Joining a network or Extending a network

I have purchased a 500Gb TC and need the following setup....
TC is based upstairs, Main router is downstairs (and contains modem).
So I set up TC and said extend a network but it won't work, keeps giving me a problem. I turn off all security, then it works fine except my network is now unsecured (with the exception of Mac Address access control).
Does anyone know why this might occur?
I did notice I had somehow got a setting to Extend a network, but also a setting to Join a wireless network but this does not always appear? Any idea?
I assume I need to set up TC with the same wireless access settings as my main router?
I do not want to use TC as my main router, I have nothing that can use the N as all devices I have are B or G. Ive tried copying a couple of files across and they all seem a good speed.
So basically...
1. If I have a main router and I choose to extend a wireless network, what security settings should I use, same as WiFi router?
2. As I am basically using my TC as a wireless hard disk and I'll also plug in a printer, can I select the Join network option? Will that make my life easier?
Any help appreciated.

What brand of "Main" router do you have?
Most (if not all) Non Apple routers will not allow you to extend the network with other Apple base stations.
You may be able to "Join" your existing network (router) but that is about it.
Joseph Kriz

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Airport express - extend a network or join a network?

I have a Time Capsule as my base station and a number of Airport Expresses installed ( one with a USB printer). All the Express are connected wirelessly. When setting up you are allowed to configure the Express to join a network or to Extend a Network. What is the best choice. My goal is to make sure my printer works, but also ensure the signal is decent throughout the house.
Apple tech when I called gave two conflicting answers. One said it should be Extend the Network. When I called back the next tech said that that was in fact incorrect. He said it should be Connect. He told me that Extend only works where you are hooking up the extra Expresses to an Ethernet cable which is not the case. Who is right?

Hi Bob,
After searching all over the internet, I found your answers to be the most informative
Would appreciate if you can comment on my situation:
Room Outlay:
I have a single-story 3,000 square-foot house with the Study on one end of the house and two other key areas of the house, the Family Room and the Master Bedroom, at the other ends of a "triangle" (Note: the Master Bedroom is a little closer to the Study than the Family Room is to the Study).
Original Environment:
1. in the Study: Cable Modem (Comcast)
2. in the Study: Time Capsule (MB276LL/A 500GB) ethernet connection to Cable Modem
3. in the Study: iMac ethernet connection to Time Capsule
4. in the Family Room: iPhone, iPad, and Laptop wireless usage
5. in the Master Bedroom: iPhone, iPad, and Laptop wireless usage
Original Issues:
Particularly in the Family Room (the most important of my remote areas), the devices (iPhone, etc.) seemed to drop in and out of the wireless network connection. I measured the wireless signal strength to be between 30-40% (Note: it was 45-50% in the Master Bedroom).
New Environment (additions)
6. in the Family Room: AirPort Express (MB321LL/A) Unit 1
7. in the Master Bedroom: AirPort Express (MB321LL/A) Unit 2
Impulsively reacting to various internet posts regarding extending wireless range with the AirPort Express, I went out and bought 2 units with the hope of improving the wireless signal strength in the Family Room and the Master Bedroom. I followed the instructions to have them "extend" the existing wireless network, and I now measure the wireless signal strength to be between 55-70% (vs. 30-40%) in the Family Room and 60-65% (vs. 45-50%) in the Master Bedroom.
Concerns/questions:
Further research turned up a bunch of posts that claim "extending" a wireless network the way I have significantly reduces the overall wireless network performance (cuts the throughput in half for each extender?).
Q1. Is this true? How does this relate to the improved signal strengths I measured.
Q2. If so, if I scrap the unit in the Master Bedroom, will I get better throughput in the Family Room?
Q3. In general, is there a better way to configure my network (e.g., not using "extend", etc.) to get better coverage in the Family Room (and ideally the Master Bedroom) without compromising throughput?
Q4. Although it appears the Time Capsule does not easily support a booster antenna, I did see some convoluted "do-it-yourself" kits that seem to have positive results for people. Is this something I should consider?
Thanks in advance,
Steve

HT1515 The wifi router I use to connect to the internet is in the room directly above me. I am trying to use my airport express to extend the network for better coverage down here. It works fine with the setting "join a network" but will not extend it.

I have 2 airport expresses. The issue is the same with both of them. What am I doing wrong?

