bgmspd

Q: setting up time capsule and wired airport express after power outage

I have a 2tb Time Capsule and three (3) wired airport express throughout my house.  I know when i first added the wired express i had to call apple to change some setting.  Now i can't get service because they are over a year old and after a recent power outage (two or three) quick on/off's all the airport expresses will no longer connect and a bunch of my settings seem to have changed on the Time Capsule.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

iPhone 6, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 14, 2016 5:47 AM

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Q: setting up time capsule and wired airport express after power outage

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 14, 2016 9:16 AM in response to bgmspd
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 14, 2016 9:16 AM in response to bgmspd

    If you believe there are setting changes, then it would be best to start over.

     

    • First, you will want to perform a "factory default" reset on all of your base stations. This will get them back to their "out-of-the-box" configuration. Once completed, leave them all powered-off.
    • Next, we will want to set up the Time Capsule (TC). Since it has been reset, it will broadcast an unsecured Wi-Fi network with a network name of something like: Apple Network NNNNNN.
    • Use the AirPort Utility on your iPhone, Mac, or PC to configure the TC as a standalone wireless router. That is, configure it to provide a secured Wi-Fi network.
    • Once the TC has been configured, verify that your network clients can gain Internet access with it.
    • If successful, continue with the next step. If not, stop and post back your results.
    • We are now going to configure all of your base stations for a roaming network.
    • Power-up one of the three AirPort Express base stations.
    • Again, you will need to use the AirPort Utility to continue. The utility should now find the Express, and if all goes well, it will offer to use the Express to extend the TC using Ethernet. This is what you want and just go through the automated steps to the "Setup Complete" window. Then click on Done.
    • Do the same for the remaining two Express base stations.
  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 14, 2016 10:23 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 14, 2016 10:23 AM in response to Tesserax

    Thank you for your response.  I do recall when i initially set up all the express units i had the option to select ethernet however i don't have that option now and they all default to wireless even though i have the ethernet cable plugged in.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 15, 2016 8:52 AM in response to bgmspd
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 15, 2016 8:52 AM in response to bgmspd

    Temporarily bring all of the Express base stations to the location of the TC. Connect them, one-at-a-time, to the TC using an Ethernet cable. Then try using the AirPort Utility to configure them.

  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 15, 2016 1:47 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 15, 2016 1:47 PM in response to Tesserax

    So all three were able to connect directly to the TC via ethernet.  Upon returning them to their locations afterward, two of the three went back to a green light but did not show up on AP utility and the third never got off yellow.  Nothing was changed after the power went out and this setup has been working flawlessly for over a year.  Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 15, 2016 3:29 PM in response to bgmspd
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 15, 2016 3:29 PM in response to bgmspd

    I would now suspect the Ethernet connections between the TC and the other Ethernet outlets. Either the cable runs are bad or incorrectly wired for CAT5 or CAT6 or the Ethernet termination points are faulty. A good Ethernet cable tester would come in handy here.

     

    Are any or all of the Ethernet wall outlets multi-purpose? That, is do they have more than one jack. For example, one for Ethernet and the other for land-line phone service?

  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 15, 2016 3:55 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 15, 2016 3:55 PM in response to Tesserax

    They are all cat6 and test out good.  Not sure if it matters but i lay out this system real quick.  Modem directly to TC one port on TC to 8 port switch and then 3 ports of the switch run directly to the three AE.  I do recall having to make some modifications (setting wise) when this was set up but i had the assistance of Apple when doing so and like i said all work flawlessly until we had the power "flicker" three times quickly one night.  I don't recall the setting change but all the units are set with the same SSID and password so that it is one large seamless network throughout the house.

     

    I was just reading somewhere where the AE are setup to create a new network but that setup doesn't work and triggers 3 errors when i tried that.

     

    And each cat6 goes to singe port on the wall nothing else in the box or on the all plate. 

     

    Again i greatly appreciate your help as i try to get this

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 15, 2016 4:08 PM in response to bgmspd
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 15, 2016 4:08 PM in response to bgmspd

    They are all cat6 and test out good.

    ... but have they been tested since the power outage?

    Modem directly to TC one port on TC to 8 port switch and then 3 ports of the switch run directly to the three AE.

    What is the make & model of the modem? I assume that the cable coming from this modem is directly connected to the TC's WAN (circle-of-dots) port ... correct? From there you have an Ethernet cable connected to one of the TC's LAN (opposing arrows) port to an 8-port Ethernet switch. Finally each of the Express base stations are connected back to the same switch.

