Configure WDS w/ older Extreme & Express?

I'm trying to configure a WDS using an older snowdome Extreme (Model #A1034) with an Express (Model #A1084) to extend the internet connection and also use the AirTunes.
Per previous posts, I've connected the Express (remote) to the Extreme (main) and configured using Airport Utility. However, when I disconnect the Express and relocate near my stereo, I lose the Extreme altogether as an option and no longer have internet access.
Help!

Schaak wrote:
I now have both base stations plugged into separate wall outlets in different rooms. This is where I will ultimately use them.
That's not what I suggested. I recommend that you keep them in the same room close enough to your computer to be able to connect to either one with an Ethernet cable.
I do see the Express listed as a wireless client for the Extreme: Signal -52, Noise -1, Rate -36.
Those are odd values for noise and rate. I would expect noise to be in the range of -50 to -99 and rate to be a positive number.
I suppose you saw the Express in the "DHCP Clients" list of the Extreme.
The Express Modem does not appear in the Airport Utility window to select.
That's why you need to be prepared to use an Ethernet cable until everything works.
I had the two plugged in together when I did the hard reset. Might this be the issue?
Not necessarily. By the way, from my experience with WDS configuration, it's essential that several things match: wireless network name, encryption type, network password, band (2.4 GHz in your case), and channel. Are these identical for both stations?

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Configuring WDS w/ Airport Extreme Dual-Band 802.11n & Express 802.11g

I currently have an Airport Extreme Dual-Band 802.11n Model: A1301 (located downstairs) and an older Airport Express 802.11g Model: A1084 (located upstairs) which I had been using to stream iTunes to my upstairs stereo (which worked flawlessly). Recently a friend of mine recommended that I reconfigure my network to a Wireless Distribution System setup which would allow me to create a remote wireless node which improves my wireless signal strength upstairs, allows an interface to Airplay to play our music from our iPod's/Pad's and also provides an hard-wired Ethernet connection for my newly delivered Network Extender for my cell phone. So I followed the URL: support.apple.com/kb/HT4262 to assist in this conversion and found that I was unable to configure my network as desired. While this documentation is very good, there is one snafu that I worked out that finally allowed a successful setup. Follow the instructions for:
- Connecting a WDS main base station to the Internet
- Configuring a WDS main base station
- Configuring a WDS remote base station (See last line of instructions for the correct WDS Main ID)
Ensure all Wi-Fi base stations are powered on and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra.
From the AirPort Menu Extra, select an 802.11g Wi-Fi base station to configure as a WDS remote.
In AirPort Utility, select the WDS remote Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, and click Manual Setup.
Select the AirPort icon from the Toolbar, and click on the Wireless tab.
From Wireless Mode select Participate in a WDS network.
Click on the WDS tab.
From WDS Mode, select WDS remote.
Enable Allow wireless clients (see the first note below).
If not already supplied, enter the 2.4Ghz AirPort ID of the WDS main, then click Update.
There are two Apple ID's for the dual-band Extreme (2.4 & 5.0Ghz). Be sure to use the 2.4Ghz ID which is listed under the "Summary Tab" of the utility. What is confusing is that in the AirPort Utility, when you position the mouse cursor over the graphic of the Extreme on the left-hand side of the GUI, you are presented with a yellow dialog box which displays the 5Ghz ID and this can be misleading especially when you are trying to connect to an older 2.4Ghz Express ...

