Replacing an airport express 802.11g with an airport express 802.11n

Hi there,
I'm about to replace my airport express base 802.11g with a new airport express base 802.11n.
Is it difficult? Is there a guided procedure? Is there something that I should ABSOLUTELY NOT do (or ABSOLUTELY DO) before, during and/or after the replacement?
My home network is made up by MB 13'', MBP 15'' (both with Intel processor and Leopard) and a Time Machine 802.11n 500Gb.
Thank you in advance.

Federico Platania wrote:
Hi there,
I'm about to replace my airport express base 802.11g with a new airport express base 802.11n.
will the express be your main wireless router or the time capsule ?
Is it difficult?
usually not. see the setup guide

Similar Messages

HT4262 Can I extend a WiFi Network, using a 802.11n Airport Base Station with a 802.11g Airport Express?

Having a new Apple AirPort Extreme (802.11n) I need to extend the network since even the AirPort Extreme provides after about 30 Feet maximum only 50% signal strength in 2.4 GHz and maximum 41% signal strength in the 5 GHz band.
I have an Apple Airport Express (802.11g) but I am not sure that it can extend with it the network to get a better signal strength?
I know I can only use the Apple Airport Utility 5.6 to access the AirPort Express, but I can see also the AirPort Extreme though it (5.6).
Also, it seems that my "old" Wireless Motorola Cable Modem (SBG900) for the same distance (about 30 Feet), which is a 802.11g, gives still a better signal strength (62%) than the Apple Airport Extreme...
I guess I need the proper instructions how to, if it is possible.
Any intelligent answers available? Thanks.

This is very confusing. The AirPort Express Base Station has three settings (under "Wireless" in the AirpPort Utility 5.6) "Create a wireless Network", "Participate in a WDS network" and "Join a wireless network".
Whereas the first is self-explanatory the second and third seem to indicate, that a relation with an existing Network can be created. This is also indicated, when selecting as the "Wireless Mode:" "Join a wireless network" and then selecting "Wireless Network Name:" where then all available networks 802.11 b/g/n pop up you can choose which to use.
Now, it does not make any sense, that if all these settings and selections are available, that the AirPort Express cannot extend an existing network, considering that the AirPort Extreme, which is a 802.11b/g/n can be connected to. Even the AirPort Utility 6.0 sees the AirPort Express 802.11b/g but when selected alerts that "This version of AirPort Utility doesn't support this base station. Use AirPort Utility 5.6 to configure or manage this base station. AirPort Utility 5.6 is available at AirPort Service and Support." And as said, that AirPort Utility 5.6 sees everything and has said setting options.
The way as I see this it is, that if I can pickup an existing network, created with an AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g/n with an AirPort Express 802.11b/g and have the option to "Join a wireless network" such AirPort Express should be able to broadcast the picked up and joint network. Otherwise the setting options for the AirPort Express are nothing else than a distortion of reality to me.
Also, before I got the new AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g/n I had an AirPort Extreme Base Station 802.11b/g (gray) and there I was able to extend the network via the AirPort Express 802.11b/g.
So the above comments do not make sense to me.
Hope you understand that and have a better explanation available.

Airport Extreme 802.11n and WDS with 802.11g express

I have an 802.11n Airport Extreme that I have been using with my AppleTV. I have it set to allow for 802.11b/g, since I have an old Powerbook Titanium that cannot be upgraded.
I recently decided to add my Airport Express 802.11g to the mix to act as a bridge for a remote, wired computer. I did this by enabling WDS on the Extreme/Express.
My question is this: by enabling WDS on the extreme, will the AppleTV still be able to connect at 802.11n speeds, or does it get pulled back to 11g? Is there any way to verify/check this on either the Extreme or the AppleTV?
Thanks,
keith

You can check the connection speed of each wireless client attached to a base station using Airport Utility. Launch Airport Utility, click on the Airport button in the toolbar. On the Summary tab you'll see an item called Wireless clients. It shows you how many wireless client devices are connected to that base station.
Click on the words Wireless Clients and you'll get a graph and a list. The graph shows the signal strength of each client. The list shows the client's wireless MAC, the signal and noise levels and the rate at which each device is communicating. On my Extreme-n base stations, I regularly see rates from 1 to 130 and everything inbetween. It looks like each device runs at it's best rate based on signal strength and error rate.
Assuming you know the MAC of your Apple TV (it's on the serial number label) you can see what wireless data rate it's getting this way.
The thing I've noticed is that my Extreme-g base stations seem to connect to clients at higher average rates than my Extreme-n units. In other words, on the g units I'll see more clients at 54 (the max) or 48 and on the n units just a couple will connect at 130 or 54 but most are at lower rates like 27 or 11 (even 2 or 1), even when they are in the same room as the base station.
I find that very odd and would like to understand it. Anybody have any ideas?

