HT4259 Trying to set up airport express to extend my wireless network. Primary base station is a time capsule. Even when I plug in the airport express to mac it cannot find it.

Trying to set up airport express to extend my Wi-Fi network. Primary base station is a time capsule. Tried searching for airport express using Wi-Fi status, no luck. Even tried plugging airport express into iMac, still no luck. Airport express showing solid amber light. Thanks for any help.

Airport express showing solid amber light
Unfortunately, this can mean one of two things:
1) The Express is locked up and will need a Factory Default Reset procedure to try to return the device back to its original default settings so that it can be reconfigured again.
2) The Express is defective. If you cannot get the Express back to a slow, blinking amber light after a Factory Default Reset, the Express will need to be replaced.
Try the Factory Default Reset a few times and report back on your progress.
Resetting an AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule FAQ

Similar Messages

Using Airport Express to extend my wireless network

I recently purchased a Time Capsule but found that I could not see the wireless signal from my bedroom. To solve this I purchased an Airport Express to extend the range. I plugged the AE into an outlet in my bed room and set it up to join my existing network. Everything looked fine from the point of view of the Airport Utility. Unfortunately my iPod Touch still can not see my wireless network from my bedroom. I new iPad can see it but the signal is very weak, even when I hold it right next to the AE. Is there a setting I missed?

Rick, welcome to the discussion area!
I plugged the AE into an outlet in my bed room and set it up to join my existing network.
You need to configure the AirPort Express to "Extend a wireless network". The AX does not provide any additional wireless coverage when it is set to "join".
First, you need to check a setting on your Time Capsule as follows:
AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Wireless tab (below the icons)
Make sure there is a check mark next to "Allow this network to be extended"
Update to save any changes
On the AirPort Express move it close to the Time Capsule for configuration:
AirPort Utility > Manual Setup > Wireless tab
Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network" (Hold down the option key on your Mac if you do not see this choice appear when you click the selection box).
Wireless Network Name = Same name as your Time Capsule Network
Check mark next to "Allow wireless clients"
Security = Same setting as your Time Capsule
Password = Same password as your Time Capsule
Confirm Password
Update to save settings
The AirPort Express can only "extend" what it "receives". Most users position it too far away from the main router and consequently, the Express extends a weak signal. Try a location that is about 1/2 to 2/3 the distance between the Time Capsule and the area that needs move coverage. Then experiment a bit to find the best signal.
Post back on your results.

HT4262 I WAS TRYING TO SET UP AIRPORT EXSPRESS 802.11 AND IT KEEPS TELLING ME THAT IT CANNOT ATHENTICATE THE BASE STATION

i was trying to set up a brand new airport express and it keeps telling me that it cannot authenticate the base station.
so what do i do ?

Hello curtcain,
Congratulations on your new AirPort Express! It sounds like you are trying to extend your wireless network with your new AirPort Express, but you continue to get the error that your base station cannot be authenticated.
I recommend following the steps in the article below for the issue you described:
Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

Trying to set up Airport and airport u

I am trying to set up airport and following the set up guide. After loading Airport extreme software and launching airport utility .. it doesn't find any airport wireless devices. Even though the airport express is plugged in next to the iMac with the flashing amber light going...help

Welcome to the discussions!
By default, the Airport Extreme is set to create a wireless network with a name like "apple network abc123". If you want to try to configure it using wireless, click the fan shaped Airport icon at the top of your screen and look for this network so you can connect and AirPort Utility can communicate with the device. If you don't see it, click Join Other Networks to see if you can find it and log on.
Alternately, it is usually much easier to simply temporarily connect an ethernet cable from your computer to one of the LAN <-> ports on the Extreme so AirPort Utility can "see" the device that way. Once configured, you can disconnect the ethernet cable.
Click Continue to follow the guided setup to configure your AirPort Extreme.

Trying to set up airport extreme. Blinking amber light but airport utility says no configured base stations have been found. Have unplugged base and reset.

I have tried to set up airport extreme base stations but keep getting blinking amber lights. Have unplugged and reset. No base station prompt noted in the airport utility window. Internet connetion noted (Green light under globe icon)

Are you using 6.0 here?
What kind of AEXT are you using?

