network to be extended' under the wireless tab. Under the WDS tab I 'Allow wireless clients' and add the hardware address of the second express unit.
I then update the express unit but I get a WDS error which states, "This Airport wireless device is set up as part of a WDS network but no other AirPort wireless devices were found."
This seems to be a chicken and egg situation.
Any help would be appreciated.
Alan

Alan, welcome to the discussions!
It appears that you want to set up a WDS arrangment, correct?
But, I can't figure out whether you want to configure it with a "base" and two "remotes", or whether you want to configure it with a "base", "relay" and "remote"
Can you clarify? I'll send you a link with instructions from forum expert user Tesserax with step by step instructions. Just need to know what set of instructions to send.

Trying to extend my airport extreme network with an airport express

I´m trying to extent my network with an airport express 802.11g.
I´ve been fallowing the guide:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
however, when I´m trying to configure the extended wifi base station ( point 8.) it won´t let me choose "extend a wireless network".
The only options I have is "create network", "join network" and "participate in a wds network".
I´ve been trying to find a solution all day.
Is there anyone out there who has hade the same problem or knows what it could be?
I´ve made sure that my base station connected to the internet through ethernet has checked the "allow this network to be extended"

however, when I´m trying to configure the extended wifi base station ( point 8.) it won´t let me choose "extend a wireless network"
Unfortunately, the older AirPort Express 802.11"g" model does not have a setting to "extend a wireless network", so it cannot be used the way that you want.
The article that you reference should be clear about this:
This article explains how to set up an 802.11"n" extended wireless network.
You need to use one of the newer AirPort Express 802.11"n" models to gain the ability to "extend a wireless network".

Extending My network with three Airport Express or buy an Airport Extreme?

I live in a large three story house and currently have it wirelessly networked using two Airport Express' but my signal is very weak on the third floor and in other spots throughout the house.
Would it be possible to buy a third AE and extend the network that way or would I be better off buying a AEBS?
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

It will really depend on the construction materials used in your house or any other forms of Wi-Fi interference that could prevent a clear wireless signal. Both routes, you suggested, will have it advantages and disadvantages.
Extending the existing network wirelessly using a WDS, effectively, cuts the throughput in half for each base station in the chain...so, in this case the second AirPort Express Base Station (AX) (acting as a WDS relay base station) would only get half that of the first AX (acting as the WDS main base station). In turn, the third AX (acting as the WDS remote base station) would receive half of the second's throughput. The good news is that you should have a strong signal across each of the AXs, just lower throughput the farther along in the chain.
The 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn) has a greater range than either the older 802.11g version or the AXs. You may find that it will provide enough to cover you entire house. In the off-chance that it doesn't, you can still use it to create a WDS between AEBSn and your current AXs.

Creating a wireless network using several Airport Express(es)

I would like to connect three AirPort expresses to my Sky Broadband router to create a new wifi network in my house. My router is in the basement and is connected into a hub which provides ethernet to the house. I would like to connect the AirPorts via ethernet to the router and create a single wifi network.
Can someone please tell me if this is possible and what settings the AirPorts should have. For instance, should I just extend the sky network using each AirPort or should I create a new network with one AirPort and then extend that with the others?
Many thanks
Terry

If each of the AirPort Express devices will be connected using Ethernet, you would configure them all exactly the same except for assigning different device names...AX1, AX2, AX3, etc.
Each Express will be configured to....
Create a wireless network
Same wireless network name on all devices
Same Radio Mode
Channel set at Automatic
Same wireless security setting
Same wireless network password
Very important....configure each Express in Bridge Mode
Post back if you need more details

Can I link up one time capsule with two airport express, Can I link up one time capsule with two airport express

Hi, I would like to know whether I can link up one time capsule with two airport express. The result why is that I would like to put one time capsule at first floor, two airport express at 2nd floor and 3rd floor. All these three share one network. Please advise. Thanks.

There are several ways to conenct them. We need to know what it is you want to accomplish first. Do you want better Wi-Fi coverage on the second and third floors or do you want to stream music to the xpresses?

