Choosing Airport Base Station on Extended Network

We have an extended network in the office with 2 base stations on diferent sides of a wall.
Is there a way to choose which base station a particular computer connects to?
While both will connect to internet off of ...
Router A speed = 35Mbps (this is the primary router)
Router B speed = 2 Mbps (this is the one that is Extended)
When I go to Airport Utility, the Router B is listed first and then shown as connecting to Router A.
Both A & B are plugged into the wired network.
All computers, etc are up to date.
Thank you

When I go to Airport Utility, the Router B is listed first and then shown as connecting to Router A.
IF....the settings on both Apple routers are correct.....and
IF....AirPort Utility is working correctly.....
The two Apple routers will appear horizontally side by side with both devices displayed as connecting to the "globe" Internet.
Check to make sure that the Ethernet connection is established to both AirPort routers using the WAN "O" port on each device.
Using the Wireless tab in AirPort Utility, check to make sure that each AirPort router is set to create a wireless network using the same wireless network name, same wireless security settings and same password.
Check to make sure that each AirPort router is configured in Bridge Mode.
In this type of setting, Macs will automatically connect to the wireless access point with the strongest signal as they move from one area to another. This may...or may not occur with PCs, or iOS devices like an iPhone or iPad.
It is not possible to direct a wireless device to connect to a specified router unless you use a different wireless network name for each router and then manually "point" the device at the router with which you wish to connect.

Similar Messages

Do I need a airport base station to extend my network or can i use my network router?

I bought a Airport express to enhance my current wifi in the house, and i can't seem to get it to enhance it. There is one room that dont have wifi and it is the room i bought it for. Now when i talked with apple they said all i needed was the express and it should enhance it, but i can't seem to get it to work. Do i need a airport base station of some sort or does my current router work fine. I just need some help and its been 3 months and its getting old. So i appreciate any help.

Do i need a airport base station of some sort or does my current router work fine.
I'm afraid that this will not help you, but at least you will have some accurate information.
Using wireless only, the AirPort Express can "extend" or "repeat" the wireless network that is provided by another Apple "n" wireless router.
Using wireless only, the AirPort Express can NOT "extend" or "repeat" the wireless signal if it is being produced by another router from another manufacturer.
In this case, you will need to connect the AirPort Express to the other wireless router using a wired Ethernet connection. Post back if you need more information about this type of setup.

Using Airport Base Station as Extender

Hello,
I am trying to set up an ABS as an extender for the wireless network in my house. If I have Mac Address filtering set on my original network will that carry over to the extension or do I have to put all of the Mac Address on the original network into the second base station? If I do, is there a way to transfer them from one Airport to another?
Thanks.

If I have Mac Address filtering set on my original network will that carry over to the extension
No
do I have to put all of the Mac Address on the original network into the second base station?
Yes
If I do, is there a way to transfer them from one Airport to another?
No But a few users have reported that they have been able to "export" the settings from their main router and "import" them into the new router to be set up....while others report that these particular settings are not imported when they try this.

If i purchase a new airport base station can I use my old airport extreme 802.11n (3rd Gen) as both an extender of my wife for multiple iphones and as a router?

I operate an old airport extreme base station 802.11n (3rd gen).
There are 4 iphone5's and 1 iphone4 on my network along with 2 laptops running 10.6.8 and 10.7 respectively as well as two desktops with the same configurations as the laptops.
I get a sense that the iphones may/will be useless the new airport.
Can I use the old base station (operating as an extender/bridge/router) so that older equipment will operate in the short term until they are upgraded?
Thank you.

I get a sense that the iphones may/will be useless the new airport
They will work fine with a new AirPort base station. You can use an iPhone or iPad to set up and configure the new base station. If you want to use a Mac to set up and configure the new AirPort, it will need to have at least Lion 10.7.5 installed. Mountain Lion 10.8 or Mavericks 10.9 could be used as well.
Can I use the old base station (operating as an extender/bridge/router) so that older equipment will operate in the short term until they are upgraded?
You can use the older AirPort base station to extend the wireless network. No updates will be needed to your iPhones or Macs.

New modem and router. Now my airport base stations don't work

New moden and router and now I've been unable to get the two airport base stations to work for transmitting the Wi-Fi to other areas of the house

Ok, if your goal is to use the two AirPort base stations to extend the wireless network provided by the Netgear router using a wireless connection between them, then this won't work as the two are incompatible for this feature.
However, if you can use wired connections then the three can be reconfigured for a roaming network which basically provides the same thing.

How can I reconfigure an Airport Timecapsule and Airport Extreme Base Station to extend a new Time Capsule 3TB network.