I assume that you already have one Express configured to "join" the network.
Power up the other Express for a few minutes, then hold in the reset button firmly on the back of the device for 10 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the Express to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.
Connect an Ethernet cable from the LAN <--> port on the "joining" Express to the WAN "O" port on the second Express.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click Other WiFi Devices
Click on AirPort Express
Click the Other Options button and select the option to Create a new wireless network.
Follow the guided steps, and ignore the step about powering off the modem and restarting.
Once the Express restarts, it will still have a slow, blinking amber light. Open AirPort Utility and click on the amber dot, then select the option to ignore the Double NAT error so the Express will display a green light.
Select the wireless network that you named during the setup of the second Express and enter the password to connect to the network.

Join existing network option missing from Airport Extreme

I am resetting an Airport Extreme because of network issues (not the airport side). It used to join an existing network which is still there. but now, when i go to set it up, the only options are Create a Wireless Network, Participate in a WDS network, and Extend a Wireless Network. I can not extend because of the way our network is set up. Can anyone tell me how I can get the plain old Join and Existing Network option back? I miss it...

emcfins, Welcome to the discussion area!
Unlike the AirPort Express (AX), the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) does not have the ability to join a wireless network as a client.
The only way the AEBS can wirelessly join a network is if it is configured to participate in a WDS network (802.11g mode) or extend a Wireless Network (802.11n mode).

Can't Join a network on TC?

My TC was at "join a existing network" but today I wanted to try create a network on my TC today and didn't really like it so I went back to my old router. But now that my old router is working my TC can't seem to join the network anymore.
When I open AirPort Utility and go to My Time Capsule > AirPort > Wireless > Wireless mode: the drop down thing on has Create a wireless network and Extend a wireless network. It doesn't have Join an existing network anymore.
Is there anyways I can get that back? I don't want to do a factory reset because it will erase my time machine back up data. Is there anyway I can get it to join my network again?
Thanks in advance.

When I open AirPort Utility and go to My Time Capsule > AirPort > Wireless > Wireless mode: the drop down thing on has Create a wireless network and Extend a wireless network. It doesn't have Join an existing network anymore.
First, try holding down the Option key before attempting to make a Wireless Mode selection. If that still doesn't provide you the option, I would suggest performing a "factory default" reset on the TC.

Airport Extreme joining a network and sharing wired internet connections

Hi everyone,
My new ISP installed their modem/wifi router (Sagemcom) in my home two months ago. Since I share HDDs over the wifi network, I installed my airport extreme near the modem/wifi router and used it to "extend the network", and it worked fine until recently. It stopped working suddently with the yellow light flashing. When I tried to reconfigure it, I always got errors, needing to reset it even to be able to see it again in Airport utility. Honestly, I have absolutely no idea why it stopped working. I tried connecting the Airport Extreme with an ethernet wire to the modem with the same result. So, I decided to move the airport extreme in my living room and use it to share the internet connection with my PS3, slingbox and Apple TV, telling myself that a partly wired connection would improve the signal (since I also had an Airport Express in the living room extending the network before everything stopped working). Now, everything works; the green light is on, HDDs are available on the wifi network, I can only connect to the Sagemcom routeur but, meh, what do you want, BUT, my slingbox, Apple TV and PS3 can't connect to the airport extreme through a wired connection.
Two questions:
1- Is it possible to share a wired internet connection with my Slingbox, PS3 and Apple TV from an Airport Extreme that has joined the network? If yes, what do I need to do to make it work?
2- Any idea why my first setup stopped working?
Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot,
Frank

1- Is it possible to share a wired internet connection with my Slingbox, PS3 and Apple TV from an Airport Extreme that has joined the network? If yes, what do I need to do to make it work?
Unfortunately, the Ethernet ports are not enabled when the AirPort Extreme is configured to "join" a wireless network.
Ironically, the less expensive AirPort Express does have the ability to "join" a wireless network and deliver an Ethernet signal at the port(s).
2- Any idea why my first setup stopped working?
None that you probably have not already thought about. The most commons cause is a sudden power outage, or even quick power "blip" can sometimes result in the Extreme to losing some of its configuration settings. Otherwise, gremlins are hard to catch.

No option to join existing network

I've had an airport extreme and airport express for several years - both serving as clients and not routers - and have never had any problems. I recently changed my network name, though, and can no longer use my airports. I hard reset them and try to use airport utility to tell them to join the new network, but don't even see that option. The only options I see are:
1. I want to create a new wireless network
2. I want to replace an existing base station or wireless router with Airport Extreme
3. Extend the range of my Airport Extreme, Airport Express network
I don't want to create a new network, and I don't want to replace my current router. Can anyone tell me why I don't have the option to join a network?

