Trying to set up wireless network on PC with Airport Express

I'm helping a friend set up his network with AirPort Express. He's got a modem attached to his PC, and currently has a router that sends a wireless signal to a receiver on the PC in the other room. Now he's added a Mac, and the old router/receiver doesn't work with Mac. So he bought an Airport Express.
I've turned on the Airport, and first I connected the ethernet cable from the modem to the AirPort. Per the AirPort utility I put on the PC, it couldn't find it (got the flashing amber light). So then I took out that ethernet, and I hooked up the ethernet directly from the CPU to the AirPort. Suddenly, it was found, and it took me step by step through the set up. It asked for password info from our internet provider (??why would I have that info??), so we just hit "enter". Then it couldn't set up the network, and said to check the "manage network settings". I've tried everything. Not only can I NOT manage to create a network, but now NEITHER ethernet cable will cause any recognition in the AirPort. All I get is the blinking amber light. I'm about to throw all the computers out the window...it really should not be this difficult. I've set up networks in my own home, before, with both PC and Mac, and never had these problems. So, now, I've had to relink up the old router/receiver in order to send out this call for help. Can anyone suggest anything else to try before I use these computers for target practice?
Thanks in advance,
Jennifer
P.S. The main PC w/modem is on Vista with service pack 2.0...since I can't even get that one working with AirPort, I hardly think it matters what the other computers are...

I had some initial problems too. Make sure that you have the latest Airport Utility in the utilities folder. I used that to correct the problems I had when I first got Time Machine. I recommend resetting everything through there to get it working right.
Mine is not set up to run an n network because my macs are all g and b compatible. Does the airport utility see the time machine? And if so, does it have a green light in the utility?

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Extend existing wireless network (long house) with Airport Express

Help !! I am trying to reconfigure my airport express to extend my wireless network (Long House)through my wireless ISP (Bigpond)modem (2701HGV-W Gateway) following the sudden and unexpected death of my Time Capsule, whose router was doing this job previously.
I am not technically savvy, but can follow simple, idiot proof instructions. All I seem to be able to do is join a wireless network....is this the same as extending it?

Bob Timmons wrote:
Hi Jolly Giant,
+what you could do is run a (long) Cat5 ethernet cable from the Gateway to your Airport Express (AE) in the far away location. if you then join the AE to your wireless network, wireless clients could access it via the wireless access point the AE provides.+
Sorry, but this is not correct. The "join" setting is only used if the Express will be connecting to the wireless network by +wireless only+.
With the Express connected by ethernet, the correct setting is "create a wireless network". The wireless must be configured with exactly the same name, radio mode, security, password, etc as the Gateway's network. But, the channel on the AirPort Express should be set to a value that is at least 5 settings away from the channel that the Gateway is using to minimize distortion. This type of network is known as a "roaming" network.
Connection Sharing on the Express must be set to "Off (Bridge Mode)".
okay, got it. thanks for letting me know - i'll keep that in mind ! (:-)
my apologies to the OP for having been confusing

I told my wireless network to forget two airport expresses so that I could rename them. Now the network does not see them even when plugged in about 10 feet away from the airport extreme base station. Does "forget" mean forever? How to reset?

I told my wireless network to forget two airport expresses 1 1st gen, 1 2nd gen so that I could rename them. Now the network does not see them even when plugged in about 10 feet away from the airport extreme base station. The network does recognize a totally new 2nd gen express. Does "forget" mean forever? How to reset?