Previously they were configured to be part of a network attached to a cable modem. Now I have a DSL modem. I can get the 3TB Time Capsule tower to be recognized by my AirPort Utility but cannot get the older 2TB Time Capsule and Extreme Base Station to be recognised as wifi extensions of the 3TB Wi-Fi Base Station. This latter base station is set up in Bridge mode and the wifi is switched off on the DSL Modem. I am trying to recreate a home network (I have created a newly named one) and use the Apple products as the wifi routers, leaving the fibre optic-supplied DSL modem to interface with the internet.
I would have thought that I should set-up the 3TB Time Capsule Base Station in DHCP network mode, but trying to do so gives me error messages and renders the network inoperative. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get the AirPort utility to recognise the two other devices (Base Stations) as extensions of the main one? I have tried with RJ45 cabel connections to no avail.

First, it would be wise to update your computer to OS X Mavericks. It's just a free update, but it really helps your computer.
Once you've done that, on to the fix.
In Airport Utility, select the old router and click "edit". Click the Wireless tab. Select Off. Click Update, and wait. During the update, you should use your phone to read this, as you may have no wireless for a time.
Once the update is done, click the new Time Capsule and click "edit". Select the wireless tab, and change the Network Mode to "Create a Wireless Network". Choose your name, security and password. Click Update. Once the new Time Capsule is plugged in and wired, you should be able to connect to your network from your laptop.
Back on the old Time Capsule, go to the Wireless Tab and select, "Extend a Wireless Network". Select your network, and click update.
On the Airport Extreme, do the same as the old Time Capsule.
You should be done! Now, you can move your old Time Capsule somewhere else as use it as an extention of your network. And the same with the Airport Extreme. Enjoy your 5TB of network storage!

This AirPort base station was unable to extend the wireless network.

I have an AirPort Extreme in the lounge connected to BT infinity.
I also have an airport express in the kitchen connected to a stereo system.
I have had this set up for around 12 months.
The airport express will not extend the wireless network.
I reset it, restart, factory reset etc and it will work fine for around 3 days, then I get the same error message saying
This AirPort base station was unable to extend the wireless network. Make sure the wireless network you’re trying to extend was set up 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.
The express is situated easily within range of the extreme. And the airplay between those two, my iMac and two apple tv's works pretty much as it should.
Can someone please shed some light on this?
Maybe I have it in a wrong setting or summut....

G Beach wrote:
I am also experiencing a recent failure in my Airport devices no longer extending my wireless network.
My Aiport Express and second Airport Extreme were extending my wireless network for more than a year
The only change that has taken place lately is that the firmware for both devices was upgraded to 7.6.4, however the upgrade was only in response to trying to resolve this problem. Needless to say, the firmware upgrade did not resolve anything.
If I didn't know better, I'd have thought I wrote the above.
I have a TC from a few years ago (last one before the tower, I think), plus the older AEBS that it replaced extending the network, plus a 1-year-old Express also extending. I had upgraded them all to 7.6.3/4 when it came out, but reverted them all to 7.6.1 when everything went crapways (others having the same issues of the LAN regularly croaking), and didn't bother upgrading again since.
Today I just tried 7.6.4 on all of them, and it seemed OK at first with green lights all around in Airport Utility. Then I made one change, which was to enable 5Ghz on the main AEBS/TC only (the express doesn't need it, and the older AEBS can't do it).
The latter two started flasing amber and giving the "unable to extend wireless network" error message.
So I'm wondering if you are similarly using 5Ghz?

I used Airport Base station and I was able to extend my network using airport express and connect my printers. Now I am using Extreme and I can't extend the network (Express) or the printers nothing shows up. I am using utility 6.3 and Mt Lion What is

I had an Aiport Base Station and extended using Airport Express, where I also connected my printers (network). Now using Airport Extreme off Mt Lion 10.8.4 and Utility 6.3.
I can't extend the network (express) or connect my printers (USB) nor will it find my one wifi printer.
What's up?

For now, leave the AirPort Express powered off.
Power off the entire network....all devices.....in any order that you want
Wait a few minutes
Power up the modem first, and let it run 2-3 minutes by itself
Power up the AirPort Extreme next, and let it run a full minute
Keep powering up devices one at a time about a minute apart until everything is powered up (leave the Express off for now)
Open AirPort Utility and check to see if the AirPort Extreme is visible.
If it's not, click the AirPort Utility menu at the upper left of the screen, then click About AirPort Utility. Post back with the version number of AirPort Utility that you see there....which should be AirPort Utility 5.6.1.
Post back on your progress.

