Airport Express 2nd Generation + Airplay 2 + Error Code 6742

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Level 1

7 points

Airport Express 2nd Generation + Airplay 2 + Error Code 6742

I have three Airport Express 2nd generation that have provided excellent service over the years.

With the demise of Apple support for wifi a while back, I moved over to Ubiquiti and have an EdgeRouter router and Unifi switches and Access points which all work fine.

As soon as Apple enabled Airport Express 2nd generation units for Airplay 2, I pulled them out of storage and reconfigured them solely for that purpose (i.e. not as routers, extenders etc.) and again they provided excellent service feeding Apple Music to threes separate hifi systems about the house.

However they recently crashed - all at the same time - each reporting error 6742 when I try to reconfigure them in Airport Utility.

I find it hard to believe it coincidence that all three crashed at the same time with the same error code, but putting paranoia aside and before I put all three units in the bin, has anyone successfully resurrected an Airport Express 2nd Generation that is reporting this error code, and if so what process should I follow to achieve the same?

Thanks & regards,

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Jun 13, 2021 11:21 PM

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Answer 1

Rudegar

Level 10

173,682 points

Jun 13, 2021 11:59 PM in response to AndyTNZ

here are some other posts with the same error code

Time Capsule - Airport Utility error 6742 - Apple Community

AirPort Extreme A1034 returned error 6742 - Apple Community

Airport Express 802.11n (2nd Generation) … - Apple Community

more

Search - Apple Community

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Answer 2

Jun 15, 2021 3:09 AM in response to AndyTNZ

Could it have been ESD from an electrical storm, as certain other equipment such as a couple of Unifi Flex Mini switches also blew out at about the same time?

Yes.. ESD from storms can have very bad effects on everything in the network.. and usually anything connected by ethernet will blow if your switches were taken out.

Have you removed the Express one by one.. plugged them by ethernet directly to the Mac and factory reset each one. You definitely should be able to reach them this way.

Note in the airport utility you do need to switch to ethernet manually.. kinda crazy but that is how they made it.

Tell us what happens.

I am assuming the front LED is working and the ethernet connectivity light is working when plugged in by ethernet.

Failure of those things means blown power supply or ethernet port.

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Answer 3

Jun 14, 2021 5:49 AM in response to AndyTNZ

However they recently crashed - all at the same time - each reporting error 6742 when I try to reconfigure them in Airport Utility.

AirPort Utility on a Mac? A PC? An iPhone / iPad?

For what it's worth, I pulled out 2 old 2nd Gen AirPort Expresses and had no trouble at all reconfiguring them to join the wireless network here using a Mac laptop on one test and an iPhone on the other.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

151,989 points

Jun 14, 2021 6:45 AM in response to AndyTNZ

In order for the AirPort Utility or AirPlay to both discover and communicate with the AirPort Express base stations (or any of the Apple base stations), they require both IPv6 and Bonjour (Apple's version of mDNS) configured on the local network subnet between them.

FWIW. Although I have an EdgeRouter, my current network configuration is with a USG and I don't have any issues accessing/streaming to my (last remaining) AirPort Express from any of my devices.

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Answer 5

AndyTNZ Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 15, 2021 1:28 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob Timmons,

On a PC in this instance, although I will try also on my 2019 iMac.

I also had no trouble setting all three units up using the iMac, but then lost them all at the same time for some strange reason. Could it have been ESD from an electrical storm, as certain other equipment such as a couple of Unifi Flex Mini switches also blew out at about the same time? Unfortunately we weren't at the property when all this happened so I'm left guessing!

Thanks & regards.

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Answer 6

AndyTNZ Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 16, 2021 1:17 AM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks LaPastenague,

I think I'd best get a UPS and ESD filter specifically for the network gear .... already have one for the iMac.

I tried plugging the units into the iMac which I had set to the static IP of 10.0.1.100, the power was on and I factory reset. The ethernet connectivity light was on and I was able to reach the unit but received the messages, firstly (i) Gathering information about your network... Examining the base station....and then (ii) "An unexpected error occurred. Try again", ..... and couldn't proceed further no matter how many times I repeated the process.

I had the same result on all three units and so, regretfully, I have to conclude all units are "stuffed". It's a real shame as I loved the Apple network gear and these were the last working units active in my system, having previously parked-up a 2011 Timecapsule and a 2015 Timecapsule. The end of an era for me.

Thanks & regards.

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Answer 7

Jun 16, 2021 4:05 AM in response to AndyTNZ

Did you try both ethernet ports.. one thing I have noticed is ethernet ports not used can survive.. and wifi of course should survive.. but yeah.. bad and unfortunately express are really expensive now to replace since there is no compatible device that fully replaces them.

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