Airport Extreme - Cannot join a wireless network

Question

Level 1

22 points

Airport Extreme - Cannot join a wireless network

I just purchased the Airport Extreme and cannot get it to find a wireless network. In the Airport Utility I receive the following messages, "Joining a wireless network….An error occurred joining the selected wireless network.". I cannot proceed past this point. When I select "manual" configure I get the same error message. I've tried repeatedly disconnecting the cable & power from the modem and the airport extreme and then restarting but nothing happens. Any advice would be appreciated!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Nov 11, 2009 7:48 PM

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Answer 1

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Nov 11, 2009 8:16 PM in response to MarkB

The AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) does not support the "join a wireless network" feature.

The AirPort Express (AX) and Time Capsule do support that feature. However, that does not enable the Ethernet port(s) on those devices.

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Answer 2

Nov 11, 2009 8:37 PM in response to MarkB

As Duane mentions, the "join" setting may appear as an option, but it is non-functional. This is unfortunate.

Are you able to connect the AEBS using ethernet or ethernet powerline adapters?

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Answer 3

MarkB Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 11, 2009 8:45 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I believe the AEBS is connected via the ethernet but is not paring with my imac. The utilities does not proceed past the "join" option. No other options are available.

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Answer 4

Nov 11, 2009 9:05 PM in response to MarkB

Sorry, I am confused. Did you try to configure the AirPort Extreme to "join a wireless network" when you were setting up, or are you talking about something else?

How will your network be configured? Will the AEBS be connected to a modem or another router?

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Answer 5

MarkB Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 11, 2009 9:15 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I connected the ethernet cable that is connected to my cable modem. Next I opened the AEBS Utilities program. The utilities program found the AEBS (always on the second try). When I select "continue" to configure, the message appears, " Joining a wireless network….then...An error occurred joining the selected wireless network." No other options are available.

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Answer 6

Nov 11, 2009 9:25 PM in response to MarkB

If you have a cable modem, you will need to power it off for at least 15-20 minutes and pull the battery if is has one as it is remembering the last device (probably your computer) that is was connected to. Power it back up after 20 minutes and connect the ethernet cable to the WAN port on the AEBS.

Suggest you do a factory default reset to clear the corrupted settings and start over again on the AEBS

Power down the AEBS
Hold in the reset button +and keep holding it in+ as you plug the power back in
Release the reset button after approximately 8-10 seconds

Temporarily, connect an ethernet cable from your computer to one of the LAN <-> ports on the AEBS to help AirPort Utility connect with the device.

You will be configuring the AEBS to "Share a public IP address" and "create a wireless network. The guided setup will step you through.

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Answer 7

MarkB Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 11, 2009 9:44 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob, that worked!

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