Computer switching between 2 close extending airport express

Hi i have a Windows 8 computer that is switching between 2 airport expresses that are extending the network. Is there no fix or can i keep my phone connected to one?

Or can i keep connected to one*

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IPod Touch not picked up extending Airport Express

I have an Airport Extreme Base Station and two Airport Expresses that are both used to extend my Wi-fi. My problem is that my iPod Touch 3 - running IOS 4.1 - fails to pick up one of the extending Airport Expresses. My laptop and an iMac pick it up just fine, but I get no connection from my iPod when I am very close to that Express. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated??

This question was answered in the AEBS/Time Capsule Forum.

AirPort Express - Can not connect to "extended" AirPort Express

Two trips to the Genius Bar tell me that I should be able to Extend my network from a new AirPort Express (n/g/b) to an older AirPort Express (b/g) using the "extend network feature". The two devices are communicating (both lights are green and the wireless channel will change on the remote device if I change it at the base station), but my MBP Core Duo 15" seems to only be connecting to the AirPort Express Base Station (n/g/b) and not to the Remote "extended" AirPort Express (b/g).
This forum seems to indicate that you can only use WDS between the newer AEX (n) and the older AEX (b/g) but the folks at the Apple Store have told me twice now not to use WDS. They said that as long as the two devices have green lights that it is working, but when I click on the Airport Symbol up in the menu bar w/the Option key it tells me the MAC address of the base station only - and when I get very far from the base station, the signal drops out even though the remote AEX is near by.
I did try setting it up using WDS and that works fine, just very slow.
Anyone know if there's a way to be sure that my MBP connects to the remote (extended) AirPort Express?

This forum seems to indicate that you can only use WDS between the newer AEX (n) and the older AEX (b/g)
This is correct....since the older b/g Express does not even have a setting to "extend a wireless network".
If you require confirmation, open AirPort Utility, select the b/g Express, click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Now look at the available settings for Wireless Mode.
"Extend a wireless network" is not there.
but the folks at the Apple Store have told me twice now not to use WDS.
They are likely telling you not to use it because the performance on your network will drop dramatically if you do use WDS. Or, they mean well, but they are just wrong on this subject. Here's why:
The only way that you can use an older "g" and newer "n" device together to provide more wireless coverage is to configure both devices for WDS. It's a Catch 22.
WDS operates only at "g" wireless levels. So when you configure the newer "n" Express to operate as part of the WDS (which you must), it becomes a "g" wireless device. You lose any "n" capability on the network
Worse still, every "remote" or "relay" in a WDS setup cuts the bandwidth of the entire network in half...50%. That's huge. In effect, with WDS, you may have a bit more wireless coverage, but you will have a "g" wireless network that operates at half speed.
but when I click on the Airport Symbol w/the Option key it tells me the MAC address of the base station only - and when I get very far from the base station, the signal drops out even though the remote AEX is near by.
The remote AX is not providing any additional wireless coverage.
They said that as long as the two devices have green lights that it is working
Nope, as you can tell by the fact that your "remote" is not providing any additonal wireless coverage.
Anyone know if there's a way to be sure that my MBP connects to the remote (extended) AirPort Express?
Your only option, (unless you add more hardware):
Configure both AX devices to "Participate in a WDS network" setting one up as a "main" and the other a "remote" . The big downside, as mentioned previously, is that you will have a "g" wireless network running at half speed.

Problem trying to extend airport express network

I added brand new airport express to my network, Set it up to be my primary base station, clicked to create an extended network, and now my computer can't see the airport express. How do I get my computer to see the airport express again? I've tried unplugging it and plugging it back in, I've tried a soft reset , and I've tried a hard reset (Which I can't seem to do because it requires AirPort Utility to be able to see it so I can click the correct option, If I'm understanding the directions correctly). The message I get is "No configured Airport base stations have been found. AirPort Utility will continue searching." I am running OS 10.8.4--but I see that none of my devices with Airport Utility can see the airport express.

