Intermittent Airport Extreme

I am on 10.4.11. Since the day I bought my computer and Airport Extreme, it's been intermittent. I have no choice right now but to use it. My Ethernet port is broken. Yet every 10 minutes to a half hour, my connection drops for a period of about 5 seconds. It never stops. My firmware for the airport should be up-to-date. Right now it's running through a switch then to the router and onto the model. Originally, however, the airport was connected directly to the router then to the airport. The problem was persistent in both cases. I've searched the forum and the web. No solution for this exact problem has been presented, as far as I can see. Help would be much appreciated.
~Ryan

Sometimes using a Static IP helps this.
Network CP>Configure>Airport>TCP/IP tab>DHCP with Manual Address.
Any chance of interference from TVs, Microwaves, Cell Phones, etc.?
Have you tried changing the Channel of the BS yet?
I'd get KisMac & check for other Wireless signals in your area too.

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Airport Extreme Intermittent Network Interruption when Downloading Large Amounts of Data.

I've had an Airport Extreme Base Station for about 2.5 years and have had no problems until the last 6 months. I have my iMac and a PC directly connected through ethernet and another PC connected wirelessly. I occasionally need to download very large data files that max out my download connection speed at about 2.5Mbs. During these downloads, my entire network loses connection to the internet intermittently for between 2 and 8 seconds with a separation between connection losses at around 20-30 seconds each. This includes the hard wired machines. I've tested a download with a direct connection to my cable modem without incident. The base station is causing the problem. I've attempted to reset the Base Station with good results after reset, but then the problem simply returns after a while. I've updated the firmware to latest version with no change.
Can anyone help me with the cause of the connection loss and a method of preventing it? THIS IS NOT A WIRELESS PROBLEM. I believe it has to do with the massive amount of data being handled. Any help would be appreciated.

Ok, did some more sniffing around and found this thread.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2508959?start=0&tstart=0
It seems that the AEBS has had a serious flaw for the last 6 years that Apple has been unable to address adequately. Here is a portion of the log file. It simply repeats the same log entries over and over.
Mar 07 21:25:17
Severity:5
Associated with station 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 21:25:17
Severity:5
Installed unicast CCMP key for supplicant 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 21:26:17
Severity:5
Disassociated with station 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 21:26:17
Severity:5
Rotated CCMP group key.
Mar 07 21:30:43
Severity:5
Rotated CCMP group key.
Mar 07 21:36:41
Severity:5
Clock synchronized to network time server time.apple.com (adjusted +0 seconds).
Mar 07 21:55:08
Severity:5
Associated with station 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 21:55:08
Severity:5
Installed unicast CCMP key for supplicant 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 21:55:32
Severity:5
Disassociated with station 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 21:55:33
Severity:5
Rotated CCMP group key.
Mar 07 21:59:47
Severity:5
Rotated CCMP group key.
Mar 07 22:24:53
Severity:5
Associated with station 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 22:24:53
Severity:5
Installed unicast CCMP key for supplicant 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 22:25:18
Severity:5
Disassociated with station 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 22:25:18
Severity:5
Rotated CCMP group key.
Mar 07 22:30:43
Severity:5
Rotated CCMP group key.
Mar 07 22:36:42
Severity:5
Clock synchronized to network time server time.apple.com (adjusted -1 seconds).
Mar 07 22:54:37
Severity:5
Associated with station 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Mar 07 22:54:37
Severity:5
Installed unicast CCMP key for supplicant 58:55:ca:c7:c2:ae
Anyone have any ideas why this is happening?

Airport Extreme intermittent WiFi failure

Airport Extreme used as a wireless network bridge to a DSL (Cincinnati Bell) modem with multiple devices without fail for 2 years. Lately the Airport intermittently drops the wireless connection. After a short, inconsistent duration, the AIrport reestablishes the connection. During the failure the status light remains green and no failure is detected or annunciated in the management app. This failure frequency has inreased over several months.
I've ruled out modem failure by trying another brand wireless router. I've reset the Airport and updatred to latest firmware without success.

O.R.E, Welcome to the discussion area!
Which Power Mac G5 do you have? The latest models are not compatible with the AirPort Extreme card. See KB 302721, Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) AirPort and Bluetooth options.
Assuming you have an earlier Power Mac G5 which is compatible with the AirPort Extreme card, one or more of the following must be true:
The AirPort Extreme card is not installed correctly.
The AirPort Extreme card is defective.
The Power Mac G5's motherboard is defective.