The default reset is a bit different if you have an older domed "b/g" version of the AirPort Extreme.
Please use this Apple Support Document to help with the default reset.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3728?viewlocale=en_US
Under the heading of How do I reset my AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule, look for the Extreme Base Station (802.11b/g) and follow those instructions to reset the device.
If that still will not get the "join" option displayed, you can perform a quick check to see if this is possible using the Manual Setup option.
Open AirPort Utility and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab located just below the row of icons
Hold down the option key while you click on the Wireless Mode selection box to see if the "join" option is displayed.
Please post on your results.

Green Light When Join Wifi Network But...

my question is on my airport extreme model (MB053LL/A) I have asked it to join my 3g wifi router on setup, which it has done with a green light appearing, but now I can't see the base station in my wifi and it looks like my wifi is only connecting to the 3g router not the base station.
What is happening in this situation?
What is the base station connected to as it has a green light?

I think you answered my question with the green light and "no routing connection" when you said:
The setting is virtually useless on an AirPort Extreme, because the Extreme has no audio capability, and it performs no routing functions when it is configured to "join" a network.
Since I thought the base station had connected to my 3g router and I saw the green light I assumed the base station could be used as a wifi extender. I know I'm wrong now.
I have read others who also thought they could get a 3g router's wifi to be repeated without wires through the express and extreme base stations. It seems such a pity Apple hasn't an option to do that or to let a user have the ability to use a 3g dongle in the usb port yet. I hate wires and love wireless. I do have another 3g router from Tp-Link that has an ethernet cable which I can insert into the WAN port of the extreme.
So in essence you should have one extreme base station connected to the internet through a cable with an external appliance like a printer or external hard drive in the USB port if you wish and then one or more airport express's to repeat and extend the wifi signal if needed.

Connecting to wireless thru airport express (joined home network)

I have a wireless router in my bedroom, which is the source of internet connection.
I use the airport express to join this connection, and this airport express is now plugged in my living room.
the name of the wireless connection is "my_name room".
the name of the airport express is "my_name airport express".
i cannot locate the "my_name express" on my devices, including macbook pro, and iphone 5.
i can only locate "my_name room".
is this normal for using airport express as an extension of a network ?
thanks in advance.

What are the benefits of extending a wireless network then ?
Unfortunately, you are not extending your wireless network since the Express is not compatible with your router for that purpose.
The benefits to extending a wireless network...assuming that your Express is working with a compatible wireless router.....are the same as "joining" with the added plus that the Express is also providing more wireless signal, so the wireless signal strength will be provided over a greater area.
Another question is, the only purposes of joining a wireless network are for AirTunes, and remote printing ?
As I mentioned above, the Express can be used for AirTunes or a remote printer when it is configured to "join" a network. It can only "extend" a wireless network when it is used with another Apple product. In that case, the Express is configured to "extend a wireless network".

I updated my ipad into ios 7 but when i want to connect to a network an error cames that says unable to join this network!And another thing is the button of the restriction code is on(my parents did nothing it's sunddenly like this) ! what shoould I do?

the thing is my restriction code is suddenly on and i think its because of i updated my ipad into ios 7 !!!!
i asked my parents if they set this thing but they told my they didnt !
now i cant join to network ! is it because of restriction code on ? because before i update my ipad it worked correctly and join to all of the networks !
please help me ! this disaster started when i updated my ipad !
please help me !
how can i remove or turn off the restriction code but i dont want to reset my ipad !!!!!
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase help me !
thanks for your consern !
MahtaB

SadisticIron wrote:
i just baught my first iphone and it is a jalbroken
Buzz! Thank you for playing!
Discussing jailbroken devices is forbidden here by the Terms of Service.
You can not get help here.

I have just converted from PC to iMac. Yay. But pls be nice to me; I am back to newb! Running Lion. Have connected a Time Capsule as both a backup and WAP. I want to be able to join the network with my iPad, iPhone, iPod to print. How can I do this?

Can I do this using the Time Capsule. I am not tech, so bear with me. Can I get the iPad to connect wirelessly to the TC, which connects wirelessly to the Canon MP495? Or, can I connect/network the iPad to the iMac to print?
Either way, or if there is any other solution, I would appreciate if someone would walk me through it, or point me to a plain-speaking resource.
Thankyou.
Actually, one more: I would like to connect my HP laptop as well. I have heard this is not simple, but possible.

