Trouble joining an existing wireless network

I've followed the directions in this: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1731
Here's my situation... I moved to a new apartment where we have a linksys wireless network that is password protected. I want to use my Airport Express so that I can access the linkysys in my apartment and use my printer and listen to music wirelessly. But I have trouble accessing both on this network.
However... I can pick up my neighbor's signal perfectly (it's not password protected) and use the printer and speakers. (it is also a linksys router).
My question is what am I doing wrong or what do I need to do differently to access this on the router in my apartment?

Try this.
You need to create a WEP 40/128-bit hex wireless network which requires a 26 character password for your older mac to connect. There should be a security option to make this type when you set-up your wireless router/network. I did it with my Linksys router. All laptops, iPod Touch and iMac G4 work great. However, this network (WEP) is not as secure as WPA/WPA2.
Good luck.

Similar Messages

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express

I am unable to join my existing wireless network with new AirPort Express.
I am using a DLink DI-524 Router, Windows 7 (64), and the AirPort Express.
AirPort Utility will not recognize the AEX wirelessly, it will only recognize it when it is connected by Ethernet. I can then configure the AEX and verify that the settings stick once disconnected and then reconnected. However, even after that, it will not recognize the AEX once disconnected from the Ethernet cable.
I followed the suggestions of several other threads on these forums. But I am unable to get the AEX to work.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the discussion area!
It's almost always a security setting that causes problems when the Airport Express (AX) tries to join a third party wireless network. The AX usually does not "join" correctly and that's why you can't see it on your wireless network using AirPort Utility.
Using an ethernet cable is still the more reliable way to configure and adjust the AX, but if you are want to try to configure it using wireless, you must return the AX back to factory defaults as follows:
Power down the AX
Hold in the reset button +and keep holding it in+ as you plug the AX back in to power
Release the reset button after 10 seconds
When it is set to factory defaults, the AX broadcasts a wireless signal with a network name like "apple network xxxxxx" where the "x's" are either letters or numbers. You must look for this network by clicking on the fan shaped Airport icon at the top of the screen. If you don't see this network, then click Join Other Network to search that way. Unless you connect to this network, you will not be able to configure the AX using wireless.
Do you know the exact security type that your D-Link router is using? That is the key element in the process.
Open AirPort utility, click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab to establish a name for the AX, device password and adjust time zone settings
Click the Wireless tab
Wireless Mode....Join a wireless network
Wireless Network Name...must exactly match your D-Link wireless network name
Enable ethernet clients if you want the port to be active (your D-Link must be compatible with ProxySTA for this to work)
Wireless Security...exact setting of the D-Link network. WEP security causes a lot of issues. Try to use WPA/WPA2 Personal, which is far more secure.
Wireless Password...must match the D-Link network
Click the Music icon to enable AirTunes
Click Update to save settings
Any luck?

Joining an existing wireless network with airport express

Ok, am almost to the point of throwing my AX across the room
AM trying to join an existing wireless network, its from a 2Wire gateway
one of three things happen
it won't find the AX in the first place
it recognizes it, but i can't connect to it
it goes through the configuration and when it restarts the AX, it can't reconnect to either the router or the AX and it fails. if this happens i can't reconnect to my wireless network without deleting it and re-adding.
it doesn't show up in my available wireless networks at all
protected via WEP, and i have tried using all the security options.

The directions are in KB 302153, AirPort Express: How to join an existing wireless network in client mode.
Are you using MAC address access control in addition to WEP?
Turn off WEP and see if that makes a difference?
One of the problems with WEP is that the actual standard relies on a 10 character HEX key for 40bit WEP and a 26 character HEX key for 128bit WEP.
In order to make things easier for people, vendors use certain algorithms to convert simple alphanumeric passwords (or passphrases) into HEX keys, thus enabling people to use simple memorable WEP password rather than lengthy HEX keys.
The problem is that different vendors use different algorithms to generate the HEX key and therefore a ASCII password on an AEBS will be hashed differently on a Netgear client and vice versa.
One thing is a 13 character 128 bit WEP password will be hashed by all vendors in the same way (if you use 40bit WEP then a 5 character password is required).
Though sometimes not even that works and the HEX key must be used regardless.
Choosing a password for networks that use Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108058
WEP is now considered not to be secure and therefore it is advised you use WPA.
"WPA Personal" on the Mac corresponds to plain WPA, with a pre-shared key (PSK) and TKIP encryption, on non-Apple wireless routers. The same alphanumeric password should work on both.
iFelix

How do I use a 2nd Airport Extreme plugged into an Ethernet Wall Plug to join an existing wireless network to give me a better signal upstairs?

