Connect Airport Express to existing network

How do I connect an Airport Express to an existing network router?

The "Extend a wireless network" setting mentioned in other posts in this thread will not work unless you are connecting to another Apple wireless network.
Download and install AirPort Utility 5.6 for Mac OS X Lion . You can keep both AirPort Utility 6.x and 5.6 on your Mac and use the version that you need.
Perform a Factory Default Reset on the AirPort Express as follows:
Power off the Express and wait a minute or two
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 and allow 40-45 seconds for the Express to restart
Temporarily, connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the Express
Open AirPort Utility 5.6, select the Express, and click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab below the row of icons to assign a name and device password to the Express and adjust Time Zone settings
Click the Wireless tab and adjust as follows:
Wireless Mode = "Join a wireless network". You may need to hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the Wireless Mode selection box to locate the "Join" setting.
Wireless Network Name = Same name as your main wireless network
Enter a check mark if you want to be able to connect an Ethernet device to the Express
Wireless Security = Exact same setting that your main wireless router is using
Wireless Password = Same password as the main wireless network
Verify Password
Click the Update button.
As soon as you see the message that the settings have been stored on the Express, close AirPort Utility and disconnect the Ethernet cable
Wait 40-45 seconds for the Express to restart. If your settings are correct, you will have a green light on the Express. You can now locate it where it will be needed, assuming that it will be able to receive a good wireless signal at that location.

Similar Messages

Can't connect Airport Express wirelessly to network so that AirTunes and internet are available simultaneously

I can't connect Airport Express wirelessly to network so that AirTunes and internet are available simultaneously. My old AE allowed this but can't make the new one work that way.

In your instructions, you say to use the same encryption type as the router has set up. well, I am using the WEP 64 bit encryption and the Airport Utility does not have this...it has 40 bit. Is this a problem, or do I have to be using a the same type of encrytion ?
WEP is available in either 40 or 104-bit, but is usually "advertised" as either 64- or 128-bit respectively. For example, 64-bit WEP uses a 40 bit key (also known as WEP-40), which is concatenated with a 24-bit initialization vector (IV) to form the 64-bit RC4 traffic key. So, WEP 64 on the Linksys & 40-bit is equivalent.
What concerns me more is the loss of bandwidth performance you are experiencing when connecting the AX. When the AX is configured as a wireless client it is acting just like any other wireless devices (computer, laptop, printer, etc.) and not like another router. This should cause little or no bandwidth loss. True the more secure the wireless encryption used WPA2 vs. WEP, the more overhead is required for security, but the differences you are seeing seem excessive.
It is very possible that you may have some form of Wi-Fi interference in the immediate area that is preventing your Linksys from providing a good clean signal.
I suggest you perform a simple site survey, using utilities like the following to determine potential areas of interference, and then, try to either eliminate or significantly reduce them where possible:
For Macs:
o MacStumbler
o iStumbler, or
For PCs:
o NetStumbler

How to Connect Airport Express to Existing Wireless Network (Client Mode)