My Express is the A1264 802.11n model. My Extreme is the A1354 model.
The most crucial issue is the the Tivo, because the Premiere only works with Ethernet (I dont' have and wont' buy the upgraded wireless doohickey), but of course I would prefer that the Express also act to extend the signal, and I particularly want it do so using WEP access (or nothing, see below), since I have a second Tivo which ONLY works wirelessly and which ONLY works using WEP, not WPA.
Since there were so many different issues and needs going on, I was excited about the Dual Band because it meant I could potentially get 5G speeds for my iPad and perhaps the Tivo Premiere connection, while allowing a completely separate band for the OLD Tivo.
The other option I've been trying out (to accommodate the Tivo2 that can't handle WEP) is having no security, but making the networks hidden.
A third option I tried to make work was to create a "guest network" for just the Tivo2.
But what I'm finding out (it's what I always struggle with...networking is a nightmare.) is that if you take one from Column A, Column B disappears, so to speak.
The way it used to work on the non-dual band Extreme was as I mapped above, and the Tivo2 and my iPad used the wireless signal with no problem while the Express was Ethernet connected to the TivoPremiere, but it did so using WDS, which doesn't even seem to exist as a possibility, forget teh fact that it undermines the speed boost (so I read)
I've frankly never been able to understand the differences between the various modes and structures, and believe it or not I'm very smart and very comfortable with computers and Macs, having worked on them for 25 years.
And one of the biggest reasons I've had such a hard time is because of the many times that I have updated after making changes, Airport Utility tells me it worked, but nothing happens and then after too much frustration I end up unplugging and shutting down every single piece of equipment and rebooting everything and then it DOES work. Sometimes. But I can't be doing that every time I make one tweak, I'll go insane!
And the number of pin-resets I've done on the Express, the Dual band, and even the cable modem would make your head spin!
So there's my story. Kinda. Does it make any sense? At least in terms of my goals?
Your help is more appreciated than you can imagine.

Airport Extreme 802.11n and WDS with 802.11g express

I have an 802.11n Airport Extreme that I have been using with my AppleTV. I have it set to allow for 802.11b/g, since I have an old Powerbook Titanium that cannot be upgraded.
I recently decided to add my Airport Express 802.11g to the mix to act as a bridge for a remote, wired computer. I did this by enabling WDS on the Extreme/Express.
My question is this: by enabling WDS on the extreme, will the AppleTV still be able to connect at 802.11n speeds, or does it get pulled back to 11g? Is there any way to verify/check this on either the Extreme or the AppleTV?
Thanks,
keith

You can check the connection speed of each wireless client attached to a base station using Airport Utility. Launch Airport Utility, click on the Airport button in the toolbar. On the Summary tab you'll see an item called Wireless clients. It shows you how many wireless client devices are connected to that base station.
Click on the words Wireless Clients and you'll get a graph and a list. The graph shows the signal strength of each client. The list shows the client's wireless MAC, the signal and noise levels and the rate at which each device is communicating. On my Extreme-n base stations, I regularly see rates from 1 to 130 and everything inbetween. It looks like each device runs at it's best rate based on signal strength and error rate.
Assuming you know the MAC of your Apple TV (it's on the serial number label) you can see what wireless data rate it's getting this way.
The thing I've noticed is that my Extreme-g base stations seem to connect to clients at higher average rates than my Extreme-n units. In other words, on the g units I'll see more clients at 54 (the max) or 48 and on the n units just a couple will connect at 130 or 54 but most are at lower rates like 27 or 11 (even 2 or 1), even when they are in the same room as the base station.
I find that very odd and would like to understand it. Anybody have any ideas?