The network does recognize a totally new 2nd gen express.
Then, it sounds like you have already reset the 2nd Gen Express, and now you need to set it up again, like you did the first time. Only, this time, assign the device name that you want to the AirPort Express.
Do NOT use the name that Apple suggests.....which will be something goofy like........Sueswimsf's Red Apple AirPort Express
Assign a simple name.....something like 2ndGenExpress

Scan for wireless networks doesn't find Airport Express

Help please!
I've been trying for days to set up my Airport Express.
When I do the scan for wireless networks, my computer seems to find every network in my block of flats except my AX. I found it once or twice, and then used the AirPort Utility to do the setup. But then it lost the connection on restart. Now the AX connection is nowhere to be found.
Similarly, when I scan for AXs using AirPort Utility it finds nothing.
I don't think it's the AX that's the problem, because I have a wifi blackberry and when I scan for wireless networks on that it finds the AX (although it won't connect). And I don't see how it can be my computer (which is not a Mac) because it finds about 10 other networks.
What am I doing wrong? I'd be most grateful to anyone who could explain it to me in language a 2 year old could understand, because it's all a complete mystery to me.
I use a BT Home Hub for wireless internet, if that makes any difference.
Thanks!

If there are lots of other networks in the area you are probably getting a lot of RF interference.
Can I also add, the AX has relatively weak signal compare to some of the desktop wireless routers due to its size and small power source. If the interference is really a problem, AX might not be your best solution. You should consider upgrade the AX to something more powerful like the AEBS/n. Get the N version so you have a choice of moving your wireless network out of the crowded 2.4GHz band and move it into less populated 5GHz band.
Just my 2 cents.
.

How do I know "Roaming Network" is working with Airport Express and Airport Extreme and should I use extended wireless network for third Express?

Attempting to eliminate a dead spot in Wifi coverage [and implement AirPlay] have one Airport Extreme 802.11n and two Airport Express 802.11n's.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4145
The Airport Extreme is of course connected to cable modem and Ethernet switch, and one Airport Express is connected to the Ethernet network. As per instructions for creating a "Roaming Network", Airport Express is set to same SSID, security type, and Password.
Questions:
1. How does the client device know which Airport to connect to? In other words, will it switch to the closer WiFi transmitter automatically? The WiFi reception problem is intermittent in the fringe areas so what I do not want it for it to stick with the more distant Airport Extreme in the basement when the Airport Express which is closer will work better.
2. How can I tell which of the Airports the attached client device is using?
The third Airport Express will be in a third location - I was planning on using it also for expanding coverage but after reading the warnings about performance suffering when purely using WiFi for the expansion in this location ("Wireless Extended Network" without an ethernet connection) I have figured that the single wired Airport Express will be adequate and will use the third Express to do Airplay only.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Question: Can I use this second Airport Express to extend the wireless network via "Extended Wireless Network" while the other two are in "Roaming Netowrk" configuration? Without bogging down??
Mitch

1. How does the client device know which Airport to connect to?
The Mac computer will automatically connect to the wireless access point with the strongest signal...which is probably the closest AirPort. An iPhone or iPad may not do this and will tend to stay connected to one AirPort.
2. How can I tell which of the Airports the attached client device is using?
On a Mac, open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility. Click on one of AirPorts. In the area to the right, locate the AirPort ID and jot that down. Then do the same for your other AirPort.
Move your Mac near one of the AirPorts and log on to the wireless. Hold down the option key on the Mac while you click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen. Look for the BSSID. That is the AirPort ID of the device to which you are connected.
If you are close to the "remote" AirPort, and you see the AIrPort ID of the "main" router when you are testing, then you know that the network is not configured correctly.
Can I use this second Airport Express to extend the wireless network via "Extended Wireless Network" while the other two are in "Roaming Netowrk" configuration? Without bogging down??
There will be a modest 10-15% bandwidth loss with the "extend" setup, assuming that the Express is located where it can receive a strong wireless signal from the AirPort to which it is associated. You can avoid the bandwidth loss if the Express is also connected via Ethernet as part of the roaming configuration.

