Wireless network poor reception so wondered about a booster

I am running an iMac with Pegasus R4 storage bit have really poor wifi reception using Mac Book Pro and other PC Laptops. I have repositioned the location of the router and all that but still bad reception. I didnt know whether a booster or extender would be of any benefit.....

Hey Spike2311,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Use the following Wi-Fi base station settings and check for potential sources of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (wireless) interference.
iOS and OS X: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4199
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Potential sources of wireless interference
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1365
Have a nice day,
Mario

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Wireless Network Does Not Always Connect Successfully on HP ENVY 5644

Just purchased a new HP ENVY 5644 device to replace an existing my HP Photosmart C4380. Powered the new device on for the first time and ran through the initial setup using the integrated touchscreen. Everything seemed to go both easily and smoothly, without any errors and even connected to my home wireless network on the first attempt.
I next tested both printing and scanning features, each of which provided extremely pleasing results and good performance over the wireless network.
Unfortunately, this is where my happy story ends and the trouble begins!
Having initially setup the device in a temporary location, I correctly powered down in preparation of relocating it to its final resting position. Although this was to be in a different room of the house, it was in fact closer to the wireless network router itself. In reality, we are talking a very negligible distance as the 2 rooms are actually back to back to one another. So now with it in the new position and connected to a power outlet, I switched the device on once again. The device powers up and the blue LED indicator which signifies the wireless connection status, continuously flashes blue rather than a steady solid blue. The flashing blue indicates that the device cannot establish a wireless network connection. If I use the touchscreen to investigate the issue I find that there appears to be an Authentication Problem and the message details are Incorrect wireless password (WPA) entered.
Why has this happened? Nothing has changed, all I did is move the printer into another room!
Believing what the touchscreen tells me, I decided to run the Wireless Setup Wizard once more to affirm the wireless network settings. As expected, it manages to find my home wireless network without any issues and then requests that the password key is entered. I therefore enter this correctly and press apply. It is at this point that the device attempts to make a connection to the network, which unfortunately fails, returning the above error message. However, I know that I entered the password correctly, in fact there is an option to show the password you have entered prior to attempting the connection, which upon checking confirms that the password I entered is the correct one!
So why does it not connect?
I have tried switching the wireless feature on and off several times via the touchscreen interface but this did not resolve the issue. The only way to get the wireless connection back online is to keep switching the device on and off again until the wireless LED indicator stays on solid blue. For no apparent reason, the wireless connection seems to have a mind of its own, only successfully connecting to my wireless network when it wishes to!
I do not have any issues with the numerous other wireless network devices I have in my home, from multiple manufacturers and even located in other multiple rooms of the home. I know my wireless network is good and I know my wireless password like the back of my own hand, so there is no chance of this being incorrect. This is purely a problem for the HP ENVY 5644 device itself, which can be confirmed by the fact that if I switch it off and on again, it might decide to make a successful connection even though I did nothing to its own network configuration nor to my own wireless network configuration itself.
Wondering whether or not it might be some obscure incompatibility between my wireless router and the HP ENVY 5644, I tested the device with another spare router that I have, which was also from a different manufacturer but sadly the result was the same, the HP ENVY 5644 only connected when it wanted to and would only establish the connection to the wireless network upon switching on the device. If the connection fails, it will never connect to the network unless you switch it off and then back on again, which might even require to be attempted several times before successful. Once connected, it appears to remain connected and then functions really well.
This behaviour is not acceptable and I’m sure this can’t be too healthy for the device itself to be switched on and off again in such short cycles. Otherwise, on the whole, as I said earlier, I am very happy with the product.
Can someone at HP tell me why this is happening or suggest what else I need to look for or consider.