Intermittent conntectivity after installing AirPort Extreme Update 2007-1

Software Update updated Airport Extreme Update 2007-1 and Security Update 2007-1 on 1/28/07. Since then I have had intermittent connectivity with my AirPort card. Other Macs in my house that have not run this update are working just fine.
I have deleted all entries in the Network control panel and re-entered (I'm using WPA-Personal) and still I get a few minutes of connectivity (very good signal strength, too) and I get dropped completely. The Airport card shows a 169.x.x.x IP address which means I'm out of luck.
If I delete and re-enter the information in the Network control panel for my AirPort card and restart, I'm fine for a few minutes.
This was not happening prior to the AirPort Extreme Update 2007-001
Is there a way to uninstall these updates so I can troubleshoot? Or does anyone have any other advice?
Thanks,
JJJ

I'm having exactly the same problem, I tried the fix of switching my WPA to WPA2-Personal and still about ever 15 minutes or so I have no more connection to the network or internet even though my status meter still shows me as connected to my access point. This is becomming quite frustrating because the only fix I've found so far is to reboot the machine, then I get maybe another 15 minutes or so until I loose connectivity and have to reboot again.
If anyone has any other suggestions, or knows if Apple is aware of this problem and HOPEFULLY working to correct it please let me, and the rest of us know.
Thanks!
-B

My 4-year old AirPort Extreme intermittently drops out (no signal to my iMac Book). The laptop shows reception of other nearby Wi-Fi transmitters, but not mine. I have changed the bands, but the problem comes back. Transmitter problem or interference?

My 4-year old AirPort Extreme intermittently drops out (no signal to my iMac Book). My hard-wired iMac still has internet capability. The laptop shows reception of other nearby Wi-Fi transmitters, but not mine. I have changed the bands back and forth, but the problem comes back. How can I check if it is a transmitter problem or interference?

Let me see if I can suggest a strategy.
I have talked with my ISP and he said that I am not the only one with an Airport Extreme with the same issue. He said to try to write the DNS direclty, rather than using the Auto settings - still nothing works.
What modem do you have and what sort of broadband?
What mode is the AE in.. router or bridge?
I have an Airport Express from 2010. Since about a month and definetly since yesterday, I cannot connect any device via Wifi to it although LAN connection works correctly.
Is this express or extreme.. the rest of the post you refer to extreme.
What is the actual model number of the AE? A1xxx from the base or the part number MCxxx from the box.
If the AE is bridge.. I want you to try a different method.. put it in router mode.. don't worry about double NAT but ensure the IP range of the modem /router is different to the AE.. so if one is 192.168.x.x then the AE on default at 10.x.x.x is fine.. if the main router is 10.x then move the AE to 192.168.x.x
Make sure the guest wireless is off.
Using a 5.6 utility on your 10.6.8 OS mini go to the log and see if the wireless is registering..
You should see lists of wireless connection like..
Post as many screenshots of the setup as you can.. it helps loads.
IPv6 is starting to become a pain.. try it off and try local link and try auto.. in the computer.

Can a "bad" Airport Extreme Card work intermittently, i.e.

work sometimes and then suddenly disconnect and reconnect? I'm having trouble with Safari crashes, and slow or no page loads... it was implied that the Airport Extreme Card may be not working properly. Can this happen?
I figured it either works or don't work, but maybe it's slowly dieing? I don't know.
Anyone with experience with the card dieing or being intermittent? Is there a good way to test it?
Thanks for any observations.

Well here's a new one, but I might be speaking too soon. I certainly hope not!
The AirPort checked out just fine at the Apple Store, and sure enough within an hour back home my connection/browsers crashed. I shut down the computer and unplugged the gateway. It ran smooth for three whole hours before crashing this time (the longest time on record).
There's been one more thing in the back of my mind, and before calling the DSL company to return the gateway I figured I'd give it a try.
I unplugged the KENSINGTON wireless optical desktop for Mac, keyboard and mouse with the RF receiver, and guess what?
I haven't crashed in " 10 entire hours"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BIG RECORD!
Who would know? Not I.
I emailed Kensington Support and asked whether the RF reciever might interfer with a wireless connection via airport, but I don't expect a reply. Niether a reply from the Yahoo!SBC/DSL support, because nothing, i.e. no video works with Mac OSX on their homepage. Bummer! But that's another problem I CAN ignor.
Has anyone here ever heard that a wireless keyboard and mouse can mess around your airport connection?
So for so good.
G5 dual 1.8 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Why does AirPort Extreme intermittently shutdown?

My AirPort Extreme (Mod A1521) shuts down intermittently for no apparent reason. I was purchased at Best Buy in May 2014. I started noticing this issue a couple of weeks ago. I have not changed my setup or made any modifications to my network or peripherals. I am able to reboot the device without issue.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated . . . thank you!

If the AirPort Extreme shuts down, and you have checked the power cord, wall AC jack, etc. to verify that all is well......then the AirPort Extreme is defective and in need of replacement.
Take the AirPort Extreme to an Apple Store....if you have one near you....or contact Apple Support directly to start the process.
http://www.apple.com/support/contact/

I have a new Airport Extreme that works well with my IMac but is intermittent with our Windows 7 PC. Any ideas?