I have a 5th generation Airport Extreme giving me a great wireless signal on the 1st floor of my house. However the signal upstairs is weak. So I purchased another 5th generation Airport Extreme that I would like to plug into an ethernet wall plug upstairs. I would then like to have the upstairs Airport Extreme join the same network thus giving me a good wirelss signal upstairs. I have a MacBook Pro running OS 10.7.4. Can somebody give me step-by-step directions to set up the upstairs Airport Extreme?

I assume that the new AirPort Extreme is still in its original factory default settings.
Before you connect the AirPort Extreme, please connect a laptop to the Ethernet cable that will be used for the connection and turn off the wireless on the laptop. Make sure that you can can connect to the Internet before you begin to configure the AirPort Extreme.
Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the laptop and connect it to the WAN "O" port on the upstairs AirPort Extreme and power it up.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility 6.1
Look in the upper left hand corner of the screen for a tab or box that reads "Other AirPort Base Stations (1)"
Click on that box,then click on the name AirPort Extreme xxxxxx
Wait a moment while AirPort Utility analyzes the network and then displays a message that the AirPort Extreme will be configured to extend your existing wireless network.
Enter a Base Station (device) name for the AirPort Extreme (and a device password if prompted), then click Next.
Wait another minute or two until AirPort Utility notifies you that the AirPort Extreme has been Set Up.
That's it.

Using the AirPort Express to Join an existing Wireless Network

Hello,
I am hoping you can provide me with some help on this... I recelty acquired a PowerMac G4 with a 450 MHz processor, CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, Zip Drive, 1 GB RAM, and two 40 GB HD... The system has OS 10.4 installed, and it is has built-in Ethernet...
I was told I could use the Airport Express to connect to an existing wireless network, so I purchased an Airport Express base Station... Thing is, to e honest, I am having a bit of a problem getting started...
- First, to connect from the AirPort Express to my G4, do I need a special kind of Ethernet cable, or will the usual kind do?
- Second do I need to istall the software first, or have the Airport express connected to the G4 before I do?
How would I go about setting this up, step-by-step?
Any information would be appreciated...
Thanks for your time...

OK, thanks. Hopefully, the Netgear is creating a wireless network using WPA/WPA2 security. That will make it much easier for the AirPort Express (AX) to join the wireless network. It can join networks with using WEP security, but password issues almost always arise using WEP.
Since you must enter the exact security settings and password for the wireless network, it would help tremendously to know this in advance. Otherwise, it's going to be a series of "trial and errors" and likely frustration, later on.
When you have a moment, check the security settings on the Netgear router.
It might be one of the following: WPA2 Personal, WPA/WPA2 Personal, WEP 128, WEP 40.

Can my older Airport Express 802.11g join an existing wireless network

I have a Airport Express 802.11g firmware version 6.3 . Using the most recent Airport Express Utility I can set it up as a base station on its own independent network but I cannot join it to my existing home wireless network. As I go through the wizard (or manual setup) It just does not detect/display any existing wireless networks. I have plenty of mobile devices in the house that can see the wireless network...and next doors network.
So, it begs the question ... is an 802.11g unit actually capable of joining another network or is this capability available on later models only. A search of apple support and the wider internet for "Airport Express 802.11g capabilities" yeilds a blizzard or useless info.
Thank you

