Problems setting up 4 Airport Expresses in network

I am having problems getting 4 Airport Expresses to speak to one another using WDS. Current settings are one base station and three remote base stations.
The main base station is connected to the internet via a cable modem.
Two of the remote base stations are connected to printers, one laser and one inkjet.
As soon as my laptop is in the vicinity of the laser-connected Express, the entire rest of the network goes off line. I have checked and all of my Expresses are connected to Channel 1.
Also, I was hoping to use these Expresses to extend the network. In other words, to daisy chain them together to extend the range rather than to use the hub-and-spoke configuration.
However, one of the remote base stations seems to disrupt the rest of the network whenever I get near it with my laptop (PowerBook G4)... the rest of the Expresses disappear from the Airport Admin Utility window and I am unable to get onto the internet.
I would very much appreciate any help and guidance.... Thanks.

Have you tried configuring them to use a different channel? It could be that you are experiencing strong RF interference on channel 1.
Also, I'm sure that you are aware that each WDS link cuts the available bandwidth in half. So with 3 WDS links your bandwidth has been cut in 1/8 of what would normally be available. The maximum bandwidth possible in that setup is 6.75 Mbps (54/8 Mbps).

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I did set up my Airport Express to extend my existing network. It did ok but I can't see the name assigned to the Airport Express name in my available networks. Is that normal?

I did set up my Airport Express to extend my existing network. It did ok but I can't see the name assigned to the Airport Express name in my available networks. Is that normal?

If the AirPort Express is extending your network it is using the same wireless network name as your "main" router.
Your main router and the Express act like one "big" network now.
Your computer will connect to either the main router or the Express automatically....depending on where it sees the best signal.

Can anyone tell me how to change the names of the networks I have set up on Airport Express

Can anyone tell me how to change the names of the networks I have set up on Airport Express please? I now work in a UN compound and my network is my own name, would prefer some anonymity so seeking to change the wifi network name that others might see.

Hi mkl1961,
Happy Holidays! The article below will explain how to reset your Airport Express and change the network and base station names back to their defaults.
Resetting an AirPort base station FAQ - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT3728
What default settings will my AirPort base station have after a hard or factory default reset?
AirPort base stations are set to request an IP address by DHCP.
AirPort base station passwords are "public."
AirPort base station names revert to "base station xxxxxx," where xxxxxx is the last six digits of the wireless MAC address*.
AirPort base station network names are "Apple Network xxxxxx," where xxxxxx is the last six digits of the wireless MAC address*.
*A MAC (Media Access Control) address, also known as a "network ID," is a unique hardware identification number for a network port. You can find the wireless and Ethernet network IDs on the printed label on the bottom or side of the device.
Airport Express Setup Guide
manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1613/en_US/airport_express_80211n_2nd_gen _setup_guide.pdf
I hope this information helps ....
- Judy

Problem with surfboard seg6580 & Airport Express (latest gen)

I can wiressly connect and iPad and Apple TV (latest models) to the internet but I cant to the same with the Airport Express.

Welcome to the discussions, Matt!
"Airport Utility was unable to find your AirPort device after restarting. The setting for this AirPort device was successfully updated, but there was a problem in joining the network or the Airport device."
This error occurs when the AirPort Express does not receive the correct information to join the wireless network. The settings that you provided were stored successfully on the AirPort Express...what the message does not tell you is that unfortunately they were not the right settings. It's almost always a security setting that causes this error.
Please go into your wireless router and locate the settings page. We need to know the exact type of wireless security that your router is using. When we have this information, we should be able to recommend a compatible setting for the AirPort Express or another setting on your wireless router that will allow a successful connection.

Airport express equivalent network password

I set up my airport express using WPA2 Personal. I entered my wireless password and all is fine. my macbook can connect w/o any problems. however, my roommate has a pc and the equivalent network password is 64 characters long. why is it so long and can i make it short? did i do something wrong?

You did nothing wrong. When you enter your "password" it generate a long code of letters and numbers according to a certain formula. The problem is that different manufacturers use different methods to generate the code or "key".
You can type in the word "password" on a PC and it will probably generate a different code than the Apple product would. So, although you type in the "password" exactly correctly, it won't allow the PC to connect because it doesn't generate the same code.
So, the PC has to use the same long code generated by the Apple product to be able to connect.

Apple TV breaks my Airport Express wifi network

Hi,
I have an Apple TV, Airport Express (mode = "Participate in a WDS network") and Airport Exreme (mode = "create network") and iMac all connected to router/hub via Enternet. Whenever I used my Apple TV, my iPhone and iPad can no longer connect to the wifi network (they keep asking for the password, but 'are unable to connect' even when the password is re-entered). Powering the Airport Express off and on fixes the problem (until next time the Apple TV is used). Any ideas on how to fix this?
Thanks
Luke

Participate in a WDS network would not be the correct setting for the AirPort Express because this type of setting is only used when the AirPort Express is connecting using wireless. You are connecting using Ethernet.
Suggest that you change the AirPort Express to "create a wireless network" using the same wireless network name, security setting and password as the AirPort Extreme....and be sure to configure it in Bridge Mode as the final step before you Update the settings for the device.
This will provide one large "roaming" network.