Trouble extending my WiFi network with older Airport Express

Hi,
As the question states, I have an older Airport Express which I have dug out to try and extend my WiFi network in a new house.
I am on Virgin Media (fibre optic) in the UK and get a good WiFi service but one room in the house (which I have just turned into a cinema/media suite) has no reception.
I have successfully managed to 'create a new network' via the Airport Express and the signal strength is 100% but for some reason if I try to reconfigure the device to extend the existing network I get no improvement at all from the (zero) signal I was receiving before.
Am I doing something wrong? Or is there an additional step I am missing?
I could live with having a secondary network but what I would really like to achieve is Home Sharing from my main computer, so that I can access my photos, movies and music etc. from iTunes on the big screen. If the computer exists on another network my iPad, iPhone and AppleTV can't see/use the media from that room.
Many thanks in advance,
Colin

Are these the steps you used?
To create a wireless extended network, you must place any extended Wi-Fi base stations within range of the primary Wi-Fi base station.
Start with the device that will be configured as the primary Wi-Fi base station. Then configure your extended Wi-Fi base stations, ensuring that each is within direct range of the primary Wi-Fi base station.The physical location of extended Wi-Fi base stations will vary according to the building environment and may require some experimentation.
If you have configured your Wi-Fi base stations in the past, it may be helpful to do a factory default reset of each Wi-Fi base station that will be part of the wireless extended network before you begin.
Configuring the primary Wi-Fi base station
Power on all 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra.
Open AirPort Utility (On a Mac, choose Go > Applications from your desktop, click the Utilities folder, then open AirPort Utility. In Microsoft Windows, choose Start > All Programs > AirPort to start AirPort Utility).
Select the primary Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, then click Continue. Note: If you see a message appear that indicates that the Wi-Fi base station has been reset, click Cancel to continue.
Click Manual Setup. Enter the base station password if necessary.
Click AirPort in the toolbar.
Click Wireless.
Choose “Create a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode menu.
Select the “Allow this network to be extended” checkbox.
Enter a Wireless Network Name.
Optional: By default, Wireless Security is set to None so that no password will be required to join the network. We recommend you click on the Wireless Security menu, select WPA2 Personal, and create a password between 8 and 63 characters long.
From the Radio Channel Selection menu, select Automatic.
Click Update.
The next window may indicate that there are some problems. Resolve the problems, then click Update.
You are now ready to add extended Wi-Fi base stations to your network.
Configuring an extended Wi-Fi base station
Place any extended Wi-Fi base stations within range of the primary Wi-Fi base station
Ensure that all 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations are powered on and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra
Open AirPort Utility (On a Mac, choose Go > Applications from your desktop, click the Utilities folder, then open AirPort Utility. In Microsoft Windows, choose Start > All Programs > AirPort to start AirPort Utility).
Select the Extended Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, then click Continue. Note: If you see a message appear that indicates that the Wi-Fi base station has been reset, click Cancel to continue.
Click Manual Setup. Enter the base station password if necessary.
Click AirPort in the toolbar.
Click Wireless.
Choose “Extend a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode menu.
Choose the network you want to extend from the Network Name menu.
Enter the network and device password if necessary, then click Update.
The next window may indicate that there are some problems. Resolve the problems, then click Update.

Is it possible to create a hot spot with Apple Airport Express 2nd Generation Dual Band Wireless Router, usefull in a hotel with ethernet wall sucket.

is it possible to create a hot spot with apple Airport express 2 generation and use it i a hotel with ethernet wall socket and use it with my Ipad 2?

HenrikAppleJespersen wrote:
is it possible to create a hot spot with apple Airport express 2 generation and use it i a hotel with ethernet wall socket and use it with my Ipad 2?
Yes, it is one of the things AirPort Express was specifically designed for.