Spoke with HP engineer the other day. I explained what was happening and they suggested doing a factory reset and then setting the IP address manually rather than using the DHCP of my home wireless router.
I wasn't too happy about that as everything was setup nicely and working, with the exception of the WiFi not reconnecting on every power on. I had also gone one better in fact, by adding a DHCP reservation within my router using the MAC address of the printer. This in effect is the best of both worlds as the printer will be given the same IP address by the router every time it requests one.
We agreed to leave things as they stand rather than factory reset the printer and that I would now power off the printer everyday. For the past 4 days, the printer has reconnected to the WiFi upon every power on. This is great news.
I have a call scheduled with HP in a few days time to discuss how things have been going. If all continues as is, it would appear than specifying a DHCP reservation in the wireless router resolves the issue. Whilst I await the next call with HP, I am continuing to power on and off the printer on a daily basis.
Watch this space!

Extending wireless network via ethernet help

Hello, I'm helping my sister & brother in law get a wireless network running and was wondering if anyone can share some advice about extending the wireless from an Airport Extreme with an Airport Express. They have no networking experience at all and I have a little so got roped into this.
The house they live in is an unsual design (husband an architect) with a feature mid way through the house which kills the wireless signal stone dead so only one half of the house gets wireless.
* The Cisco cable modem is a 4 port router with wireless (disabled) and an active DHCP server.
* The cable modem is plugged into the WAN port on the Airport Extreme.
* The Airport Extreme is set to Off (bridged mode), obtain IP via DHCP so it acts as a wireless access point.
The above setup works great for any wireless devices, although I am a little unsure if that is the proper way to go about it, I'm not used to Apple gear but bought it for the purpose of extending the network and keeping things simple.
The house was wired for ethernet but things didn't work out so well as the cable modem is a temperamental beast and the one place it would give a reliable link was a place with no ethernet ports nearby.
Anyway the plan is to get some homeplugs (ethernet over powerlines) and link the Airport Extreme and Airport Express that way giving a roaming network but can anyone suggest what settings I use on the Airport Express. Apple's own roaming tutorial seems to contradict the settings I'm already using by turning on connecting sharing for the Airport Extreme which last time I tired I think the cable modem did not like.
Thanks.

My advice would be to only use the Cisco device as a cable modem and disable all of it's router features. You can then configure the AirPort Extreme to create a wireless network. The built in Wizard will guide you thru this easily.
So you should take it (AirPort Extreme) out of Bridge mode, And use it to set up and administer your network.
After you've done this, check that both the wired and wireless connections are working properly before trying to extend the network.
Once you're able to connect successfully to the AirPort-created network, then you can extend it (if it's still necessary) using the AirPort Express.
This is very easy to do.
In the Airport Extreme be sure to check the box "Allow this network to be extended" in the Wireless tab.
then you'll need to configure the AirPort Express by connecting to it. (This is most easily done by temporarily connecting to it's ethernet jack with an ethernet cable and running the AirPort utility.
Once it finds the Express, Go to the Wireless tab and select "Extend a wireless network" as the Wireless Mode.
You'll then be presented with a list of Wireless network names. select the name for the network you created with the AirPort Extreme, including any security mode and password you set up.
Click on update to send the configuration to the airport express.
The LED will blink yellow a few times, and if it then turns solid GREEN you're all set.
You can disconnect it from the computer and un plug it.
Then select a location for the Express about half-way between the furthest spot you need wireless access and the Airport Extreme . Plug it into the nearest outlet and the LED should flash yellow and then turn solid green.
When it does, you're all set and should see better wireless access through the rest of the house.
Let me know how you make out.

