Q: What am I missing?

If they will not " chain" then why are they showing up that way in the diagram?

As I already noted, the size and layout of window does not permit the correct illustration. If the window were wider, you would see all four Expresses in a single horizontal line, all connected to the AirPort Extreme.

The mbr express is set to extend and very definitely is grabbing its connection from another express.

Although I doubt that you would be convinced, I suppose that we can do some tests to illustrate that this is not true. But, I think you are having fun and want to prolong this.

You only have one network....

And that is coming from the Airport Extreme...

You can only connect the Airport Expresses to the Airport Extreme network...

There is no other way.... (unless you use WDS and a Relay and this is not recommended) (or hard wire some of your devices)

In this configuration, an Airport Express will not connect to another Airport Express.... No way....

You also cannot put another Airport Express in between another Airport Express and have them both set to extend. I gave you a link above showing this does not work and that might be why you are having problems...

I can't understand why you won't take 5 minutes to unplug some of your Express units and see what happens....

We have taken much longer here trying to explain to you what to try....

Just try it. If it doesn't work then you can plug your other Express units back in and still have your problems...

Download this other Apple Airport Utility...

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

I have both these new Utilies on my machine as the newer one like you have is mostly for mobile devices....

Both will work and give you different views and the 5.6 will allow you to see more and do more if you have Lion on one of you machines.

I have been having the exact same problem, with a similar setup - except I use an Extreme and two Expresses to extend my network.  Ever since the firmware updates, my iPhone won't connect to either of the Expresses, even if I'm right next to them.  My iMac or iPad will connect to an Express, but iPhone will now only connect to the Extreme, even though it's a weaker signal.  Very frustrating.

Be aware that the iPhone can only connect if your router is configured for the 2.4GHz band. Unlike the AirPort Extreme, the Express is not simultaneous dual band. Confirm that the Express is configured for the 2.4GHz band and not 5GHz. In your case, since you are extending the network of an Extreme, a simultaneous dual band device, make sure that you are connecting to the Extreme using the 2.4GHz network.

In Airport Utility I don't see a setting to configure the AX to 2.4 or 5 GHz.  Is is automatically defaulting?  My security is set to WPA/WPA2.

If you are using the Express to extend the network of your Extreme then the band that is being used by the Express is determined by which band you are using to connect to the Extreme.

On the Extreme, if you are using the simultaneous dual band feature you will have created at least two networks, one 2.4GHz and one that is 5GHz. Each Network should have a unique name so you can distigush them. I append (5GHz) to the name of my 5GHz network to accomplish that.

When you set your Express to extend your Extreme network choose the 2.4GHz network as the network that is being extended. This will set the Express to use 2.4GHz.

Yes, that solved it.  Thanks so much!

Sorry for the follow-up, but after setting the 5GHz band as a separate name on the base station, I decided to replace the two Expresses, for two Extremes to extend my network.  So I unchecked "5Ghz network name" and updated the main base station so that both bands are transmitting in my main network, instead of separating them.  However, I still see the second 5 GHz network available.  How can I delete that network so I only have one again?

Double check the settings of the new routers you added to the network and make sure that none of them are configured with the other name.

Someone seems to be confusing you here.

To simpligy things, get rid of the 5Ghz band network...

Let the devices choose what is best...

Unless you have a specific need to set the specific 5Ghz band, then forget it...

Again, delete the 5Ghz separate band....

If any of your computers are close enough to your main base station, they will automatically select the best band.. Eigther 2.4 or 5Ghz.... as long as you don't create that 5Ghz band...

You shouldn't have any problems after deleting the separate 5Ghz band...

If you read through the thread you will find that there was previously a need to distinguish between a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz band when the OP was configuring an AirPort Express. It seems he has now acquired AirPort Extremes to replace the Expresses so the separate 5GHz network is no longer needed.

Gino,

Please re read the thread and there is no mention of that...

There was never a need for 2 separate 2.4 and 5 Ghz networks from the original poster...

Read again......

You are confusing another poster here....

He does not need both bands running separately...

He really only needs simultaneous bands running and let the devices choose the best band...

That is how the Extreme is setup by default....

I want to delete the separate 5GHz network, but not sure how.  Under Wirless Options I unchecked the 5GHz box and restarted the Extreme, but I'm still seeing that I have two different networks, my original one, and the 5GHz one.  Not sure how to get rid of it.

Joel,

Where are you seeing that?

In your Airport ball diamond in the main menu on your Mac?

How many wierless base stations do you have?

If you have unchecked that on your main base station, then it must be coming from another base station you have or a neighbors base station.