Q: AP Express blinking amber but AP Utility shows green
Until recently I had my old AP Extreme and two AP Express units (802.11g) configured as a WDS. In an effort of increase signal strength I performed hard resets on both AP Express units and now cannot get them to connect to my Macs. The paradox is that the two AP Express units are blinking amber BUT the AP Utility 5.6.1 displays green status indicators. I called Apple for tech support - I was willing to pay! - and was told that my units are considered "legacy" units and they no longer support them.
P.S. My Base Station, an AP Extreme, is working as far as connecting to the Internet and to my Macs as well as displaying a green status in Airport Utility 5.6.1.
Would like to add: I took both Express units to my local Apple store and they checked them at no cost. Both unit checked out as working properly. Also, In my numerous attempts to configure my WDS, several times I connected the Express units with an ethernet cable to forform the configuration.
Two documents that adress my problems (but haven't solved them) are <http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262> and <http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1589>.
Message was edited by: KWBEAR
Posted on Jun 18, 2013 3:09 PM
G'day Mate!
Many years ago I lived in The Alice for a bit and when I grow up I want to relocate to Hobart.
I want to express my great appreciation for your suggestions, Fair Dinkum! While I can't say that modifying the name to eliminate spaces and special characters solved the problem the Express lights are now GREEN! (Still can't figure out what "SMB" means, tho'.)
Using your advice and also checking and changing the Channel of all units to the same number - they might not have been set correctly - resulted in both Express LEDS displaying green. One VERY strange anomoly I discovered though. I had both Express devices plugged into the same electrical power strip when I configured the WDS. I then moved just one of the Express units to where I wanted it. The LED was only blnking Amber! When I moved the second Express unit to its nearby location both devices then displayed green LEDs. I don't understand this but I'm will to live with the lack of knowledge.
The bottom line: After spending, I estimate twenty hours troubleshooting and reconfiguring the Airport Expresses I finally have them working.
While I can't prove that your advice provided the the "cure", it certainly contributed. So, once again, I thank you you so very much.If I could I'd send you a 2-litre NT Draught or any brew of your choosing.
In case you didn't know - I didn't until I attacked this problem - the old Airport Express Setup Guide states: "If your network is protected by either a WPA Personal or a WPA Enterprise password you can't set up a Wireless Distribution System. If you want to set up a WDS, you must choose either the 128-bit WEP or Not Enabled security option."
Posted on Jun 18, 2013 5:48 PM