HT4259 When a Netgear N 300 wireless router is the base station for my network, what steps do I take to add AirPort Express 802.11n as an network extender?

When a Netgear N 300 wireless router is the base station for my network, what steps do I take to add AirPort Express 802.11n as an network extender?

You don't have to do anything to the netgear.. the Express cannot wirelessly extend non-apple networks. You must plug the Express in by ethernet and create a new wireless network.. this can be the same name (SSID) and security as the netgear so it can become a roaming network.

Airport Extreme Base Station as Extender to Airport Extreme Time Machine

I have tried this a few times, but to no avail: Tonight I purchased an Airport Extreme Base Station (AE) to set up as an extender to my Airport Extreme Time Capsule (AETC). The Airport Utility finds the router and goes through set-up seemingly fine, with green lights on both. Then shortly after (within a minute) the AE reboots on it's own, followed by the AETC rebooting (again, on it's own) and this occurs repeatedly. I reset the AE completely and run through the set-up and the same thing occurs. I've also done soft resets to the AETC. Long and short of it - the restarting discontinues once I unplug the power cord from the AE. Then the AETC resumes as it has - providing fine wifi and speed. It appears the AE rebooting on its own makes the AETC reboot. Any ideas? Thanks!

howto - extending airport 802.11n networks
Pre-Requistites
1) Ensure all have most recent firmware - 7.7.3 for AC devices, 7.6.4 for 802.11n devices
2) Have most recent Airport Utility (OS X 10.7 thru 10.9, use 6.3.2, IOS6/7 use 1.3.3)
3) Only have the Primary Airport/TimeCapsule powered on for now
Set up the Primary/Anchor Airport Base Station
1) Do this over ethernet - ensure that the Modem and TimeCapsule/Airport is connected on the WAN port
2) You'll be prompted by Airport Utility to name the Network and the Base Station
Network is the SSID of the Wireless LAN
BaseStation is the name of the Airport/TimeCapsule
3) You'll be prompted for a password - this will be for both the WLAN and the Base Station on initial setup
Note here - there are at least three passwords to worry about post setup
a) BaseStation Management - in this how-to, this will be carried thru to the extended basestations
b) WLAN Access
c) Disk Access for TimeCapsule and AirDisk
They can be same or unique, up to you...
Configure the Airport/TimeCapsule for WiFi/Network
4) Select the named BS in Airport Utility - click the 'edit' button
5) Review 'Base Station' Tab
5a) BaseStation Name
5b) BaseStation Password - you can change this now if desired, this does not affect WLAN password
6) Review Internet Tab
6a) set as appropriate for your network - e.g DHCP or other depending on needs
6aa) focus here is getting the primary BS set up first
6b) Click Internet Options - this is IPV6 setup - for now...
6ba) Set to Link-Local Only, click save, you can go back and change this later if needed
7) Go to Wireless Tab
7a) Set Network Mode to "Create a wireless network"
7b) Check Wireless Network Name
7c) Wireless Security - recommend WPA2 Personal - this is important as you'll need this later
7d) Wireless Password - the password entered in step 5b above is what is used here, feel free to modify or not - if so, note this
7e) disregard Enable Guest Network for now
7f) Click Wireless Options
7g) ensure 5Ghz network name is unselected
7h) Country as appropriate - since I'm in California, I choose United States
7i) Leave 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz Channels as "Automatic" for now, click save if needed
8) Click Network Tab
8a) if this is your primary router - use DHCP and NAT
8b) Click Network Options
8c) DHCP Lease - I use 12 hours
8d) IPv4 DHCP Range - every here is a bit different, but my recommendation for most folks
192.168.1.100 to 150
Use what works for you, keeping in mind that the AP Extreme, TimeCapsule, and 2012 Airport Express can handle 50 clients, max
8e) Ensure that Enable NAT Port Mapping Protocol is selected
8f) can worry about Enable default host at: [] later, this is the DMZ'ed host
8g) can choose to enable IGMP Snooping or not - doesn't affect the primary setup
8h) click save
TimeCapsule Only - for Airport Extreme, worry about AirDisk later
This is TimeMachine support, along with FileShares
9) Select Disks - you should see a partitiion named "Data"
9a) ensure that Enable file sharing is selected
9b) ensure that Share disks over WAN is unchecked for now
9c) Secure Shared Disks:
Choices here -
device password - noted in step 5b above
disk password - this will be for all LAN clients that can see the Data Partitiion
accounts - you can set up separate users and passwords - this is beyond scope of this how-to
Recommendation if using as TimeMachine only, use a disk password - note this as you'll need it for timemachine on the clients
Save Settings to the Airport/TimeCapsule
10) Click the "update' button
The Airport/TimeCapsule will restart
Everything now should show green and shiny - open a web browser and attempt to go to Apple/Google/Yahoo, to ensure that you've got network connectivity
Reviewing things in the Airport 6.3 utility, you should see your base station and the Internet - both with green status
Once done here, let's extend the Wireless Network
Note - again, it helps to be connected to the primary base station on ethernet, wireless makes things, erm, challenging
11) with another decive - Mac/iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch or PC, ensure that Wireless LAN is working on the primary AP/Basestation
Once this is done, then proceed to the next step
Enable the "Extended" Airport - can be another TimeCapsule, Airport Express or Airport Extreme
For purposes of this discussion - assume all ore 802.11n capable at a minimum, so this applies towards more recent gear
a) Airport Extreme AC (2013)
b) Airport TimeCapsule AC (2013)
c) Airport Express 2012 Dual-Band (Looks like AppleTV)
d) Airport Extreme 802.11n 5th Gen, TimeCapsule 4th Gen
e) Airport Express 802.11n - similar to the 802.11g variant, looks like a MacBook Pro power adapter
Assumptions here is that the extended airport is factory defaults - see link below for more info:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3728
Once this is done, plug in the Airport that is intended for extending the wireless network
after about a minute or so, you should see a blinking orange light, this is normal...
In Airport Utility, you should see in the upper left hand, "Other Wi-Fi Devices (1)" - click this, if you don't see this, exit and restart Airport Utility
12) clicking on the button, you should see an entry menu as "Airport Extreme xxxxxx", select this
13) Once selected, you'll see "This Airport Extreme/Express/TimeCapsule will be set up to extend "Primary Base Station"
14) Enter the name for this base station - it should be unique from the name of the Primary noted in step 5a
15) Click "next"
16) Should see "setting up this base station to wirelessly extend..."
you'll see some progress messages.. this is the two basestations handshaking....
If successful, you'll see the BaseStation named in step 14 as "is now wireless extending "base station named in (step 5a)"
STOP - the Airport is now extended, repeat steps 11 thru 16 for each addtional Airport
For advanced features - such as port forwarding, DMZ, IPv6 Tunnels, Back to my Mac, etc - perform this only on the Primary Base station outlined in steps 1 thru 8h
Good Luck!

