cayers63
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Q: Trying to add airport express to airport graphite

I am trying to add an airport express to an airport base station (1st generation? graphite 802.11 HR?) with a macbook running OS X 10.6.8, I can not open airport utility on the macbook, says it is not compatible with the operating system, also tried with my iPhone using Airport Utility, does not find the base station.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 31, 2014 7:32 AM

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cayers63

Q: Trying to add airport express to airport graphite

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Aug 31, 2014 7:09 PM in response to cayers63
    Level 9 (54,085 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 31, 2014 7:09 PM in response to cayers63

    The AirPort "Graphite," which looks very much like an 802.11g AirPort Extreme base station is gray in color, not white. It also only supports 802.11b. What is the actual model of your AirPort Express and what is your goal in adding the Express? The current AirPort Utility on either a Mac or iOS device is NOT compatible with either the 802.11b or 802.11g AirPorts.

     

    Apple_graphite_airport_base_station_front.jpg

  • by cayers63,

    cayers63 cayers63 Sep 1, 2014 7:14 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2014 7:14 AM in response to Tesserax

    Thank you, I am trying to extend my wifi capability with the airport express, my airport base station is located in my basement as that is where my cable modem is located, I was hoping to use the express to expand the wifi signal so that we can receive the signal in the further reaches of the house.. The base station I have looks just like the picture you provided except that it is white, the model is a M8440 and the manual I received with it states it is compliant with 802.11 HR Direct Spread Spectrum (DSSS) 11 Mbps standard and 802.11 DSSS 1 and 2 Mbps standard.

  • by cayers63,

    cayers63 cayers63 Sep 1, 2014 7:17 AM in response to Tesserax
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    Sep 1, 2014 7:17 AM in response to Tesserax

    Additionally the Airport Express model is an A1392.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 1, 2014 8:59 AM in response to cayers63
    Level 9 (54,085 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 1, 2014 8:59 AM in response to cayers63

    Sorry, but the 802.11b AirPort base stations, either the Graphite M5757 or Dual Ethernet M8440, can not be extended. As a minimum, you would need a 1st generation 802.11n AirPort Extreme base station (A1143) in order to do so.

  • by cayers63,

    cayers63 cayers63 Sep 2, 2014 3:33 AM in response to Tesserax
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    Sep 2, 2014 3:33 AM in response to Tesserax

    Thank you. If I buy a new airport extreme base station will it work with the airport express model A1392 and with computers running OS X 10.6.8?

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 2, 2014 8:46 AM in response to cayers63
    Level 9 (54,085 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 2, 2014 8:46 AM in response to cayers63

    Yes and no. The latest 802.11ac AirPort Extreme will work with both the AirPort Express and computers running OS X 10.6.x, BUT you will not be able to administer the new base station unless you have a Mac running 10.7.5+.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Sep 2, 2014 12:38 PM in response to cayers63
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 2, 2014 12:38 PM in response to cayers63

    In addition to the information that Tesserax has provided, it is also possible to administer the new AirPort Extreme with an iPad or iPhone running iOS 6 or higher.....if you have one handy.

     

    Setup and Administration

    • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 6 or later and AirPort Utility 1.3

         or

    • Mac with OS X Lion v10.7.5 or later and AirPort Utility 6.3

  • by cayers63,

    cayers63 cayers63 Sep 2, 2014 1:34 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2014 1:34 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Excellent, very helpful, I thank you both!