WithGratitude
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: AirPort Express client mode setup failure.

I am failing to setup an AirPort Express base station to deliver AirPlay content to a stereo.

 

 

Here is the process (based on the information at http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201621) that isn't working:

- First, I shut down my computer (an early 2011 13-inch MacBook pro running OS X Yosemite version 10.10.2).

- Then I unplug the AirPort Express unit (model A1264) from the electrical outlet and unplug the audio jack from the AirPort Express unit.

- Then I cut power to my modem and wireless router.

- Then I return power to my modem and wireless router.

- Then I plug the audio cable back into the AirPort Express unit.

- Then I hold down the reset button on the AirPort Express unit while plugging it back into the electrical outlet. When the light rapidly flashes amber, I release the reset button. The AirPort Express unit starts up and eventually the light slowly flashes amber.

- Then I start up my computer.

- Then I make sure computer's WiFi is on and that it is using the network that I want the AirportExpress unit to join.

- Then I click on the "AirPort Express" within the WiFi menu. This opens the AirPort Utility application (version 6.3.4) which prepares the AirPort Express base station for configuration.

- When the AirPort Utility application offers me the apparent opportunity to configure the AirPort Express unit as the basis of a new network (which I do not want to do), I click the "Other Options" button.

- Then I select "Add to an existing network" and click "Next."

- Then I set the "Connect to" drop down menu to the desired network and click "next."

- Then I create the Base Station Name, provide the desired network's password, and click "Next."

- After about two minutes, the AirPort Utility provides the following message: "An unexpected error occurred. Try again." (I have tried again, and again, and again... Always with the same result.)

- Having read that AirPort Express base stations are sometimes more readily setup with the use of iOS, I tried using an iPad to do so. I received the same error message on the iPad.

 

 

Please advise.

Posted on Feb 15, 2015 12:03 AM

Close
WithGratitude

Q: AirPort Express client mode setup failure.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Feb 15, 2015 2:50 AM in response to WithGratitude
    Level 9 (52,531 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 15, 2015 2:50 AM in response to WithGratitude
    - When the AirPort Utility application offers me the apparent opportunity to configure the AirPort Express unit as the basis of a new network (which I do not want to do), I click the "Other Options" button.

    You are too far away from the main router..

     

    You should be presented with the best setup that is possible.. but if the main router is not an airport you can have a problem.

     

    I recommend you do the setup closer to the main router. Same room even.. you can move it once setup is complete but it still might not work.

     

    What is the main router btw?? What is the wireless setup of it?

     

    Join a wireless network is never as good as extend.. where apple routers get to work with each other so it can be difficult..

     

    No luck do you have a Mac running older airport utility or even a windows computer.. because 5.6 utility is hugely superior for this setup if the auto fails.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 15, 2015 6:57 AM in response to WithGratitude
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 15, 2015 6:57 AM in response to WithGratitude

    The procedure that you are using appears to be correct, so there are several possibilities here:

     

    Your existing wireless network is using settings....likely wireless security settings....that are not compatible with the default security settings on the AirPort Express.

     

    To see if that might be the issue, temporarily turn off wireless security on your network, so that a password is not required to connect and run through the setup of the AirPort Express to see if it will join the network with no security.

     

    If it will.....then you know that there is a wireless security setting mismatch between the default settings for the AirPort Express which are WPA/WPA 2 Personal and your router's settings. The Express should join either a WPA network or a WPA2 network correctly.

     

    Your wireless router settings might use the same type of settings, or different settings like WPA2 - PSK - AES, or WPA - PSK - TKIP, to it may take some experimentation to find compatible settings for your wireless router and AirPort Express.

     

    However.....if the AirPort Express will not join the network correctly as a test when there is no security.....then it is not hard to conclude that it will never join the network when security is enabled. If that is the case, you either have a defective Express (unlikely, since you can make it most of the way through the setup), or the AirPort Express is simply not compatible with your wireless router.

     

    This does happen.....two devices both appear to have the correct settings, yet those two devices will not work together. We are seeing this more and more.

  • by WithGratitude,

    WithGratitude WithGratitude Feb 15, 2015 9:56 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2015 9:56 AM in response to LaPastenague

    Thanks, LaPastenague, for your consideration and suggestion. The router is a Netgear WNDR3800, typically setup with WPA2 security. It creates both a 2.4GHz network and a 5GHz network. (I am trying to associate the AirPort Express unit with the 2.4GHz network.)


    Despite the fact that this AirPort Express unit has in the recent past functioned in its customary location, I went ahead and moved it into the same room as the router (within 2 feet of it) and still failed to successfully configure the AirPort Express unit. There was one difference, however: The setup process within AirPort Utility asked me for the network password, which it had not previously done. Yet unfortunately it still notified me (as always): "An unexpected error occurred. Try again."


    ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈


    And thanks, Bob Timmons, for your consideration and guidance.


    I disabled the router's network security settings and went through the AirPort Express setup process. Unfortunately, I still received the same error message: "An unexpected error occurred. Try again."


    This AirPort Express has in the recent past (a week ago or so) been successfully (though often with intermittent streaming interruptions) connecting to this same router's network with the router's security mode set to "WPA2-PSK [AES]" (other security options include "WPA-PSK [TKIP]"; "WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]"; and "WPA/WPA2 Enterprise"). It recently stopped facilitating AirPlay altogether, which is why I am trying to reset and reestablish it. Because it previously worked, I suspect it is (at least to an intermittent extent) compatible with the router.


    Any further thoughts, suggestions, and/or diagnoses?


  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 15, 2015 10:01 AM in response to WithGratitude
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 15, 2015 10:01 AM in response to WithGratitude
    I disabled the router's network security settings and went through the AirPort Express setup process. Unfortunately, I still received the same error message: "An unexpected error occurred. Try again."

     

    Then, the AirPort Express is defective and will need to be replaced.

     

    If a replacement Express behaves the same, you have an incompatible router situation between products.  It happens, more and more.

  • by WithGratitude,

    WithGratitude WithGratitude Feb 15, 2015 11:22 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2015 11:22 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks for the insight. I'll work to obtain a replacement unit.

  • by WithGratitude,

    WithGratitude WithGratitude Feb 15, 2015 11:50 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2015 11:50 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    While I didn't doubt your analysis, I went ahead and phoned Apple support to inquire about the issue and any possible solutions. They confirmed that the unit is defective (and well out of warranty). Their recommended solution is to purchase a new unit.