Q: Murder on the Airport Express (AE 1st Gen cannot find Wireless while plugged in in the same room as the modem, router and Time Capsule

First, the reason for my compounded frustration:

I wrote a lengthy, comprehensive post on this late last night.  I submitted it and received a notice at this URL:

https://discussions.apple.com/___sbsstatic___/maintenance.html?start=0&tstart=0

It gave a message:  "A yellow sticky bearaing the words, "We'll be back soon."  and a typed message reading, "We are busy updating Apple Support Communities for you and will be back shortly."  Needless to say, it never came back.  This morning as I began trying to reconstruct the very detailed post I wrote last night, the Communities system offered me an opportunity to restore the post from last night.  Sadly, it contained only a portion of the first line.

I'm going to try it again.  The problem inherent in putting it all in words last night, is that I no longer remember the exact wording of the error messages.

I've never gotten this Airport Express (1st gen, purchased mid 2010) to work.  I thought it was working, but working poorly.  A green light on the device is, apparently, NOT an indication of connection to the wireless.  It wasn't workingl.

Description of devices which use the network:

I have a Broadband network with a modem. 

It is connecteed to my 2T Timecapsule (purchased mid 2010). 

Connected to that is a 24 port Cisco Router. 

Not connecting to that, though showing a solid green light, is my Airport Express (1st Generation, purchased mid 2010)

Connected to the router are many ethernet cables giving hard-wired access to:

Printers (HP 8600 Pro purchased 2012))

MacBook Pro (purchased mid 2010) and

IMAC (purchased mid 2010).

3 Apple TV devices (1st generation purchased early 2011)

1 Apple TV device (2nd generataion purchased August 2012)

Connecting to the Wireless Network are IOS devices (current IOS versions on all)

iPad 2nd generation (purchased the day it was available) 

iPad 3rd generation (purchased the day it was available)

iPod (mid 2010)

iPhones (4S)

Description of Layout of Network/House

My home is approximately 70 feet by 25 feet. 

All Networking hardware is at one end of the house, the south side.

Airport Express (1st Gen, 2010) has been placed in the middle of the house to boost the wireless access at the north end of the house.

Ethernet cables are installed under flooring with cable ends extending up through flooring, and are availble to all devices with Ethernet ports..

Description of Problem

Investigation of the wireless access dysfunction with the iPad (2nd generation, mid 2010)  revealed no connection to the Wireless Network, in spite of glowing green light on Airport Express and Airport Utility screen.

Description of actions taken to correct the problem

1. Loaded Airport Utility on MacBook Pro.
   
   1. Airport Express shows green light on screen.
      1. Double clicked on Airport Express Icon
      2. Message that Airport Express was unable to extend the network
      3. Message changes suddenly to something about not finding the Airport Express
      4. Airport Utility searches Airport Express, attempting to read its settings
      5. Message appears:  Device not found.  Airiport Express was previously part of the network, and offers to let me "forget" the base station.
      6. I exit the error message.
      7. A yellow triangle bearing an exclamation point sits to the left of the Airport Express' Description
      8. Airport Express shows green light (as always)
      9. Clicking the link, "Other AirPort Base Stations" indicates no base stations can be found.
2. Moved Airport Express to the room at the south end of the house containing all network devices
   
   1. Plugged it in with clear, completely unobstructed view of Time Capsule.
      
   2. Light on Airport Express flashes yellow and then turns solid green (like always)
      
   3. Bring Mac into the room at the south end of the house containing all network devices and the Airport Express with the green light
   4. Close Airport Utility on Mac
      
   5. Reboot Mac
      
   6. Open Airport Utility on Mac
      
   7. Airport Express still shows as it did in 1.1.7. above.
      
3. Attempts to check Airport Express' access to Wireless network:
   
   1. Unplugged Airport Express HEY!  THE GREEN LIGHT WENT OUT!!!  ;0)
   2. Disconnected all Ethernet cables.
      
   3. Tested ALL devices for Wireless access.
      
      1. All devices access the Wireless network extremely well (dot and three curved bars) EXCEPT
         
      2. IOS Devices tested at the north end of the house. These devices show a blank where the wireless bars should be, and intermittently show a dot.
         
4. Followed instructions contained in a similar discussion about Airport Express not functioning:
   
   1. Unplugged all Networking Hardware
      
   2. Powered off all Equipment which access the Internet in any possible way.
      
   3. Powered up all Networking Hardware, one at a time, in the order described in that discussion.
      
   4. Powered up all Equipment which access the internet, one at a time.
      
5. Tested ethernet cabling
   1. All equipment functioning.
      
6. Tested Wireless access:
   
   1. Removed all ethernet cabling
      
   2. All devices, including IOS devices, access the Wireless Network perfectly EXCEPT any placed in the north end of the house.  Those perform exactly as they did in step 3.3.2.
      
7. Connected all ethernet cabling.
   
8. Plugged Airport Express into socket in the Network Hardware room at the south end of the house.  I get exactlyt the same results as before.  The lovely green light glows on the Airport Express.  Airport Utility reports Airport Express cannot find the Wireless network and also says there are no base stations connected to the internet.
   
9. Still in Network Hardware room, I attempt to find other base stations by cabling the Airport Express to the MacBook Pro
   
   1. Airport Utility shows Airport Express with a green light
      
   2. I double click the Airport Express Icon
      
   3. Box says connection is average and status is (green light) Extended Network.
      
   4. I click Edit
      
   5. I go through each tab.  I note that in the Wireless tab, the Network Mode is as I had set it, "Extend a wireless network".
      