Sorry, I cannot help on Windows since I do not have a Windows 7 machine here to test. I have used XP in the past and AirPort Utility appears to be virtually the same in Windows as a Mac. I assume that this is the case for AirPort Utility 5.6.1, and it should be able to configure the Express.
The older Express will join most wireless networks if the following conditions are met:
1) The Express is functioning correctly.
2) The wireless network name is 12 characters or less and it contains only normal letters and numbers. Avoiding blank spaces in the wireless network name will help improve the chances of the Express joining the network as well.
3) The wireless router is broadcasting a compatible signal that would allow the "g" Express to connect. If your network is broadcasting a wireless "n only" signal, the Express cannot connect to this network.
4) The wireless security on the network is set to a WPA compatible setting. That is because the older Express has difficulty joining 3rd party wireless networks using WPA2 Personal or WPA2-PSK-AES encryption. In other words, if your network is now using WPA2 Personal or WPA2-PSK-AES settings, the "g" Express will probably not be able to join the network.
5) If you are using MAC Address Filtering on your network, the MAC address of the Express will need to be included in your settings.
6) The wireless network password uses the same guidelines that appear in 2) above
The items noted above will provide the Express with the best chance of joining your network. Plan to use the Manual Setup option in AirPort Utility and be prepared to use the Option or Alt keys on the PC if needed.
If you are looking for a guarantee of success in advance for this task, I cannot provide that and you should wait for another user to post who might be able to meet your requirements in that regard.

HT1515 I have moved from windows to mac and had to reset my airport. I am trying it to join the existing wireless network. the process ends in an unexpected error. The ethernet connection seems to work OK

I have moved from windows to mac and had to reset my airport express. After the reset I enter the name of the existing network, name the base unit, enter its password twicw and select additional options as join the existing network. It comes back with a screen asking for the name of the base unit and password. Aftre which it starts cycling between "waiting for airport express", "connecting to 'network name'" and ends with an error message. When I try to set up using ethernet cable evrything works but I need wireless (it worked OK just hours ago). Any advice?
Thank you

Hello, vgafromva.
Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.
Sometimes a simple power cycle of the AirPort can resolve this issue. However, here is an article I would recommend going through when experiencing issues connecting to Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi: How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4628
If these steps do not resolve the issue, please reply back with the exact error message received.
Cheers,
Jason H.

Airport Express won't join my existing wireless network...

I have Broadband in my house. I have a wireless modem also. I have spent hours trying to have Airport Express join the network so I can use the music streaming feature, but I have so far not been successful. I have seen a lot of references to it being very easy and straightforward to set up with it doing most of the work itself. As in, plug in AE to a power socket, open Airport Utility and follow the instructions... It doesn't appear to be that simple, not by a long shot. Can anyone outline how this can be done in simple steps? All of the online steps I have tried do not work, with many of them referencing aspects of the Airport Utility GUI that don't seem to exist...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
For the record, I DO NOT want to replace my existing wireless router, i just want AE to join the network...
Thanks...
Ronan

I have the same problem - the AE wont join my Draytek 2600 wireless network. I can stream music wired, but it refuses to join the wireless network. I have tried WEP, WPA, WPA 2 etc. Always get amber flashing light. Ive spent about 5 hours solid on it so far, and I'm a networking expert.
No other device on the planet has problems connecting to my wireless. currently I have:
1) Belkin wireless Skype phon (no problems)
2) SOHO wireless IP camera (no problems)
3) Intel Macbook pro (no problems)
4) G4 Macbook (no problems)
5) Dell D600 XP notebook (no problems)
Try to connect the AE? No chance. Its just broken.
I have tried every conceiveable manual setting on the device also.
If I manually set the ip (outside the DHCP range, but within the subnet), subnet, DNS sever, domain etc, I get a GREEN light, but nothing can communicate with it. The utility cant see it, and itunes cant see it.
The real problem is there is no way to know if the problem is with DHCP or the wireless. Does green light mean it has a wireless connection, or it has a valid IP?
Interestingly, if I start it with a wired connection, get a green light, then stream music to it, then pull out the wire, the green light stays, and music players for about another minute (presumably wirelessly, but who knows?) before the music stops and the device (replete with green light), becomes dead to the network.
APPLE desperately needs to sort this out. Its junk.