    ...all work flawlessly until we had the power "flicker" three times quickly one night.  I don't recall the setting change but all the units are set with the same SSID and password so that it is one large seamless network throughout the house.

    ... and they shouldn't change due to either a power brownout or blackout. The settings you describe would be that for a roaming network. In a roaming network each base station used would be in bridge mode except for the "main" base station that is performing as a router. This would be your TC. All base stations would broadcast their own Wi-Fi network, but all of these network would use the same network name and wireless security type & password. This way all wireless clients just "see" one wireless network.

    I was just reading somewhere where the AE are setup to create a new network but that setup doesn't work and triggers 3 errors when i tried that.

    Not sure why that is happening. I believe you said that was not the case when you connected all of the Express base stations directly to the TC ... correct? If so, then it still indicates something amiss with the Ethernet wiring or the Ethernet switch.

  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 16, 2016 4:53 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 16, 2016 4:53 AM in response to Tesserax

    - Yes they have all been tested since the power outage. 

    -Arris CM820A (i purchased this modem to and it's being used with Xfinity)

    -Yes it is supposed to be a roaming network

    -When i again connected the AE directly to the TC last night to set up a "new network" on the AE, two of them said they could not connect to the internet although they were directly connected to the TC.  I was given a message to reboot the router to resolve the internet connection however everything connected to the switch was working fine, this includes pool automation, apple TV's, and home surveillance system.  But when i tried to extend the network via the same connection, the same two were able to "extend" the network via ethernet.  The third connects via ethernet then when i put it back where it belongs it connects wireless only, even though it's connected with the ethernet.

     

    Is there a way i could start trouble shooting equipment if that is possibly a problem.  It's tough because we have a house where wireless isn't great, hence all the wired AE,s and anything else i can have wired.  Thanks for the help.

     

    Bernie

  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 16, 2016 5:16 AM in response to bgmspd
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 16, 2016 5:16 AM in response to bgmspd

    Correction - Arris TM822G modem

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 16, 2016 7:51 AM in response to bgmspd
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 16, 2016 7:51 AM in response to bgmspd

    Ok, let's try this.

    • Power-down the Express base stations. Again bring them to the same room as the TC.
    • Disconnect all Ethernet cables from the TC except the one going to the modem.
    • Perform a "factory default" reset on one of the Express base stations.
    • Once completed, remove the Express from power, and then, connect it to one of the TC's LAN ports.
    • Using the AirPort Utility configure the Express with the TC for a roaming network.
    • Verify that you can gain Internet access in this manner.
    • If successful, power-down the Express, and then, connect the Ethernet cable to another one of the TC's LAN ports.
    • Test for Internet access again.
    • Do the same for the last TC LAN port.
    • Please post back your results.
  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 16, 2016 8:51 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 16, 2016 8:51 AM in response to Tesserax

    can you please confirm the AE settings for the roaming network so i ensure this is correct.

  • by Tesserax,Solvedanswer

    Tesserax Tesserax Sep 17, 2016 9:36 AM in response to bgmspd
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 17, 2016 9:36 AM in response to bgmspd

    Sure, here you go. For each of the Express base stations:

    • Base Station tab
      • Enter a unique name for the base station. I suggest that you keep it simple, like AX1, AX2, AX3 for each of the Express base stations.
    • Internet tab
      • Connect Using: DHCP
    • Wireless tab
      • Network Mode: Create a wireless network
      • Wireless Network Name: <The name you use must be the same on all base stations. Again, I suggest that you use a name that is fairly simple. Do not use spaces or special characters for the name.>
      • Wireless Password:  <enter the same password for all base stations>
      • Verify Password: <enter the same password for all base stations>
    • Network tab
      • Router Mode: Off (Bridge Mode)
  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 16, 2016 9:13 AM in response to bgmspd
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 16, 2016 9:13 AM in response to bgmspd

    Upon following your directions to the letter, 2 of the AE's upon connecting the ethernet completely set themselves up and worked on all three ports on the TC.  The third AE would not work on any of the ports no matter what i did.  I'm guessing i have a bad AE at this point?  And is it possible for this AE to mess up the rest of the network once connected?

     

    I am going to place the two working AE's back in their locations now and i'll let you know if they stay connected properly.

  • by bgmspd,

    bgmspd bgmspd Sep 17, 2016 9:37 AM in response to bgmspd
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 17, 2016 9:37 AM in response to bgmspd

    So when i placed all three AE's in their location they all initially set up but the status light stayed yellow.  Then when i checked back a while later, all three AE's were green and up and running perfectly.  I can't explain this but thank's for the help.

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