Airport Utility does not detect Airport Express

Question

Airport Utility does not detect Airport Express

I just bought a Macbook Pro and I purchased the Airport Express in order to be able to connect to the internet wireless. When I click on the Airport Utility, it does not recognize the Airport Express Base Station. The first time I plugged in Airport Express, the Airport Utility recognized it. Then I may have installed some updates (not sure because when I started up mac, it said I needed all these updates so I just let it run). My computer is right next to the airport express so it cannot be a issue with the distance. In addition I tried the reset. The airport express shows a green color as well. Any help would be appreciated.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on May 13, 2008 12:03 PM

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Answer 1

May 13, 2008 12:06 PM in response to passion4dance

I also have connection to comcast through a cable modem.

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Answer 2

May 13, 2008 1:54 PM in response to passion4dance

The most common overlooked fix is to click on the Airport menu in the menu bar and see how many networks show up there.
Join the network that is your Airport Express and then configure the AX to join your existing network so you don't have more than one network showing in the menu. (unless of course you are nearby to other networks in your location)...

Joseph Kriz

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Answer 3

May 14, 2008 10:51 AM in response to Joseph Kriz

Thanks for the information.

I brought my airport express to work and from here my Airport Utility recognizes the Base Station. I do not understand why it does not recognize it from home. I will try it again from home tonight.

How do you know which network is your airport express?

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Answer 4

May 14, 2008 11:04 AM in response to passion4dance

Each base station has a name and number.
You obviously can change the name of the network in the Airport Utility if you can get a hold of the base station.

The default name is something like "Apple 86d83c"
Look at the names of available networks in the airport menu.
Reset the Express again if necessary.

Joseph Kriz

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Answer 5

May 15, 2008 1:26 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

I was able to get my airport utility to recognize my airport express when I plugged it in at work. i went home last night and plugged in my airport express and my computer recognized it. Then I plugged in my cable modem to the airport express and restarted my computer. My airport utility no longer recognized my airport express. I'm not sure why this is so hard to use. Looks like it might be going to the mac store because I can't even get it to recognize that I have it.

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Answer 6

Totem

Level 2

409 points

May 16, 2008 9:27 PM in response to passion4dance

Make sure that you powercycle the modem. Unplug the modem. Wait a half-a-minute, and then plug it back in again. You should do this while the airport is plugged in and connected to the modem.

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Answer 7

May 21, 2008 7:35 PM in response to Totem

Okay I did this and the light turned green. But my airport utility still does not recognize the device.

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Answer 8

May 26, 2008 9:09 AM in response to passion4dance

I have an Airport Extreme base station connected to a fixed wireless modem which works fine. I just bought an Airport Express to extend the network with WDS. The Express acts normal when plugged in: green light, solid amber light, but then flashing amber light. Airport Utility does not recognize the Express. Since my machine has no built-in Airport there is no Airport Status menu bar or Airport item in System Preferences including Network. Airport Utility does not recognize the Airport Express. MAC Address Access Control is Not Enabled, but I entered the Airport ID of the Express to be sure and then reset it to Not Enabled. I have tried hard reset on the Express a couple of times.

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Answer 9

May 27, 2008 6:28 AM in response to Arthur Frain

I took my Airport Express back to the store to have them check it out and they could not get it to work either. They are ordering me a new one.

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Answer 10

May 27, 2008 6:29 AM in response to passion4dance

Take airport express back to the store. Mine did not work and they are replacing it.

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Answer 11

May 31, 2008 8:44 PM in response to passion4dance

I received a new airport express because they could not get it to recognize it in the store either. The same thing is happening. Light is green. When I plug it in for the first time Airport Utility recognizes it. When it tries to restart it never finds it again.

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Answer 12

DaleB

Level 1

31 points

Jun 3, 2008 8:21 AM in response to passion4dance

Just a thought...uh, oh:

Have you checked your MAC (Media Access Control) addresses to see if the are possibly be blocked by your router ?

DaleB

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Answer 13

Jun 4, 2008 7:13 AM in response to DaleB

Looks like a defect in the airport express. The airport express base station disappears in the airport utility everytime it tries to restart. This was happening if I selected to have the configuration that is defaulted. When I selected to manually conifgure my airport base station in airport utility, it went away but then I could add the network for the base station back in by selecting it and entering the password and then it showed back up and worked.

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