Q: Airport express drops off network

I will try to help but first I have to know the components of your network - please list the name and model number of your modem or modem/router and the model numbers and ages of all of your Apple products - I can then propose a solution - thanks

Thank you for your prompt reply.  I am writing from Australia where my WiFi network name is BigPond 0D61.  My modem is by NetGear, and was installed in 2011.

My Time Capsule 2TB was bought in 2011 and has the model number A1409.  One Airport Express was bought in 2011 and has the model number A1392; the second was bought a month ago and has the same model number (I think! Why does Apple have to put the model numbers and other information in such unbelievably small lettering?).

Please let me know if I can give you more information.

Ok - it is important that I know the Netgear device model number and exactly what kind of internet provider you have (Cable, DSL, etc.) because I am in the US and am not familiar with Australia - Thanks

On the box it states: Netgear Cable Home Network Gateway CG3100D-2BPAUS.

I looked up your Netgear device and it is a cable modem/wireless router - this will be a more difficult setup because as you probably know, you cannot extend a wireless network from a non Apple product - so we have to start from scratch and do some testing first - I am going to assume that your modem is set up properly and you have a wired computer connected to it - the only thing that I am worrying about is that your older apple routers are not just periodically electronically dropping the wireless signal - so we will start with your new Express - restore it to factory default by unplugging it and pushing in and holding the reset button with an open paperclip and plug it back in - when the light blinks yellow, release the reset button - now using your iPad, you will set up the Express - do not plug in an Ethernet cable yet - go to settings > wi-fi > you will see the Express at the bottom of the wireless network list - set it up to create a wireless network- this is tricky because is not the first choice - you must choose "other" and you will then see the "create" choice - name the network "testnetwork" - to connect via Ethernet and to extend the wireless network - use a simple password for security - allow all other default settings - once you are done, update and allow it to reboot - the light should be blinking yellow - this is ok - now unplug the Express and connect an Ethernet cable from a LAN port on the modem to the WAN port on the Express and plug the express back in - you should get a green light and see the "testnework" on your wireless devices and be able to connect them - you should also be able to connect a computer to the LAN port and access the internet - if this works, test it for 24 hours and let me know how you made out.

Thank you - I shall try that and get back to you.  Before I start, I should say that it is the Time Capsule that is connected to the modem, not the computer, and the wireless network extension is from the Time Capsule, not the modem. Does this make any difference?

No problem - we are basically just testing the modem using the new Express which should not have any issues - and make sure that you set it up in bridge mode - I will then ask you to do the same thing with the other 2 Apple routers to make sure that they are not the problem - then we will decide how to configure the entire network using as many routers as necessary - we will attempt to produce a seamless wireless network - the ideal situation would be to put your modem in bridge mode and let the Time capsule run the show but if you are not comfortable with that, then we can just turn off the wireless and create a wireless network with the Time capsule - or we can set it up the way that you have it and use the same network name as the modem or set up a new network name on the Time Capsule and other Apple devices - the bottom line  is that you have many workable alternatives.

Have you tried to , in your wireless router, set the channel from Automatic to a certain channel ?

I know it's been almost a year, but this helped so thanks!  It's gotta be for certain routers, because my router never had a problem with staying connected to it for AirTunes.  Once I updated the router (via my cable companies after a move), I couldn't get the darn thing to stay connected.  Assigned it a static ip and it actually shows up in the airport utility (v5.6.1) when using wireless to connect.  Good stuff... thanks again!

I have a two-year old AirPort Extreme and an older AirPort Express. I only use the AirPort Express to play music in another room. It has been working fine for a long time.

Then I did an update to my system and the AirPort Express was not displayed in iTunes. I went into AirPort Utility and It shows "Internet" on top, "AirPort Extreme" under that, and on the bottom it shows "AirPort Express." Next to the Express I get a pop-up saying "This version of AirPort Utility doesn't support this base station."

I don't understand what that means. The AirPort Express still has a green light on it. I simply want to use it to receive music from iTunes and play it. It don't want to use it as a base station.

Can someone tell me how to put it back on my network? Thank you.

I can't find the post now, but someone else recommended this and it worked for me:

Update your router to use WPA2-PSK [AES]. This is the only configuration that worked for me. Second, set your AirPort Express to Join your network using WPA2 Personal security. Again, this is the only configuration that worked. The WPA/WPA2 Personal setting did not work.

I have three airport expresses spread out through my home, set up as airplay devices. They worked 99% before the Maverick update... Since then they've really been terrible, dropping out constantly. Guessing this is a issue caused by Apple/Maverick. So i'll wait out a bit more for some future updates:-)

MY BACKUP PLAN: invest in some cables, drill some holes in the walls and connect those **** Airports the old fashioned way 

Scratch that: still having problems.

I bought this for the sole purpose of streaming music from my Mac and iPads/iPhones to my separates hi-fi system. When it works, it's brilliant - it would be a great solution to multi-room audio.

But (*and this is a big but*) the Airport Express is not compatible with the BT Home Hub 4 in client/bridge mode (i.e. when you try to "add to an existing network", problems ensue). It keeps losing its wifi connection details, dropping off the network, needing a soft reset to be found again most of the time. This happens 2 or 3 times day.

Online forums talk about changing to 5GHz, using static IP addresses etc: I tried everything (and I'm pretty technical). I even tried swapping the unit at an Apple store in case it was a dodgy wifi card, but the issue remains.

You can set up the AE to "create a new network", sure, but unless you hard-wire the AE into your router, this new network will have no internet access. My AE is on the other side of the room wired up to my stereo. It works fine on its own "Music" network, but to stream music I have to tell my Mac or iPad to come off my BT wifi internet network and join this Music one instead, then switch back when I'm done listening and want to go online.

Not ideal.

Planned Obsolescence,

SJ