Is Airport Express 802.11n compatibile with Airport Extreme 802.11g?

I can't get my new AExpress 802.11n to coexist with two other 802.11g AExpress and a AExtreme 802.11g. I have tried every type of reset and upgraded all soft/firmware but I can't see all three!
Do I have to ditch my older model Express (g) and Extreme (g) or try and get a second user old model Express (g)?
has anyone got a mix of old and new Express to co-exist?

good response. What to try? I'll admit it is a pain but this would be the basics:
1) reset it as many times as necessary to get it to be recognized
2) reset it with the power unplugged also
3) always use the airport icon found at the top of the desktop file menu(this is the key to find it there first
4) use the preferred pane found in the network pane within system preferences, delete networks that are odd or old and if you can get that express showing there you are almost home. Use the above three to do it also
This is why I got off those routers and now use two TC or two Extreme N or a combination of each. Ethernet as much as possible. Good luck
also
5) use ethernet to configure it then remove it, but once you set its wireless setting make sure you see it in the airport icon.
Message was edited by: Smokerz

Airport Extreme (802.11n) with Airport Express/Extreme (802.11g/b) ?

If the 802.11n airport extreme is the main router, and used in conjunction with older airport extreme/express (single antenna); what will happen?
Will the network drop to the 802.11g speeds?
Will the benefits of MIMO be lost?

According to this Macworld.com article:Once you add 802.11g or 802.11b devices to the network, the performance of the entire network will be affected; it won’t be reduced all the way down to the slower performance of the respective older standards, but performance won’t be as fast as a single-standard network. (And 802.11b devices will affect performance to a greater extent than 802.11g devices will.)

Airport Extreme 802.11g with Airport Express 802.11n Aiport Express

I have An Airport Extreme Base Station 11g and an airport express 11g and I needed to buy another Airport Express but this one is 11n and my Airport Utility does not see it. Are these new Airport Express backward compatible? The reason is the kids X-box needs the ethernet jack that the color printer uses.
Can anyone help?
Thanks!

Thank you!
I followed your advice but so far I have been able to make some progress. I went out and bought the Airport Extreme 802.11n as I needed a router too so I like the features on the new one. So I think I have made a complex situation worse, LOL.
So far, the new airport utility can only see the new & old Airport Extreme but cant see the Express-g or express-n airports as they continue to blink amber.
What do I am I doing wrong?
thx

Extend Airport Extreme 802.11g with Airport Express 802.11n

I bought a new AE 802.11n and I want to extend my network from my old Airport Extreme 802.11g. I can't figure out how to do this.

Unfortunately, the newer "n" AirPorts and older "g" AirPorts are not compatible if you are trying to configure the AirPort Express to "extend a wireless network" using wireless only.
The "extend a wireless network" function and feature is only found on newer "n" AirPorts.
If you can connect the AirPort Express to the older AirPort Extreme using a permanent wired Ethernet connection, it is possible to configure the Express to provide more wireless coverage that way.
Using an older, very difficult setup called WDS, it might be possible to configure the Express using wireless only, but the end result would be a network that provides only half the speed of your older "g" AirPort Extreme, so this is definitely not recommended due to the severe performance drop that will occur on the network.

Speed issue with TC and Airport Express 802.11n in WDS mode...

Here is my problem.
I replaced my older base station / Express duo with
a new Time Capsule (1TB) and a new Airport Express (802.11n).
I set up the network with the TC as base station running a WDS network (WDS main) and the Express is the WDS remote.
When I check the wireless clients from the TC, I find my iMac running at 130Mbits and the Extreme at 54Mbits.
No other wireless clients are connected to the network (I kept my slower network as a parallel one for my "older" Macs).
The only other connected device is my Dish network DVR that is connected via an Ethernet cable directly to the Express.
So my question is why does the Express not communicate at >54 speed rate with the TC?
And, why does my iMac connect with 130 and not with 300Mbits?
Any thoughts?