Thanks for the reply Bob! OK--I'll never understand what the heck just happened. All is working again, but through no logical sense that I can make out. Here it is in a nutshell: Yes, I have two airport expresses, the brand spanking new one and an older gen. 1 version. I thought I'd try to make the new airport express the primary basestation and use the older airport express as my extended basestation (just seemed easier to move the older one to any socket in the house without any extra wires involved). When that didn't work and my computers suddenly wouldn't acknowledge the very existence of the new airport express, I reversed the configuration. After having my old airport express also go AWOL, I was ready to heave it all out the window, but miraculously, my old airport express suddenly popped up in my list of wi-fi networks I could join (even though it still didn't show in the Airport Utility). I clicked to join, and suddenly the Airport Utility saw it again and allowed me to create a new network from scratch--though for some reason it only wanted to connect using PPPoE. I couldn't get the option for DHCP, until I plugged my new airport express back in and then voila, not only did my computer finally recognize the new airport, but I had the option to change my setting back to DHCP. Once I did that, everything worked--not in the configuration I had hoped, but I'm not going to mess with success.

Hi there, I'm thinking of buying both a new MacBook Pro and a small 22 inch LED tv for my kitchen... what would I need to be able to use (wireless of course) the tv as a monitor for the new computer? Apple tv? Airport Express? something else? Thanks.

Hi there, I'm thinking of buying both a new MacBook Pro and a small 22 inch LED tv for my kitchen... what would I need to be able to use (wireless of course) the tv as a monitor for the new computer? Apple tv? Airport Express? something else? Thanks.

Hi a,
http://www.mctiviausa.com/
There has been "talk" on and off of Apple TV doing it (and people have done it with a hack), but I haven't really followed it.
It would be a whole lot cheaper getting an adapter (as needed) and cable and simply pluggin it in when you're in the kitchen.

I recently switched from LinkSys to Airport Express 802.11n. I love it, but I can't get the Wii to talk to it so I can stream NetFlix. I've found MANY discussions on this, but it's still not clear to me. Anybody have a step by step so I can fix it?

I recently switched from LinkSys to Airport Express 802.11n. I love it...but now I my Wii can't see it so I can stream NetFlix. I have found MANY discussions on line about this...but it's still not clear to me. Anybody have a step by step way to fix this? Thanks! Jim Matherly

Well, the Airport Express is also compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. If your Wii is unable to connect to the wireless network, I recommended changing the wireless security of your network.
Open Airport Utility, select your Airport Express and click Edit. Navigate to the Wireless tab and change your security from WPA2 Personal to WPA/WPA2 Personal. Then click Update on the bottom right.

My computer can't find the Airport Express signals anymore

I'm having some weird issues with my MacBook connecting to my Airport Express at home. 2 years ago I installed my new Airport Express and made a WPA Personal security password as recommended. Everything worked fine until Sunday my computer seemed to not find the signals anymore. I have tried all types of problem solving from the book and other places, but nothing seemed to help.
The weird stuff is that my other 2 Mac computers have no problems connecting. The others the signals fine.
My computer picks up all other wireless signals from the neighborhood.
How can this be? I did nothing but turn my computer on and off and suddenly all "domestic signals" are non traceable any longer?
I hope someone can help me; I am, as you probably can understand not a computer literate exactly.

I have to switch between my internet 2Wire network and the AX base station network I created.
If you configure the AirPort Express (AX) to join the wireless network provided by the 2wire you won't need to switch back and forth. There will only be one wireless network.
My husband wanted to print with his MacBook Pro the same way, and so we tried to configure the base station on his computer.
That was not needed. Once the base station is configured, any wireless client can join the network without needing to run any AirPort software.

Select Between Time Capsule & AirPort Express

I have an iMac which sits between my Time Capsule and Airport Express (Extending)
My iMac reverts to the extender and as such - data transfer to the TimeCapsule drive is very slow.
How can I force the Mac either in Windows7 /Mac OS X to use the TimeCapsule as they share the same SSID in extention.
Thanks.

Unfortortunately, there is no way to "force" a device to connect to a given access point.
The iMac will connect to the device that it thinks has the strongest signal.
You have a few options:
Move the iMac closer to the Time Capsule
Move the Time Capsule closer to the iMac
Move the AirPort Express further away from the iMac

Extend Airport Express with Time Capsule? So just one Wi-Fi network in my house ? Possible?

Hi!
I did Google and try to get it working at home - but I can't get it to work. I want to be able to walk in my house without my iPhone/iPad loosing the Wi-Fi signal because now there is downstairs and a upstairs wi-fi network.
So the thing I want is.. I got a Airport Express on the ground floor which is for my Wi-Fi network there.
On my 2nd floor I want my Time Capsule to extend this network - so that my iPhone picks that Wi-Fi up straight away. Now when I am upstairs my iPhone is still connected to the wi-fi from downstairs (which it can't reach) and so I am not connected. Which results in me having to manually switch to the upstairs network..
My question : Is it possible to setup a Wi-Fi network downstairs and have my Time Capsule repeat it (so not a new network) for upstairs use?
Hope someone can help me and this is possible!
Thnx in advance!