HT4259 I have a Netgear wndr3400 and I can "join a wireless network" but can not "extend a wireless network" on my Airport express. Does anyone know why?

I have a Netgear wndr3400 and I can "join a wireless network" but can not "extend a wireless network" on my Airport express. Does anyone know why?

Sorry, but "Extend a wireless network" is a proprietary Apple setting that will only work if you have another Apple router.
It is not compatible with devices from other manufacturers.

HT4259 How can I extend a wireless network from a 2Wire modem by usingan Airport Express? Years ago I could do this just by plugging in the (old) Airport Express. TIA Travelmonger

How can I extend a wirelss network from a 2Wire modem using an Airport Express? Some years ago using the old Express I was able to do so simply by plugging on the Express witha minimum of tweaking. Still the same?
TIA
Travelmonger

Still the same?
Unfortunately, no.
Apple's newer "Extend a wireless network" feature was designed to only work with other Apple products, so it would be extremely unlikely that it would work with a 2-Wire device if you plan to extend using wireless only.
If you plan to connect the AirPort Express to the 2-Wire device using a wired Ethernet connection, the Express can be configured to provide more wireless coverage that way.

Murder on the Airport Express (AE 1st Gen cannot find Wireless while plugged in in the same room as the modem, router and Time Capsule

First, the reason for my compounded frustration:
I wrote a lengthy, comprehensive post on this late last night. I submitted it and received a notice at this URL:
https://discussions.apple.com/___sbsstatic___/maintenance.html?start=0&tstart=0
It gave a message: "A yellow sticky bearaing the words, "We'll be back soon." and a typed message reading, "We are busy updating Apple Support Communities for you and will be back shortly." Needless to say, it never came back. This morning as I began trying to reconstruct the very detailed post I wrote last night, the Communities system offered me an opportunity to restore the post from last night. Sadly, it contained only a portion of the first line.
I'm going to try it again. The problem inherent in putting it all in words last night, is that I no longer remember the exact wording of the error messages.
I've never gotten this Airport Express (1st gen, purchased mid 2010) to work. I thought it was working, but working poorly. A green light on the device is, apparently, NOT an indication of connection to the wireless. It wasn't workingl.
Description of devices which use the network:
I have a Broadband network with a modem.
It is connecteed to my 2T Timecapsule (purchased mid 2010).
Connected to that is a 24 port Cisco Router.
Not connecting to that, though showing a solid green light, is my Airport Express (1st Generation, purchased mid 2010)
Connected to the router are many ethernet cables giving hard-wired access to:
Printers (HP 8600 Pro purchased 2012))
MacBook Pro (purchased mid 2010) and
IMAC (purchased mid 2010).
3 Apple TV devices (1st generation purchased early 2011)
1 Apple TV device (2nd generataion purchased August 2012)
Connecting to the Wireless Network are IOS devices (current IOS versions on all)
iPad 2nd generation (purchased the day it was available)
iPad 3rd generation (purchased the day it was available)
iPod (mid 2010)
iPhones (4S)
Description of Layout of Network/House
My home is approximately 70 feet by 25 feet.
All Networking hardware is at one end of the house, the south side.
Airport Express (1st Gen, 2010) has been placed in the middle of the house to boost the wireless access at the north end of the house.
Ethernet cables are installed under flooring with cable ends extending up through flooring, and are availble to all devices with Ethernet ports..
Description of Problem
Investigation of the wireless access dysfunction with the iPad (2nd generation, mid 2010) revealed no connection to the Wireless Network, in spite of glowing green light on Airport Express and Airport Utility screen.
Description of actions taken to correct the problem
Loaded Airport Utility on MacBook Pro.
Airport Express shows green light on screen.
Double clicked on Airport Express Icon
Message that Airport Express was unable to extend the network
Message changes suddenly to something about not finding the Airport Express
Airport Utility searches Airport Express, attempting to read its settings
Message appears: Device not found. Airiport Express was previously part of the network, and offers to let me "forget" the base station.
I exit the error message.
A yellow triangle bearing an exclamation point sits to the left of the Airport Express' Description
Airport Express shows green light (as always)
Clicking the link, "Other AirPort Base Stations" indicates no base stations can be found.
Moved Airport Express to the room at the south end of the house containing all network devices
Plugged it in with clear, completely unobstructed view of Time Capsule.
Light on Airport Express flashes yellow and then turns solid green (like always)
Bring Mac into the room at the south end of the house containing all network devices and the Airport Express with the green light
Close Airport Utility on Mac
Reboot Mac
Open Airport Utility on Mac
Airport Express still shows as it did in 1.1.7. above.
Attempts to check Airport Express' access to Wireless network:
Unplugged Airport Express HEY! THE GREEN LIGHT WENT OUT!!! ;0)
Disconnected all Ethernet cables.
Tested ALL devices for Wireless access.
All devices access the Wireless network extremely well (dot and three curved bars) EXCEPT
IOS Devices tested at the north end of the house. These devices show a blank where the wireless bars should be, and intermittently show a dot.
Followed instructions contained in a similar discussion about Airport Express not functioning:
Unplugged all Networking Hardware
Powered off all Equipment which access the Internet in any possible way.
Powered up all Networking Hardware, one at a time, in the order described in that discussion.
Powered up all Equipment which access the internet, one at a time.
Tested ethernet cablingAll equipment functioning.
Tested Wireless access:
Removed all ethernet cabling
All devices, including IOS devices, access the Wireless Network perfectly EXCEPT any placed in the north end of the house. Those perform exactly as they did in step 3.3.2.
Connected all ethernet cabling.
