airport express ethernet not working

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airport express ethernet not working

I am using a Time Capsule as my base station and have a WPA2 Personal network set up. I am using my Airport Express to extend my network and have a BluRay player connected to the Airport Express with an ethernet cable. The BluRay player is unable to connect to the internet. I tried another player, same result. I also tried a new cable and had the same problem. At one time it could connect. I suspect there is no signal coming out of the Ethernet port on the the Airport Express. I plugged a router into the Express to see if there was any activity, and the imput light did not come on, so I am pretty sure the problem is the Express. Before I get a new one, I wanted to ask did my output go bad, or is there something I missed setting it up?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jan 29, 2012 12:54 PM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

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Jan 29, 2012 12:56 PM in response to gbol

Is your AirPort Express Base Station (AX) a 802.11g or 802.11n model?

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Answer 2

gbol Author

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Jan 29, 2012 1:04 PM in response to Tesserax

802.11g

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Answer 3

Tesserax

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Jan 29, 2012 1:11 PM in response to gbol

Since your AX is a "g" model, the only way for the AX to extend the wireless range of the Time Capsule AND have the AX's Ethernet port enabled for your Blu-ray player is to configure them both for a Wireless Distribution System (WDS). Is this how you have them configured presently?

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Answer 4

gbol Author

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Jan 29, 2012 1:20 PM in response to Tesserax

Not sure. I read the article, but it sounds like a different version of Airport utility. I set up the Time Capsule with the create a wireless network choice, then set up a WPA2 Personal Network. Then I set up the Express using the join a wireless network mode, and joined the network created on the Time Capsule.

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Answer 5

gbol Author

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Jan 29, 2012 1:22 PM in response to Tesserax

I am using Airport Utility 5.5.3 in Lion if that makes a difference.

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Answer 6

gbol Author

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Jan 29, 2012 1:25 PM in response to gbol

The Time Capsule is an 802.11n model. Could that be part of the problem?

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Answer 7

Tesserax

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Jan 29, 2012 1:25 PM in response to gbol

Then I set up the Express using the join a wireless network mode, and joined the network created on the Time Capsule.

Configuring the Express to "join a wireless network" does NOT extend that network. Instead the Express will perform as a wireless client ... just like any wireless computer or printer attached to the network. In this configuration its Ethernet port is not enabled for wired clients.

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Answer 8

Tesserax

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Jan 29, 2012 1:26 PM in response to gbol

The article is fairly new and does cover using the latest version of the AirPort Utility. Accessing the WDS mode in the utility requires that you hold down the Option key before making a selection to "reveal" the additional options.

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Answer 9

Tesserax

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Jan 29, 2012 1:27 PM in response to gbol

Only in that you would need to configure both base station into a WDS in order to enable the Express' Ethernet port.

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Answer 10

gbol Author

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Jan 29, 2012 1:36 PM in response to Tesserax

In the article it says: "WDS is designed for 802.11g, and shouldn’t be used for 802.11n devices. Wi-Fi base stations may include AirPort Extreme (802.11g) and AirPort Express (802.11g)." So I thought that may be the snag. It talks about an extra menu, but I don't see one. I'll go through again and see if I can find it.

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Answer 11

Tesserax

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Jan 29, 2012 1:44 PM in response to gbol

Yes, a WDS is not a desireable configuration as you basically will negate the advantages of your 802.11n TC as a WDS can only operate in the 802.11g radio mode ... but this would be the only configuration that would allow the Express' Ethernet port to be enabled. A much better option would be replace the Express with an "n" model.

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Answer 12

gbol Author

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Jan 29, 2012 1:49 PM in response to Tesserax

I got a WDS error when I tried this, so it looks like an n model may be the best solution. If I do that, will the join wireless network choice then do what I want? By the way, thanks for your help and patience so far.

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Answer 13

Tesserax

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Jan 29, 2012 1:54 PM in response to gbol

You will have two basic choices with the newer "n" Express:

If you want to both extend the wireless range of the TC AND enable the Express' Ethernet port, then you will want to configure both routers for an extended network.
If you just want to enable the Express' Ethernet port, you can configure the Express as a wireless Ethernet Bridge. Apple calls this configuration a ProxySTA. In this case you would configure the Express to join the TC's wireless network and enable the "Allow wired clients" option in the AirPort Utility.

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Answer 14

gbol Author

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Jan 29, 2012 2:01 PM in response to Tesserax

Sounds like the extended network is the way to go. Thanks again.

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