I am posting this for everyone tearing their hair out trying to connect the Airport Express to your own existing home wireless network. After spending 2 hours last night installing this on my father-in-law's home network, I hope to be able to save someone else the agony we went through.
So here's the situation:
Say you already have your own home network set up, and all you want is to be able to use AirTunes to play music off iTunes into your speaker system. And, you don't need the printer sharing capability nor creation of another wireless network (2 of the features of Airport Express). Then this solution is for you - read on.
Unfortunately, Apple's user manual is very unclear how to connect Airport Express to your own network. When you look at the picture diagram they provide, they show Airport Express picking up its signal from another Apple-oriented base. This can make you think you need to buy another piece of hardware to make it work. DON'T If you read through the manual, the Support section here, etc., you will hear lots of talk about "Client Mode" - and that this is the only way to get it to work. Nice - but no one really tells you how to set up the Airport in client mode.
Do yourself a favor, toss that user manual aside and run these steps.
(Note: These directions assume your DSL/Cable Modem is hooked up to a wireless router or acts as its own wireless router)
1. Get a cat5 Ethernet cable (anything but an orange cable - that's a crossover cable) like you would use to connect your PC to your router to pick up the Internet.
2. Connect the Ethernet cable to the router on one end, and to the Airport Express unit on the other end.
3. Plug in your Airport Express unit to the wall (this will not necessarily become its permanent location - you will be able to move it later). The light will glow solid Amber for about 30-45 seconds while it starts up, then blink Amber. At this point, the unit is ready to operate.
4. Install the CD to the PC where your iTunes music is stored. This should be painless. Once you open the program, it should detect the Airport unit.
5. At this point, the on-screen wizard will present you with your options, and walk you through the setup. This is much like the user manual describes - and you should be good to go form here forward.
Some pointers:
- When asked if you want to create a new network, join an existing network, or connect via Ethernet, choose the middle option for joining an existing network. You will need to know the name of your network, the password to connect to the network (if present), and the type of encryption used on the network (e.g. WEP, WPA, etc.). Side note, WPA is recommended, as it is a higher level of security than WEP. You will be able to configure the Airport Express unit to automatically login to your network.
- I would recommend, when creating a password for the Airport Express unit, use the same password as your network, to avoid confusion.
6. The very last step will ask you to save the settings to the Airport Express. Here's the kicker - when you save the settings, you are TRICKING the Airport Express into no longer acting as a network broadcaster, but instead being a "slave" to your own network. What do I mean? You will lose the connection from your PC to the Airport Express - an error message will pop up telling you the unit can no longer be found. While you might think you did something wrong, you actually were successful!
7. Unplug your Airport Express, and disconnect the Ethernet cable from your router and the Airport unit. This will no longer be needed.
8. Go to your desired location where you want to plug in your Airport Express unit. Before plugging it in, connect your Audio cable from the Airport Express to your audio receiver. Once that is connected, then plug in the Airport Express unit. The light will glow solid Amber for 30-45 seconds while it loads, and then will blink Amber for a brief period of time before turning solid GREEN. When this happens, you have successfully connected the Airport Express to your home network!
9. Go back to your PC with iTunes. Open the Airport software - you should now have a listing for your Airport Express unit in the upper left. Click on this, and the wizard will guide you through connecting - you will need the password you created for the unit. You only need to go through this wizard once, and when finished, the software will tell you that can now use iTunes with your Airport unit.
10. Open iTunes. On the lower right, you will see a dropdown for Speakers, and it should be defaulted to My Computer. Click on that drop-down, and you will see the name of your Airport unit. Click on that name, and now your music will broadcast to the Airport unit!
11. Play a song in iTunes. Go to your audio receiver, and connect it to the channel for your external connection to the Airport Express unit. You should hear your music from iTunes. CONGRATULATIONS! =)
I hope these instructions were helpful - I am happy to answer any questions, so feel free to contact me, *******************@*****.**.
<Edited by Moderator>

Thanks for the detailed directions. You are absolutely correct in stating that people should toss the user manual; it's pretty worthless. I have had a problem setting up my new Airport Express as I have described in an earlier post - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1839873&tstart=45
One quick question - does using your setup process set the AE up as part of a distributed network where the AE is acting as a wireless router where it is extending the range of your network? Or, is it simply a wireless connection to your stereo for iTunes? I am interested in having both, since my AE will be at the other end of the house from the main wireless router.
Thanks

HT1126 how to join airport express to existing network with internet

How to connect wireless Airport Express to existing Wireless Network?

Hi - what kind of router do you have?

Can't Connect AirPort Express to existing WPA network

I just bought an AirPort Express and I can't connect it to my existing Wireless network where I use WPA based security.
I've both tried to use the Configuration guide and done it manually with the Admin tool but it just will not connect to my Wireless network.
Less of changing form WPA-PSk to WEP128 I think I have tried "everything".
Any ideas?

Can you changed your router to use WPA:TKIP as opposed to WPA:AES?
When I changed my router to WPA:TKIP, my airport express connected, but with AES it doesn't!
This is not good, since according to Wikipedia, AES is superior and considered part of WPA2, which Apple claim they support (and yes I am using firmware V6.3)!
Hope this helps!

Can't connect Airport Express to existing wireless network!