Extending wireless network through ethernet using airport express

I am running a wireless network using a time capsule. When attempting to setup an airport express, the utility first could not find the IP address. I went back and set the express to act as a bridge. It seemed to work correctly, however the express is not broadcasting a wireless signal or my Mac cannot see it. i have used the Utility for all of the setup. Both the time capsule and the express are new. The mac is running os10.5.8.
John

+Do I need to turn of NAT for the roaming network to work?+
If your AirPort Extreme is connected to a modem (only one ethernet port on the device), then you need to configure the AirPort Extreme to handle both DHCP and NAT. This will be done for you automatically when you do the following:
Open AirPort Utility - Manual Setup
Click the Internet icon
Connection Sharing = Share a public IP address
If your AirPort Extreme is connected to a gateway (a combination modem and router that will have 3-4 ethernet ports), then you need to setup the AirPort Extreme as a "bridge"
Open AirPort Utility - Click Manual Setup
Click the Internet icon
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
All of your other devices...Time Capsule, AirPort Express must be configured as follows:
Open AirPort Utility - Click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Exact same name as your AirPort Extreme network
Radio Mode = Your choice, but should be similar to the AirPort Extreme
Channel = Automatic*
Wireless Security = Exact same setting as your AirPort Extreme
Wireless Password = Same password as AirPort Extreme
Click the Internet icon
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Update to save settings
* With a lot of devices, you may want to set the Channel manually. Set up separate channels for each device and keep the channels as far apart as possible.

Extending a (non-Apple) Wireless Network through Ethernet with AirPort Expr

I have two Airport Express base stations and a Linksys Wireless Router/Modem - I want the AE's to extend the network in locations the Linksys can't reach.
I'm currently doing this through having the AE's set to "Create a wireless network" and set to "Bridge mode", they have the same SSID and WPA password as the Linksys.
Despite this, when I walk from one to the other, my laptop can't seamlessly hop from one to the other. I have to turn off AirPort and search again.
Can anyone help make this work?

Power everything down and then start the modem first and let it run a few moments, then start the Linksys the same way, your AirPort Express next, etc., and finally your computers.
If no luck, you might try matching up with WPA2 Personal. That is a more compatible setting among routers.
I assume that you are using the exact same Radio Mode on all devices. For example, 802.11 b/g
Sometimes security settings are just not compatible between different manufacturers. That may be the case here if you continue to experience problems. I've had the same problem that you have now in the past except with a Netgear router and the AirPort Express. The only way I could solve it was to replace the Netgear with an AirPort Extreme.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Home wireless network in China using Airport Express ?

I am going to be living in China with my Macbook. I will be bringing my Airport Express with me.
I would like to know whether it is appropriate to connect up my Airport Express to a Chinese cable modem to obtain wireless internet access at home.
Or is it a very different system used in China for home wireless network.

Many, but not all of the same wireless channels in the US are allowed in China. See this Wikipedia Document for some information.
As to whether you will connect using ethernet or PPPoE, etc., that will depend on the provider that you choose.

I have a netgear n300 router broadcasting my wpa secured wireless network and bought an airport express to extend the network. I did an Ethernet setup from a MacBook, got the green checkmark but no extension. help.

I have a net gear n300 router transmitting my WPA secured network, and I bought an airport express to use as a network extender. I configured it via an Ethernet cable from a MacBook using manual setup in airport utility. I got the green checkmark at the end, but it is not extending my signal. Can you help me?

Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of Wireless Distribution System (WDS)...so it very unlikely that your Netgear router can be extended wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX).
The few non-AirPort routers that are known to work are:
Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not v5)
Belkin F5D7230-4 and F5D7231
BT Voyager 2091
Netgear WGR614 v6
Buffalo WGR-G54

Panasonic BL-C131 wireless doesn't work with Airport Express and Extreme

I have Airport Express to create a wireless network, and an Airport Extreme to extend the wireless network. When I connect the LAN cable on Extreme and the Panasonic BL-C131, the camera can successfully detect IP and work fine. However, when I remove the cable and switch the camera to wireless mode, it can never detect the IP. I've read somewhere in the camera manual that it needs a UPnP enabled router to have wireless work. I am wondering if there is any way to confirm, since I know Airport only support Bonjour.
I really like to keep the Airport at home, or I'll need to replace it with a D-link router.