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
That's possible. See > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145

Extended Airport Express fluctuating data rate

I have a 2012 Airport Express connected to my broadband router in the far corner of the ground floor of my house. The AX has provided faultless service, except for the fact that it's range drops off when I'm up one floor, on the diagonally opposite side of the house.
I bought an extra AX to extend the range of the first. It's set to wirelessly extend.
The problem I've got is that the data rate that the second connects to the first at keeps fluctuating, it can be as high as 144Mb/s, but also drops as low as 1Mb/s.
The RSSI is approx -76 dBm.
I assume that the two Expresses are re-negotiating to try to establish the most stable rate? However, with an average throughput from my ISP of 10Mbps, the low rate can really cause problems.
Can anyone suggest any other reason for the problem?
Thanks,
SPD.

Data links between a pair of express can be very tricky.
I find in my setup that I do need to restart the remote unit every couple of days.
But you need to take control of the system.. to make it as stable as you can. Apple have channels set to auto but also band swapping can take place.
Where you are in a situation where the system becomes unstable step in and take more control.
On the main Express plugged into the router. Set all new names.. short with no spaces and pure alphanumeric.
AX1 say for base name. (second one will be AX2.)
I recommend using different wireless names.. others will disagree but I find it helps.
So AX24ghz and AX5ghz (I am assuming your 2012 is the new gen2 AX)
Set fixed channels.. try 11 for 2.4ghz and 36 for 5ghz to start with.
With your upstairs AX2, you will then set to extend on say 5ghz band.. and give it a try.. see what the connection is like and if you get better transfer speeds.. if so stick with it.. 2.4ghz has better signal penetration but poorer speeds.. 5ghz can work poorly at a distance.. but in my double storey house I find from one end to the other, 5ghz is still faster and cleaner signal.. even though the signal level is lower.
If 5ghz doesn't work well then you will need to stick with 2.4ghz.
Some strange effects come out of all this.. but it is well worth a try.
I have noted when replying to this question.. several times.. that a v5 airport utility makes this easier as it shows more info.. link speed. Apple removed so much info in v6 utility to make your mac look like an ipad.. that it is a shame to call it a utility.. more like a toybox. So if you can possibly run v5 utility do so and you will then be able to track exactly link speeds.
This is my setup.. centre shows the main AP.. with the two each side extending the signal.

Devices connecting to the weaker signal base station, not extended Airport Express

I have am successfully extending my network with a timecapsule as the base station in the front of the house (living room) and an airport express in the back of the house (bedroom). The connection between the timecapsule and the AX is 'good' according to the airport utility on my iPad.
I'm connecting my iPad and laptop to the AX from the bedroom and the internet is fast.
I am also trying to connect a printer and a droid; both of these won't connec to the AX from the bedroom, and default to the timecapsule which they both can barely connect to. The Internet is slow, and the printer won't work.
The printer is a canon mx860 and is b/g
The droid is a droid global 2 and is b/g/n
I had a similar problem with my home theatre pc in the bedroom, which wanted to connect to the timecapsule, but I installed a network sniffer and was able to manually connect to the AX, which clearly had a stronger signal.
Why are the phone and printer not connecting to the stronger signal?? I know I read somewhere that you can't configure this on the TC and AX.
Thanks,
Walker

Since you are using the Express to extend the network of your Time Capsule then the band that is being used by the Express is determined by which band you are using to connect to the Time Capsule.
On the Time Capsule, if you are using the simultaneous dual band feature you will have created at least two networks, one 2.4GHz and one that is 5GHz. Each Network should have a unique name so you can distinguish them. I append (5GHz) to the name of my 5GHz network to accomplish that.
When you set your Express to extend your Time Capsule network choose the 2.4GHz network as the network that is being extended. This will set the Express to use 2.4GHz.

Extending Airport Express 802.11n from an older Airport Extreme b/g

This undoubtedly has been answered, but I can't find a good answer via my search, sorry. I unwittingly picked up an AX .n thinking it would extend like my old fried AX .b/g. It doesn't. My goal is primarily use the AX as a means of using Airtunes, but it would be nice to boost the signal around the house. So, how to do this/can it be done? The setup utility is of little value. Further, I have an old boat-anchor of a PC laptop that can only use WEP security I'd like to be able to use wirelessly, if that is an issue. But, Airtunes is highest priority. Thank you!