WDS between AirPort Extreme Dual-Band and old AirPort Express

I've had a WDS network between two older Airport Express (802.11g version) units for a couple of years, one connected to my DSL-router, and the other one connected to my desktop computer. This way I was able to get my desktop computer on the wireless network.
Yesterday I decided to upgrade the one connected to my DSL-router to an AirPort Extreme, because I needed the extra Ethernet connectors. Since the new AirPort Extreme Dual-Band has some fancy new features, I decided to go ahead and re-configure it all.
However, I'm having issues with the Airport Utility for Windows and WDS when I try to add my Express' Apple-ID to the Extreme's list of WDS externals. My Extreme is the unit I've decided to use as a WDS main. When I try to configure the hardware, I get an error saying in Norwegian (as I run Norwegian Windows and Airport Utility) that translates into something like "WDS requires multiple Apple wireless devices. Add at least one WDS peer." in English. That's pretty bizarre, because I just added a WDS external, and it is indeed an Apple product. Just to be sure, I tried with my other Airport Express - same error.
Now, I've tried to work around this issue by setting up the Express as the WDS main instead, since I don't get the same error message when configuring it. The Extreme was still connected to the DSL-router, but the Express was now set up as a WDS main. This didn't help much. I still got the same error message when setting up the Extreme as a WDS external. And yes, I entered the Airport-ID correctly - I've double and tripple checked them all.
To me it looks like the Airport Utility either doesn't recognize the Apple-ID as an apple one when configuring the Extreme, or it's seriously bugged when handling the list of WDS externals. But I could be wrong.

I am having the exact same problem here.
Any solutions yet?

HT5022 i cannot install airport utility 5.6 onto my computer although i need it to configure an older airport express and base station

i cannot install airport utility 5.6 onto my computer although i need it to configure an older airport express and base station

Here is my method.. the software is free that is required.. always a good point.
How to load 5.6 into ML.
1. Download 5.6 for Lion.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Click to open the dmg but do not attempt to install the pkg.. it won't work anyway.
2. Download and install unpkg.
http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/
Run unpkg on the desktop.. it is very simple.. drag the AirPortUtility56.pkg file over to unpkg.. and it will create a new directory of the same name on the desktop.. drill down.. applications utilities .. there lo and behold is Airport utility 5.6 .. drag it to your main utilities directory or just run it from current location.
You cannot uninstall 6.1 so don't try.. and you cannot or should not run them both at the same time.. so just ignore the toyland version.. the plastic hammer.. and start using 5.6.. a real tool.
For screen shots see this post.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4668746?tstart=0

How do I configure an older airport express with Yosemite?

I Have an older airport express and my computer will not recognize it in Airport Uitlity. I tried using an older Airport Utility (5.6) but it cannot be run on Yosemite

Please help!
I can't create a new thread
I am trying to get a A1264 to connect to a Macbook pro 2014 with yosemite.
- Airport Express A1264 (from 2008)
- MacBook Pro Retina mid-2014
- Last updates Yosemite blah blah
I usually use my old Imac as a wifi sender. It's running on a VPN, cable plugged directly in the wall.
Please explain step by step what I should do. For now, I plugged the Airport in the wall and plugged the Ethernet cable in it. It lights green (no flashing). But Airport Utility (the new one and the old one) doesn't detect it and I don't have an option to set a new Airport. There is "configure others" but then it asks for address and password.
Thanks

Configuring Older Airport Express

I have an older airport express but I'm running 10.8.2 and my airport utility won't talk to it. And 5.6 airport utility which will configure the older airport express, won't run with 10.8.2. Is there any possible workaround? Or is my barely used airport express useless?
Any help would be appreciated.

See this article for a workaround to be able to install AirPort Utility 5.6 on Mountain Lion.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1167965/mountain_lion_and_the_ancient_airport_ba se_station.html
As you might imagine, this is not supported by Apple. It works fine for me, but there is unfortunately no way that I can say if it work for you.

HT4259 Q: Can I use an older Airport Express-g router (not -n) to extend my Airport Extreme-n wireless network? If Yes, are the instructions the same as for adding an Airport Express-n router?

Q: Can I use my older Airport Express-g router (not -n) to extend my Airport Extreme-n wireless network? If Yes, Are the instructions the same as for adding an Airport Express-n router?

If you want to extend, using wireless only, the 802.11g Express doesn't support this.
However, if you want to use bridge mode over Ethernet or Powerline adapters then this is supported.

I can't add an older airport express to OS 10.7.5? Want to use for wireless printing and iTunes.

