Airport Extreme wired AND extend network - Need Input

I am having the exact same issue as coleclark. I have an Airport Extreme and an Airport Express that I purchased new in December 2012. Setup is Modem -> Airport Extreme WAN Port -> Gigabit "dumb" switch -> Airport Express. Latest firmware, latest Airport Utility etc. Airport Express works fine for streaming audio etc. and will show up in the Airport Utility, but as soon as I set it to extend the wireless network of the Airport Extreme, the whole system comes crashing down and nothing can connect to the wireless network. The only way that I can connect again is by unplugging the Airport Express.

If Coleclark is out there (or anyone else) did you get this issue resolved and if so, how?

but as soon as I set it to extend the wireless network of the Airport Extreme, the whole system comes crashing down and nothing can connect to the wireless network.

You don't really need to set the Express to do anything other than accept the recommended settings if you are using the latest version of AirPort Utility 6.x.

AirPort Setup will literally take care of everything for you as long as you have "n" versions of the AirPorts. The Express qualifies as an "n" device. How about your AirPort Extreme?

The Set up that finally worked for me was

Modem.

Airport Extreme as Router. DHCP, etc.

A switch

Airport Exreme upstairs.

Settings wise, i gave up on the Wireless "extend existing network" was incredibly prone to collapsing and just bringing the whole network to it's knees.

This set up is a replication of what we did at the office with 4 AP Extremes.

Once we had the main AP set up, each subsequent AP was connected over ethernet and set to create the exact same network, same Channels, everything, Exception being, not set as DHCP etc.

Both at work and at home the end result was a seemless network spanning the building. No crashes, no drops, totally solid for months (8 so far at work).

Under the "extend wireless network" setup i had the same issues (in both places) as Bull frog. The network was up, but nothing could connect. Things that were connected sometimes stayed connected, sometimes lost and couldn't reconnect. That problem is now 100% gone.

i gave up on the Wireless "extend existing network" was incredibly prone to collapsing and just bringing the whole network to it's knees.

"Extend a wireles network" is used only when you are connecting AirPorts together using wireless.....not Ethernet.

The network will crash if you configure an AirPort manually to "extend" and then try to connect to it using Ethernet.

"Extend a wireles network" is used only when you are connecting AirPorts together using wireless.....not Ethernet.

The network will crash if you configure an AirPort manually to "extend" and then try to connect to it using Ethernet.

I know. Sorry wasn't clear. Was using extend wireless, over wireless and it would crap out regularly.

Went from extending the network wirelessly, to setting each AP up to create the same network, so it's a larger seemless network, without the instability.

Bob, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "AirPort Setup will literally take care of everything for you as long as you have "n" versions of the AirPorts." [my Extreme is latest version, so yes, it is "n"]. So if I were to do a hard reset on my Express and just plug it in, my wireless will be extended without me changing any settings whatsoever, or do I have to do what jwilker said and configure the Express with the exact same settings as the Extreme in order to get the enhanced network coverage?

Goal is to have 1 seamless "roaming" network in my house.

I assume that the AirPort Extreme is operating correctly and that you have AirPort Utility 6.x installed on your Mac. Close AirPort Utility if it is open.

Temporarily, unplug the Ethernet cable at the WAN "O" port of the AirPort Express

Hold in the reset button on the AirPort Express for 9-10 seconds and wait a full minute for the Express to restart to a slow, blinking amber light

Connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN "O" port of the AirPort Express

Click the AirPort icon at the top of the Mac's screen and wait a few seconds for New AirPort Base Station to appear, just below that, click on AirPort Express

AirPort Setup will open automatically and take a minute to analyze the network

AirPort Setup will announce that the AirPort Express will be configured to "extend" the AirPort Extreme network

Type in a device name for the Express....example, AirPort Express, and click Next

AirPort Setup will take a minute to configure everything for you. When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done.

That's it. Not too dfficult, I would think. Other than typing a device name for the Express, everything else will literally happen automatically, as I said.

Post back on you results

No Mac unfortunately. Am I better off using PC Airport Utility (pc is hardwired) or iOS on my iPad, or does it matter?

AirPort Utility on your iPad will work exactly like I described, but you will need to start the process by tapping on the Settings icon on the iPad, then tapping on Wi-Fi.

You will see a setting to Setup a new AirPort Base Station there. Everything else will work the same as I mentioned, assuming that you have AirPort Utility installed on the iPad.

AirPort Utility for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

Worked just as described. Just to note, while I was waiting for your reply I tried to set it up using the PC airport utility. It looked like it would work, but when it restarted, it didn't work. Setting it up with the ipad worked flawlessly. Thanks again. Apple should consider revising the whole "extend"option to "extend wirelessly" to avoid confusion.

Will this work if one of the wireless APs is a non-Airport device? Something like:

modem ===== {WAN} Airport Extreme {LAN} ===== {WAN} Non-Airport device

Hello Joseph

I have the setup you describe...

With the "roaming" will the extended airport express also enable 2.4G and 5Ghz Wifi networks.

Currently when I am out of range of the primary Airport Extreme I only see the 2.4GHz network.

I am try to setup a extended network where both 2.4Ghz and 5 Ghz will work.

thanks in advance

My desired set up is close to this discussion

Modem->Router->Lion->wireless->AirportExtreme->wire->Box

Where the incoming Router connections are all wired. I give Lion a manual IP to try so not have multiple DHCP's. The Lion is set-up to share Wifi a d a little grey arrow shows up. The set up works perfectly on the resulting wireless network throughout the house.

But the AE refuses to pick up the signal and pass out a wired connection to Box. I figure the AE needs to be in "extend" mode, again to avoid multiple DHCP's. looking at the Lion console and if config it seems the AE is being served an IP address, but seems to not be forwarding it along the wire. Any suggestions?

Regards, J

So I followed directions, and it seems to work, but how do you know which network you are on? If I hold the option key and click on the Airport icon, it gives BSSID for the main Airport. Will this be the case no matter which one it is connected to, because they are in bridge mode and default to the master? I just want to make sure I'm maximizing throughput of wireless computers by making sure the closest Airport is the one it is connecting to.

Does that make sense?

If I hold the option key and click on the Airport icon, it gives BSSID for the main Airport.

That would be expected if you are near the main AirPort.

But, if you are near a "remote" AirPort, then you should see a different BSSID, which indicates that you are connected to the "remote" AirPort.