Plugged Airport Express into socket in the Network Hardware room at the south end of the house. I get exactlyt the same results as before. The lovely green light glows on the Airport Express. Airport Utility reports Airport Express cannot find the Wireless network and also says there are no base stations connected to the internet.
Still in Network Hardware room, I attempt to find other base stations by cabling the Airport Express to the MacBook Pro
Airport Utility shows Airport Express with a green light
I double click the Airport Express Icon
Box says connection is average and status is (green light) Extended Network.
I click Edit
I go through each tab. I note that in the Wireless tab, the Network Mode is as I had set it, "Extend a wireless network".
Under the Network tab I note that "Enable Access Control" is as it should be, NOT selected.
Under the AirPlay tab, I note that "Enable airPlay" is selected.
I click cancel and leave the Edit screens.
Curious to know if Airport Express can find the Wireless network now that the device claims to be functioning as an extended wireless network, I disconnect the ethernet cable from the Airport Express.
I watch the Airport Utility screen closely. Nothing is happening.
With bated breath, I double click on the Airport Express icon.
The popup box shows "extended wireless network"
I click on edit and we start the whole mess over again. (See 1.1-9. above)
Curious to know if cabling the Airport Express to the iMac (almost to middle of house) will offer hope and prosperity to IOS devices at north end, I unplug the Airport Express and carry its now-exhausted little body to the iMac, ethernet cable in hand.
As I unplug the iMac from its ethernet access, I'm informed by Cranky Boy that no way is he going to accept that as a reasonable solution to his problem. He will not live wireless while even one ethernet cable is poking up through a floorboard.
Cranky Boy is reassured when informed that, though the Airport Utility shows the Airport Express connected, merely double clicking on the icon produces the same result as laboriously described in 1.1-9. above.
After quieting Cranky Boy by reconnecting the iMac to the Ethernet, I return the Airport Express to the Network Hardware room.
Again, curious to know ... I reconnect the Airport Express to the MacBook Pro. I want to know if it will exrtend the Wireless network from its position one foot from the Wireless Network.
I close and reopen Airport Utility (as I always do, but forgot to write)
I click on the Airport Express icon (which bears a little green light like the other big boys).
BUT THIS TIME, when I click on the Airport Express icon, the pop-up box says my connection is Excellent, the green light status shows, "Extended Network" and clicking on "Extended Network" produces the same old `Airport Express was unable to extend the Wireless Connection.
I click on the Edit option.
I buzz through all the tabs. I cancel instead of update, leaving everything as it was (as I did the first time)
I decide to go back into edit and select "Internet Options" under the "Internet" tab.
Since I have no idea whatsoever as to what IPV6 is and what it governs, I decide to configure IPV6 to Automatically Connect and then, with a whole new set of opportunities, I leave IPV6 Mode set to "Tunnel" and then I learn that I will get to see what happens when "Enable IPV6 Connection Sharing" is enabled.
I check the other tabs to see if anything has changed in their menus
Jesus Saves and so did I.
Apple updates and so did I.
I am warned that my device and its network services will be temporarily unavailable if I continue.
It seems unaware that I am laughing uncontrollably at the suggestion that my device and its services will be TEMPORARILY AVAILABLE. What? An improvement in performance is warned?
Life continues and so do I.
I breathe deeply to decrease my adrenaline.
Airport Utility flashes a red warning next to the Airport Express Icon and then quickly rethinks the matter and decides to show it as connected.
I click on the Airport Express Icon. This time my connection is only "good".
I click on Extended Network. With a new-found consistency it informs me that my device is unable to extend the Wireless network and it chats with me about using the same Wireless password for my device that is used for the Wireless network access. I did. It is.
I change my settings back to the way they once were, I save like Jesus and Update like Apple
I decide to go back into Edit and modify the settings under the Wireless tab, changing from "Extend Wireless Network" to "Join Wireless Network".
I save.
I click on the Airport Express Icon. My connection has degraded further to "Average"
I click on edit just to see what will happen, but no further information is forthcoming. Settings are as I left them.
I wonder if the Airport Express would extend itself now that it has joined the Wireless Network.
I click the Airport Express Icon.
I click Edit
I change the Network Mode from "Join a Wireless Network" to Extend a Wireless Network. Unfortunately, there was no option for "don't forget where the Wireless Network is!"
I am still "unable to extend the Wireless network"
I disconnect the Airport Express from my MacBook Pro.
After closing and opening Airport Utility, I sit and stare at the Airport Express Icon.
It has no light or error messages
It has a yellow triangle with exclamation point
It has no light or error message
It has a yellow triangle with exclamation point
I finally decide to see what THIS error messages says. It says Device Not Found. Patti Harada's AirPort Express was previously part of your network. Check that it is still in range of your network and is plugged into a power outlet. Click Forget to remove this base station from this network."
I click "Forget". Airport Utility has forgotten the Airport Express ever existed. It has also forgotten how to find it again.
I, however, am unable to forget how much I shelled out for this POS and fear I will never recover from working this intensely and tediously on documenting something so hideously inconsistent in its test results.
I wonder if I should recable the Airport Express to my MacBook Pro
I decide I've had about enough.
I document this ad nauseum in the hopes that someone can read it THOROUGHLY and offer me a solution to my problem. What is my problem? I am so busy fighting off Alligators that I forgot I only came in to drain the swamp! Ah, but I remember now: Cranky Boy can't watch Netflix on his iPad (2nd generation) in the north end of the house.
Any solution that works will do. I'll buy another piece of whatever kind of equipment you think best.