Instead of using WDS, you should take advantage of the "Allow this network to be extended" option that is available for the 802.11n AirPorts including the TC. WDS only operates in the 802.11g radio mode.
Here's the basic setup:
o If practical, place the base stations in near proximity to each other during the setup phase. Once done, move them to their desired locations.
o Open AirPort Utility and select the base station that will connect to the Internet.
o Choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu, or double-click the base station to open the configuration in a separate window. Enter the base station password if necessary.
o Click AirPort in the toolbar, and then click Wireless.
o Choose “Create a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then select the “Allow this network to be extended” checkbox.
o Next, select the base station that will extend this network, and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu, or double-click the base station to open its configuration in a separate window. Enter the base station password if necessary.
o Choose “Extend a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then choose the network you want to extend from the Network Name pop-up menu.
o Enter the base station network and base station password is necessary.
o Click Update to update the base station with new network settings.
(ref: Page 46 of "Designing AirPort Networks Using AirPort Utility).

I would like to replace my old AE 802.11g with new version 802./11n - How do I connect

I have just bought a new Airport Express (802.11n wi-fi) and would like to use it as the base station in place of the older version (802.11g).
The old one to be used in another room connecting to my sound sytem as an extention to the new one.
Both of these AEs utilise different Aiport Utility (5.6 against 6.1).
Can anyone please give me some detailed explanations of how I can set-up these devices, if indeed they are possible.
Alan

Sorry, just to make sure: Do you want the older 802.11g Express just for iTunes streaming or (in addition) to extend the wireless range of the newer 802.11n Express? If it is the latter, you may want to reconsider doing so as the only way to extend with "mixed" base stations is with a Wireless Distribution System (WDS).
A WDS has two major disadvantages: 1) It can only operate in the 802.11g radio mode, basically negating the advantage of your 802.11n Express, and 2) For every base station added to the WDS, the overall bandwidth is cut in half. So starting with 54 Mbps (for 802.11g), your extended wireless network will be running around 25-27 Mbps.

Configuring WDS w/ Airport Extreme Dual-Band 802.11n & Express 802.11g

I currently have an Airport Extreme Dual-Band 802.11n Model: A1301 (located downstairs) and an older Airport Express 802.11g Model: A1084 (located upstairs) which I had been using to stream iTunes to my upstairs stereo (which worked flawlessly). Recently a friend of mine recommended that I reconfigure my network to a Wireless Distribution System setup which would allow me to create a remote wireless node which improves my wireless signal strength upstairs, allows an interface to Airplay to play our music from our iPod's/Pad's and also provides an hard-wired Ethernet connection for my newly delivered Network Extender for my cell phone. So I followed the URL: support.apple.com/kb/HT4262 to assist in this conversion and found that I was unable to configure my network as desired. While this documentation is very good, there is one snafu that I worked out that finally allowed a successful setup. Follow the instructions for:
- Connecting a WDS main base station to the Internet
- Configuring a WDS main base station
- Configuring a WDS remote base station (See last line of instructions for the correct WDS Main ID)
Ensure all Wi-Fi base stations are powered on and allow them time to appear in the AirPort Menu Extra.
From the AirPort Menu Extra, select an 802.11g Wi-Fi base station to configure as a WDS remote.
In AirPort Utility, select the WDS remote Wi-Fi base station in the Base Station Chooser, and click Manual Setup.
Select the AirPort icon from the Toolbar, and click on the Wireless tab.
From Wireless Mode select Participate in a WDS network.
Click on the WDS tab.
From WDS Mode, select WDS remote.
Enable Allow wireless clients (see the first note below).
If not already supplied, enter the 2.4Ghz AirPort ID of the WDS main, then click Update.
There are two Apple ID's for the dual-band Extreme (2.4 & 5.0Ghz). Be sure to use the 2.4Ghz ID which is listed under the "Summary Tab" of the utility. What is confusing is that in the AirPort Utility, when you position the mouse cursor over the graphic of the Extreme on the left-hand side of the GUI, you are presented with a yellow dialog box which displays the 5Ghz ID and this can be misleading especially when you are trying to connect to an older 2.4Ghz Express ...