Does my time capsule HAVE to join my existing wireless network please?

ok i am trying to get my TC to join my wireless network but its not having it!!
(it was but now i cant seem to get it to work)
so my question is....can i just have its as its own separate wireless network just to talk with my macbook & imac so they can back up wirelessly please?
or would this cause problems as they are on my personal home wireless network??
anyone know please?
thanks!

so my question is....can i just have its as its own separate wireless network just to talk with my macbook & imac so they can back up wirelessly please?
You can do, but you don't need to.
If you create a separate WLAN for your Time Capsule then you'll need to switch your clients to the TC WLAN to make their backups, then switch them back to the regular LAN when they're done. Bear in mind that your regular WLAN (and, presumably your internet access, etc.) will be unavailable while you're switch to the other WLAN.
There has to be a better way, surely? Of course. If your existing WLAN is working well enough for you, then just connect the TimeCapsule to your existing network via an ethernet cable. Now it will be part of your LAN, all your clients can see it and back up to it, but you don't have any issues with having to switch AirPort networks on the client (in effect, your client sends its data wirelessly to your existing base station which then forwards the data over the ethernet LAN. Problem solved.

Trouble joining an existing windows network when connected through airport

Need help!
I can connect fine to the internet and to my office's windows xp based network when i connect my Pbook directly ( with ethernet cable), but if i try connecting through my airport extreme the network connection just doesn't work, i mean the internet connection works fine but my network is gone. as soon as i go back to the cable it all works fine again.
Can anybody give me a hand? im sure its possible, i just dont know how to overcome this problem. and it keeps my laptop glued to the desk.
tks

I think this might be the fix, even though the symptoms stated are a bit diff...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304482

I have a mid-2010 iMac and just purchased a 2TB TC, can't join existing wireless network with AC standard so attached to iMac via ethernet with TC wifi turned off. How do i access TC now? not showing up in disk utility or on desktop. working fine with TM

I have a mid-2010 iMac and just purchased a 2TB TC, I just found out that it can't join existing wireless network with new AC standard so attached to iMac via ethernet with TC's wifi turned off. How do i access TC now? not showing up in disk utility or on desktop. It is working fine with TM. My cheeper seagate drives etc kept crashing, so i didnt trust cheeper back up options anymore. Connected those drives to TM via firewire and could see the drives and access them.
Also, I didn't want to bridge TC with my new fios router that I paid 100 dollars for, to get N speed and also paying 10 dollars more a month for fast speed. I heard that bridging slows down everything and then there can be port issues with mail etc. I connect to the internet via airport only and it is pretty fast. Getting over 50mbs downloads and over 30mbs uploads. Plus everything in my home it connected to my fios router, airport express for music streaming, two apple tvs, vuezone camer system. I really didn't want to monkey around too much with my system. But are there other options to connect the new TC. Can't find info anywhere for this and called apple who gave me the info above. after hanging up, i see that i cant access my TC and I am wondering if i would have to reset it to turn wifi on again to make changes to the drive, turn off blinking light or repair it in disk utility if it should become corrupted.
For other with similar issues i did solve some other problems: when i connected it to my ethernet port on my iMac wifi stopped working. Found that I had to turn off the ethernet in the system>network screen, but then TM didn't see the TC so i restarted after changes and then it saw it.
Now a rant. I can't believe in this wireless age that Apple would make a product that cant join a wireless net work. The apple rep said i could return it and look for the previous TC that would join an existing wireless network. Are we going backwards?
Thanks!
lennydas