Well, aren't you all that and a bag of chips!!!!
Oh what a relief! What a RELIEF!
That just cleaned up my life. And Cranky Boy is actually smiling!!!
Houston, we've got dots AND BARS!!!
P.S. All my firware and software are always current. If I spent as much time looking for a reset button as I spend checking for software updates, I mighta not needed to work at this!!!!
P.P.S. Airport Utility shows Cranky Boy's iPad as the Airport Express' Wireless Client!!! Who knew?
Thank you so much, m'Lord. I am in your debt. What would you have me do?
Patti in Tucson AZ

Can I use my airport express to extend a wireless network with a non-apple router?

I have been trying to extend my wireless network in my house. Right now I have a dsl modem/router provided by Century Link and an older AirPort express (not sure how old but it uses AirPort utility v5.6). I want to be able to share my printer and use AirTunes. Currently I have the AirPort plugged into the router and setup to create a new wireless network. I would like to combine them so I don't have to switch between to print and play music. I am not really sure where to start or if it even possible. Any info would be great!

If you keep the Express connected using Ethernet and configure the Express to "Create a wireless network" using exactly the same wireless network name, exact same wireless security and same wireless password as the Century Link network.....everything will behave as one "big" network, and you will have additional wireless coverage near the Express.
If you do not need extra wireless coverage, you can turn off the wireless on the Express.
The Express must be in Bridge Mode.
Most users know the name of their wireless network and password, so the really tricky part of doing this is that you must know exactly what type of wireless security settings the Century Link router is using....and then match up the same settings on the AirPort Express.
If the settings do not match up exactly, then you wind up with two separate networks that will each require their own log on.
If you can check the setting for wireless security on the Century Link router and provide that information to us, we can tell you how to set things up the way that you would like.

