Airport Express and Eero network

So you cannot get the airport utility to complete the configuration.

Did you do what Bob said in the thread you referenced?

Type in a short simple device name that you want to call the AirPort Express

Type in the password for the Eero wireless

Type in the password again to confirm

If the automatic method fails.. try again using the manual method.

OR at least use ethernet to do the configuration.. setting up wireless by wireless is prone to failure.

So try the following..

Once you finish the airport express configuration and it fails, reboot the express. Can you connect to it from the airport utility?

If it has totally failed you may need to start over.. this time go through step by step all the manual steps that follow.. but if you can actually find the express in the airport utility simply fix the errors if possible.

Which model btw is the express? Both Gen1 and Gen2 are N wireless. But the Gen2 has two ethernet ports..

You must do the manual configuration by ethernet if at all possible. Do you have a Mac which can be connected to the Express by ethernet?

Setup the Express in the same room as the Eero so it gets excellent wireless signal.

1. Do a full factory reset. On express hard reset is usually enough.

2. Go to the wireless and ethernet on the computer and make sure you have IPv6 set correctly to link local only. eg..

You can leave wireless turned on but you need ethernet (in least in my experience) for it to work.

3. You need to change over to ethernet. After the reset plug ethernet from express to the computer.

In the airport utility now ethernet is under Other Wi-Fi Devices.. which makes no sense at all. Ethernet will only show up when it is connected and working. Make the change over and the rest of operation will be over ethernet.

I think you should now have another shot at doing normal automatic setup.. ethernet direct to the Express and running the utility on ethernet not wireless will often work out the problem of cutting off the wireless branch you are sitting on. Still no luck proceed as follows.

4. Click on File / Configure Other.

5. Type in the IP address.. always 10.0.1.1 after a reset. No password needed yet.

6. Now you can see all the parts of the setup.. you will go to each tab to do the setup.

This HowTo was done on extreme but your express will work identically.

7. First is Base Station.. and change the name .. short, no spaces and pure alphanumerics strongly recommended.

Same for any passwords.

No picture of the Internet tab.. nothing there needs changing usually. It will be DHCP for most people with nothing else.

8. Wireless

Here is where the express is slightly different because you need to Join a wireless network.. not create or extend.. and this is only in the Express now.

9. Then network.. pick what you want yourself.. you are now in control.

For most people they will set DHCP and NAT or Off (Bridge Mode)

In this setup of join a wireless this is the only possible configuration.

10. Once you finish making changes.. use Update to configure them to the Airport.. and wait for it to reboot..

If all is good it will come up on the main utility.

If this still has errors just click the Airport icon and go back into the setup and fix anything there.

Once you complete an Express.. place it back where it originally belongs in the network and do the next one.. all using different names of course.

If you are asking about having the AirPort Express connect to the Eero system using a wireless connection......the first thing to check would be to make sure that you do not have a security compatibility problem.

The way to do that is to temporarily turn off the WiFi security on the Eero network and then see if the AirPort Express can connect to the Eero WiFi that way.

IF.......the Express can connect when the Eero network is not using wireless security, then you know that it is a security setting issue that is likely the culprit. We can provide a few more ideas for you to try if the Express connects to the Eero network during your temporary "test" with no security.

BUT.......if the Express cannot connect to the Eero network when the security is temporarily disabled, then you know that the Express will never be able to connect to the Eero network when security is enabled on the Eero network.

If this is the case, you still might be able to use the AirPort Express for AirPlay service......if.....you can connect it to one of the Eero access points using a permanent, wired Ethernet cable connection. Post back if that might be a possibility.

Just to add doing the above failed the first time around.

It did fail to update the settings..

IMPORTANT when you join to the Wireless network everything about the Express changes including its IP address and the computer IP address.. so you may need to go and find the Express again.. Renew the IP on the computer.. turn off wireless now and unplug and replug the ethernet.. make sure the computer is getting the correct IP.

Then try again.. it is NOT unusual at all for this to fail when you configure wireless by wireless.. expect failure 9 time out of 10.

Second time around I was successful and can show you the exact configuration.