Q: This version of AirPort Utility doesn't support this base station. Use AirPort Utility 5.6 to configure or manage this base station. AirPort Utility 5.6 is available at AirPort Service and Support.

Brilliant, thank you. Worked first time.

Brilliant!  You just solved a problem that I would have chalked up to "gee, I guess I can't do that anymore..."

I have AirPort Utility 5.6 so when I realised that I couldn't set up my old AirPort Express from the new version and saw that cryptic message with a pointless URL, I opened up 5.6 and sorted it out from there.

What I'd love to know is, why doesn't it support all Apple base stations? I mean, how hard could it possibly be? Why make people who own slightly older Apple equipment jump through these hoops?

Dude, you ROCK!

Thank you so much.

Tesserax thanks so much! Worked first time, now have my 5 year old AE working with OS X 10.8.4.

THANK YOU!!!  This saved me a pain in the rump today!

thanks for helping me out / worked without any problem

There appears to be something wrong with the installation of Pacifist on your system. I would try reinstalling it, and then, try the instructions again.

As an alternative to using Pacifist, Apple Support Communities expert LaPastenague posted the following:

How to load 5.6 into ML.

1. Download 5.6 for Lion.

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

Click to open the dmg but do not attempt to install the pkg.. it won't work anyway.

Leave the package open on the desktop so you can see the file. AirportUtility56.pkg

2. Download and install unpkg.

http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/

Run unpkg on the desktop.. If your Mac refuses to run the software, because it wasn’t downloaded from the Apple store, go to security in preferences and allow other software to work.. this is limitation of trade methinks. You can set back later if you like.

Now drag the AirPortUtility56.pkg file over to unpkg.. and it will create a new directory of the same name on the desktop.. in finder, open the new directory, drill down.. applications, utilities .. there lo and behold is Airport utility 5.6 .. drag it to your main utilities directory or just run it from current location.

You cannot uninstall version 6 (now 6.3 if you updated) so don't try.. and you cannot or should not run them both at the same time.. although I have had no problems when doing so.

For screen shots see this post.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4668746?tstart=0

Thanks. This worked perfectly for me. Incredibly helpful.

This is great! Thank you. My only question:

I would like to password protect my wi-fi signal, but when I turn on the password protection the Airport Express (Model A1804) goes away. Can't be seen by Airport Utility 5.6.

Any suggestions? I'd love to hear it. Thank you.

This worked! Thanks !

Tesserax, you are a king among men. Thanks for the clear, concise, accurate solution to a silly problem Apple should have taken care of themselves.

So helpful ... Many thanks!

This is the message i recieve after installing the airport utility 5.6.app with the pacifist software...

My OS X version 10.9

"You can’t use this version of the application “AirPort Utility 5.6.app” with this version of OS X."

Anyone?

Apple shut off this type of workaround in Mavericks.

Use another Mac running Leopard or Snow Leopard, or a PC if you need to administer an older AirPort device.