I have a new Airport Extreme that works well with my IMac but is intermittent with our Windows 7 PC. Any ideas?

Thanks planb77. Your instructions worked but I had to do a little more than you stated. I did not realize that transferring files to a new computer was not enough. When the iPod synced I was told I needed to "authorize" my new computer to get my iTunes purchases to sync to the iPod. So after the initial sync, I ejected and disconnected the iPod, went into the iTunes store, set up "home sharing" and then authorized the new computer. When that was done I reconnected the iPod and was able to sync all my books and music. The only thing I couldn't do was rename the iPod as iTunes never asked me to. Is there a way to rename it after it has been set by iTunes as "owner's iPod"?

HT4628 Intermittent reception when streaming music via Airport Extreme and Airport Express to powered speakers. Is this a problem with the Extreme?

i get intermittent reception when I stream music from I Tunes via Airport Extreme and Airport Express to powered speakers. I Tunes continues to play uninterupted on the Mac. The problem does not lie with the Express as it occurs on both of my 2 Express at the same time. is this a problem with the Extreme?

Well, repying to my own post... Might have found the solution: I tried to do the same with a Macbook Pro 2010 using the very same setup. And it worked perfectly! No freeze, no nothing.
One explanation I see:
my iMac is dating back to May 2007, a Core 2 Duo 2,16Ghz with 2 Go of RAM.
So the computer's characteristics (or the Wifi component or the combination of all of this) might be not robust enough to allow streaming to those 2 devices...
Anyone's got anything to add?

Airport Extreme intermittently loses connection with Internet?

I have an Airport Extreme connected to a router that is connected to our cable modem. Internet connection is fine, but the Airport Extreme will intermittently lose connection with the Internet and shows a solid amber light. Turning the Airport Extreme off and then on again will resolve the issue, however, this happens about once per week (at different days/times) and would like to ensure a consistent connection even when I'm not at home. (We are thinking of installing a lighting control system that depends upon a consistent wireless connection to work properly, even when we aren't home to restart the Airport Extreme). Please advise on what the trouble might be and how we can get a permanent resolution to the issue.

Is your Extreme an 802.11g (domed-shape) or 802.11n (squarish) model? Do you have the Extreme connected to the other router by Ethernet? Finally, is the Extreme configured as a bridge, i.e., Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)?

Intermittent connection between iBook and Airport Extreme Base Station

I have a friend with an iBook set up with the Airport Extreme system, they also have a Denon stereo that it is playing through. However, when the music is playing, it keeps cutting out every 5-10 seconds and is intermittent. On other occasions, when the router & base station is left switched on, it plays fine. Does anyone have a reason for this intermittent playing, and a possible solution? Many thanks,

Check out this Apple article to see if it will help.

IMac on Netgear X104 and Airport Extreme intermittently loses IP address

We have a Netgear X104 plugged into an Airport Extreme Base Station.
Another X104 (which carries network information through the household electrical wiring) is plugged in for a networked iMac with OS X v 10.5.4.
The network works flawlessly, but every few days, the iMac loses its IP address. All lights are working properly on the X104, indicating that it is seeing the network.
The only workaround on the iMac is to go to: System Preferences/Network/Advanced and click RENEW DHCP LEASE. The iMac then gets reassigned a new IP, such as 10.0.0.200 by the Airport Extreme.
The Airport Extreme, settings are as follows.
Wireless Mode: Create a wireless network
Wireless security: WPA/WPA2 Personal
Connect using: Ethernet
Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
IP Address: Provided automatically
Powering off and on the Airport Extreme and the Cable Modem have not fixed this recurrent problem.

Hi,
http://osxdaily.com/2009/12/22/mac-wireless-problems-guide-to-troubleshooting-ai rport-wireless-problems-on-your-mac/
Hope it helps.
Cheers.

New Airport Extreme dropping signal intermittently

Frequently my signal fails for no apparent reason, it shows full power on the status bar but sometimes it just looses my base station, then finds it, then find others in the building then looses them all again and so on. I have reconfigured the bases station, restarted the modem, renewed the DHCP lease but remains a problem. Most annoying.
My mac is older and the Airport Extreme card could be faulty I guess??
Any help is appreciated.