TC and Existing Wireless Network

I’m very new to the Mac world, since, after installing Vista for a couple of people in my family (and having to use it - ugh), I decided that path was no longer for me! So, when I needed to refresh my laptop, I recently got a 17” Macbook Pro and a Time Capsule for backup. It’s the TC that has me scratching my head. I can see the following topic throughout several threads, but am still confused. Basically, can I take the TC and make it an integrated access point and backup unit integrated into my existing hybrid (wired/wireless) network? I'm reading "NO" from the various postings, but want to be sure.....
My current network has a cable modem and wired Linksys security router located in the wiring closet, with multiple wired points throughout the house, along with two distributed Linksys dual-band N access points (actually two 610N routers with the DHCP services functionality disabled) connected via cabling to the security router and utilizing/broadcasting a common SSID (XYZ for discussion purposes) for the wireless network (using WPA2/AES). All the components are 1gig capable.
I’d like to replace one of the Linksys AP’s with the TC, but ran into issues. I can put the TC into bridge mode, but when I go to the wireless tab on the setup, the two options “create a wireless network” and “extend a wireless network” both seem to be problematic. If I “create….”, I’m creating a separate wireless network which (I think) is defeating my roaming capabilities. If I select “extend…”, the setup comes back and tells me that XYZ cannot be extended (since that's for Apple-based nets).
So, right now, I have the TC in bridge mode, with wireless turned off, and plugged via cable into a wired port on the network (the Linksys AP is sitting close by it). It seems to be very happy like that, and backing up wonderfully fine (as well as performing print services with no problem). And I’m happy with that, too. But can the TC also replace the Linksys while utilizing/broadcasting the existing network SSID (XYZ)? Again, don't think so, but wanted to be sure I'm not missing something?
Thanks for the clarification!

It sounds as if you have your network all connected by ethernet and several access points which broadcast the same network name (SSID).
If this is the case, you'll set the time capsule to bridge mode and set it to create a network.
Then set the network name, security method, and password. These must all be the same as your existing wireless network (for seamless wireless networking).
That should be about it..

How do I use airport express to extend my wireless network?

How vcan I extend the range of my wireless network using Airport Express?

It appears that you may have "join a wireless network" and "extend a wireless network" mixed up a bit.
The Express can "join" virtually any wireless network produced by any manufacturer's router if it is provided with the correct settings:
name of the wireless network
the correct wireless security settings
and correct password.
"Join" is normally used for AirTunes or to connect a USB printer to the Express for remote printing.
But, the Express does not provide any additional wirless coverage when it "joins" another wireless network.
Apple's "Extend a wireless network" feature, which was introduced about 5 years ago, allows the Express to connect to another Apple "n" wireless router and then "repeat" or "extend" the wireless signal....providing more wireless coverage in the area where the Express is located.
This is a proprietary setting. Apple says it will not work with devices from other manufacturers. To our knowledge, this is correct.
Prior to 2007, Apple used a setting called WDS to allow the Express to be configured to provide more wireless coverage. Attempts were made by a number of manufacturers to standardize the WDS settings, but things were never finalized.
The result is that Apple's older "b/g" routers were sometimes compatible with WDS settings from another manufacturer. There were a handful of products....5 or 6, as I recall....that were said to work. Some did, some didn't. Linksys had a couple of models, Netgear had one, SMC another, etc. Extremely limited.
Since WDS was never adopted as an industry standard, manufacturers developed their own WDS settings. Compatibility was extemely limited and unreliable. That continues to this day with WDS.
Bottom line....It is always best to stick with the same manufacturer throughout your network as far as routing is concerned.
If you have an newer "n" Apple router like an AirPort Extreme, the Express can extend the wireless as can along Extreme. If your Extreme is dual band, and you want to extend both bands, then you need another Extreme.
Another responder suggested to someone that they could connect the AirPort Express to a router via Ethernet. What exactly would that achieve?
That is a completely different subject since this discussion is about extending a wireless network using wireless only.

