Level 1

9 points

Roaming network problem with Airport Extreme Base Station (4th gen)

My Airport Express Base Station was functioning well as a Wi-Fi extender to my Airport Extreme Base Station (802.11n Wi-Fi). Because I've had problems with the wireless signal, I've now connected them to each other with an ethernet cable and have problems with the setting up. I also have an ethernet cable between the modem and the Airport Extreme.

Initially the Airport Extreme showed a little amber dot and a message saying "double NAT" but I couldn't find a way to make a change. Now I can't even get into the Airport Extreme to change it, but I can get into the Airport Express. It has a green dot, as shown and I can get into its settings.

I've been trying to get this matter sorted out over the past 30 hours (with not much time for sleep!). Unplugging the Extreme and restarting it doesn't seem to help. Can anyone in the community please steer me in the right direction? Many thanks.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 16, 2021 4:15 AM

Top-ranking reply

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,108 points

Posted on Jul 16, 2021 9:37 PM

Keep the AirPort Express powered off.

Make sure that the Ethernet cable connects from one of the Ethernet ports on the modem/router......there are probably 4 of them......to the "O" Ethernet port on the AirPort Extreme

Apple expects you to use WiFi to set up the AirPort Extreme, so we will use that method. For now, disconnect the Ethernet cable from your Mac to the AirPort Extreme and make sure that the WiFi is turned on at your Mac.

Hold in the reset button on the back of the AirPort Extreme for 7-8 seconds and release

Allow a full minute for the AirPort Extreme to restart to a slow blinking amber light status

Open AirPort Utility and click on the Other WiFi Devices button

Click on AirPort Extreme xxxxxx

The AirPort Utility setup wizard will open up to a screen that looks similar to the example below, except that you will see an AirPort Extreme displayed.

Network Name........Type in the name of the wireless network

Base Station Name.......Type in the device name for the AirPort Extreme

Password.......Type in the WiFi password

Verify......Type in the same password again to confirm

Click Next

Wait a minute while the AirPort Extreme is configured

When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done

Should be a green light on the AirPort Extreme and it should appear as an active device in AirPort Utility.......similar to this:

Post back on your progress. Do not connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the AirPort Extreme yet. Wait for more instructions.

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34 replies

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2021 8:35 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob, I've restarted the iMac, but the AirPort Utility is still showing an amber triangle for the Extreme. The Express is now totally disconnected. My MB Air and my iPhone are both using the Extreme (with its green light) to access the internet. No problems. It seems the Extreme is working OK but not showing a green light in AirPort Utility. Mysteries never cease!

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2021 8:58 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob, If I do as you suggest and do a hard reset of the Extreme, will I still be able to use the same existing Network Names and Passwords on both the Extreme and the Express? Are you able to 'talk' me through the whole procedure over the next hour approximately? I believe this needs to be done. (With all my Apple equipment, I'd like to get another year or two out of both Base Stations). Peter.

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,108 points

Jul 16, 2021 9:10 PM in response to peterpatter

If I do as you suggest and do a hard reset of the Extreme, will I still be able to use the same existing Network Names and Passwords on both the Extreme and the Express?

Yes.....IF.....the AirPort Extreme can be set up correctly. Please understand that this may or may not work.

We will ask again. It would really help if we could get the make and model number of your modem so that we can understand whether it is a simple modem, a modem/router, or a gateway. Each product behaves differently and the setup of the AirPort Extreme is different depending on what type of "modem" that you have.

For security reasons, please do not provide a serial number. Just the make and model number.

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2021 9:53 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

You said - Hold in the reset button on the back of the AirPort Extreme for 7-8 seconds and release

Allow a full minute for the AirPort Extreme to restart to a slow blinking amber light status I did this but the light is still green. The Extreme is still powered on. The ethernet cable that I disconnected is between the Modem and the Extreme, not the iMac and the Extreme.

Should I try again?

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2021 10:56 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

You said - Try again please. Hold in the reset button and watch the light on the front of the AirPort Extreme. It should begin to blink amber quickly after a few seconds. Keep holding for another few seconds, then release. I've tried a few times but the light stays green.

The AirPort Extreme will restart again to a slow blinking amber light status after about a minute. I wish it would.

If the indicator light does not ever change to blinking amber after a few more tries, the AirPort Extreme is unfortunately defective........since it cannot be reset and reconfigured. It seems I'll have to say a sad goodbye to an old friend.

Please check above again to see that I asked you to disconnect the Ethernet cable between your Mac and the AirPort Extreme.

Apologies concerning my confusion. There has never been an ethernet cable between the Mac and the Extreme. The Extreme has always worked wirelessly with the Mac and my Canon printer. The only ethernet cable has been between the Modem/router and the Extreme.

I also asked you to check to make sure that there was an Ethernet cable connected from your modem/router to the "O" Ethernet port on the AirPort Extreme. I did not ask you to disconnect this cable. Leave this cable connected at all times. Sorry again about my confusion. I've re-connected it.

Many thanks,

Peter.

