lisajoy
Level 2 (384 points)
Wireless

Q: Old Airport Express lost connection after router reset, can't be seen/accessed

the gear:

-Mid 2009 Macbook Pro, OS Yosemite 10.10.5, Airport Utility 6.3.5

-Existing wifi network through an older Ubiquiti AC wifi/router that gets internet from rooftop radio antenna from local ISP.

-old (1st gen?) A1084 Airport Express used solely as client to stream music from said Macbook.

 

I am a musician who has been using my old AEX to stream music and recording via Airplay and Airfoil to my Roland monitor speakers for years without trouble. I don't remember how i originally set it up, but i believe it was as client only... ie, it does not broadcast as its own wireless network or extend my existing wifi network etc, i just use it for streaming music.

 

Well, a week ago, a rogue disgruntled ex-employee of my local ISP hacked their radio tower and turned all of the customers routers into useless bricks (and also changed all of our wifi network names into a name that starts with "mother" and ends with "-ers", but that's another story).

The local ISP techs were able to get my router all re-set and working, but i had to reconfigure my wireless devices (example: wifi printer) from scratch to be able to connect to it again.

The stubborn hold out is that old Airport Express.

I'm trying to use instructions found online to get it connected again, but nothing is working.

Yes, i tried holding down Reset button for 10 seconds, etc... it just goes right back to either flashing amber or sometimes solid amber status light, and Airport Utility cannot see it. I tried connecting its ethernet port to a LAN port on the router to see if Airport Utility would see it then, no change, Airport Utility claims no base stations found. There is no Airport icon in my menu bar, and no Airplay icons in any relevant app such as iTunes.

 

I seem to recollect that in past i've been able to reset/reconnect it after network changes (i don't remember how). BTW, its location is within just a couple feet of the router, so hooking it up by ethernet is easy if need be.

 

Again, i only want it for streaming music and monitoring recordings from my Macbook. The Rolands aren't in a handy location to hardwire. As you can tell by the age of my stuff, i'm a starving musician, don't want to have to buy something new.

 

Help?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), 8 gb RAM 2.53 GHZ 500GB HD

Posted on Jun 14, 2016 9:53 PM

by lisajoy,Solvedanswer
lisajoy lisajoy
Level 2 (384 points)
Wireless
A:

SOLVED!

(I don't give up easy!)

for the benefit of others who actually still have their ten-year-old AEX's, the following link leads to a nifty little app that allows Yosemite (and Mavericks) to launch old AU version 5.6.1, which can configure the 1st Gen AEXs, without harming/disabling the current version or anything else.

Tho the page header says Mavericks, it worked just fine on Yosemite. I did have to connect the AEX to my macbook by ethernet to do it.

It took me less than two minutes to download, run, and get the AEX up and running again.

Here's the link:

http://coreyjmahler.com/2013/10/24/airport-utility-5-6-1-on-os-x-10-9-mavericks/

Posted on Jun 16, 2016 1:36 PM

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lisajoy

Q: Old Airport Express lost connection after router reset, can't be seen/accessed

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by chris_g1,

    chris_g1 chris_g1 Jun 15, 2016 10:48 AM in response to lisajoy
    Community Specialists
    Jun 15, 2016 10:48 AM in response to lisajoy

    Hello lisajoy,

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. I see that you're experiencing some issues connecting with your AirPort Express. You've done a great job trying to get this resolved on your own! I am happy to help.

     

    To resolve issues getting the AirPort connected please try the steps in this link:

     

    AirPort Express: How to join an existing Wi-Fi network in client mode

     

    If you get connected and experience any issues using AirPlay and iTunes heres some additional information:

     

    Wi-Fi base stations: How to set up and configure AirPort Express for AirPlay and iTunes

     

    Have a fantastic day!

  • by lisajoy,

    lisajoy lisajoy Jun 15, 2016 2:33 PM in response to chris_g1
    Level 2 (384 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 15, 2016 2:33 PM in response to chris_g1

    As per my post, AIrport Utilty does not see the AEX.

    The above solutions only work if Airport Utility can see/access the AEX.

    Have tried multiple times to reset the AEX and try AU again. no luck.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 15, 2016 3:06 PM in response to lisajoy
    Level 6 (14,350 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 15, 2016 3:06 PM in response to lisajoy

    There are several types of reset that one may perform on an AirPort base.