I would suspect wireless interference before failing hardware. There are only three non-overlapping channels in the 802.11g spectrum, and it's subject to interference from other 2.4 GHz devices like cordless phones and microwave ovens. The best you can do is try to mitigate noise and interference from competing networks.
Are your network preferences set to join your network (by default, join "your wireless network name")?
Try changing the wireless channel from "automatic" to some fixed channel, and experiment with different channels. Try enabling interference robustness.
Ironically, the popularity of wireless networking has contributing to the 802.11g standard's increasing uselessness. The draft 802.11n standard uses a different spectrum and more efficient means of handling data, with the cost of a reduced ability to penetrate obstructions.
This is a mixed blessing... we want our own wireless networks to have a big range; our neighbor's, small
The following quote from Enterprise Networking Planet seems to describe your situation:
2.4 GHz wireless LANs can experience RF interference from cordless phones, microwaves, and other existing wireless LANs. The interfering signals degrade the performance of a wireless network by periodically blocking users and access points from accessing the shared air medium. If it's not possible to reduce potential interference in the 2.4 GHz band to an acceptable level, consider deploying a 5 GHz system. The noise floor in the 5 GHz band is generally lower compared to the 2.4 GHz band, which allows 802.11n to function at higher data rates.
Since you have a newer 802.11n Extreme, you ought to look into a 802.11n USB wireless dongle for your iBook - they're not expensive. Shop around.

Airport Express Transmits To Airport Extreme Base Station Intermittently

I have an Airport Extreme set up as my base station wirelessly.  I also have an Airport Express set up to extend the range of my network.
The reason I have the air port express is that the walls of my house are very thick, so I thought that if I have an Airport Express, then I can jump the signal from one signal strength room to a week signal strength room.
The length of the house is within the 30m range.  Airport Utility occasionally can not see the AExtreme or AExpress but if I put both in the same room it picks both up.   At the low signal strength end of the house my MacBook or MacBook Pro Air Port Utility only picks up the AExpress located at this end of the house.  If I restart the AExpress then Airport Utility picks up both airports in the week signal room, then the Extreme drops out.
Q1 - Why does this happen i.e. only showing the nearest / clearest signal air port?
What I have established is that the connection to the internet is always through the wireless signal from the AExtreme (ADS Router connected directly to this).  I established this by switching off the AExpress at the week signal end of the house and finding a spot where the signal could be picked up.
Q2 - If the AEtxreme and AExpress are within the nominal 30 m range why cant my lap tops just pick up both Airports on Airport Utility.
Q3 - Can you set up both Airports such that one will boost the signal and if so how.
Q4 - When running AExtreme only why does the signal strength vary - even when sitting right next to the extreme?
Thanks
Alastair

On this same topic;
We have a new Extreme base station that connects 1 MBP, (wirelessly), 1 HP Laptop (wirelessly) and 2 PC (via ethernet) to the internet.
All of the computers can see and use the Extreme base station and the printer connected to it via USB.
We also have an Airport Express that the two laptops can see. This has a printer connected to it as well via USB. (both are new Canon printers and all of the software for each, and their drivers are loaded on all computers).
Both the Extreme and Express have a steady green light, their own names and are set up on the same network.
Though my MBP can see both the Extreme and Express, neither "see" each other as far as I can tell. And, the printer connected to the Express cannot be seen in either Bonjour Printers, or anywhere else.
Also, in order to "attempt" to find the printer connected to the Express, I have to disconnect from the Extreme Base Station and connect to the Express.
How can I get the printer (connected to the Express) to show up in my pick list of printers WITHOUT having to disconnect from the Extreme and connect to the Express. Also, how can we get the Express to be connected to the internet via the Extreme?
All searches here and documents I have poured though do not address this issue and we'd really like to get this straightened out. I am willing to take a lot of time to do this, but do it right.
Can someone please help me with this?
Thank you in advance,
~ J

My Airport Extreme intermittently shuts down completely.

My Airport Extreme (newest model) will shut down completely, all by itself, with the green light completely off. When I unplug and replug the device, it starts again and the green light comes back on after it boots. It's as if a "circuit breaker" cuts off the power. No other equipment shuts off, so it's not the electric outlet.

Patrick Lovell wrote:
I just bought a new AE last year and today without any warning it just went off. No light nothing.
Tried to get a light by unplugging and rep lugging, still nothing.
I have had frequent episodes in the past few weeks where the AE dropped the line and I had to run diagnostics to get it going again.
I just put in an order for a new AE, but am wondering if this is normal, only getting one year out of a AE.
This is really bad.. they should replace it even if it is outside 12months.. Just check if you have any applecare or a product you can buy applecare on, and it will cover the AE as well.. lacking anything you have to buy applecare, you can still buy an Apple TV, plus applecare.. that explicitly covers the Airport routers. Do not open the Apple TV.. you can sell it in shrink wrap.. so the purchase of the applecare is all you are paying.
Make apple replace it and keep replacing it.. do not wait.. if it is dropping the line and you need constantly to power cycle.. return it as unfit for use. Routers are supposed to have uptimes measured in months if not years. Daily or hourly reboots is not acceptable.

Intermittent Airport Extreme

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