Welcome to the discussions!
+I unwittingly picked up an AX .n thinking it would extend like my old fried AX .b/g+
Your old "b/g" Express could only "extend" by "participating in a WDS network". The new "n" Express can do the same.
Open AirPort Utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Wireless Mode = Participate in WDS network.
Apple does not really want you to use WDS, so you may need to hold down the option key on your computer as you click on the selection box to see this choice.
WDS imposes a very stiff 50% bandwidth penalty for each "extending" device. So, if you configure your network with two Express devices, the first will cut your original bandwidth in half. The second will cut half of that again, so you will be down to only 25% of the original bandwidth on your wireless network. Streaming is going to be "iffy" with such a limitation.
Apple's step by step instructions for WDS setup are on pages 42-44 in the Designing AirPort Networks Guide.
If you simply want to use either the "g" or "n" Airport Express for iTunes, you would select the "Join a wireless network" setting for Wireless Mode and make sure that AirTunes is enabled by clicking the Music icon on the setup page.
WEP is no longer considered secure, so I would suggest that you avoid this if at all possible. If you need to use it, the settings for wireless security are on the same wireless setup window in AirPort Utility mentioned above.

Unusual Senario: Use Time Capsule to extend Airport Express network

I have an less common senaria here. I'd like to keep the TC on my desk and hide away the ugly cable modem. This is what I want to accomplish:
- Connect my airport express (802.11n model) to the cable modem and use it as the base station, in b/g/n mode.
- Wirelessly extend the above network to my TC.
- The TC will only be connected via ethernet and N equipped computer, so I want to run it in N (5GHz) only mode.
After some research, it seems to be not feasible, can anybody please confirm? Thanks for help.

If you are asking about extending using wireless only......Yes, if your existing network is being created by another Apple wireless router.
In this case, the Time Capsule would need to be located where it can receive a strong wireless signal in order to extend it correctly.

Connectionspeed between TimeCapsule and AirPort Express

Hi,
just a short question:
I'am having a TimeCapsule 4. Gen which provides my 5 GHz wifi. Because i've a very poor connection in the garden and on the terrace, i've extended the wifi with a Airport Express. The Airport Express gets a very strong signal from the TimeCapsule and i'am connected with 300Mbit/s to the Express, if Timemachine starts a backup to the TimeCapsule, it is very slow and takes a looooot of time. If i go near the TimeCapsule and starts a backup, it's lightning fast.
Is it possible that the internal connection between TimeCapsule and Express doesn't go thru 5GHz?

The Airport Express has several modes in which it can work - as a base station, as a wireless access point on a cabled network, as a wireless client on an existing network, or as a relay or remote base station in a wireless distribution system.
A few points to keep in mind, which should answer your questions:
1. Regardless of mode, the Airport Express can always be used for iTunes streaming.
2. When used as a wireless client on an existing wireless network, the Airport Express ethernet port is disabled.
3. When used as a remote base station in a wireless distribution system, the Airport Express ethernet port is enabled.

Extending airport express network with other airport express

I am trying to extend my airport express based wifi network, using two more units.
All airport express units are 802.11n capable.
My main question is about the band frequency: does it matter whether I use 2.4 or 5 ghz ?
I have some success when using 2.4 ghz, but I am having zero success when using 5ghz on the main unit (the one connected via ethernet to the router). The other two units are set up to "extend a wireless network".

Welcome to the discussion area, Giovanni!
While it is not exactly correct to say that you almost need line-of-sight between the AirPort Express devices for 5 GHz to work effectively, a number of users are finding this to be the case. 5 GHz signals are much weaker than 2.4 GHz signals, so they do not travel well over distance or pass through obstructions very well.
Unless you almost do have line-of-sight between the devices, you are probably going to get better results by setting up the "main" AirPort Express on the 2.4 GHz band and use the others to "extend" that band.
The "extend" setup works like the hub and spokes of a wheel. Your main AirPort Express is the "hub" and the other devices are located at the ends of the the "spokes". The remote devices communicate directly to the hub, not to another device at the end of another spoke, so it's not possible to "extend" a device that is already setup to "extend".

Computer switching between 2 close extending airport express

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