Ok... it is getting a bit clearer but there are still some questions.
I connect to the internet via airport only and it is pretty fast.
I was assuming airport in this statement in your first post meant the TC or the Express.. but I now realise we are still in the mass confusion stage where apple calls everything wireless an airport. So what you mean is the airport internal card of the computer??
Also, I didn't want to bridge TC with my new fios router that I paid 100 dollars for, to get N speed and also paying 10 dollars more a month for fast speed. I heard that bridging slows down everything and then there can be port issues with mail etc.
I think this is mistaken.
Putting the TC in bridge mode plugged into your FIOS will not slow the network.. nor will it cause mail or port issues.. in bridge the TC is just a fancy WAP and switch plus the network hard drive.
If the computer is close it will be faster than the FIOS.
You can run both wireless networks with different names.. so it is clear which is which. But you can also setup roaming so the computers themselves pick which is the best wireless.
I tried extending the wireless net work and tried joining wireless network, but the TC kept crashing and I had to keep resetting the TC. the Apple support person said these, extend wireless network and joint wireless network, are no longer a connection option with the new TC because of the new AC protocol.
Thanks again!
You cannot extend to a non-apple wireless router.
You cannot use join a wireless network because when you do the ethernet ports will be cut off.
But that has not changed.. I don't think Apple support is correct.. there has been no change with the AC model.. it is simply a fact that apple routers do not work in join wireless mode other than as a dumb client. The same applies to AC as to the earlier version.. but I have asked another person to check this.
Join in the express is the only apple router that still allows an ethernet connection.
For now you best use of the TC is bridged to the FIOS. Wireless you can sort out between several options.

Can Time Capsule Join Existing Wireless Network?

I currently work in a building with a wireless network. In my own office, I use AX to join that wireless network and I connect a local printer to the USB port.
From some posts, I've gotten the idea that the Time Capsule will not join an existing wireless network.
Is that the case?

That is correct - Time Capsule cannot be configured to function as a wireless client on an existing wireless network. The only Apple Airport product currently able to do that is the Airport Express device.
It can be configured as a remote base station in a wireless distribution system (WDS), but this would require the wireless network's main base station to be another Time Capsule or any model of Airport Extreme base station.

Can't connect to existing wireless network

I have a Qwest wireless modem (model 2701hg-d) and am trying to set up the Airport Express (AX) to use already existing wireless network wirelessly (ie without the ethernet cable). Is this possible? Do I need a wireless router instead?
In order to set it up I have the AX plugged into the modem via an ethernet cable. I have reset the AX and then run the Admin Utility. Once it recognizes the AX I then go to the Airport tab and select 'Join an Existing wireless Network (wireless client)' and then enter in the Network Name exactly as it is spelled in my modem configuration. I check the 'Internet' tab and it says connect using: Wireless Network and the 'Network' tab is grayed out. Then I hit update and the admin utility no longer lists the AX and the AX light is blinking amber. Not sure what is going on. I am using v6.3 of the firmware. I have read the posts extensively and am wondering if my modem is not capable of handling this?

Hi
Not exactly certain if your situation is like mine, but you could check out this previous post:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=917767&tstart=0
If you are trying to achieve wireless bridging then I don’t think APX will work with that particular router.
HTH

Setting up Time Capsule for backup only on existing wireless network

I have a wireless network already set up with a NetGear wireless router. Cable plugs into router, router connected via ethernet cable to my Power Mac G5 desktop, plus 2 PC laptops in the house also connect wirelessly to the home network via this router.
I want to set up Time Capsule as an external hard drive to back up all three computers -- I don't necessarily need to use it as a wireless router although i'm not opposed to that if it's easier to do it that way.
When i try to set it up using AirPort utility, i get the amber flashing light. Airport utility is able to discover the device, and then always asks if it's OK to switch networks. I've tried both "switch" and "don't switch"; either way when i try to set it up, AirPort utility stalls out on "Reading Time Capsule Configuration"; eventually giving me the error msg: "Base Station Error: AirPort Utility was unable to find your Apple wireless device."
All i want to do is mount it as an external hard drive so i can use Time Machine for backup, and be able to use it to also back up the PC laptops wirelessly. I need help in the following three areas:
1. How should I be physically connecting my devices if i want to do this? Which cables go in which ports? There is only one ethernet port on the back of my G5. The G5 can connect to the router either wirelessly OR via ethernet cable. I've tried G5-->Time Capsule-->Router, G5-->Router-->Time Capsule, Router-->G5 PLUS Router-->Time Capsule, and I've tried every variation on the regular ethernet and WAN ports. What's the right way to do this.
2. If i'm not setting up the TC as a Wireless Router, is AirPort utility even the right tool for setting it up? it seems to be confused by the two wireless networks and won't let me get past that point. Am I supposed to click "Switch" when it asks me to switch networks? Is there a way to just mount it as an external drive and bypass the AirPort utility setup entirely?
3. Once i get it set up so it's visible as an external drive and usable for Time Machine backup, how do i then make it available to the other PCs on the network so they can back up to it also?
Thanks for your help.

