HT1731 Airport Express: Can't connect to existing network in Client/Bridge Mode

I have a new Airport Express that I'm trying to use to connecto to an existing wireless network to provide wireless access to a Mac Mini with a broken antena.
The Mini has it's non-functioning wireless turned off, an ethernet cable connected to the WAN port of the Airport Express and I'm trying to follow the directionf from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1731?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US The relavent portion is:
Using AirPort Utility 6
Connect an appropriate cable between the AirPort Express and the device it will serve.
Plug the AirPort Express into a power outlet.
After the AirPort Express starts up, select it in the AirPort Utility screen.
If you are now repurposing the AirPort Express, first reset it from Base Station in the menu bar and selectRestore Default Settings.
After the AirPort Express completes the restore process, choose it from the Wi-Fi menu in the upper-left corner.
Click the Other Options button.
Select "Add to an existing network".
CHoose the Wi-Fi network name from the Wireless Network Name menu that you wish to join and click next.
Enter the password to this network if required.
I cannot get past step 3 w/o actually configuring the AE. If I follow the propmts on the screen (by jumping to step 7), I get the error "No Base Stations Found." I know the wireless router works because the Mini can reach it even with it's broken antena, and three other decives in the samre vicinity can connect to the existing wireless network.
If I turn on the wireless on the Mini, the Airport utility find the newtork, but gives a "unknown error" when trying to connect. If I try to use the ethernet port on teh AE instead of the WAN port, the Airport Utility says that the ethernet cable needs to be connected to the WAN port, but Airport Utility shows a diagram for connecting to the Cable Modem Directly.
I'm pretty stumped here.
Ray

Found a solution a few mins ago:
Unplug the AirPort Express
Disable the WiFi on the Mini
In Network Preferences, set Ethernet as the default connection using DHCP.
Connect the Mini to the LAN port for the AirPortExpress
Plug-in the AirportExpress
FROM A DIFFERENT COMPUTER CONNECTED TO THE WIRELESS NETWORK, follow steps 6-9 above.
This worked for me, but I don't know how to resolve the issue if you don't have a 2nd computer available. I had also tried this via Airport Utility on an 1st generation iPad, but that didn't work. Maybe somebody in the same situation could try it with an iPad that can run a newer verion of iOS.
Ray

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Airport express won't connect to existing network

Hi, I have a new airport express and an iPad. I want to plug my express into an existing Ethernet point in my room at work (I work at a mining camp) it worked before and my friends express works in the port. When I flew back to work this time it wouldn't work so I reset it and tried to set up a new network. I have the etherenet cable plugged in and the green light is on at the port in the back where the cable goes. When I try to set up the express it says it won't connect to the Internet. I also cannot see it on airport utility on my iPad. Is there're anything that I can do to fix this? It won't let me finish setting up the network at all and just reverts back to set up airport express in settings on my iPad. Thanks. Work uses a Cisco system if that helps, but like I said other people's work in the same prt in my room so it's not that.

tthis is wha is shiwn. I obv can't turn the modem off and on, unless this means turn the AE off and on which I have tried a lot.

Help airport express won't connect to existing network

Hi,
I have a simple setup. I have a Netcom wireless router/modem/VoiP and a Macbook.
A few months ago I got a airport express so I could play itunes on the stereo.
I set it up fine adding the AEX to the existing network. I moved house and the net was off for 3 weeks so I reset to AEX as a standalone network so I could still play itunes.
Now the net is back on I cant get the AEX to connect to the existing network again. When I set up the AEX it updates the info but, then when it resets, the Macbook just can't find it anymore. Nothing I can do will make the macbook find it except doing the hard reset (paperclip in the side) and then of course I am back to stage 1.
I am sure I have the network password correct (WEP) and I have tried all forms of resets - please someone help!
cheers,

I am having a similar problem using my new Airport Extreme. Got one express working for a printer, but second one (to play I-tunes) sets up, but then gives error message "Unable to find base station after restarting." Have done repeated re-sets.

How many airport express can I add to my network for the purpose of using the airport express to send audio signal to different rooms in the house? I'm interested I'm running about six different zones.

How many airport express can I add to my network for the purpose of using the airport express to send audio signal to different rooms in the house? I'm interested I'm running about six different zones.
What I'm looking to do is to have self powered in ceiling speakers in every room in my house with out having to run wires to every room to carry the audio signal. I would like to use the airport express to do the job of carting the audio signal.
Here's my set up now I have an airport extreme and one airport express that I use to carry audio to one room.