My Express is the A1264 802.11n model. My Extreme is the A1354 model.
The most crucial issue is the the Tivo, because the Premiere only works with Ethernet (I dont' have and wont' buy the upgraded wireless doohickey), but of course I would prefer that the Express also act to extend the signal, and I particularly want it do so using WEP access (or nothing, see below), since I have a second Tivo which ONLY works wirelessly and which ONLY works using WEP, not WPA.
Since there were so many different issues and needs going on, I was excited about the Dual Band because it meant I could potentially get 5G speeds for my iPad and perhaps the Tivo Premiere connection, while allowing a completely separate band for the OLD Tivo.
The other option I've been trying out (to accommodate the Tivo2 that can't handle WEP) is having no security, but making the networks hidden.
A third option I tried to make work was to create a "guest network" for just the Tivo2.
But what I'm finding out (it's what I always struggle with...networking is a nightmare.) is that if you take one from Column A, Column B disappears, so to speak.
The way it used to work on the non-dual band Extreme was as I mapped above, and the Tivo2 and my iPad used the wireless signal with no problem while the Express was Ethernet connected to the TivoPremiere, but it did so using WDS, which doesn't even seem to exist as a possibility, forget teh fact that it undermines the speed boost (so I read)
I've frankly never been able to understand the differences between the various modes and structures, and believe it or not I'm very smart and very comfortable with computers and Macs, having worked on them for 25 years.
And one of the biggest reasons I've had such a hard time is because of the many times that I have updated after making changes, Airport Utility tells me it worked, but nothing happens and then after too much frustration I end up unplugging and shutting down every single piece of equipment and rebooting everything and then it DOES work. Sometimes. But I can't be doing that every time I make one tweak, I'll go insane!
And the number of pin-resets I've done on the Express, the Dual band, and even the cable modem would make your head spin!
So there's my story. Kinda. Does it make any sense? At least in terms of my goals?
Your help is more appreciated than you can imagine.

Old Airport Express (802.11g) and Intel Core 2 Duo iMac (802.11n)

Hi guys!
I used to have an iMac G5 with *Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme (802.11g)*
Then I bought an *Airport Express* and I am sure that by the time it was still an *Airport Express with (802.11g)*
Now that I have a brand new new iMac that is *Intel Core 2 Duo iMac (802.11n)*
Will I have problem trying to connect it to the Express because it is n and not g?
Thanks!

No. The Airport Extreme card in your iMac automatically negotiates 802.11b/g/n. It will work just fine with the Airport Express.

Cant load the airport express with 802.11n

today i just got my new airport express with draft n. but my router can't load the config anymore after i uploading my setting ( change to N with 5 GB ). i've tried all of methods that the manual included. I think i need to exchange the new one. i just bought it yesterday.
i wanna know that would apple store give me refurbished product to me ????

today i got a replacement of AE with 802.11n. the same problem come up. Cant load the configuration. how on earth can i change the setting of my AE? this is my second times, my serial number is 6F8111XXXXX. Please apple fix it.
***

Airport Express in 802.11n mode with an Xbox 360

I have an Airport Express (with software 7.5.2) and am having problems connecting my Xbox 360 in 802.11n mode. I have an Xbox 360 (one year old, not the new 360 S Console) and an Xbox Wireless N Networking Adapter (Model 1398).
I believe my Airport Express is working fine as I've been able to connect my MacBook and iPad 2 when I've run the Airport Express in any combination of modes -- 802.11g 2.4 or 5.0 GHz, 802.11b compatibility, etc.
I've also found that the Xbox will connect when I run the Airport Express in 802.11g mode, but it fails to connect in any n mode. I've tried several combinations including varying the security -- WPA2 or no security at all. Since the same Xbox and Apple hardware can connect when running in 802.11g mode, and I've got Apple devices talking to the AE in 802.11n mode, I'm suspecting the Xbox hardware.
I've looked through a few forum posts here, and most of them seemed to be older and referenced a bug in an older version of the AE software. At least one mentioned that the person had a defective Xbox wireless adapter, which I'm beginning to suspect.
I've even turned on syslog logging on the Airport Express and used my MacBook as the syslog server. Even though I've turned the Syslog level up to 7 (Debug) on the AE, I don't get any messages about Xbox connection attempts -- just successful connections from my iPad and MacBook.
Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks,
Dan

Hi. Thanks for the reply. It turns out that the router was not going into n mode because of the security I set on it. I finally figured this out and the AE did connect in n mode after all.
Well at least it's working now but I feel a little bad for posting when it was my fault!!
Cheers!