Unable to connect to wireless network

I am unable to connect to my wireless network with my MacBook.
I have no trouble connecting with my windows PC. I have double checked the WEP key and checked that I am using the correct key type (128 bit hex). There is no MAC address access control on the network and DHCP is available.
All I get is a message saying 'There was an error joining the AirPort network "network-name"' and two buttons: 'Try again' (which produces the same error) and 'OK'.
Can anyone help?
MacBook Pro 15" 2.16GHz Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Hi,
I'm also having this problem of not being able to connect to a wireless network. However, I'm in Spain and have my MacBook. I was able to connect to the wireless network with no problem for about 5 days' and then access stopped. I get the same password edit saying the network does not recognise the pw. I've tried all the proposed solutions described in this thread: entering the data manually, using a $ or " sign and to no avail.
The airport symbol is grayed out. However, when I open internet connection to join the network, 15 other networks including my own show up, so I believe the airport card is working okay. (everyone seems to have WiFi in the area).
Does anyone know if there is something peculiar to Europe I need to do in order to gain wireless access again ? I know the broadcast chanels are 1-13 vs 1-11 in the US. But I don't think this is a problem since I had access for a time.
Any info welcome. Sorry if I'm threadjacking here but I don't see where to start a new topic. The network is fine as I'm connecting using an ethernet cable.
Thanks in advance,
J.
iMac G5 Rev 2; 20; 2GHz; 250 GB; 1.512 RAM; & MacBook 2GHz Intel dual core Mac OS X (10.4.2)

WRT54G wireless network gone totally wacky! please help.

I called linksys tech support and they were of absolutely no help. the wireless network was working fine until about an hour ago when my roomate connected her computer to the network. the network was previously configured through windows...but when she connected her computer she connected through her linksys wireless card (which i don't have on my computer.) Somehow in doing this she reconfigured the entire network...entirely new name etc. Now my computer can't connect to the network...I can see it on my list of wireless networks, but the password I was using previously to connect is not working. I get the error message "The network password needs to be 128 bits or 256 bits depending on your network configuration. This can be entered as 8 to 63 ascii characters or 64 hexadecimal characters" I have no idea what that even means. How do I get my original network back so I can reconnect my computer?!

Its doubtful that just by connecting to your router, your roommate caused this problem with your router.
What version of the router do you have? Some of the WRT54G routers have an SES (Secure Easy Setup) button. If you push that button accidentally, you will reset your wireless security to a new password.
Were you using wireless security? If so, which type? WEP, WPA, or WPA2?
Did you give your router a unique SSID, or are you still using "linksys". If you are using "linksys", are you sure you are trying to connect to your own network, and not your neighbor's network? Did the SSID of your router change from what you set it to before?
To correct your problem, point your browser to 192.168.1.1 and login to your router with your user name (if any), and password. Then go to the "Wireless" tab, "Basic setup" subtab, and correct any entries that are wrong.
Then go to the "Security" tab, "Wireless Security" subtab, and correct any entries that are wrong.
Reboot entire system.

Can't get my BEFW11S4 to broadcast a Wireless Network

Hello,
I spent about 6 hours last night trying to get my linksys wireless access point router to broadcast a wireless network. it was working fine about a week ago, then we went on vacation and now... nothing! after countless times restarting my cable modem, my BEFW11S4 and my wired router, i was able to get internet via ethernet back in my room, but still no wireless. here's what i have for a set-up:
cable modem -> BEFW -> Desktop Computer (yes, i ran the set up wizard on it, and yes, it was successful)
-> Wired Modem -> MY Laptop computer.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME! I'm fresh out of ideas and VERY frustrated!

Make sure the Wireless SSID Broadcast on your Router is set to Enable. If still you are not able to locate your wireless Network then i think you need to upgrade the firmware on your Router.
Go to website linksysbycisco.com/downloads.........insert model no of your router in serach tab......select proper version of your router........download the firmware file......save that file on desktop
Follow these steps to upgrade the firmware on the device : -
Open an Internet Explorer browser page on a computer hard wired to the router...In the address bar type - 192.168.1.1...Leave the Username blank & in Password use admin in lower case...
Click on the 'Administration' tab- Then click on the 'Firmware Upgrade' sub tab- Here click on 'Browse' and browse the .bin firmware file and click on "Upgrade"...
Wait for few seconds until it shows that "Upgrade is successful" After the firmware upgrade, click on "Reboot" and you will be returned back to the same page OR it will say "Page cannot be displayed".
Now reset your router : Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds...Release the reset button...Unplug the power cable from your router, wait for 30 seconds and re-connect the power cable...Now re-configure your router...