FWIW. I have used up to four AirPort Express Base Stations (AX) for streaming sucessfully in pretty much the way you have described. I didn't have a need to try more so I can't attest that more would or would not work.

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.

HT1731 "AirPort Express: How to join an existing Wi-Fi network in client mode" = 'Add to an existing network' will not result in pure client mode

Choosing that option will always end-up in extending my wireless network.
What I want to achieve is to just add my AE to the existing WIFI network and to use it for local access like AirPlay or Printing.
No other client e.g. iPhone, iPad etc. should be able to connect to that AE wireless.
So it seems that there's one step missing in that description.
As a last step you need to manually change the set-up so that Network Mode shows 'connect to wireless network'.
Afterwards your AE will be finally in 'Cient Mode'.
I_am_Andy

Thanks you! Apple's documentation is either contradictory or incomplete. To configure a factory default AE to "join" a network with
Airport Utility 6, you must first select "Add to an existing network". That results in the AE extending a network. Then later, edit the configuration (wireless tab) to specify "join" rather than "extend".
You can "join" a network which has already been extended; this improves the wireless reach, since you can not extend a network which has already been extended. So you can have:
Apple Extreme <----> Apple Express (extending) <------> Apple Express (joining) <-----> ethernet-device

AirPort Express won't connect to existing wireless network

I just purchased the current gen AirPort Express and it won't connect to my existing wireless network. My current wireless network is on a D-Link DIR-827 and it operates on both the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands. My current gen Apple TV is connected to the D-Link wirelessly and it works fine. Basically all I want to do is have a pair of speakers attached to the AIrPort Express and stream music to it via AirPlay from all my devices. When I use the AirPort Utility, I keep getting the error that 'it's setup to join an existing wireless network but it can't find it.' The light flashes amber and I can't connect to it. Right now I've setup a new wireless network for my AirPort Express but ideally I would like to have it join my existing network so all my devices can stream to it without having to connect to it seperately.
Thanks,
Ata

Hi Ata,
...Right now I've setup a new wireless network for my AirPort Express but ideally I would like to have it join my existing network
If you already configured your AirPort to create a separate wireless network, it would be best to reconfigure it to "join" your existing network by starting over with a "hard reset": Press and hold the reset button and keep it depressed, continuously, about five to ten seconds, long enough for it to flash amber. Then, it will glow amber steadily for about a minute while it starts up, then it will flash amber slowly indicating it needs to be configured.
It will then appear in your Mac's Wi-Fi menu like this:
Select it. AirPort Utility will load and walk you through its configuration.
Be sure to select the option to "join" your existing network, and not create a new one. In that configuration, it will serve as a device for music streaming only, and cannot serve a wireless access point. For that, your router would need to be a genuine Apple AirPort Base Station.

Airport express can't connect to Linsys wireless router with security wpa2

Hi all, I have posted a question previously regarding trying to connect my airport express to my existing network, a Linsys wireless router....
I have now found that if I disable the wireless security (wpa2 personal) on my router the A/E connects though as soon as I enable security again the A/E drops out. I have checked the network name and password and all are definately correct.
Any ideas?
Cheers

Unfortunately I have tried absolutely everything and no go I have just discovered that I can still use it though by having it as a wired Lan connection to my Cisco router then the laptop wirelessly connects to the A/E through the router so not all bad just had to wire a lan point from one room to the other.
After talking with Apple support they say it's pretty hit and miss with what different routers the A/E will and wont connect with...
So save yourself a lot of heartache and just use as a wired connection
Hope this helps

Airport Express - can't connect

I'm having the same problem as last time I posted - still no response, more than 9 months later (http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2186096&tstart=0 )
It's very similar to problems described here and here.
I've tried all the steps suggested in this thread, too: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10695921&start=1 ... all to no avail.
Neither my MacBook Pro nor my iPhone can connect unless I unplug the Airport Express, wait, and plug it in again, then re-join the network. But even then, sometimes it takes 3 times of this routine before it works.
Is this just network interference, a la this document? I mean, I live in Manhattan and this could potentially be the problem, but then how to fix it?
Please help! This is getting seriously irritating. Mucha gracias, my Apple friends.

