old airport express: (2004) rapidly flashing green light

Question

old airport express: (2004) rapidly flashing green light

Anyone know what could be wrong? What does a rapidly flashing green light mean on an older airport express? Worked fine since it was purchased, to extend an existing network (from the old airport, the one that looks like a hershey's kiss, also from 2004) but today started this: The express does not appear to be working...rapidly flashing green light. This was sudden. Is there something to fix, reset or is does this mean the airport express is done? If I get a new airport express and use it with the older extreme, are they going to be compatible, or might I have to change them both out?

powerbook 12", mirrored doors desktop, imac24/3.gh, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 29, 2009 4:06 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 29, 2009 4:21 PM in response to Sharon Chard-Yaron

Sharon Chard-Yaron wrote:
What does a rapidly flashing green light mean on an older airport express?

A light that flashes green for one second is supposed to indicate that the AirPort unit is starting up. Flashing for longer than that could be due to the unit being configured to flash the light to represent network activity in AirPort Utility's AirPort panel, Base station tab, Options button.

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 29, 2009 4:56 PM in response to Sharon Chard-Yaron

Sharon Chard-Yaron wrote:
I understand what you mean, but only the base station is recognized right now..the extreme is not showing up; it was showing up earlier though.

When you mention "the extreme", do you really mean your AirPort Express? I'd try connecting to it with an Ethernet cable to see if that allows you to see it from AirPort Utility.

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 29, 2009 5:15 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

ok, the extreme works fine, it's the express that doesn't show up..it did show up earlier today, but things were starting to be shaky with the connection; now it just flashes rapidly (the green light).

I tried connecting with ethernet-- says it's connected but it is not connected.
any ideas?

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 29, 2009 7:26 PM in response to Sharon Chard-Yaron

Sharon Chard-Yaron wrote:
I tried connecting with ethernet-- says it's connected but it is not connected.

I'm not at all sure what you mean by that, particularly with the multiple uses of "it".

Reply

Answer 5

Nov 29, 2009 8:28 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

thanks for taking the time to address this...
"it"... the express.... still rapid flashing green light; none of the computers in the house "see" the express; the wireless that is working now is only from the extreme; the express was used to extend the existing network; I have a feeling the express is "done"... it has been ok since the summer of 2004- first time it is a problem.

Do you know what the flashing (rapid) green light means?

Reply

Answer 6

Nov 30, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Sharon Chard-Yaron

Sharon Chard-Yaron wrote:
"it"... the express.... still rapid flashing green light; none of the computers in the house "see" the express; the wireless that is working now is only from the extreme; the express was used to extend the existing network; I have a feeling the express is "done"... it has been ok since the summer of 2004- first time it is a problem.

Do you know what the flashing (rapid) green light means?

According to the electronic book Take Control of Your 802.11n AirPort Network v1.6 (www.takecontrolbooks.com/airport-n), the light of an AirPort base station blinks green for three reasons: (1) at startup for one second, (2) when reset by having the reset button pushed in long enough, and (3) to show network activity if it is configured that way.

You may have found a fourth reason: when it's broken. 😟

I'll guess that you've tried connecting a computer to that AirPort Express with an Ethernet cable and still can't see it in AirPort Utility.

The last thing I'd try before throwing the Express away is to press in its reset button for 10-20 seconds while applying power to see if a "factory reset" can restore it to usefulness.

I have no financial relationship with Take Control Books other than that of a customer.

Reply

Answer 7

Nov 30, 2009 12:37 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

Hi William- thanks! I think #4 is the answer. I just bought a new one and it does work fine;will try the 30 second reset (with a paperclip, like in the old mac plus days ejecting a disk..) and see if that works--if it does I'll let you know. Thanks for spending so much time on this.

Sharon

Reply

Answer 8

Nov 29, 2009 4:29 PM in response to William-Boyd-Jr

I understand what you mean, but only the base station is recognized right now..the extreme is not showing up; it was showing up earlier though.

Reply