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express.
I am using a DLink DI-524 Router, Windows 7 (64), and the AirPort Express.
AirPort Utility will not recognize the AEX wirelessly, it will only recognize it when it is connected by Ethernet. I can then configure the AEX and verify that the settings stick once disconnected and then reconnected. However, even after that, it will not recognize the AEX once disconnected from the Ethernet cable.
I followed the suggestions of several other threads on these forums. But I am unable to get the AEX to work.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the discussion area!
It's almost always a security setting that causes problems when the Airport Express (AX) tries to join a third party wireless network. The AX usually does not "join" correctly and that's why you can't see it on your wireless network using AirPort Utility.
Using an ethernet cable is still the more reliable way to configure and adjust the AX, but if you are want to try to configure it using wireless, you must return the AX back to factory defaults as follows:
Power down the AX
Hold in the reset button +and keep holding it in+ as you plug the AX back in to power
Release the reset button after 10 seconds
When it is set to factory defaults, the AX broadcasts a wireless signal with a network name like "apple network xxxxxx" where the "x's" are either letters or numbers. You must look for this network by clicking on the fan shaped Airport icon at the top of the screen. If you don't see this network, then click Join Other Network to search that way. Unless you connect to this network, you will not be able to configure the AX using wireless.
Do you know the exact security type that your D-Link router is using? That is the key element in the process.
Open AirPort utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab to establish a name for the AX, device password and adjust time zone settings
Click the Wireless tab
Wireless Mode....Join a wireless network
Wireless Network Name...must exactly match your D-Link wireless network name
Enable ethernet clients if you want the port to be active (your D-Link must be compatible with ProxySTA for this to work)
Wireless Security...exact setting of the D-Link network. WEP security causes a lot of issues. Try to use WPA/WPA2 Personal, which is far more secure.
Wireless Password...must match the D-Link network
Click the Music icon to enable AirTunes
Click Update to save settings
Any luck?

Can I set up a WDS network with two main base stations?

I have an AEBS in the main part of the house and a time capsule in the office in the back of the house, currently with one internet connection (it's cable modem) into to the AEBS. I have tried to use relays (two airport expresses) in a WDS to have the internet connection reach the time capsule, but unfortunately the distance is too great and it won't make it.
I can move the internet connection and AEBS into the middle of the house and everything would be fine (one internet connection into the house, no need for relays to reach the time capsule), but this requires rewiring the cable connection and adding a power outlet, which seems like a lot of work.
My other option is to simply have another internet connection hardwired into the office. This would be using the same cable that comes into the house and is split outside. If I go this route--my question is--can I get the time capsule and the AEBS be on the same WDS network (same name, same passwords?), or will I have two separate networks in the house? If it is the former--how do I set it up? Can I have a WDS with two main base stations? Or is there an easier route?
Thanks the help and advice...

My other option is to simply have another internet connection hardwired into the office. This would be using the same cable that comes into the house and is split outside. If I go this route--my question is--can I get the time capsule and the AEBS be on the same WDS network (same name, same passwords?), or will I have two separate networks in the house? If it is the former--how do I set it up? Can I have a WDS with two main base stations? Or is there an easier route?
Just run the Ethernet cable from one of the LAN ports on the AEBS to the WAN port on the Time Capsule. Configure the Time Capsule to operate as a bridge.
You do not use WDS when they are wired together.
Then configure the AEBS and Time Capsule to use the same SSID, wireless encryption type/level/password. Have them operate on different channels as far apart as possible.

Creating a single network with multiple airports

Hello -
I have been having trouble combining all of my airport devices into one single network. I currently have one Airport Extreme (Gen 2) and two Airport Express (802.11n) devices to cover my home. I have significant difficulty with range on the devices. Right now each of the devices are connected separately via anethernet cable to a switch that then is connected to my home FIOS router. All of my best efforts at bridging the devices with my Extreme as the primary network have failed. Is it possible to have each of the Airport devices act as one network with this configuration?
Thank you.
Don