     

    • Resetting an AirPort base station FAQ - Apple Support

     

    Did you try a hard reset?

    One of the resets will remove all details of the previous configuration.

     

    You would generally have to attach the AirPort Express to the Mac

    in order to use the Airport setup utility; so that would be by a cable.

     

    I've not reset my AirPort Express in some time; usually I can turn off

    the power to it (and also to the internet provider modem) for a time,

    and then turn it back on. Haven't had to do much else; the problem

    with mine has been mostly with the ISP at some distance from me.

     

    Not sure what you tried or how you went about it. So that's an invisible

    factor that makes the choice of words, or lack thereof, pale.

     

    {Sounds like you had a fun time with the ISP and their former employee.}

     

    At some point, the old early model AirPort Express (esp if first run) may

    just up & fail. Sometimes you can find a good working used one cheap.

     

    And it is good to have a known-good spare on hand just in case. Recently

    I noticed the online Apple Store's refurbish page had AirPort Express for a

    discount ($49) compared to retail; has full guaranty too; better than used.

     

    Sorry to not be of much help. Hopefully someone with more expertise

    can offer in-depth advice.

     

    Good luck!

  • by lisajoy,

    lisajoy lisajoy Jun 15, 2016 10:54 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 2 (384 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 15, 2016 10:54 PM in response to K Shaffer

    K, your link was helpful in at least diagnosing the problem, because it gave me the full series of reset options... 

    Neither AU nor the wifi menu saw the AEX after soft and hard resets, but finally Factory Reset allowed the AEX to at least be seen in the Wifi network menu, at which point i selected it, and up popped an AU window that informed me that my version of AU (6.3.5)  does not support my AEX (which i think is a 1st Gen).

    (why the heck isn't this info elsewhere!?! It wasn't in the Apple AEX configuration support docs, either)

    Apparently when i upgraded to Yosemite i upgraded past past the ability to reconfigure this AEX....?

     

    Any way i can download an older version of AU to be able to configure the AEX, or am i just stuck? 

     

    Since i only use it to stream music, if i have to replace it, it will probably be with a cheaper wifi streaming adapter; i found some on Amazon.

    Dang.

    thanks, at least i know what the issue is now.

     

    PS, that ex-employee? well. the ISP tower is FCC radio gear, hence he was interfering with Federal Communications, so he'll be up on federal charges, including charges of domestic terrorism. Hope it was fun for him for about a minute, cuz now he faces federal prison.... ! And the ISP was caught with its security pants down- scores or hundreds of customers with no internet and their home wifi networks renamed "Motherf****ers", and all their devices needing reconfig, were not too pleased.... ah, well, life in a small town.

  • by lisajoy,Solvedanswer

    lisajoy lisajoy Jun 16, 2016 1:36 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 2 (384 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 16, 2016 1:36 PM in response to K Shaffer

    SOLVED!

    (I don't give up easy!)

    for the benefit of others who actually still have their ten-year-old AEX's, the following link leads to a nifty little app that allows Yosemite (and Mavericks) to launch old AU version 5.6.1, which can configure the 1st Gen AEXs, without harming/disabling the current version or anything else.

    Tho the page header says Mavericks, it worked just fine on Yosemite. I did have to connect the AEX to my macbook by ethernet to do it.

    It took me less than two minutes to download, run, and get the AEX up and running again.

    Here's the link:

    http://coreyjmahler.com/2013/10/24/airport-utility-5-6-1-on-os-x-10-9-mavericks/

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 16, 2016 4:04 PM in response to lisajoy
    Level 6 (14,350 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 16, 2016 4:04 PM in response to lisajoy

    This may be helpful, should I need to set my early edition AirPort Express from

    my latest Mac  (Late 2012 Mini 2.3GHz i7) that still runs Mavericks 10.9.5. At

    this time, the AirPort is administered by an old Mac(s) that have Leopard 10.5.8

    and the AirPort Utility is good at that level.

     

    With several older G4 Macs, the latest OS X is 10.5.8; and one early Intel Mac

    that also runs a 10.5.8 version. So I didn't want to use a later AirPort utility that

    could mess with my ability to administer from those four older Macs.

     

    Thank you for the information. + Glad you were able to resolve the issue by yourself..!