Problem getting AirPort Express configured

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Problem getting AirPort Express configured

Bob Timmons helped me with another question http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2265969&tstart=0 but since the problem changed, I thought that I'd start a fresh question. I've tried Bob's suggestions in his last post at the above thread, but without success.

Here is a recap:
I have an AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS) that is connected to my ISP and I want to add an AirPort Express (AE) to feed music via AirTunes to my stereo. Both the AEBS and the AE are about 30 feet away from the iMac that is my source, and the two devices are about 6 feet apart from each other.

I've tried adding the AE as a remote to the AEBS and it "seems" to be successful but the LED on the AE just stays as amber pulsing, never turning green. AirTunes never connects, and AirPort Utility (AU) eventually returns the following error message:

"An error occurred while reading the configuration. Make sure your Apple wireless device is plugged in and in range of your computer or connected via Ethernet and try again. (-6753)"

I posted question about the -6753 error code and Tesserax has suggested turning off my Firewall. I will try that shortly. However, I can't get the AE to respond to AU by either connecting it to the iMac via Ethernet cables or wireless when sitting 1 inch from the iMac. If turning off the Firewall doesn't help, I wonder if the AE is defective and if I should get another one.

Active: iMac (G5, G4), Powerbook G4, iPhone, iPod, MP2100 Retired: iMac G3, A2c, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Mac OS 10.5.8, Mac OS 9.2.2, iPhone OS 3.0, Newton OS 2.1

Posted on Dec 16, 2009 7:46 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 16, 2009 8:55 AM in response to romad

+I wonder if the AE is defective and if I should get another one.+

When the AirPort Express (AX) cannot be accessed by AirPort Utility either by wireless or ethernet connection, the only option left at that point is to try a Factory Default Reset to return the device to factory fresh settings and then try again to configure the device.

Repeated attempts to reset the device may sometimes cause the AX to temporarily "lock up". A power down period of 30-45 minutes will usually resolve the lock up in my experience.

If AirPort Utility cannot "see" the AX after several Factory Default Resets, the AX is likely defective and should be exchanged as further configuration is not possible.

I'm still a bit confused when you use the term "remote" for the AX in your installation. In Apple's terminology, I think you are trying to use the AX as a "client", with the AX device "joining" the wireless network, just as a computer joins a wireless network.

When the AX joins as a client, you can stream AirTunes to the device from your computer over the wireless network created by the main router and also send print commands to a compatible printer attached to the USB port on the AX.

Tesserax may have more comments on this as well.

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Answer 2

romad Author

Level 3

887 points

Dec 16, 2009 8:57 AM in response to romad

Disabling the Firewall didn't help. I've also tried a different computer and OS, with the same results. Since the only common thing left is the AE itself, am I going out on a limb to conclude that it has malfunctioned?

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Answer 3

romad Author

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887 points

Dec 16, 2009 9:18 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, the weird thing is that after the reset, I can connect to the AirPort Express using AirPort Utility and configure it. However, if I later try to go back into it, I get the -6735 error. Oh, and AirTunes never connects after I do a "successful" configuration.

Apple's instructions says that the AE can be use as a "Main", "Relay", or "Remote" station. Furthermore Apple says that in my situation, where I just want to add AirTunes capability to my current network, I should add it as a "Remote". You select these options under the WDS tab in AirPort Utility 5.4.2

So my AirPort Extreme Base Station is configured as the "Main" device for my network because its WAN port is connected to my ISP, and the LAN port is connected to my DirecTV receiver.

Message was edited by: romad

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Answer 4

Dec 16, 2009 10:16 AM in response to romad

OK, thanks for the additional info. I was not aware that you were using the WDS configuration. WDS is quite tricky to configure and troubleshoot and (my opinion here) sometimes not worth the effort and trouble.

If you had said that you were using the WDS arrangement early in your post, I would not have suggested the configuration that I did. Most users simply configure the AX to "join" their network not using WDS. Sorry about the misunderstanding here.

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Answer 5

romad Author

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887 points

Dec 16, 2009 4:15 PM in response to Bob Timmons

When this network was originally setup years ago, I followed Apple's documentation and it said that "WDS" is Apple's term for a network. As I understand it, if you are using only Apple hardware (AEBS & AE) then you use the WDS option. If you are joining a network that uses a non-Apple router, then you use the plain "join a network" procedure.

So, what should I try now? I can't change anything on the AEBS configuration because I'd lose access to my ISP and these boards.

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Answer 6

Dec 16, 2009 6:31 PM in response to romad

Since your AEBS is configured to participate in a WDS, and you are unwilling to change its configuration, you have no other configuration options other than trying to get the AX setup as a WDS remote.

If your current AX will not hold its settings, the only thing left that I could suggest would be to try a new device. If you go that route, please post back on your results with the new AX.

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Answer 7

romad Author

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887 points

Dec 17, 2009 7:04 AM in response to Bob Timmons

I just remembered that I have another AirPort Extreme Base Station that I bought on close-out from Apple. Maybe I can try setting that up as a non-Apple network and if that works, then see if the AirPort Express can join that network and work. Of course, I could just set up the Express as its own network for AirTunes and then remember that I can't use the computer for anything else when it is playing music.

I'm running out of time here what with getting the house prepared for Christmas, so I many push everything into next year. My final fallback position for the music is to use my PowerBook plugged directly into my stereo.

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Answer 8

romad Author

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887 points

Dec 21, 2009 7:34 AM in response to romad

I had a flash that has solved my problem of getting my music to my stereo. Since I got my 32 GB iPhone 3GS, I don't use my 80 GB iPod that much. So I have connected my Apple so-called "universal" Dock to my stereo and will just use the iPod as my music source. Since that was the only reason for the AirPort Express, I can work on getting it to connect with my network later. Hopefully, Apple will add an audio out port to the AirPort Extreme(n), then I can get one of those and replace the AirPort Extreme(g) I have now.

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Answer 9

romad Author

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887 points

Jan 20, 2010 9:29 AM in response to romad

Closed - no definitive answer, but a lot of leads.

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