I just got my new A Express. i try to wirelessly join an my existing network but when it restarts it doesn't see the device. It's i'm trying to set it up so that I can use it as a wireless printer connection for my two macbooks, but all i end up with is the flashing amber light. I've tried a hard reset and that's clearly not solving the problem.
i'd welcome some help as well.

for some reason i had a problem with my airport in my laptop and it couldnt find networks that are hidden.. so that might be the problem the encryption.

Cannot connect airport express to existing Verizon DSL Network

Hi all,
I have just purchased a 802.11n Airport Express. The purpose was to extend my current wireless network and to rock tunes. I currently have a wireless DSL modem connected to Verizon via ethernet. The modem is a GT704WG verizon dsl wireless modem. When I try to use the airport utility and go through the set up I am told that the AE cannot connect to the network. During the setup it does see my current wireless network and asks for the password which I provided. But still it doesn't work. Is there a compatibility issue here? Will a 802.11n AE work with an existing modem?

Hello ferrjerr. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Which wireless encryption standard are you using on the Actiontec GT704-WG Gateway? WEP or WPA? If using WEP, I strongly suggest switching to WPA as WEP is no longer considered secure. If you are already using WPA, please try temporarily disabling it to see if the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) can now join the Actiontec's wireless network.

Which cable to use to connect airport express to existed wired network

Hi all, I just purchased the airport express base station to create a wireless network over my existed Verizon DSL wired network. Could anyone tell me which cable I need to set this up? Will 10/100 ethernet cable work?
Thanks a lot!

Hello njminnie. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I just purchased the airport express base station to create a wireless network over my existed Verizon DSL wired network. Could anyone tell me which cable I need to set this up? Will 10/100 ethernet cable work?
Yes.

Attempting to extend wifi w/ Airport Express breaks existing network

I am attempting to wirelessly extend/repeat a Wi-Fi network that is running from a 4th generation time capsule using a 1st Generation N Airport Express (model A1264).
Whenever i configure the airport express to extend the network, it breaks the network. all existing connections get dropped, the SSID is seen but you cannot connect to it.
If i unplug the airport express then everything works fine again.
both units are running the most recent firmware, i have done a factory reset on both units and set them up from scratch again.
i have confirmed i'm using the correct encryption (WPA2) and the proper key/password.
Any ideas? this doesn't make much sense aside from either the time capsule or airport express are defective.
thank you.

Windows.
somehow it magically fixed itself after leaving the airport express unplugged from power for 20 minutes.
after letting it sit unplugged for awhile it worked normally without needing to change any settings.
thanks for your response.

Airport Express with existing network

I just bought an Airport Express to use to send iTunes music from my Macbook Pro to my stereo.
Since i already have an existing home wireless network (for my and my wife's PCs) and internet use with my Mac, should I try to install the Airport to connect to the existing network (if that's even possible) or can (and should) it be setup as a standalone network just for wireless sending of the music to the stereo?
- Mike

So it can be connected then. It will be in a different room than the existing wireless router - does this make a difference or cause a problem?
Can you elaborate on why you'd connect it this way (i.e.: I'd be able to use the internet while I'm streaming audio, etc.)?

Join airport express to existing network

I am trying to set up a new airport express device to join an existing network (airport extreme). Airport utility does not display the device when I plug it in. How do I set it up?

The AirPort Express is broadcasting a default wireless network with a name like Apple Network xxxxxx, where the "x" could be a letter or number. If you are trying to configure the Express using wireless only, you must first log on to this network from your computer....there is no password required.....then open AirPort Utility.
If you have a spare Ethernet cable handy, connect the Express directly to your computer, restart the Express and then open AirPort Utility to configure the Express that way. Once you have the Express configured and updated, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable.