Thanks for the update.
Power up one AirPort Express only, open up AirPort Utillty 5.6, select that AirPort Express, and click Manual Setup.
If the Express does not appear in AirPort Utility, perform a Factory Default Reset on the device as follows:
Power off the Express for a minute
Hold in the reset button on the Express and keep holding it for an additional 9-10 seconds while you simultaneously plug the Express back in to power
Release the reset button after the hold period and allow 40-45 seconds for the Express to display a slow blinking amber light
Then try AirPort Utility 5.6 and Manual Setup again and it should "see" the Express
Click the Base Station tab below the icons to assign a device name to the Express....AirPort Express 1, for example, a device password and adjust Time Zone settings.
Click the Wireless tab and assign the exact same settings that you used on the AirPort Extreme to the AirPort Express. The Radio Mode of the Express may not have an "Automatic" setting, so the default "802.11n (802.11 b/g compatible" setting would be a good choice.
Click the Internet icon and then the Internet Connection tab and assign the exact same settings that the AirPort Extreme is using....Connect Using = Ethernet and Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode).
Click Update and allow 40-45 seconds for the AirPort Express to display a green light. Then, power it off.
Configure the other AirPort Express exactly the same way as AirPort Express 1, except that you will give it a different name under the Base Station tab, AirPort Express 2....for example....to keep everything straight.
Once you have a green light on AirPort Express 2, power it off.
Power of the entire network now...all devices....in any order that you wish
Wait a minute
Start the FIOS modem/router first and let it run a minute by itself
Start the AirPort Extreme the same way
Start AirPort Express 1 the same way
Start AirPort Express 2 the same way
Continue starting devices one at a time a minute apart until the entire network is back up and running
The network should be operating correctly at this point and your Mac should automatically pick up a signal from the AirPort that is providing the strongest signal as it moves around the house.
To confirm that this is the case, locate the Mac very close to the AirPort Extreme for a minute
Hold down the option key on the Mac while you click on the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen
Note the BSSID. That is the AirPort ID of the device to which the Mac is connected
Move the Mac close to an AirPort Express, wait a minute, then check the BSSID. It should be a different ID
Check the other AirPort Express the same way, it should be a different ID

How do i extend my network with a airport express

How do I extend my network with mt airport express

Hi Tesserax, I'd like to join this discussion. It seems Jasonbeyer didn't reply, but I have a question related to his.
I'd like to extend the wireless signal from my Cisco Model DPC/EPC2202 VoIP Cable Modem (802.11n) to the living room where, at the moment, it is non-existent. I assume there's inteference or the signal cannot reach through the concrete walls and rooms leading up from my bedroom to the living room.
My question is:
I'm thinking of extending my wi-fi signal by using the Airport Express and simultaneously using it to connect to my hi-fi to play iTunes from my bedroom's iMac.
Something's telling me it's not going to be that easy. I'm using an iMac (7,1) if that's any help or clue.
What are the things I should take note of and will Airport Express be compatible with my modem? Would I have to get TWO Aiport Express to bridge the signal to my living room?
Thank you everyone for your time. Cheers!
Kane

Networking with Multiple Airport Express'

I am using a new Airport Extreme 802.11n as a router in a home network that is in an extremely large house. I also have 3 new Airport Express' connected to the network. My question is should the settings in the Airport Utility be "Join an existing network" or 'Extend an existing network' for each Airport Express' or some combination of either based on which express is first in closest proximity to the Airport Extreme.
Thanks, JB

I've only got the two running now, and the signal at the far end is dramatically better than without.
I don't think it decreases bandwidth for each device. Each machine's bandwidth decreases a little for the overhead, but it is not cumulative.
On a side note, when I added the New Airport Express, I had an absolutely horrible time getting it all to work correctly and I think I had similar symptoms as you are describing. I was able to differentiate which base station I had connected with because the new Airport Extreme was n-band and the main stations is an old g-band. So, by holding down the option key when selecting the airport menu, I could easily see the bandwidth going above 54. I hope you're laughing as I later realized that the MAC address of the base station you are connected to shows up in the menu with option held down, also.
Everything seemed to be connected right, but it just wasn't working. I ended up resetting both devices and started from scratch. Just about when I was going to give up and just extend the network, my WDS connections worked and I haven't had any problems.
Before I realized that the network wasn't configured correctly, I thought my old Airport Extreme was going bad. It was freezing up and I had to restart it to get an internet connection. Ever since I fixed the WDS network, I don't have any problems with it. I think the two base stations were jamming each other.

Cannot create a WDS network with two Airport Express

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