Hi i would like to know how to extend the range of my time capsule wifi network(500G 802.11n) using an airport express. i have a double storey home and would like to extend range to my upstairs bedrooms.i have a time capsules network setup via a netgear a

hi i would like to know how to extend the range of my time capsule wifi network(500G 802.11n) using an airport express. i have a double storey home and would like to extend range to my upstairs bedrooms.i have a time capsules network setup via a netgear adsl.i have a second imac upstairs which connects to time capsule wifi network (it is within range as it is directly abobe on 1st floor)
could you tell me how best to set airport express up to extend my wifi range?

Greetings,
This is called an "Extended wireless network".
Read this article for details and steps on how to extend your TimeCapsule's network:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Cheers.

Extend existing wireless network (long house) with Airport Express

Help !! I am trying to reconfigure my airport express to extend my wireless network (Long House)through my wireless ISP (Bigpond)modem (2701HGV-W Gateway) following the sudden and unexpected death of my Time Capsule, whose router was doing this job previously.
I am not technically savvy, but can follow simple, idiot proof instructions. All I seem to be able to do is join a wireless network....is this the same as extending it?

Bob Timmons wrote:
Hi Jolly Giant,
+what you could do is run a (long) Cat5 ethernet cable from the Gateway to your Airport Express (AE) in the far away location. if you then join the AE to your wireless network, wireless clients could access it via the wireless access point the AE provides.+
Sorry, but this is not correct. The "join" setting is only used if the Express will be connecting to the wireless network by +wireless only+.
With the Express connected by ethernet, the correct setting is "create a wireless network". The wireless must be configured with exactly the same name, radio mode, security, password, etc as the Gateway's network. But, the channel on the AirPort Express should be set to a value that is at least 5 settings away from the channel that the Gateway is using to minimize distortion. This type of network is known as a "roaming" network.
Connection Sharing on the Express must be set to "Off (Bridge Mode)".
okay, got it. thanks for letting me know - i'll keep that in mind ! (:-)
my apologies to the OP for having been confusing

Extending home wireless network with 802.11b/g Airport Expresses

Home Setup: iMac with iSight G5 2.1GHz PPC, OS X Leopard 10.5.8, 2.5GB memory, 2 Airport expresses-802.11b/g.
Up to just recently, I was able to use my AE's to create a whole house wireless network: one as my main network connected to my cable modem, and the other as a wireless network extender. My extender got pulled out one day accidentally, and when I went to plug it in it wouldn't reconnect to my network...and so the problems began. Airport Utility used to give the option of "Extending the Wireless Network", but no more.
I've done a lot of searching through the forums regarding this issue, read through the sage advice by superusers Tesserax and Bob Timmons, and attempted to set up my main AE as my "WDS Main" AE and the other as my "WDS Remote". The WDS main connects fine to the internet, but the WDS remote continues to show a flashing amber light and inability to extend my wireless network. I've done soft and hard resets to the remote AE (which transiently gives me a green light, then back to flashing amber), network diagnostics using the Airport utility, but still no luck. The AE wireless extender continues to flash amber and is nonfunctional.
AE Wireless extender settings reported:
-WIreless Mode: Create a wireless network
-Connect using: Ethernet
AE Errors reported:
-Ethernet Unplugged
-Default Settings
I setup the AE Wireless extender as a WDS Remote, it resets and shows "Normal" without problems reported in the summary window of Airport Utility. Connection indicated as "Airport (WDS)" and Wireless Mode reads "participate in a WDS network", but the AE is still flashing amber and will not connect to the internet or Main WDS wireless network.
Went to the Genius Bar at the local mac store...they couldn't help at all.
I'm out of answers...help?!
Allan

