HT201519: Update the software on your AirPort base station

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Q: Airport Extreme base station is working, but not visible on network?

My Airport Extreme base station is working:  all devices are able to connect to the internet, but Airport Utility shows no connection.  Only one computer even shows the device-- greyed out-- saying "Device not Found."  The airport utility shows version 6.2;  OS X version 10.8.3.  How do I update the base station to version 7 if the device can't be found?  And how do the devices connect to the internet without "seeing" the device? 

Airport Extreme, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on May 15, 2013 10:10 AM

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Q: Airport Extreme base station is working, but not visible on network?

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons May 15, 2013 10:18 AM in response to AppleNovice
    Level 10 (105,303 points)
    Wireless
    May 15, 2013 10:18 AM in response to AppleNovice

    Please check on the bottom of the AirPort Extreme for the model number and post back with that info. The model number will begin with an "A".

  • by AppleNovice,

    AppleNovice AppleNovice May 15, 2013 11:06 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2013 11:06 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    A1354? 

     

    Bottom of device shows the following: 

     

    FCC ID: BCGA1354  IC: 579C - A1354

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons May 15, 2013 11:22 AM in response to AppleNovice
    Level 10 (105,303 points)
    Wireless
    May 15, 2013 11:22 AM in response to AppleNovice

    Thanks for checking. This model should be visible in AirPort Utility in Mountain Lion.

     

    If you have not already done so, I suggest that you perform a complete power cycle on the entire network as folllows:

     

    Power off every network device....in any order you want

    Wait a minute or two

    Start the modem first, and let it run a few minutes by itself

    Start the AirPort Extreme next, the same way

    Continue starting devices one at a time about a minute apart until everything is powered back up

     

    Check the network again using AirPort Utility

     

    You can also temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the LAN <-> ports on the AirPort Extreme to see if a connection is established that way.

     

    If still no luck, try another Mac if you one handy. After that, all that I can suggest is that you perform a Factory Default Reset on the AirPort Extreme and configure it again.

  • by AppleNovice,Solvedanswer

    AppleNovice AppleNovice May 15, 2013 11:46 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2013 11:46 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    THANK YOU!  I wasn't looking forward to resetting the whole dang network!  This solved it. 

     

    Any idea what I can do to avoid this happening again?  It just seems so weird that the network was working but AirPort was not visible.  I was worried I had been hacked. 

     

    You have been SO Helpful!  Is there an easy-to-understand-for-a-novice way to monitor the network? 

     

    Sonja

    Arlington, VA