I'm using an Airport Extreme model A 1301 for my home's wireless network. I have three of the older Airport Express model A1084, which I was using for remote speakers for iTunes and for a wireless printer set up, but discontinued using them at some point. I currently have OS 10.7.5, and I could have sworn I was using that OS the last time I used the A1084s, but maybe I updated to it afterwards, I can't remember. At any rate, I've plugged one of the units in, look for it in Airport Utility, and get a message "this version of airPort Utility doesn't support this base station. Use airPort Utility 5.6 to configure or manage this base station. AirPort Utility 5.6 is available at AirPort Service and Support." I go there, download the program, install it, and get a message "The installation failed. The installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance." Am I in a catch-22 here - am I not able to use the older A1084s because I need airPort Utility 5.6, but I can't use airPort Utility 5.6 because I have OS 10.7.5? Does this mean I may as well throw these older A1084s away?

If you have not already done so, I suggest that your start over on the AirPort Expess "from scratch" by performing a Factory Default Reset and then attempt to configure it to join the network again.
Resetting an AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule FAQ
If you have an older Express, make sure that you are not trying to configure it to connect to the 5 GHz network, as it is unable to do so.
Assuming that the name of the wireless network, wireless security setting and password on the Express match up with the AirPort Extreme, the Express should "join" the network if it is working correctly.
If you are still having problems, all that you really can do is try the default reset a few more times. If still no luck, the Express....which is at least 5-6 years old or older, may likely need to be replaced with a new model.

Airport Extreme & Express "extended" but signal is still weak

I have a brand new Airport Extreme 802.11n and an old Airport Express 802.11g
Airport Extreme is set to "extend wireless network"
Airport Express is set to "join a wireless network" - green light is on and says its connected to the network.
Airport Extreme is downstairs at home, Airport Express is upstairs. Also have Apple TV upstairs.
Apple TV is only getting a two bar signal at the moment from Airport Extreme (and takes forever to transfer files from main computer downstairs). Want to extend network by plugging in Airport Express upstairs and getting stronger signal for Apple TV.
Yet when I plug in Airport Express upstairs - right next to Apple TV - and the green light is on, etc. Apple TV still is only getting two-bar signal - so it appears it's not picking up "extended network" via Express.
Isn't this how an extended network is supposed to work or do I have it all wrong?
THANKS!

Joining a network using the older "b/g" model will not extend the network.
In the case you describe, your Apple TV is connected to the main base station and so is your Airport Express. The Apple TV cannot connect to the Airport Express.
Also, if you do set up the WDS, you would want to put the Airport Express about half way between your main base station and the Apple TV...
If you want to stay with your old Airport Express, you will have to set up a "WDS" network on both devices. However, the speed of your network will be cut down to 54mbps instead of 130 on 2.4GHz band or 300 on the 5GHz band.
I replaced my older Airport Express units with the newer "n" models.
See this Apple doc on how to set up WDS for the older units.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2044?viewlocale=en_US
Also see this document.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1515

Current version of airport utility will not connect with older airport express

I was given an older aiport express that I want to add to my network for iTunes sharing. I have an airport express and aiport extreme currently. I am running Mac OS x 10.7.5. My current version of airport utility does not support this express and it tells me to download utility version 5.6. When i try to install version 5.6 i get an error message that tells me to contact software manufacturer. I'm sure there is a simple fix but I don't know what to do. Any help would be great!

Hi
again , at least for getting 5.6 installed, look at my post earlier, or better to JEFFY's and download an much better alternative "unpkg", to get it ( 5.6) on to your mac.
Then, though, getting to use it to configure your older AP as I attempted is anothe matter. I didn't succed so far..
Good luck to you. If it works pse tell .
Thanks.
Pierre

Older Airport Express (circa 2006) and Time Capsule

Inexperienced user who did not find query related exactly to my question in the forum.
Present set up = New time Capsule (2TB) linked to modem (speed download 8mbps). WiFi working well for mixture of aged Apple iMacs, a MacBook, a MacBook Pro, a new IPad Air2 and a HP Windows laptop. Presently I have two printers - one new wireless Epson (working okay remotely) and an old HP Colour Laser 2600n wired directly by ethernet to the Time Capsule as it is not wireless. The latter printer is my workhorse and used the most.
Query = I need to move the HP LaserJet to a different location away from the Time Capsule. Therefore I wish to create wireless connectivity for it. I have an older Airport Express (circa 2006 or earlier) which I have not used for many years.
(A) Can this be configured to work with the current WiFi technology? Or is it preferable to buy the newer Airport Express?
(B) Any advice on installing the AE on the relocated printer would be welcome. Thank you.

