cannot find airport extreme after 5.5.3 update

Yeah, you've hit the nail on the head. It's been so long since an Apple update has screwed anything up that I've become complacent.

But wait: I DO have a backup somewhere, if I knew where the TC configs were stored. I could use Time Machine and revert to the old versions.

Finally, the problem has been dealt with. Leave the whole WDS thing completely alone, and simply use the Airport Expresses to extend the Time Capsule Base Station network. iTunes has no problem with the resulting mesh, and Airport Utilities now show a list of green lights.

I guess this means that WDS networks are no longer necessary, what with Home sharing and Airplay?

Glad that you can use the "extend" setup, since it provides far better performance than a WDS setup....and it is much eaier to configure for users.

WDS must be used if any of the Apple routers on the network are older "g" wireless devices and the user wants to setup the network to provide more wireless coverage.

Totally correct there, Bob. I screwed up thinking I had solved the problem, but hadn't.

In the end, I reset everything to factory, then rebuilt the network clean from scratch. It wasn't as painful or long, as long as you know what the settings you are entering mean, and/or follow directions closely, and not get distracted by the shiny objects that appear in some of the choices.

Here's a link to the process I followed, complete with screen grabs: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3111259

The key is bringing all the Airport devices into the same room, and cleaning things out and starting over. Probably only took an hour to do all three devices, after I had burned myself out with all the red herring chasing.

Got the latest airport utility 5.5.3 via auto software update. I'm running a Mac Book Pro OS 10.5.8

And like a fool said yes to the installation.

Now my airport Extreme will not show up in airport utility????

This is so annoying. I tried all the ideas on these boards. Help...

I tried all the ideas on these boards

So that we don't waste your time asking you to try something that you have already done....can you please list the things that you have tried?

Hello, Bob:

Thank-you for your reply.

I tried to reset my AirPort Extreme 802.11n by powering down, rest button. 20 seconds. No luck.

I will reboot my dsl modem ( see if that works) .

Just get a flashing amber light (can not establish a connection). DSL is working via ethernet.

Home is hard wired via ethernet. Airport is for mobile ipods and ipads around the house.

Tried to uninstall airport utility 5.5.3, and revert to old version. No Luck

I just can't seem to acces the base station and configure the internet connection.

Is there some other base station utility?

I tried to reset my AirPort Extreme 802.11n by powering down, rest button.

Like this?

Power off the AEBS

Wait a few minutes

Hold in the reset button and keep holding it for an additional 8-10 seconds while you simultaneously plug the power back into the AEBS

Release the reset button after the hold period and allow 25-30 seconds for the AEBS to restart

Temporarily, connect a spare Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the LAN <-> ports on the AEBS

Open AirPort Utility

DSL is working via ethernet.

Can you provide the make and model number of the DSL modem?

Tried to uninstall airport utility 5.5.3

Confused. Did you drag the application to the Trash? Are you saying that you could not delete the AirPort Utility application?

and revert to old version

Are you saying that you could not download and install AirPort Utility 5.4.2?

AirPort Utility 5.4.2 for Mac

You will probably be prompted to update if you install this version.

I just can't seem to acces the base station and configure the internet connection.

Assuming that a hardware problem is not affecting things....you will be able to get things going.

Hi, Bob:

>Can you provide the make and model number of the DSL modem?

It's actually a verizon dsl modem. The modem is working great. I also have a sonicwall firewall and the wireless feature on this unit is working fine. It's just getting the AEBase to show up and configure.

When you try and re-install the older version 5.4.2:

"You cannot install AirPort Utility Software Update 2009-002 on this volume. A newer version is already installed."

I will try this in the morning:

"Temporarily, connect a spare Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the LAN <-> ports on the AEBSOpen AirPort Utility"

Need my beauty sleep now.

Thank-you, Bob for your help 🙂

AirPort Utility 5.5.3 has been out since June. Are you sure you don't mean the 7.6 AirPort firmware?

If your AirPort Extreme is showing an amber light, I'd connect it to your Mac with an Ethernet cable. This should allow AirPort Utility to "see" it and tell you why it isn't happy.

I finally got the airport extreme to flash yellow. But had no luck connecting it to my laptop via ethernet.

Apple must be having issues with this. Since yesterday you are not able to download the folllowing:

iOS 5.0.1 Software Update or 7.6 AirPort firmware.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1472

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1471

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=584966&highlight=airport+utility

The problem does seem to not be Hardware, but Software conflicts between the OS and Airport Utility. If Airpot Utility is working for you DO NOT Update Utility to a newer version (irreversible step). Perhaps more recent versions of Airport Utility only scan one band or causes the computers airport card to become randomly locked into one band or the other, or assumes availability of N speed or b/g speed?

Maybe someone out there knows how to edit the Airport Utility configuration file, to enable the same level of scan that earlier versions?

Or is there an alternative software tool (or list of Terminal commands) that would enable setup of Airport devices without recourse to Airport Utility?

Here is a kicker. I have an older graphite base station. Just for laughs, I plug it into the back of the Airport Extreme 802.11n
.

It has a working wireless signal. I'm posting this via that connection. The Airport Extreme 802.11n still has a flashing yellow light.

Neither base stations are showing up in airport utility. I'm baffled????

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Message was edited by: icarus101

Message was edited by: icarus101