Connection Failed - Airport Extreme

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Level 1

5 points

Connection Failed - Airport Extreme

I started to notice this after the last Firmware update I think. I've got a unibody Macbook, Airport exreme basestation.

Every few hours, i lose my connection to the base station, but not wireless. Internet is fine, i can get to iDisk, but I can't reach the AP or the Drobo hung off it. Time Machine fails, etc.

Airport utility works, I can connect and update the device. Sometimes simply forcing it to cycle works sometimes I have to unplug it. In both cases a few hours later, "Connection Failed"

unibody MacBook, MacBook Air, iPhone, iTouch, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jul 17, 2009 2:51 PM

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Answer 1

jwilker Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 24, 2009 12:33 PM in response to jwilker

No one? It's now to the point where I can't run Time Machine at all.

I connect (reboot the AP) all is well. a few minutes later, Finder can't connect to the Drobo that is attached to the AP. Internet works, iDisk works. Airport Utility works, but Finder can't connect.

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Answer 2

Jul 28, 2009 10:03 AM in response to jwilker

I seem to have exactly the same problem. Still looking for a solution though. Time Machine fails and it's impossible to mount the HDD via the Finder's Connect To... dialogue. Only thing that helps is doing a reset via Airport Utility.

There are three possible causes:
1. I turned off the Airport base and HDD during a 3,5 week long trip in order to save energy.
2. During that trip I got me a new MacBook Pro. Maybe this caused the problems ...
3. Right after setting up my MacBook Pro I did a lot of updates incl. the Airport Extreme Software Update to 7.4.2

I notice that Time Machine fails since that is my primary use of the wireless HDD.

Any help will be appreciated.

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Answer 3

Aug 1, 2009 11:16 AM in response to jwilker

Same exact problem. Since the last firmware upgrade my AirDisk is behaving exactly as described above -- making Time Machine worthless! It cannot back up anything!

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Answer 4

newcork

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0 points

Aug 2, 2009 5:41 AM in response to jwilker

same problem, it's definitely the firmware. i put it back to 7.4.1 using airport utility and the problem went away.

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Answer 5

Aug 2, 2009 6:53 AM in response to newcork

Where did you get the old firmware from? I searched around on apple.com but could not find a download link for it. Can you post a link here, please?

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Answer 6

jwilker Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 2, 2009 9:19 AM in response to newcork

If you've got the bits for 7.4.1 or can point us in the right direction, that would be awesome. Been googling, but most links head back to Apple's KB article on how to run Check for updates from the airport utility, weak.

Would love to go back to 7.4.1!!

Since Apple doesn't seem to mind that 7.4.2 *****

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Answer 7

jwilker Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 2, 2009 9:23 AM in response to newcork

If you've got the bits for 7.4.1 or can point us in the right direction, that would be awesome. Been googling, but most links head back to Apple's KB article on how to run Check for updates from the airport utility, weak.

Would love to go back to 7.4.1!!

Since Apple doesn't seem to mind that 7.4.2 *****

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Answer 8

jwilker Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 2, 2009 9:36 AM in response to newcork

Found a way to downgrade. if you click on the version section when manually configuring the AP, you'll get a list of firmware options, then you simply pick 7.4.1

That worked well, and I'm running Time Machine, right now, so fingers crossed.

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Answer 9

jwilker Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 2, 2009 9:38 AM in response to Helmut Reininger

Found a way to downgrade. if you click on the version section when manually configuring the AP, you'll get a list of firmware options, then you simply pick 7.4.1

That worked well, and I'm running Time Machine, right now, so fingers crossed.

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Answer 10

Aug 8, 2009 5:08 AM in response to jwilker

I have the exact same problem you guys mentioned. "Connection Failed" error after a while, unplugging the USB hard disk gets it working again. It only started after I upgraded to the last firmware version (7.4.2). Will attempt to downgrade to 7.4.1.

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Answer 11

CATMac69

Level 1

0 points

Aug 9, 2009 4:42 AM in response to jwilker

I've had the same problem since the OS update. My internet works fine, but I can't connect to the Time Capsule to back up, nor will Itunes fine remote speakers connected by airport express. I've found that this only happens when I have the charger disconnect. When I plug in, I can back up and connect to speakers.

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Answer 12

SJC1970

Level 1

0 points

Sep 5, 2009 6:55 AM in response to jwilker

Me too. Exactly as described elsewhere except that I don't get anything like a few hours before the issue appears. I've just downgraded the firmware so fingers crossed. Thought I'd post in the hope it'll be properly corrected in a future update

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Answer 13

catsaver

Level 1

9 points

Sep 7, 2009 7:07 AM in response to jwilker

How does this relate to "AirPort for Windows"?

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Answer 14

Sep 9, 2009 12:00 AM in response to newcork

Reverting to 7.4.1 from 7.4.2 fixed my issues as well. I was getting "connection failed" and when I unplugged AP or otherwise reset it, connection only lasted a few minutes.

Thanks. 7.4.1 Firmware FTW!

Message was edited by: count_schemula

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Answer 15

Chhas

Level 1

0 points

Sep 21, 2009 9:32 AM in response to jwilker

While it's not a fix I was having the same problems and unfortunately didn't read this page in time. I fixed the error by reformatting my time machine disk (off my airport extreme) and starting Time Machine from scratch - no errors now and everything is running smoothly. I lost all my old backups but hey that's life i suppose.

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