Linking Dell Laptop to existing/working Airport Express wireless network

Hi,
I'm trying to connect a Dell Laptop (Inspiron 2500) running on Windows XP to an existing and functionning Airport Express wireless network set up for my girlfriend's iBook. It works perfectly for the iBook.
I have outfitted the Dell with a D-Link wireless G USB adapter and I see the network (i have the password) and it says I am connected to the network (even says connection is very good).
However, when I open the internet browser, nothing.
The network set up is: Cable to RCA Digital modem (model DCM425) to Airport Express (via ethernet) and to computer.
I have tried playing around with the Dell Laptop settings (IP, DSN, etc ...) and I have called everyone involved (including Apple) to no avail.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Nick
Dell Laptop Windows XP iBook

Thanks for the reply.
WEP is enabled. As far as the encryption, I'm not sure. I believe that it's 64-bit, as the password for the network is a five-letter word.
The funny thing, though, is that I had been using an IP address which I found on my girlfriend's Ibook, which allowed me to connect to her AEBS network, although the internet browser showed no connection.
Following directions from somebody else, I removed the IP address to enable DHCP, and then I was able to connect to other networks in the area (and the browser also connected to the internet) but I couldn't get onto her network anymore. Even with the password ...
Any ideas?
If i'm supposed to upgrade to 128-bit, how should I go about doing that?
Thanks again for the reply.
What encryption are you using?
Do you have WEP enabled?
The problem you are having probably lies with the
encryption key.
ccessing a Airport Network with a Windows XP PC or
laptop (with XP SP2)
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1011.html
Accessing a Airport Network with a Windows XP PC or
laptop (with XP SP1)
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/1010.html
iFelix

I use Airport Express to network 3 iMacs to a DSL modem. Recently, the network became undiscoverable to one of the iMacs. Suggestions for a fix?

I use Airport Express to network 3 iMacs to a DSL modem. The network has become undiscoverable to one of the computers. I have reset the base station to factory settings but this does not help. The other two computers are unaffected. All 3 computers can access the internet when connected directly to the modem. I suspect the problem might be the Airport card? Suggestions?
beaucleo

Thx for the suggestion, although I didn't have to reset the SMC to fix the problem. The problem was the handshake between the security password and the designated network. The following links gave me info for investigationg the problem.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4199
http://www.ehow.com/how_6831952_test-airport-card.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXiZn64aZfg
http://www.cnet.com/news/how-to-invoke-and-interpret-the-apple-hardware-tests/
I would recommend these web sites to anyone who is having problems setting up and/or maintaining a wifi system.
I discovered after reading one of the web references that if I disabled nework security the problem went away. This, however, was unacceptable. Further experimentation showed that the solution to my problem was to change the name of my network while keeping the same password. I tried only changing my password but that didn't help. I still don't understand why only 1 of the 3 networked iMacs was affected.
Again, thx for your interest and reply.
beaucleo

How to set up the airport express with a linksys wireless-g broadband router

I need to know if and how to set up an airport express to use to extend a home wi-fi network. I have AT&T service with a 2WIRE modem. I am using a Linksys wireless-G broadband router. I also have the new Macbook Air notebook. The airport express keeps giving me a blinking amber light even when the ethernet cable (from the modem) connected. Please let me know how to set up an extended wifi network using this system. Any help would be appreciated.

If that is all that is done, the Express would not provide more wireless coverage. Instead, it would duplicate the coverage provided by the Linksys and there would be two WiFi systems covering approximately the same area. As per my above comment, one Express connects via Ethernet to the Linksys. The second Express provides the extension.
You must have misunderstood what I was saying.
Linksys is providing a wireless network.
The Express is connected to one of the LAN ports on the Linksys router using a long Ethernet cable (or Ethernet powerline adapters)
The Express is located on the other side of the house, for example.
The Express is configured to create a wireless network using the same wireless network name, security and password as the Linksys router
The Express is configured in Bridge Mode
This has worked quite well for me for years. Computers "switch" from one wireless access point to another smoothly and automatically while they move around the house.
Although this is an "extended" network, it is technically known as a "roaming" network.
This is what I was suggesting as a possible alternative without having to buy more hardware.

I have a linksys WRT54G router that we use as a base. I want to use Airplay using Airport Express and hook up my stereo to it. How can i set up my Airport express without a PC/laptop? I just downloaded Airport utility on my iphone and ipad,will that work?

I have a linksys WRT54G router that we use as a base. I want to use Airplay using Airport Express and hook up my stereo to it. How can i set up my Airport express without a PC/laptop? I just downloaded Airport utility on my iphone and ipad,will that work? And one more thing about the setup, the linksys router shich acts as a base is in a different room as the airport express which i wanted to use for airplay. So I'm hoping to hook up the Airport express via wireless signal. If i can set it up, can someone pls help me out by posting detailed instructions. Thanks so much!