Here you go....
Power off the AirPort Extreme if it is is on...and wait a minute
Then,, hold in the reset button first on the back of the AirPort Extreme, and keep holding it in for an additional 10 seconds while you simultaneously plug the power back into the AirPort Extreme
Release the reset button after the hold period, and allow a full minute for the AirPort Extreme to restart to a slow, blinking amber light status
On your iPad home screen....
Tap Settings
Tap WiFi
Tap on AirPort Extreme under the heading of Set Up a New AirPort Base Station
The utility will take a minute to analyze things, then suggest that the AirPort Extreme be configured to extend the Time Capsule network
Enter a name for the AirPort Extreme
Tap Next
The utility will set up everything for you. When you see the message of Setup Complete, tap Done. That's it.
Connect the printer to one of the three LAN <--> ports. You may need to restart both the printer and the AirPort Extreme to get things going.

Older Airport express won't see the signal from the cable modem.

Older Airport express won't see the signal from the cable modem.
My macbook sees the AP express and I can stream music to it but no internet. If I plug the ethernet cable directly into the macbook I can see the internet

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.
While all of the devices are powered-down, perform a "factory default" reset on the base station. This will get it back to its "out-of-the-box" configuration and make setting it up much easier, especially if you use the "Assist me" process within the AirPort Utility. (ref: Resetting an AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule)
After the base station resets, go ahead and power it back down.
Reconnect the AirPort base station to the Internet broadband modem. For the Extreme and Time Capsule, be sure to connect the cable to the base station's WAN (circle-of-dots) port.
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).
In this basic configuration, the AirPort base station will broadcast an unsecured wireless network with a Network Name (SSID) of Apple Network NNNNNN. 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.

Airport extreme/express network setup

i'm sure this has been covered in general but lan equipment and requirements vary widely (plus most of my wireless experience is w/non-apple routers), so here goes. i have the following hardware
airport extreme (802.11n) running 7.5.2 (might downgrade to 7.4.x based on comments in this forum) connected to cable modem
2 airport express (v6.3) connected wirelessly to ap extreme
1 airport express (v6.3) connected via ethernet (wd powerline) to ap extreme
what i'd like:
ap extreme base to be the only SSID & DHCP server on the network.
the 2 wireless expresses to provide wider coverage in the main house.
the express connected via ethernet to provide wireless signal/access in the detached guest house (trying to run it wirelessly does not get a strong enough signal, hence the powerline ethernet), but only as an extension to the extreme base.
when a device (laptop, phone, etc.) connects, it should use the closest / strongest wireless signal, but always think there is only 1 network/connection config. and, when one moves between house and guest house, connected device will auto 'roam'.
whoever set this up, set the extreme to be running in WDS mode (WDS main). however, it complains that it is the only WDS device on the network (see next ???).
the 2 wireless expresses are set to 'Participate in WDS' (WDS remote)
in order to get the ethernet-connected express to work, i had to give it its own SSID and set it to 'Create wireless network'.
it does work, but there are 2 networks, no roaming, and error message on ap extreme base re:WDS config.
questions:
1) what mode should the extreme base use ('Create wireless network' or 'Participate in WDS network')?
2) what settings (WDS or wireless) for the wireless expresses?
3) what mode should the ethernet-connected express use ('Create wireless network', 'Participate in WDS network' or 'Join wireless network')?
4) anything special i need to know to get the roaming to work reliably?
5) any suggestion (due to missing questions :-)?
tx for any info. i could try all the permutations & combinations of config (actually, i've already tried a number of them , but tired of running up/downstairs and to/fro resetting devices, so i thought i would ask for help from people with more experience background.
mack