Airport Base Station No Longer Found in Network

Since applying the 10.5.2 upgrade yesterday my home network, routed via a cable modem and a formerly dependable original Airport Base Station, is no longer recognized by Airport Utility... and the Airport icon in the finder is continually scanning. I have found, however, that my network shows up as an available option in Network System Preferences...with a Connected status and an IP address (10.0.1.3).
I can connect to the internet and read email from my main iMac because I am also connected directly via ethernet, but my laptop can't find the Airport base station, either. I have reset, unplugged, restarted, check connections and cables, etc. Both Macs easily find my Airport Express, however. I'm concerned the new update no longer supports the original base station...
On another (unrelated?) note, my external backup HD (250GB Seagate), connected by Firewire, is now recognized as "Read Only," whereas it has always had read/write permission (confirmed in Get Info). So now my backup is failing, too. Sorry to introduce a new topic, but I'm frustrated!

Firmware is uploaded onto the base station itself and is different from AirPort Utility. Although you probably cannot confirm it without connecting to the base station, I think it highly unlikely that you use a firmware version earlier than 6.1.1 (which came out in 2004). If newer firmware is contained in software on your computer, AirPort Admin Utility and/or AirPort Utility should have prompted you to upload it to the base station, whereas if it is not on your computer, Software Update (assuming you use it) should have prompted you to obtain it. Even if your firmware is older than version 6.1.1, the reset procedure is virtually the same--in that case, you won't see the AX's status LED flashing rapidly a few seconds after you start holding the reset button, and you will just need to hold the reset button for 10 full seconds.
Once you connect to the base station, you should be able to see the firmware version (e.g., "Base Station Vx.x" where x.x is the firmware version) on the opening screen of AirPort Admin Utility for Graphite and Snow, when the base station is highlighted. I imagine that AirPort Utility shows similar information. I believe that in AirPort Utility, you can also check to see if newer firmware is available from Apple (choose "Check for Updates" in the AirPort Utility menu). To the best of my knowledge, the most current firmware version for AirPort Express is 6.3.