There are basically two "flavors" of WDS that the AirPorts support: static & dynamic.
o A static WDS allows for a main, relay, and remote base stations in the configuration. This only operates in the 802.11g radio mode. Its advantage is it is well suited when you are trying to cover a considerable linear range ... like a rectangular house where the Internet connection comes in at one of the shorter sides and you want wireless at the other end. The biggest disadvantage of this type of WDS is that for every base station added, you lose half the overall bandwidth.
o A dynamic WDS allows for only a single main and multiple remotes. Think of a wheel with the main at the center and the remotes as spokes of the wheel. The advantage of this type of WDS is it operates in the 802.11n radio mode and doesn't suffer a significant bandwidth loss like the static version.
As a minimum, a dynamic WDS requires two 802.11n AirPorts (or Time Capsules). You can create a static WDS with either all 802.11g AirPorts or a mix of 802.11n & 802.11g AirPorts. Note; however, you cannot create a dynamic WDS with mixed mode base stations.

Extend my wireless network w/airport express w/out connecting via ethernet?

Here's what I have:
I have an Airport Extreme Base Station Version 7.5.2 - named Jim's Base
I have an existing Airport Express that I use to stream music to my office stereo - named Jim's Office
I have a new Airport Express that I would like to use to extend my wireless network to my family room - named Jim's Extended. I have ethernet to my family room for my TV and Receiver and an ethernet switch with one available port.
Question, when extending my existing wireless network do I have to extend it using an ethernet cable or can it be extended "wirelessly" i.e. no connections except to 120v power?
Could someone share the exact instructions? I've been trying to configure this "extension" for several hours now but can't seem to get it to work - wired or wireless.
Thanks -
jP

Apple's instructions to "extend a wireless network" using wireless only are in the link below. Although the illustration pictures a 2nd AirPort Extreme, the setup for an AirPort Express is exactly the same.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
The Ethernet port is automatically enabled in this type of configuration to allow Ethernet devices to connect. If you need more than one Ethernet connection, you can add an Ethernet switch to the AirPort Express to create more connection capabilities.

My airport express never connects to the internet only flashes amber even when it's in the same room with the modem.

My airport express only flashes amber even when it's in the same room with the modem.
I want to set it up as a wi-Fi extender.

Your AirPort Express can only extend a wireless network provided by another Apple router if you want the network connection between them to be wireless.
What is the make & model of the wireless device that you are trying to extend with your Express?

How do I use airport express to extend my wireless network?

How vcan I extend the range of my wireless network using Airport Express?

It appears that you may have "join a wireless network" and "extend a wireless network" mixed up a bit.
The Express can "join" virtually any wireless network produced by any manufacturer's router if it is provided with the correct settings:
name of the wireless network
the correct wireless security settings
and correct password.
"Join" is normally used for AirTunes or to connect a USB printer to the Express for remote printing.
But, the Express does not provide any additional wirless coverage when it "joins" another wireless network.
Apple's "Extend a wireless network" feature, which was introduced about 5 years ago, allows the Express to connect to another Apple "n" wireless router and then "repeat" or "extend" the wireless signal....providing more wireless coverage in the area where the Express is located.
This is a proprietary setting. Apple says it will not work with devices from other manufacturers. To our knowledge, this is correct.
Prior to 2007, Apple used a setting called WDS to allow the Express to be configured to provide more wireless coverage. Attempts were made by a number of manufacturers to standardize the WDS settings, but things were never finalized.
The result is that Apple's older "b/g" routers were sometimes compatible with WDS settings from another manufacturer. There were a handful of products....5 or 6, as I recall....that were said to work. Some did, some didn't. Linksys had a couple of models, Netgear had one, SMC another, etc. Extremely limited.
Since WDS was never adopted as an industry standard, manufacturers developed their own WDS settings. Compatibility was extemely limited and unreliable. That continues to this day with WDS.
Bottom line....It is always best to stick with the same manufacturer throughout your network as far as routing is concerned.
If you have an newer "n" Apple router like an AirPort Extreme, the Express can extend the wireless as can along Extreme. If your Extreme is dual band, and you want to extend both bands, then you need another Extreme.
Another responder suggested to someone that they could connect the AirPort Express to a router via Ethernet. What exactly would that achieve?
That is a completely different subject since this discussion is about extending a wireless network using wireless only.

HT4259 Trying to set up airport express to extend my wireless network. Primary base station is a time capsule. Even when I plug in the airport express to mac it cannot find it.

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