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)
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Q: Wifi Zone Shrunken after Airport Extreme and Airport Express Updated to Version 7.6.4

After update to Version 7.6.4 on Airport Extreme and Express, my Wi-Fi zone has shrunken.

I used to be able to get a full signal on my patio outside and after 7.6.4 update was no longer able to connect to the network.

After rolling back to version 7.6.3 on both Airport Extreme and Express the zone now covers the patio again.

Anyone else found issues?

Airport Extreme and Airport Express, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), iPad 2

Posted on Aug 22, 2013 4:41 PM

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Q: Wifi Zone Shrunken after Airport Extreme and Airport Express Updated to Version 7.6.4

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  • by Mr.Goose,

    Mr.Goose Mr.Goose Aug 26, 2013 3:06 AM in response to appangel15
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2013 3:06 AM in response to appangel15

    Same result here on a Airport Express 802.11n (A1264). Basic config is to extend the (hidden) Wifi network from a brand new TC (firmware 7.7.1) with MAC address filtering (no Airplay activated). On firmware 7.6.3 everything at the Express was working as designed. After upgrade the to 7.6.4: for some minutes everything working like charm. After that time, no connection anymore - the Express is no longer extending the Wifi - and the ugly thing: the Express seems to look correct from client side (is also green LED) - but when the client is trying to connect, nothing happens - but: as long as the Express is powered on, the client wants to connect to it (which doesn't works). After poweroff/poweron of the Express: everything is working again for some minutes - after that, same issues as described. After rolling back to firmware to 7.6.3, everything is working as designed again - no issues since then.

     

    And: on new Express (802.11n 2nd gen (A1392) with AirPlay activated and in network extending mode): after upgrading to firmware 7.6.4 music drop outs occuring after some minutes of playing content (via Airplay from a iphone 4). First, some drop outs...then stop of playing music at all - i had to reconnect airplay (choose internal iphone speaker, hit play, and then choose AirPlay device again and hit play again)....but: networking extending was still working as designed all the time. After downgrade to firmware 7.6.3, everything is working as designed again....no issues.

     

    conclusion: in my opinion, firmware 7.6.4 has some general problems on different device types and using old firmware version 7.6.3 produces less issues.

     

    BTW: i didn't tried that much with: reset back to factory defaults and rebooting and reconfiguring the devices and trying again because in my opinion: the piece of hardware simply has to work stable and reliable without playing around for hours and hours - if i would like to spend hours and hours in not working hardware, i wouldn't have bought devices from Apple.

  • by Mr.Goose,

    Mr.Goose Mr.Goose Aug 26, 2013 3:10 AM in response to appangel15
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2013 3:10 AM in response to appangel15

    Same result here on a Airport Express 802.11n (A1264). Basic config is to extend the (hidden) Wifi network from a brand new TC (firmware 7.7.1) with MAC address filtering (no Airplay activated). On firmware 7.6.3 everything at the Express was working as designed. After upgrade the to 7.6.4: for some minutes everything working like charm. After that time, no connection anymore - the Express is no longer extending the Wifi - and the ugly thing: the Express seems to look correct from client side (is also green LED) - but when the client is trying to connect, nothing happens - but: as long as the Express is powered on, the client wants to connect to it (which doesn't works). After poweroff/poweron of the Express: everything is working again for some minutes - after that, same issues as described. After rolling back to firmware to 7.6.3, everything is working as designed again - no issues since then.

     

    And: on new Express (802.11n 2nd gen (A1392) with AirPlay activated and in network extending mode): after upgrading to firmware 7.6.4 music drop outs occuring after some minutes of playing content (via Airplay from a iphone 4). First, some drop outs...then stop of playing music at all - i had to reconnect airplay (choose internal iphone speaker, hit play, and then choose AirPlay device again and hit play again)....but: networking extending was still working as designed all the time. After downgrade to firmware 7.6.3, everything is working as designed again....no issues.

     

    conclusion: in my opinion, firmware 7.6.4 has some general problems on different device types and using old firmware version 7.6.3 produces less issues.

     

    BTW: i didn't tried that much with: reset back to factory defaults and rebooting and reconfiguring the devices and trying again because in my opinion: the piece of hardware simply has to work stable and reliable without playing around for hours and hours - if i would like to spend hours and hours in not working hardware, i wouldn't have bought devices from Apple.

  • by PAZipster,

    PAZipster PAZipster Sep 2, 2013 10:49 AM in response to appangel15
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 2, 2013 10:49 AM in response to appangel15

    Yes....  This is really a problem.  I restart my computer, Airport Extreme, and still it continues jump between "Wi-Fi: On" to "Wi-Fi: Looking for Networks".  Come on Apple, did this update screw us all on Airport Extreme.  It seems to have reduced the signal strength as well, and it comes and goes.  I too have Comcast Internet.  I used to get a full signal from the Airport Extreme, now I only get one or two bars.

  • by Mr.Goose,

    Mr.Goose Mr.Goose Sep 4, 2013 2:50 AM in response to appangel15
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 4, 2013 2:50 AM in response to appangel15

    Last weekend, I travelled to my wifes sister where I had installed a Airport Express 802.11n (A1264) at least 2 years ago. During the visit before, I had upgraded these Airport Express to firmware version 7.6.4. On the last visit a saw, that the Airport Express changed (without interaction) from normal operation (green LED) to error (blinking amber LED) and was not accessible anymore from ipad/iphone "AirPort" utility. After power-off and power-on the device, I downgraded the firmware to version 7.6.3 - since then: problems are gone. BTW: this Airport Express is running in Wifi-client mode only and just AirPlay is being enabled.

  • by Brad Cantos,

    Brad Cantos Brad Cantos Sep 18, 2013 9:33 PM in response to Mr.Goose
    Level 1 (135 points)
    Sep 18, 2013 9:33 PM in response to Mr.Goose

    Mr. Goose: This reply refers to the blinking amber light after upgrading to 7.6.4.  I experienced the same thing, and after looking into the problem, I found that the cause was manually setting the channel for broadcast.  For some reason, my AE Gen 1, which is running in bridge mode to a Gen 5,  didn't like Channel 8 and the amber light was reporting that this configuration was no longer compatible (despite the fact that it worked fine previously).  I switched the configuration to Automatic Channel selection and the AE went back to solid green.  Go figure.

    -Brad