I am also have the exact same problem you described in your original post 9 months ago. My Airport Express is also about 3-4 years old. I connect to the internet through the Express in the evenings and sometimes in the mornings. When I return home from work the following evening, my wireless network still shows up as being available, with full strength, but none of my devices are able to connect - iPhone 3GS, MacBook Pro, and iPad. When I look at the Airport, the light is green and it seems to be fine. If I unplug the Airport, wait a moment, the plug it back in, the network returns almost instantaneously, with no issues. It is extraordinarily irritating.
Oh, and I live in Florida, so I'm going to suggest that Manhattan isn't the problem.

Airport Express Can't Connect on a Windows XP Machine! PLEASE Help!

I recently purchased an Apple Airport Express. In my household we have four computers, 3 Mac's and 1 PC. I set it all up, and of course, the PC can't connect to the Airport Express.
So you probably ask yourself why I haven't gone to iFelix's site yet. I have, many, many times tried to do what he says. Doesn't work at all, no matter which way I put it.
I got the equivalent key and everything and it still doesn't work on the PC. Honestly, I have no idea what to do and I'm getting extremely frustrated. PLEASE help me! I don't even know where to get started anymore.

For what it is worth, I just spent the last two days trying to get a brand new Airport Extreme (N/gig) and Airport Express working at home with many Windows XP and WDS problems. I also couldn't get my PSP to connect via WPA.
I have a Cisco 1200 AP working with b/WEP, but bought the Apple products to move to G/N/WPA and bridge from my office (DSL location) to wired devices in my living room. AirTunes was an anticipated plus. I started out with WEP "transitional" as my Extreme security setting.
At first my work laptop (XP with Funk Odyssey WiFi client SW), an old PocketPC and Wii were the only things that would connect to the Extreme base station. My PSP would work, but only via WEP. Our two other wireless XP devices would see the new network but would seem to fail at encryption. I also could not get the Express to connect with the Extreme for WDS.
Switching from WEP "transitional" to WPA/WPA2 Personal did the trick. The two other Windows XP devices worked all of a sudden via WPA, and the WDS/bridging to the Express kicked in. The bad news is the PocketPC only supports WEP, but all the other devices (including two XP devices) worked without a problem. (Hmmm... I think my Nintendo DS also only supports WEP...)

AirPort Express - can't connect wirelessly after set up

Hi,
I've had an AirPort Express for about 4 months now to stream music wirelessly within my home network (inc. wireless router).
The connection with the AirPort Express has always been.....problematic when streaming through iTunes or AirFoil the connection drops out often and many times it's given up entirely.
I thought I'd solved this problem by plugging in an ethernet cable and resetting the device to factory defaults and setting up from scratch. However, once I unplugged the ethernet cable I can't connect via Airport util wirelessly at all.
After reading the manual from cover to cover, again I thought it could have been a problem with where the airport express was located (fairly near the stereo and close to a couple of power cables.
I moved the device to a plug socket on its own with no electrical devices within a metre of the device and nothing plugged into it. I plugged in the ethernet cable and went through the set up from factory defaults again. When the device restarted I could briefly (for a couple of seconds) connect to it wirelessly before it could no longer be recognised by Airport utils. I can access the device via ethernet cable, but wireless (which is why I bought it in the first place) will not work.
Tried soft resets, hard resets, restoring it to factory defaults and am now at the end of my tether.
Can someone please help me with this?

Hello, Im not a techie, but, if its the same thing as I have....the ethernet port is for your ISP WAN cable. Your laptop should connect wirelessly. After resetting the router, use Airport Utility to rename it, set up a password for the router and the wireless network before other things.
This line from your post throws me for a loop ). "However, once I unplugged the ethernet cable I can't connect via Airport util wirelessly at all." I'm not sure what to make of that, unless you connected your laptop to router with a cable and tried to connect wirelessly also.
Anyway,,,,,on the express router there is a ethernet port for your ISP WAN connection, a usb port for printer and a jack to connect your stereo. Your laptop should connect to the router wirelessly.
David

Airport Express: can't connect to internet via adsl modem

I have an old Airport Express which has worked fine in the past and a new ADSL internet account which works fine when I connect to it via PPoE Built-in-Ethernet. But despite following all the instructions in the Airport Setup Assistant I can't get Airport to work with the new modem (it works fine for AirTunes though). The thing is I don't really get how it could work with the new modem seeing as the Airport Setup Assistant doesn't ask me at any point what the username or password is for the new account.
I guess I'm missing something obvious here. Does anyone have any ideas what it is?