   6. Under the Network tab I note that "Enable Access Control" is as it should be, NOT selected. 
      
   7. Under the AirPlay tab, I note that "Enable airPlay" is selected.
   8. I click cancel and leave the Edit screens.
      
10. Curious to know if Airport Express can find the Wireless network now that the device claims to be functioning as an extended wireless network, I disconnect the ethernet cable from the Airport Express.
    
    1. I watch the Airport Utility screen closely.  Nothing is happening.
       
    2. With bated breath, I double click on the Airport Express icon.
       
    3. The popup box shows "extended wireless network"
       
    4. I click on edit and we start the whole mess over again.  (See 1.1-9. above)
       
11. Curious to know if cabling the Airport Express to the iMac (almost to middle of house) will offer hope and prosperity to IOS devices at north end, I unplug the Airport Express and carry its now-exhausted little body to the iMac, ethernet cable in hand.
    
    1. As I unplug the iMac from its ethernet access, I'm informed by Cranky Boy that no way is he going to accept that as a reasonable solution to his problem.  He will not live wireless while even one ethernet cable is poking up through a floorboard.
       
    2. Cranky Boy is reassured when informed that, though the Airport Utility shows the Airport Express connected, merely double clicking on the icon produces the same result as laboriously described in 1.1-9. above.
       
    3. After quieting Cranky Boy by reconnecting the iMac to the Ethernet, I return the Airport Express to the Network Hardware room.
12. Again, curious to know ...  I reconnect the Airport Express to the MacBook Pro. I want to know if it will exrtend the Wireless network from its position one foot from the Wireless Network.
    
    1. I close and reopen Airport Utility (as I always do, but forgot to write)
       
    2. I click on the Airport Express icon (which bears a little green light like the other big boys).
       
    3. BUT THIS TIME, when I click on the Airport Express icon, the pop-up box says my connection is Excellent, the green light status shows, "Extended Network" and clicking on "Extended Network" produces the same old `Airport Express was unable to extend the Wireless Connection. 
       
    4. I click on the Edit option. 
       
    5. I buzz through all the tabs.  I cancel instead of update, leaving everything as it was (as I did the first time)
       
    6. I decide to go back into edit and select "Internet Options" under the "Internet" tab.
       
    7. Since I have no idea whatsoever as to what IPV6 is and what it governs, I decide to configure IPV6 to Automatically Connect and then, with a whole new set of opportunities, I leave IPV6 Mode set to "Tunnel" and then I learn that I will get to see what happens when  "Enable IPV6 Connection Sharing" is enabled.
    8. I check the other tabs to see if anything has changed in their menus
    9. Jesus Saves and so did I. 
       
    10. Apple updates and so did I.
        
    11. I am warned that my device and its network services will be temporarily unavailable if I continue. 
        
        1. It seems unaware that I am laughing uncontrollably at the suggestion that my device and its services will be TEMPORARILY AVAILABLE.  What?  An improvement in performance is warned?
           
    12. Life continues and so do I.
        
    13. I breathe deeply to decrease my adrenaline.
        
    14. Airport Utility flashes a red warning next to the Airport Express Icon and then quickly rethinks the matter and decides to show it as connected.
        
    15. I click on the Airport Express Icon.  This time my connection is only "good".
        
    16. I click on Extended Network. With a new-found consistency it informs me that my device is unable to extend the Wireless network and it chats with me about using the same Wireless password for my device that is used for the Wireless network access.  I did.  It is.
        
    17. I change my settings back to the way they once were, I save like Jesus and Update like Apple
        
13. I decide to go back into Edit and modify the settings under the Wireless tab, changing from "Extend Wireless Network" to "Join Wireless Network".
    
    1. I save.
       
    2. I click on the Airport Express Icon.  My connection has degraded further to "Average"
       
    3. I click on edit just to see what will happen, but no further information is forthcoming.  Settings are as I left them.
       
14. I wonder if the Airport Express would extend itself now that it has joined the Wireless Network.
    
    1. I click the Airport Express Icon.
       
    2. I click Edit
       
    3. I change the Network Mode from "Join a Wireless Network" to Extend a Wireless Network. Unfortunately, there was no option for "don't forget where the Wireless Network is!"
       
    4. I am still "unable to extend the Wireless network"
       
15. I disconnect the Airport Express from my MacBook Pro.
    
    1. After closing and opening Airport Utility, I sit and stare at the Airport Express Icon.
       
       1. It has no light or error messages
          
       2. It has a yellow triangle with exclamation point
          
       3. It has no light or error message
          
       4. It has a yellow triangle with exclamation point
          
       5. I finally decide to see what THIS error messages says.  It says Device Not Found.  Patti Harada's AirPort Express was previously part of your network.  Check that it is still in range of your network and is plugged into a power outlet.  Click Forget to remove this base station from this network."
          
       6. I click "Forget".  Airport Utility has forgotten the Airport Express ever existed.  It has also forgotten how to find it again.
          
       7. I, however, am unable to forget how much I shelled out for this POS and fear I will never recover from working this intensely and tediously on documenting something so hideously inconsistent in its test results.
          
16. I wonder if I should recable the Airport Express to my MacBook Pro
    1. I decide I've had about enough.
       
    2. I document this ad nauseum in the hopes that someone can read it THOROUGHLY and offer me a solution to my problem.  What is my problem?  I am so busy fighting off Alligators that I forgot I only came in to drain the swamp!  Ah, but I remember now:  Cranky Boy can't watch Netflix on his iPad (2nd generation) in the north end of the house.
       
17. Any solution that works will do.  I'll buy another piece of whatever kind of equipment you think best.