sarah,
You already have an existing wireless network.
You do not need to plug the Time Capsule into anything except power.
Set the Time Capsule to "Join an existing wireless network"...
That is all you need to do.
Then all the computers should see the Time Capsule.
If you can't see "Join an existing wireless network" in the choices, hold down on the option key and then click on the choices.
Give that a try.

Extend Existing Wireless Network

I am trying to extend my existing wireless network. I think I have it set up correctly, but I have a question about it. I initially had the network set up with a 2WIRE modem (AT&T) and an Airport Extreme. It has been really sluggish as of late, so I re-positioned the modem and AE (out of entertainment cabinet) and now it's more out in the open.
After doing that my Macbook which I use upstairs was running pretty fast, but the iMac which is downstairs and on the same level as the modem/AE was running very slowly. So, I thought I'd extend the network using an Airport Express. I think I have it set up correctly, since everything seems to be working just fine, BUT the question I have is...does the Express HAVE to be plugged int the modem in order to extend the network?
I thought the whole point of using the Express to extend the network is that you could have the Express in between the modem/AE and the computer - on the same level of the house or another level, or at least in another rom on the same level.
I hope I've explained my situation well enough for anyone to be able to provide assistance. Everything is working fine, but I guess I'm looking for some reassurance that I've done things correctly
and maybe a better understanding of how extending a network really works.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Julie

Hello Julie
To extend your wireless network I suggest you do the following;
Take the express and extreme into the same room. Ideally, plug the extreme into your modem using an ethernet cable and have the express hooked up to power on its own in the same room.
I would reset both device to their factory defaults and start over. To reset the devices to factory defaults, unplug them from their power source, hold down the recessed reset button while plugging them back into to power and continue to hold the reset button until the one LED begins to flash rapidly.
Do this with the extreme and the express. Now open airport utility, select your airport extreme and set it up from the start using the continue button and answer all the questions. Once the extreme is setup, you should see a large green checkmark. See the mac you set it up with can connect to the internet.
If you are on the internet through your extreme's wireless network you're almost there.
Step 1. Using airport utility select the airport express and click continue. The key here is to ask the express to join an existing wireless network when the question arrises.
This should do the trick for you.
Alternate to step 1. If you want to you can skip step 1 above and select your extreme using airport utility, go to the Base Station menu and select Manual Setup, click the Airport icon from the manual setup window, click the Wireless tab and put a tick next to "Allow this network to be extended". This will instruct the extreme to allow its wireless network to be extended. Update your extreme after turning on this option and give it about one minute to update itself.
Now, using airport utility, setup your express to using the continue button and instruct it to join an existing wireless network when the question comes up.
So you have two options, either should do.
Hopefully this was not too difficult. Airport utility will still see the two airport routers but from your airport menu you will always see only one network because the extreme and express behave as though they are one large network.
Consider unplugging the express now and moving it to the other floor. After you take the express upstairs, give it a minute and if it is in range of your extreme it will assume a green light, if on the other hand it continues to flash amber it's possible that it's too far from the extreme. In this case consider plugging the express into a wall socket nearer to the express.
Does this help?
Most of what I explained might be better explained by Apple, see page 43 of http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Apple_AirPort_NetworksEarly2009.pdf. The steps on page 43 are what you would do with your extreme - to extend its wireless network.
Let me know how it goes.
If your devices are under 90 days old you still have complimentary phone support. If you have an AppleCare protection plan on your mac one of your devices are covered for hardware support and the 3 years phone support. If you are eligible AppleCare will be able to walk you through this.

Trouble joining an existing wireless network

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