You can create a wifi network with your TC, and you can join this network with your iPad. However, your printer does not support the AirPrint protocol, so you will not be able to print from your iPad, unless you load additional software.
These are the steps:
1. (You may have completed this step already) Set up your TC to create a wireless network. You can do this from AirPort Utility on your Mac or from the AirPort Utility App on your iPad (free download from the App Store).
2. From your iPad, go to settings / wifi and join the network.
3. Download the Canon iPhone App from the App store on your iPad
4. You can now print photos from your iPad to your Canon printer.
If you want full functionality, (not just photos), there is software for your Mac that makes your printer available to your iPad through AirPrint (Printopia). The downside is, you have to purchase it, and you have to have your Mac running when you want to print from your iPad.
Good luck!

TS1398 My i-phone model MD654LL/A serial F17JWNAF8H2 says "Unable to join the network "sunday". This is my WIFI network I have had for years. My I pad has no problem connecting, but not my i-phone. I just tried my daughter's i-phone and it has same pro

My i-phone cannot connect to my wi fi-all of a suddon. My wife's i-phone 4 is connected to the wi-fi network.
I just tried to connect my daughter's i-phone 5, and could not connect message came up "unable to join the network "Sunday".
My I-pad is connected to Sunday also.
I tried the reset routine, and when I try to get on line, it asks for my password. I put it in and it stll says unable to hoin message.
Can someone help?

Reset your network settings. Settings>General>Reset>Reset Network Settings

How can I change the "Ask to join new networks" option using a terminal command?

We are currently switching to a new wireless network throughout our school district and I have pushed commands to connect to the new and remove the old. However, any Macs that have "Ask to join new networks" enabled are jumping over to our unsecure guest network, even if that network has been removed from the list of Preferred Networks. So far the fix has been to remove the guest network from the list of Preferred Networks and then disable Ask to join. The only issue I'm running into now is I have been unable to find a terminal command to change this setting. Once I have the command I can write a script and send that out to all of the Macs.
So is there a way to disable "Ask to join new networks" using command line?

sed -i "" 's/Prompt/DoNothing/' /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

HT4623 Hi having difficulty connecting to wifi following upgrade to 7.0.4 for an iPad 4. Have done a complete power down and restart , no luck. Unable to enter a password to the home locked wifi. Message coming back Unable to join the network ".........

Just installed iOS 7.0.4 on the ipad, and can no longer connect to my home locked wifi. I choose the home wifi network and the message comes back with Unable to join the network "............" Dismiss. There is no prompt for the password for the locked network. . . . Any suggestions . . . . .

1. Turn router off for 30 seconds and on again
2. Settings>General>Reset>Reset Network Settings

Could not join "wifi network name". A connection timeout occurred.

Mac Pro running 10.7.5.
Whenever the computes wakes from sleep or logs in, it no longer automatically connects to my wifi network. When I manually select the network for from the Wi-Fi status in the menu bar, I get the following message: Could not join "wifi network name". A connection timeout occurred.
Even though I get that message the machine joins the network with no other problems. I am led to believe that is is on the Mac Pro as my Macbook and iPad/iPhone join the network with no issues.
I have tried deleting and restoring the preferred network, and remember networks is checked. I have also restored my airport express base station.
Any suggestions?

Hello,
Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712
10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…
System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.
10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x instructions...
System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.
The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.
If using Wifi/Airport...
Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.

TS1398 when i update my software to 6.1.3(10B329)to I phone 4s the wifi is not working and not auto join the network that i have already connected to

when i update my software to 6.1.3(10B329)to I phone 4s the wifi is not working and not auto join the network that i have already connected to

First, grow up. Just because YOUR phone isn't working, doesn't mean Apple put out bad software. I've not had any difficulty, nor has anyone else I know. And just how is Apple risking lives with Bluetooth kits not working? It's YOUR decision to talk on the phone or text and drive. Not Apple's.
We're users here, volunteering our time to help others. Posts like yours, which are whiny and ranting, simply means we're likely to ignore you and not provide you with any help. Not to mention, it makes you look absolutely foolish.
Further making you look foolish is the fact that you haven't even asked a technical support question, nor have you provided anyone here with any troubleshooting steps you might have taken, including those recommended in the user guide.
Good luck getting help.
GDG

Joining a network or Extending a network

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