My computer no longer recognises the Airport base station network

I presently have wireless broadband internet access on my iBook (using a Belkin wireless ethernet router connected by an ethernet cable to my airport.)
I also have an Airport Express in another room connected to my stereo for playing all my iTunes songs wirelessly.
The problem arose in that if i wanted to listen to my music I had to switch between networks, meaning i couldn't surf the net and listen to music at the same time.
A few nights ago I tried to 'merge' the networks using Airport set-up assistant (or admin utility, I forget which).
Now, my computer no longer recognises the Airport base station network, just the Express one.
Is there a way of listening to my music and using the internet at the same time, and how do I get my internet working again in the first place!
Many thanks
Jono

Rebooted Airport Express and now working

Trying to set up a wireless guest network using Airport base station. The first network setup was fine but the second one doesn't work. Any suggestions?

I purchased the new Airport base station that allows for a wireless setup of a primary network and a guest network. The primary network installation worked great but I cannot get the guest network to work properly. Any suggestions on how to make it work?

The AirPort base station is designed to connect to a simple modem......not a modem/router or gateway device that is often furnished to users by Internet Service Providers.
So, the first troubleshooting question would be to find out what the make and model of the device that you call your "modem" might be.....to see if you have the right kind of product that will allow the Guest Network to operate correctly.

Airport Base Station - setting up base station to already existing network

Hello,
I just replaced a network switch on the network. Since I did that I am unable to get Internet connection from our main base station in the server room that distributes the IP addresses. I did a reset to the base station and tried to get it to show on the already existing network, but I'm having some issues getting the base station configured with the other base stations on the network. How do I get this main base station to show up on our network?
Right now our other base stations are not getting valid IP addresses. The base station that is setup to distribute IP addresses is getting valid addresses from our provider. If someone could give me any suggestions I would appreciate it.
We are running Apple 10.2.4 on our network.

OK - starts to make sense now. If you did a factory reset of the base station then more than likely the airport network name for it is the Apple default name, and you probably lost the WDS in Wireless Mode.
Do you know the old network name and the network password? Do you know how the other 4 or 5 base stations were configured - ie as a WDS network and whether as relay or remote base stations. You should not need to change anything on these base stations if you know how your AEB (main) was setup in the first place.
One step back from this, you need to confirm that the DSL modem is connecting to your ISP. Connect the ethernet cable from the DSL modem to your Mac and confirm that you can log onto your ISP or internet. If it works then lets go onto the AEB you reset.
Apple publish setup manuals for their AirPort Base Stations - they can be downloaded at: http://support.apple.com/manuals/#airport
1. Reset your AEB to its factory default again.
2. Turn-off the AEB and connect one of its ethernet ports to your Mac by ethernet cable, and connect the DSL modem to the WAN port on the AEB by ethernet cable.
3. Power up your Mac, the DSL modem and the AEB and wait for all to complete their startup sequence. Then open AirPort Utility - you should see your AEB under a generic network name. Click on the AEB.
4. Use the auto setup procedure by clicking 'Continue'. Follow the onscreen instructions for setting up a new network. When asked, use the 'original network name' for your school network. When asked for a network password, use the 'original network password' for your school network (what sort of network security were you using - WPA2 Personal - use whatever you had previously.
5. At some stage you will also be asked to give the AEB a name and admin password - use whatever they were previously.
6. When the setup procedure is complete and the AEB finishes restarting, the AEB will reappear in AirPort Utility. Click on the AEB and click 'Manual Setup'. You may be asked for the admin password to get into the configuration profile.
7. Click on the 'Wireless' tab and set the 'Wireless Mode:' to 'Participate in a WDS network' if not already set to this. While in this pane, look at 'Channel:' - do you remember what this was set to previously (if not, you may need to connect one of the other AEBs by ethernet cable to a Mac and use AirPort Utility to check the Channel setting.
8. Now, click on the 'Internet' icon at the top of AirPort Utility. Check that 'Connection Sharing:' is set to 'Off (Bridge Mode)' - if not, change it.
9. Now, click 'Update' and wait for the AEB to restart.
10. Now, disconnect the ethernet cable from the Mac to the AEB ethernet port.
11. Open Airport Utility, and hopefully, you can now see the AEB and the other 4 or 5 base stations.
Let us know what happens.

HT4259 I have looked all over for an explanation of the visual language of the "flowchart in airport utility-e.g., dotted lines vs solid; why the hierarchy of base stations in a network falls as it does and occasionally moves around?

I have looked all over for an explanation of the visual language of the "flowchart in airport utility 6.0 - e.g., dotted lines vs solid; why the hierarchy of base stations in a network falls as it does and occasionally moves around? Where will I find this explanation?

by falls did you mean fail?
Solid lines = Ethernet connection.
Dotted = WiFi.

Choosing Airport Base Station on Extended Network

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