HT204617: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)

Learn about Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
Atari ST

Q: I have been trying for hours to extend my Extreme Gen 5 network with an Express Gen 2.  But no matter what I do or try, it doesn't work.  What does happen is my internet gets block somehow when the Express looks like it's set up and 'green' - no internet

I have been trying for hours to extend my Extreme Gen 5 network with an Express Gen 2.  But no matter what I do or try, it doesn't work.  What does happen is my internet gets blocked somehow when the Express is online and looks like it's set up perfect and 'green' - but no internet connection for anything even though the Extreme is green and the modem is good.  Once I disconnect the Express, everything is good again.

I've tried LAN, WAN, though a switch, direct connect, Extreme set to Extend the network, the Express set to be an extension.  Most of the time I get an error trying to update the Express.  But when it seems to be set up perfect, the entire house can't get to the internet.  Just when it looks right, it is so wrong.

If anyone can give me exact steps (e.g., "...from the Base Station menu, select the Restore Default Setting option" vice "...just restore the defaults..."), I would greatly appreciate it.  I'm left to the conclusion that the Express is faulty.  I've been using Airport Utility 6.2 from Mountain Lion on one computer and Airport Utility 5.6.1 from Snow Leopard on another computer (the latter give more control while the former just want you to 'forget' the Express).

Posted on Feb 14, 2013 7:52 PM

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Q: I have been trying for hours to extend my Extreme Gen 5 network with an Express Gen 2.  But no matter what I do or try, it do ... more

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  • by JoeMY,Helpful

    JoeMY JoeMY Feb 15, 2013 3:53 AM in response to Atari ST
    Level 1 (120 points)
    Feb 15, 2013 3:53 AM in response to Atari ST

    How did you setup the Express?  Perhaps reset the Express back to factory and use the option "extend a wireless network" and pick your network from the drop down list of networks.  Airport Utility 6.2 should work but 5.6.1 is always prefered since we can do a lot more tweaking.

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 15, 2013 7:03 AM in response to Atari ST
    Level 10 (105,273 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 15, 2013 7:03 AM in response to Atari ST

    If you plan to connect the AirPort Express using a wired Ethernet connection to your AirPort Extreme........you would not use the "extend a wireless network" setting.

     

    That setting is used only if the AirPort Express is connecting to the AirPort Extreme using wireless only.....and if I understand the information in your post, you plan to connect the Express using Ethernet.  Is that correct?

     

    Which utility.....6.2, or 5.6.1....would you prefer to use?

     


  • by Atari ST,

    Atari ST Atari ST Feb 15, 2013 1:25 PM in response to Atari ST
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2013 1:25 PM in response to Atari ST

    I finally got it working.  I was trying to set it up ethernet.  My biggest mistake was when the new Express came on, I did not select 'Continue' - I went straight to manual thinking that I would get the most setup options in manual mode.  So everything I initially tried always resulted in 'wireless'.  Even when I would update or restore default settings, the Express would not completely restart. Or sometimes I would get an error. So most of the time I had to unplug it.  So when it came back up, none of my changes were retained. But there were a lot of times when everything was green and appeared to be fine. But anytime the ethernet cable was plugged in, no more internet.

    So here's the weird part.  When I finally tried 'continue' (vice manual), I would get 4 options.  One would be 'ethernet' extended.  So I would select it, it gave me green lights, all looked good, and still the same problem.  This is when I got frustrated.  I thought I had exhausted all possible combinations.

    But somehow when trying continue again after another restore, I only got 3 options.  One was the same ethernet extended option (can't remember what the missing 4th one was).  And this time it worked - it gave me the big green circle with the checkmark saying it was successful.  I don't know what I did different, but I know now that it won't work if 4 options come up to choose from.  It will work if only 3 options come up.  And success if only verified by the big checkmark.  Had anyone anywhere said the checkmark declaring success is validation, then maybe I wouldn't have gone down so many rabbit holes thinking it should have been successful.

    As for which Airport Utility I prefer, 6.2 looks nice, but it would just ignore the Express and would want me to 'forget' it and would not let me edit it.  Airport Utility 5.6.1 was the one that I ended up using the most and finally had success with.  It still strikes me as odd that there is no manually way to pick ethernet, it can only be choosen following a 'restore defaults', and only from the 3-option list (the 4-option list had the same ethernet choice, but it no worky).

    Thanks for the response.  I really do appreciate it.

    Aiport Extreme Gen5 - internet access and router

    Airport Express Gen2 - connected via ethernet, extending my wireless

    - configured while connect directly to the Extreme, but now on a switch (16-port hub)

    Using Airport 5.6.1

    1) Restore Defaults from Base Station menu

    2) Following restart, Select Continue

    3) Of the 3 option presented, select 'ethernet.... extend network...'

      - if 4 options are present, may not work

    4) Wait for the green circle with the big white checkmark.

    5) Connected Express to the switch where a cable went to other end of house - works.

    Dead-zone went from 2mbps to 24mbps.

    I probably spent 4 hours chasing my tail in anger.  The correct way took about 5 minutes total.

    Thanks again.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 15, 2013 1:41 PM in response to Atari ST
    Level 10 (105,273 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 15, 2013 1:41 PM in response to Atari ST

    Glad that you got things working.

     

    It's water under the bridge at this point, but the setup using AirPort Utility 6.2 is so much faster and easier....it's virtually automatic, other than entering the device name that you want to use for the Express.

     

    Post back when you have another Express to configure, and we'll show you how easy it is.