Trouble connecting to Ethernet Wireless Network

We're trying to set up my airport to an Ethernet wireless network. The router is working and it says airport is connected BUT "Airport needs its own IP address and may not connect to the Internet".
My husband is a PC man and is getting frustrated - what do we need to do?
Many thanks.

Hi Sue
] We're trying to set up my airport to an Ethernet wireless network.
Are you talking about an Airport Extreme base station or a Mac with an Airport Extreme card?

Do you need a wireless network to use airport express?

I don't have a wireless network. I'm wondering, can I connect my iMac to my Airport Express without a wireless network? Is there some way to create a wireless network between the iMac and the Airport Express?
Thanks in advance.

Rog1951 wrote:
I want to use the AX to send music from iTunes on my iMac to my home stereo. My iMac is connected to my dlink modem by an ethernet cable.
Yes you can do that.
But to clarify you will be creating a wireless network from your iMAc to the Express.
So you will plug the Express into an AC outlet somewhere near your Stereo system. Then plug the stereo into the Express.
Then from the iMac using the Airport Utility you will create a wireless network to the Express and enable Airtunes.
Now if you are already utilizing your iMacs wireless connection to connect to a wireless router to access the Internet then this changes everything (but you already stated that the iMac is plugged into the router... Correct?
It can be done just post back here for specifics if you run into trouble.

Existing wireless Network (not set up by me) add new mac to it

I have little or no experience.
A college computer science major (not available) set up a wireless network for my childrens emacs about 2.5 years ago. Using Netgear WGR614V2 router to a cable modem. has worked flawlessly.
I just received a macbook Pro and in spite of trying to get it added to the network I can't seem to get it.
I took the computer to starbucks and it accessed the network instantly, so it works fine.
I need help in getting the computer to communicate with the router so that it can access the cable to the internet.
I can see the various setting for the existing network by looking at the configurations on the emacs, but don't know how to set enter these to the new computer.
I know you geniuses can do this in seconds. Please help Regards Jim Svarz

Jim,
I know how weird all these networking woes may seem to you. We all started as newbies
Let's start afresh with the very basics:
What we need to find out in the first place is:
The name of your wireless network (this is also called SSID)
If encryption is turned on for your wireless network (the most common names for wireless security schemes are WEP & WPA)
If any other security measures (such as MAC address filtering, etc) are set for your wireless network that prevent your MacBook from joining in.
All of the above information/settings is stored in your Netgear WGR614V2 router. (It's also displayed on your eMacs, but let's start with the router so you can get an overall picture of how your network works).
If this is the correct model of your router: http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/wgr614v2.asp, I'm flicking through its manual to help you set you get up and running faster.
Now, grab a pen & sheet of paper, sit in front of any eMac that works fine and place your MacBook next to the eMac. The next steps are following the instructions according to the router's manual.
From the eMac:
Open Safari
In the address bar type: 192.168.0.1 (and press Return)
You'll be asked for a username and a password, (Again according to the manual) the default ones are username:admin and password: password
Assuming that the guy that setup your network didn't change the default ones, you'll be able to see (log-in) the router's configuration pages.
Let me know if you can log-in to your router to continue to the next step(s)
Macs running 9.x, Macs running 10.4.x, SGI workstations running Irix 6.5.x

Have recently acquired an additional black MacBook, and installed Snow Leopard onto it. Trying to get it to connect via a plug-in USB wifi unit (poor reception on Airport) I have an extra Network Location which does not work. How can I remove it?

Need to get a second hand black MacBook connected. Poor reception on Airport so tried a plug in wifi aerial. That didn't work, but now have a Network Location I can't get rid of. How do I remove it ?