Hi, mackiemesser. Welcome to the forums!
So if I understand correctly, your setup looks like this:
<hr>
• Express #1, Express #2, and the Extreme should be set to "Participate in a WDS."
• The Extreme needs to be told that Expresses #1 and #2 will be WDS Remotes. (You'll have to enter their MAC addresses.)
• Expresses #1 and #2 need to be told that the Extreme will be their WDS Main. (You'll have to enter its MAC address.)
• Express #3 should indeed be set to "Create a wireless network" but should use the same SSID and password that your other wireless network uses.
• All Expresses should be configured to operate in Bridge Mode. In Manual Setup, click "Internet" in the toolbar and choose "Off (Bridge Mode)" from the "Connection Sharing" popup menu.
• The Extreme should not be in Bridge Mode. It should instead "Share a public IP."
<hr>
A few suggestions:
• Write down the MAC addresses of all your Extremes. This saves a lot of time when you're setting up the WDS.
• Sometimes after you change the WDS settings for one AirPort on the network, it confuses the other AirPorts in the WDS, and you get network problems until all of the AirPorts agree on WDS information. In this case, if you can't see an AirPort in AirPort Utility, connect that AirPort to the computer via Ethernet. In fact, it might save time to gather all your AirPorts and plug them in next to your computer for the WDS setup process so that you can easily connect via Ethernet if necessary.
• Using a WDS dramatically decreases your network performance. Every time you add a WDS Remote, you decrease your maximum network speed by 50%. Newer AirPorts support 802.11n and have a feature that allows you to extend your wireless network without as much overhead as a WDS, but all AirPorts in the wireless network that's extended must support 802.11n.

Can't set up "older" Airport express as booster for "new" Airport network?

I upgraded to a new airport express (the 802.11n) and want to use that as my primary airport in my house. I have an older airport express that keeps giving me error setting up as a WDS when I reinstall the factory settings to set it up as a booster. Is this an impossibility or am I just missing a step? Thanks.

I was having trouble having the network name show up in the which-network-to-join window. It would be blank and then give me that error message.
In a WDS configuration, you do not use the "join an existing wireless network" options.
The following are the basic steps:
(Note: To facilitate the WDS set up, place the base stations within near proximity of each other during the set up phase, and then relocate them to their desired locations when complete. Also, jot down the AirPort IDs (MAC addresses) for each of the base stations to be used in the WDS. The AirPort ID and is printed on the label on the bottom/side of the base station.)
Main Base Station Setup - 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn)
o On the Mac click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar, and then, choose the wireless network created by the AXn.
o Open AirPort Utility; Select the AXn, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
o Click Wireless in the toolbar, and then choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu.
o Click WDS and then choose “WDS main” from the WDS Mode pop-up menu.
o Select the “Allow wireless clients” checkbox if you want client computer to connect to this base station.
o Click the Add "+" button and enter the AirPort ID of the AX.
o Click Update to send the new settings to the base stations in the WDS.
Remote Base Station Setup - 802.11g AirPort Express Base Station (AX)
o Click the AirPort status menu in the menu bar, and then, choose the wireless network created by the AX.
o Open AirPort Utility; Select the AX, and then, choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu.
o Click AirPort in the toolbar and click Wireless. Choose “Participate in a WDS network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and choose the same channel as the main base station from the Channel pop-up menu.
o Click WDS and choose “WDS remote” from the pop-up menu.
o Enter the AirPort ID of the main base station in the WDS Main field.
o Click Update to transfer the settings to the base station.
(ref: Pages 42-46 of "Designing AirPort Networks.)

Configure WDS w/ older Extreme & Express?

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