I'm trying to extend the range of an Airport Extreme 802.11g by adding an Airport Express 802.11n. I set the Express up to join the existing network, but it does not make any difference in the range of the network. What's wrong?

I'm trying to extend the range of an Airport Extreme 802.11g by adding an Airport Express 802.11n. I set the Express up to join the existing network, but it does not make any difference in the range of the network. What's wrong?

Let me see if I can help you with the basic WDS configuration steps:
Note: To help facilitate the setup, temporarily connect the AXn directly to the AEBS LAN port using an Ethernet cable. Once the setup is complete, you can move the AXn to the desired location. For all configuration steps you will be using the AirPort Utility. Before starting, be sure to jot down the AppleIDs for both base stations.
802.11g AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) Configuration
AirPort Utility > Select the AEBS > Manual Setup > Wireless tab
Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network
Manual Setup > WDS tab
WDS Mode: WDS main
Allow wireless clients (checked)
WDS Remotes: <enter the AppleID for the AXn here>
Click on Update and allow the base station to restart.
802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) Configuration
AirPort Utility > Select the AXn > Manual Setup > Wireless tab
Wireless Mode: Participate in a WDS network (Note: You may have to hold down the Option (Mac) or Control (PC) key to see this option in the list.)
Manual Setup > WDS tab
WDS Mode: WDS remote
Allow wireless clients (checked)
WDS Main: <enter the AppleID for the AEBS here>
Click on Update and allow the base station to restart.

Speed issue with WDS, Airport Extreme, and Airport Express 802.11n

I have a Airport network set up using WDS and two airport base stations: an Airport Extreme 802.11n, and an Airport Express 802.11n. The Extreme is configured to be WDS main and is connected to my cable modem and other computers, while the express is WDS relay and acts as a switch.
I don't actually have any wireless clients connecting to the express. I'm using it to connect a mac with no airport card to the network by plugging it into the ethernet port on the express. For the most part, it works, and the mac gets a network address and can access the network. However, the connection speed from the Express to the Extreme seems slower than it should be.
Since both are 802.11n, and the Mac is plugged into the Express's 10/100 ethernet port, I figure the theoretical top speed that the Mac should be able to communicate with another device plugged into the Extreme is at around the same speeds as 100 mbps ethernet, since the 100 mbps ethernet connection should be the bottleneck in this case. In reality, the speeds are much slower: when I transfer files between a machine connected to the extreme (via ethernet) and my mac, the speed tops out at about 2 megabytes a second, if that.
I looked in the Airport Extreme's logs, and it indicates that the Express is only connected at 54 mbps, as though it were a 802.11g Express. I have no idea why this is! Also, the only wireless communication is between the Extreme and the Express, so one wireless device acting as a relay for another (and thus cutting the throughput in half) shouldn't be an issue.
Does anyone know why the speeds are so slow, and if there's anything I can do to improve them?

Hello Brian Kendall. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I looked in the Airport Extreme's logs, and it indicates that the Express is only connected at 54 mbps, as though it were a 802.11g Express. I have no idea why this is!
That is because you established a WDS which only runs in 802.11g. Since you have two 802.11n base station, you would want to take advantage of the "Extend a network" feature available with these base stations.
Here's a typical setup:
o If practical, place the base stations in near proximity to each other during the setup phase. Once done, move them to their desired locations.
o Open AirPort Utility and select the base station that will connect to the Internet.
o Choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu, or double-click the base station to open the configuration in a separate window. Enter the base station password if necessary.
o Click AirPort in the toolbar, and then click Wireless.
o Choose “Create a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then select the “Allow this network to be extended” checkbox.
o Next, select the base station that will extend this network, and choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu, or double-click the base station to open its configuration in a separate window. Enter the base station password if necessary.
o Choose “Extend a wireless network” from the Wireless Mode pop-up menu, and then choose the network you want to extend from the Network Name pop-up menu.
o Enter the base station network and base station password is necessary.
o Click Update to update the base station with new network settings.
(ref: Page 46 of "Designing AirPort Networks Using AirPort Utility.)

Replacing an airport express 802.11g with an airport express 802.11n

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