Hello my ginger,
I tried what you suggested - but to no success. The problem came up when I was re-entering the new settings. If I left it as using DHCP it would run for a few seconds with no IP address, then drop in a 169.254 one which would not connect through. To overcome this I tried using the 'Using DHCP with manual address' option and entered in an address which it had set up from the clone boot. This appeared to be okay. When I then tried renewing DHCP lease sometimes that address held. When I tried connecting though - no sight of the internet, and the exclamation mark was across the wifi icon in the menu bar. If I switched it to Using DHCP it would randomly fall back to the 169.254 address.
The only significant differences I could see when cross checking all the settings info was in the WINS panel the NetBIOS had a slightly different configuration of the name - but as they ended in the same numbers I assumed they were the same. And, when looking under Keychain Access, in the System section list (it also appeared in the login section) additional info box they had different locations - 28 characters in four groups. I don't have a clue what this refers to. Also the allow access list in the boot clone included System Preferences, but did not in the Snow Leopard boot, so I added it in. With no success.
I am so frustrated I am thinking of giving up. I seen have loads of postings on the net about a variety of problems with wifi connection on Snow Leopard. I have version 10.6.3. Did it get any better in later Snow Leopard ? Or in any of the OS s after that ? It was always so easy and so solid under Leopard - why the h**l did they change it ?

Question about how wireless networks work

Hello,
This is more of a general question rather than one that is specific to the airport. I have a network with an Airport Express with wireless n, a Macbook Pro with a wireless n card, and a printer that has a wireless g card. Someone told me that because I have a wireless g device on my network that I will never get wireless n speeds even when using my computer to do things besides printing because the network is only as fast as its slowest device. Based on this, if there is a computer on my network that has a wireless g card then everyone on the network can only get wireless g speeds even if the others have wireless n cards.
It was always my understanding that I could not get n speeds when using the printer but I thought that if I were using my computer to connect to the internet, download, upload, etc. (things that have nothing to do with printing and don't require the printer) then I should be able to get wireless n speeds.
I was wondering if someone could explain how wireless networks work. Thanks in advance.

The simple answer is that having 802.11g (i.e. 54 Mbit/s) clients on an 802.11n network will NOT slow down the 802.11n clients.
However, 802.11g works only in the 2.4 GHz band, whereas 802.11n also works in the 5 GHz band, which is potentially much faster. So if you require compatibility with g devices on an AirPort Express, it decreases the potential maximum speed of the n devices, because you have to operate in the 2.4 GHz band. But this slowdown occurs whether or not g devices are actually connected to the network.

Not so trivial question about extending a wireless network

Hello,
I've always had Wi-Fi signal strength issues in my house. Two days ago my Linksys router died and I got the new AirPort Extreme. Things got a bit better signal wise. Feature wise things got a whole lot better! Which got me thinking about the next step.
The two farthest corners of my hose are wired with CAT5E, and I have a gigabit router. My AirPort Extreme is on one of these corners, meaning I have a weak signal on the other corner. My question is, can I add another AirPort Extreme to the other corner, hook it on the wired LAN and have it extend my wireless network? I don't want to see 2 different networks. I want to see just my wireless network and have a strong signal everywhere. Can this be done?

Actually a Linux server is my internet connection (has two NICs). All the computers in my house plug into a Gigabit hub. The AirPort express is configured as "Share a public IP address", instead of "Bridge Mode", because I want to be able to use the "Guest Network" feature (so cool!). Yes I have two DHCP/NAT servers, but they don't interfere with each other, as they are on separate networks. My main network is 192.168.1, my AirPort network is 192.168.2, and my Guest Network is 10.0.42.
I will try both your suggestions and report back. It would be perfect if I could just plug the second AirPort to the Gigabit hub, but I don't mind chaining it to the first AirPort, if that's what it takes.
This is turning out to be a really fun project and I might finally fix the wireless signal in my house after all these years
Thanks!
Erasmo.

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

Wireless network poor reception so wondered about a booster

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