Airport Express in existing network: need active Etrhernet port

I use my Airport Express to connect via WiFI to a Linksys WRT54G, wich connects to the Internet and qt teh sqme time connects to my PC via Ethernet. iTunes works perfectly, no issue with that.
Now I want to use the Ethernet port on my Airport Express but can't find a setting where this is possible.
My Airport Express (firmware version 6.2) is configured to join an existing wireless network and connect to the Internet via wifi using DHCP. The LAN port simply is not activated and greyed out in the Airport Admin Utility.
Can anyone help me out here? Is what I want possible with the Airport Express?
Thanks in advance,
Erik
Airport Express Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Pro

You can use the Express in that way, but you'll have to set up the network differently and you may have to use third-party firmware in the WRT54G to get it to work. You need to set up the Express to join the existing wireless network and extend its range (i.e. set up a WDS with the Express and the WRT54G) in order for the Ethernet port to be active. Whether you have to use third-party WRT54G firmware depends on the version of the router. I believe that any version prior to v5 require the firmware. See this site:
http://www.sveasoft.com/

Using airport express with existing network

So I have a Zoom wireless modem/router that supports g + b wireless. If I get an airport express, will it connect to the existing wireless network? And if I want to stream music to my stereo, will the airport express communicate with my MacBook at the n network speed, or does it step down to the speed of the Zoom box?
Not sure if the airport express would talk directly with the mac or use the Zoom as an intermediary.

Welcome to the discussions!
You have a couple of options.
1) Configure the AirPort Express (AX) to "join" your existing wireless network. This will allow you to stream AirTunes to the AX over your current wireless network. If you choose this option, the AX will connect at "b/g" speeds.
2) Configure the AirPort Express to "create a wireless network" so you can stream AirTunes at "n" speeds from your Mac if it is "n" capable. The downside to this approach is that you will need to switch wireless networks whenever you want to stream AirTunes, and since the AX will not be connected to a modem, you will not have internet access when you are streaming AirTunes.
Users usually choose the "join" option to allow simultaneous internet connection and AirTunes streaming.
Connection wise, your Mac must communicate to the wireless router, which in turn communicates to the AirPort Express. Your Mac will not communicate directly to the AX unless you choose option 2.

Connect Airport Express to existing Wireless

I have a USR5461 feeding DSL broadband wireless and wired to 3xMac and 2xPC. I want to feed iTunes to my stereo and from what I read this is possible using the Airport Express. I am a bit wary though since the manual does not state this particular configuration and has the caveat on WDS.
My question is, can the Airport Express be connected to an existing non-apple wireless to use AirTunes? I know I can't use it for extending my network. I only want the AirTunes function and possibly the print function.
Thanks
iBook G4 1.33 1.5Gb / iMac C2D 20" Mac OS X (10.4.8) Dell Latitude 600 Windows XP Pro

My question is, can the Airport Express be connected to an existing non-apple wireless to use AirTunes?
Yes, you configure the AirPort Express (AX) to join the wireless network as a client. The instructions are in KB 302153, AirPort Express: How to join an existing wireless network in client mode.

Constant Error While Setting Up Airport Express with Existing Network

I just bought an Airport Express for use with printer and existing wireless network (two original Airport Extremes). I can't get past the error msg below*. The AE shows in Airport Utility. I click on that and then "Continue". A window appears asking if I'm sure I want to "Switch" wireless networks. I assume I do since set up doesn't continue if I select "Don't Switch". But every time I try that it shows a spinning wheel and "Joining wireless network...", and un-joins existing wireless network (losing the two AEBS's), giving me the continued error msg. And on a few occasions Airport Utility can't see it, like now.
*Error Msg: "An error occurred joining the selected wireless network."
It's been a while since I've set up Apple's wireless devices but I thought it was easier now. The manual is ambiguous with "1) Open Airport Utility, 2) Follow the onscreen instructions...". If I could only get to that. Very frustrating for a device that's suppose to be so simple to set up.
Message was edited by: Sakahara

Addendum: Now that I've plugged it in near the printer again Airport Utility can see it but can't read it's configuration so that I can set up the printer. How is this helpful with setting up a printer in another room/level if you have to set it up near your computer first because the two Airport Extreme's you have already set up (one of them, to create the wireless network, 8 feet away from the Express, and the other, to extend the wireless network, on an upper level, to reach the iMac) to give your computer a wireless network? So Airport Utility can see all three airport devices, the network/internet works and is extended to my iMac, but it can't read the Express device to set up the printer. Isn't that the point of the extended wireless network? And yet I can read/set up the Extreme near the Express. Now I have to lug the printer up two levels to set up the printer.

Connect Airport Express to existing network

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for