Issue solved

My wireless network looses connection between airport express and modem.

The indicator under the "Internet" icon in airport utility switches from green to amber every minute or so. When it is amber I have no, or very slow speed.

Interestingly the Linksys WRT-54G is one of the few non-Apple routers that are WDS-compatible with the earlier 802.11g AirPorts. There are a number of posts on the Internet (use the following search terms: Linksys AirPort WDS) where the authors described how they configured theirs to work.
If; however, you don't want to "experiment," your suggestion to interconnect the two routers by Ethernet should work just fine. In this case, you would want to configure them both for a roaming network.

How do i set up time capsule to work with airport extreme base to extend wireless network?

i have a airport extreme base, how do i set up a time machine to extend the wireless network i have with airport extreme? i have also 3 airport express's connected to the same network to extend my wifi all over my house. thanks in advance.

Much better graphics, thanks.
You can leave the Time Capsule connected by Ethernet from the Linksys and configure for a "roaming" network as mentioned previously.
To do this, open AirPort Utility - Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the icons
Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Same name as the AirPort Extreme
No check mark needed next to Allow this network to be extended
Radio Mode = Same setting as the AirPort Extreme
Channel = Automatic
Wireless Security = Same setting as the AirPort Extreme
Wireless Password = Same password as the AirPort Extreme
Confirm Password
Click the Internet icon, then the Internet Connection tab
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Update to save settings and allow the Time Capsue to restart
Then power down the entire network
Wait a minute or two
Start the modem first and let it run a full minute
Start the AirPort Extreme the same way
Power up the switch
Power up the Time Capsule for a minute
Keep starting devices one at a time about a minute apart
Now, your computer will automatically pick up a wireless signal from either the AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule, whichever device is closer and providing the stronger signal.

Extending Sky Wireless Network with Airport Express.

I spent most of last night trying to extend my Sky Wireless Network using an Apple Airport Express. The Apple Store salesman told me that it would be simple to set up but he's either wrong or I'm completely stupid!
Does anybody know if this is possible and if so, can they please advise me how I do this. (I am using Windows 7 on my Dell laptop)

I spent most of last night trying to extend my Sky Wireless Network using an Apple Airport Express. The Apple Store salesman told me that it would be simple to set up but he's either wrong or I'm completely stupid!
Unfortunately, the salesman may not have understood your question, or he may have given you incorrect information.
It's possible to have the AirPort Express provide more wireless coverage if you connect it using an ethernet cable permanently to your Sky router.
But, the AirPort Express cannot "extend" the wireless network produced by the Sky by connecting using wireless only. The "extend" feature will only work if you have an Apple to Apple wireless connection. This feature is not compatible with the products of other manufacturers.

When adding WRE54G to wireless network incompatible with Airport Express

I added a Linksys WRE54G to expand my network to a Powerbook G4 laptop with a weak signal. When I connect the wireless expander, I no longer see the Airport express in the airport utility. I cannot access the printer or itunes speakers attached to the airport express. When I power off the expander and have a weaker signal, the airport express is available again. I don't know how to configure the wireless expander to work with airport express, and if I try to create a WDS network with the airport express (currently unsuccessful), then I believe I will lose itunes support (and maybe the printer?).
Does anyone know how to configure the WRE54G so that I can still see the airport express on my network?
Thanks,
Brigitte

I was having the same problems. Try this link, someone seems to have solved it.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1271648

Where is the hyphen (-) on the apple TV? I am trying to set up my network and there is a hyphen in the password for the network

Where is the hyphen on the apple TV? I am trying to set up my network and there is a hyphen in the password for the network

A few options to try:
They hyphen should be next to the + on the character map.
If you are still having issues, provided your ATV software is up to date, you can now connect an Apple Wireless Keyboard through bluetooth connections.
Change your network password so it does not use a hyphen
Good luck!

Trying to set up wireless network on PC with Airport Express

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