The first message that AirPort Utility will display during the auto setup will be that the Express will be confgured to "extend" the network. When AirPort Utility analyzes the network further, and sees that the Express cannot "extend" the 3rd party network, the next message will indicate that the Express is being configured to "join" the wireless network.
Once the Express is configured, if you later go into AirPort Utility to check the settings under the Wireless tab, you will see that the Wireless Mode is indeed "Join a wireless network".

How do I set up multiple Airport Expresses to connect over ethernet for Airtunes only?

I am trying to set up an Airtunes network using an Airport Extreme and three Airport Expresses connected together via ethernet (CAT5 cable). At each Airport Express there will be a speaker setup. I don't need/want internet connectivity on the network, but not sure if it is required for setup or not. I have made this work over wifi, using the Expresses to extend the network, but struggling to get this to work over ethernet.
I would be verry grateful of a step-by-step method to setting this up! I am also looking to set up 6 airport expresses to do the same thing in another location.
Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the info.
I assume that the AirPort Extreme is setup and working at this point.
Work with one AirPort Express at a time to get them all configured, and then you can locate them where they will be needed.
AirPort Setup will configure the Express devices to "extend a wireless network" using Ethernet, so they will be broadcasting the same wireless signal as the AirPort Extreme and provide more wireless signal coverage as well.
I have yet to meet the first person who thought that they had too much wireless coverage, but you would have the option to turn off the wireless on the Express if you wanted. Most users like having extended wireless for their devices.
Temporarily, move an Express close to the AirPort Extreme
Connect a spare Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports on the Extreme to the WAN "O" port on the Express
Power up the Express for a few minutes
Hold in the reset button on the back of the Express for 10 seconds and release. Allow a full minute for the Express to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.
Click the Airport icon at the top of the Mac's screen and wait a few seconds for AirPort Express to appear just under the listing of New AirPort Base Station
Click directly on the AirPort Express
AirPort Setup will open up automatically and take a minute to analyze the network, then announce that the Express will be configured to extend the AirPort Extreme network.
Enter a device name that you want to use....example.....Express1.....and click Next
AirPort Setup will configure everything for you. Notice that the message will say that the Express is being set up to extend using Ethernet. When you see the message of setup complete, click Done.
Now you can move the Express to the remote location where it is needed, hook it up to the Ethernet connection there, power up the Express and set up AirTunes on the device.
AirTunes is enabled by default, to other than make the speaker connection, you won't have much to do on that.
Set up other Express devices the same way, except assign a different name to each device....example....Express2, Express3, etc.....to keep things organized.

PCs suddenly no longer see Airport Express wireless network - please help!

Hi,
I am new to this forum and I need help. Two days ago - without me making any changes to settings etc. my Airport Express wireless network at home was no longer visible to any of my devices except to the Powerbook (G4 OS 10.3.9) which controls it. From one second to the next two Vista laptops and my cell phone (Nokia, Symbian OS).
My Powerbook has no problem connecting through AE to the internet. The two laptops are both able to connect to other wireless networks so they don't seem to be the problem. I just don't understand what caused this sudden drop-off/invisibility.
I have already tried the following: resetting the base station, changing the channel on the base station (from automatic) removing the network security altogether (from WPA2). But none of the devices except the powerbook can now see or detect my network.
Please - if anyone knows what the cause of this problem could be or how to fix I would be very grateful!!

you name it : com.apple.airport.adminutility.plist
delete it and do as advised.
This isn't harmful, because it is only a preference list, so it will be created brandnew as soon as you re-setup the Airport stuff.
Mac OS X ( especially Jaguar ) has a tendency to corrupt some plists out of the blue, it is more or less harmless and can be fixed with recreating them plus permissions-repair.
Hint : repair permissions more than one time, it ALWAYS finds something to fix in Jaguar.
You cannot destroy something with these actions, because it is Unix maintance so usual routines.
A tool like cocktail or Onyx ( google them, onyx is freeware ) can help you run such ( and more ) routines on a scheduled base.
Always remember that OS X is no longer "the Mac OS", it is Unix with a nice Desktop, the critical things run hidden in the background, so it has to be treated like any Unix/Linux sort of OS, even if from the outside everything looks nice and kosher..
Best wishes from Germany

How do i set up my airport express to my pc?

how do i set up my airport express to my pc. all i see is an amber light flashing on it?

Hi
Take a look at this page for general windows info regarding airport express:
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/airport.html
Assuming your computer connects to the network you want to allow your girlfriend to access you will find the password you require in your keychain.

How do I set up an Airport Express as a hard wired wifi accesspoint?

How do I set up an Airport Express as a hard wired wifi accesspoint?

Please check out the following Apple Support article for configuring your routers for a "Roaming" network. In this case the AirPort Express would be connected back to your other wireless router by Ethernet and configured as a bridge. This would effectively make the Express perform as a Wireless Access Point.

How do i set up an airport express as an extender for my airport extreme

how do i set up an airport express as an extender for my airport extreme

Check these discussions:
Best bets to extend/boost signals from Airport and AP Extreme
How to extend and Extreme network using Express

Problems setting up 4 Airport Expresses in network

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