PS In ditching the Extreme, would the following solution work? Connect the modem/router in the study via an ethernet cable to the Express in the living room. Could I then give the Express the same Network Name and Password as the modem/router?

Peter.

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 17, 2021 1:42 AM in response to peterpatter

Hi Bob,

I'd like the community to know how helpful you've been with your suggestions and your patience in dealing with my problem. Had it not been an equipment failure, I would have breezed through with the wonderful advice that you gave me.

My heartfelt thanks for all your assistance. You're a real teacher. Is level 10 the maximum? You deserve much more.

Thanks again,

Peter.

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 17, 2021 8:17 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Hi Bob,

Believe it or not, this is now the Airport Utility diagram that I'm getting. (I had to power off everything in my study for a few minutes for another reason and this is the result). Should I now proceed along the lines that you had previously explained to me so well?

Peter.

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 17, 2021 10:25 PM in response to Bob Timmons

My comments below, in italics.

So, you are saying that if you power off the AirPort Express, that you can now connect your Mac to the AirPort Extreme WiFi network and get a good Internet connection that way? Yes, I'm using that connection now.

By the way, the small Express is lying on my desk with no connections to it.

For your information there has always been an ethernet cable connecting from the modem/router to the Extreme. (The connection on the Extreme is marked with a dotted circle).

And other devices can connect to the AirPort Extreme network as well? Yes, my printer, my iPhone and my MBAir are all using the Airport Extreme which has a steady green light. I've just printed a document to prove that it's working.

It will connect using only a wired ethernet cable. This connection will consist of a chain with an ethernet cable at each end and a Powerline AV 1000 Gigabit Passthrough Kit inbetween. I'm told that using the mains cabling is a standard way of sending ethernet signals from one end of the house to the other. I trust this will work well.

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,108 points

Jul 17, 2021 10:13 PM in response to peterpatter

Thanks, but you did not answer the other questions concerning how the AirPort Express will connect to the AirPort Extreme that we asked in the last post. We'll try the same questions again:

Will the AirPort Express connect back to the AirPort Extreme using a permanent wired Ethernet cable connection?......or......will the AirPort Express connect to the AirPort Extreme using only a WiFi connection?

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,108 points

Jul 17, 2021 10:45 PM in response to peterpatter

Powerline is "iffy". Works OK in some homes but not others due to the different ways that homes are wired and different types of main circuit breaker panels.

For example, a pair of highly rated powerline adapters that I tried a few years ago would not work well at all in my home. But, the same adapters worked just fine at a neighbor's house up the street.

If you are going to try to use powerline, you will need to test the Ethernet > Powerline > Powerline > Ethernet set up.....before.....you try to install and set up the AirPort Express.

Do you have a computer with an Ethernet port that can be used to test the powerline connections......before.....you try to install and set up the AirPort Express?

In other words, if you try to go ahead and set up the AirPort Express with the powerline adapters and there are problems, we won't know whether the problems are with the AirPort Express or the powerline adapters. That will really complicate things.

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 17, 2021 10:54 PM in response to Bob Timmons

The only computers with ethernet ports are this iMac that I'm using and an old iMac from 2008. Would that be any use for testing? I have linked them in the past via an ethernet cable to make use of old photo programs that are only on the old iMac. I could try that again with the old iMac in the living room. It may take a short while to get it booted up again. I'll give it a try. Do you mind waiting?

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 18, 2021 4:41 AM in response to peterpatter

The Powerline adapters seem to be working well. I placed the old iMac in the living room and managed to view iMovies, Photos and Documents. I didn't try editing but I think I gave the powerline a fair test. The quality was good, considering I was viewing them on an old Snow Leopard screen! Incidentally, both iMacs were getting their WiFi from the Airport Extreme, even though the old one in the living room was about 15m or 50 feet away. I need the wired AirPort Express in the living room because of obstructions from refrigerators, hot water systems and microwave ovens.

I reckon I'm ready to setup and install the AirPort Express; however I'll only be awake for approximately the next hour, as I'm rather tired. The time here is 9:40pm. How would 11 hours from now suit you?

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 18, 2021 5:43 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Dear Bob,

Thank you so much for your help and patient assistance. Everything is now working perfectly. I can't thank you enough. I'm getting good WiFi signals in the living room, with no dropouts. See attachment below.

Maybe it was only the reset switch on the AirPort Extreme that was malfunctioning. Long may it continue to live, as has my old iMac of 2008. May good luck continue into the future.

Have a good day and kind regards,

Peter.

Being pedantic: How do I change the name of Peter's AirPort Express, to something else?

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,108 points

Jul 16, 2021 6:55 PM in response to peterpatter

When you open AirPort Utility, it should look just like this when the AirPort Extreme is working correctly, except that you will see the name of your AirPort Extreme.

peterpatter Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2021 9:19 PM in response to peterpatter

The router is called a Wireless VOIP Smart Ultra Broadband Gateway.

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Roaming network problem with Airport Extreme Base Station (4th gen)