Thanks again, I tried that but it didn't work either. Going back to basics, it might help if I tried to set out what I'm trying to take in a bit more detail:
1. Having just moved house I have a new ADSL line and modem installed by the phone company and a new ISP that has provided me with a username and a password. Using those I have no trouble getting internet via an ethernet cable connecting my iBook and the Modem.
2. I plug the ethernet cable into my AX and then plug the AX into the wall.
3. Then I follow the AX set up assistant guide for setting up a new base station.
4. I click the box for DSL or Cable Modem. I don't click the box for Router
5. This is the step I'm most unsure about. Because it is the default option I click the box for DSL or Cable modem ... or over Ethernet with an IP address assigned automatically using DHCP." I do not tick "I do not use DHCP". But I don't really know what that means.
6. AX tells me that it is configured as follows: TCP/IP: using DHCP and IP Address: Provided automatically.
7. When I open Safari it tells me that I'm not connected to the internet. Clicking the network diagnistics box gives me green lights for everything up to and including ISP but not for the internet.
Someone here mentioned that I might have to reconfigure my modem as a router. Is there anything to that?
Thanks again for your help.

Airport express can't connect to printer

Just purchased apple airport extreme, setup on my iPad was easy... Airport express is connected to an existing network... I am able to play music on my iTunes using my iPad, but I cannot print using my ipad2. Software is up-to-date, my stand alone PC is a Sony Vaio... Not too concerned with the Sony but I have been troubleshooting the airport express by unplugging and re-plugging it and it still doesn't acknowledge the printer.... Printer is an HP office jet j4580 all in one printer. Any suggestions??

Thanks! No, my printer is not AirPrint-capable... I failed to mention that it is a USB printer connected to the airport express. I was able to connect it successfully with my PC by adding it with the IP address. It worked...
Kinda bummed that Ipad2 requires certain printers to print, I didn't know that maybe I will return this airport express tomorrow and get my $98 dollars back.
Researched a bit on printopia... It's not an apple app I'm guessing?
But I don't know about the $20 bucks for it since I may just take this airport express back.
Thanks much!

Airport Express can't connect to internet

I recently purchased and Airport Express to create a wireless network with my cable modem. It took several airport restarts and power-downs exceeding 5 minutes to get it working. Now that the wireless connection works, I find it odd the network status in System Preferences indicates "green' for PCI Ethernet slot 2 and "yellow" for Airport. Specifically, it states "Airport does not have an IP address and cannot connect tot he internet" and that "PCI Ethernet Slot 2 is active and connected to the internet" If the wireless connection is in fact working, why can't system preferences recognize that?

What happens if you restart your Mac, then connect to your wireless network?

Airport Express - can't connect to it

Everything was fine, but now I can't connect to it.
I can still see the network as an option, but when
I select to my network and enter my password it
times out.
Three computers on the network, an apple tv, and
an iPhone, none can get on the network. All either timeout
or suggest an incorrect password.
The light on the aiport is still green.
Airport Utility can't find any airport wireless devices.
I've already unplugged and replugged the airport twice.
I've also held down the little button on the airport with a
paperclip, all with no change to the situation.
And it's really hard to post to this discussion board from
an iPhone.

A few pointers:
If you've reset the AirPort Express, it's now broadcasting a wireless network with the name of Apple Network xxxxxx, where the "x" could be a letter or number. Click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of your screen and look for this network. You need to be on this network in order for AirPort Utility to be able to communicate with the AirPort Express. It will never "see" it unless you are on the default Apple Network xxxxxx.
If no luck, you may need to perform a factory default reset. To do this:
Power down the Express for a few moments
Hold in the reset button and while you continue to hold it in, plug the Express back in to power
Continue holding the reset button until the amber light blinks more quickly
The light on the Express should stay solid amber for 20-30 seconds, then start to blink slowly.
Repeat the first step above.
If AirPort Utility still cannot "see" the Express, your last resort is as follows:
Make sure AirPort Utility is open
Click the File menu at the upper left of the screen near the Apple icon
Select Configure Other
In the Address field enter "10.0.1.1" (without quotes)
In the password field enter "public" (without quotes)

HT1731 Airport Express: Can't connect to existing network in Client/Bridge Mode

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