What happened to "Allow Ethernet Clients" in Airport Utility 5.6 for Lion?

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Level 1

4 points

What happened to "Allow Ethernet Clients" in Airport Utility 5.6 for Lion?

I recently upgraded to cable internet and in reconfiguring my network I have run into a problem using my old AirPort Express (model A1084) as a wireless bridge providing an ethernet connection to my TV. I have an AirPort Extreme base station creating the wireless network--all systems green on that.

When I go to the wireless configuration in manual setup to add the Express to the existing network, the "Allow Ethernet Clients" checkbox is nonexistent.

I know the functionality exists because I had the network configured in such a way with the previous ISP with no problems. The only difference is that now I am running Lion on my MBP, so I downloaded Airport Utility 5.6 for Lion because 6.1 was frustrating.

Anybody else have this problem or know of a workaround?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Dec 23, 2012 6:32 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,036 points

Dec 23, 2012 7:09 PM in response to mjhiler

It's likely that you configured the the A1084 version of the AirPort Express to "Join a wireless network". The option to "Enable Ethernet Clients" will not appear on the A1084 version when the Express is configured this way.

The option will appear on the "n" versions A1264 and A1392 when they are configured to "Join a wireless network". Example below:

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Answer 2

May 29, 2014 8:03 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Hey Bob...

You seem to be the go to guy for "vintage" airport express base station questions.

My issue is similar to the above. So are you saying if you have an A1084 Airport Express there is not an option for Allowing Ethernet clients? I fired up my old MacBook Pro so that I could access an older version of Airport Utilty, but when I tried the other Wireless Modes I was unable to see the "Allow Ethernet clients" check box.

I have an original Apple TV with a bad wireless card that can no longer connect to my wireless network. Apple wanted $169 to replace. So stupid...probably costs them $2. Anyways...Apple Genius suggested connecting via ethernet to my airport express as an option to keep my old Apple TV connected. The only reason I'm not buying a new Apple TV is because I utilize the red and white audio jacks on the back for my outdoor wireless Brookstone speaker, and the new Apple TV's do not have these ports.

On a side note, I'm a 25 year Mac user, but I'm considering the Amazon TV instead of a new Apple TV if I cannot get my older one reconnected to my network. Do you have any opinions on the subject?

Thanks for your time...

Chad

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,036 points

May 29, 2014 9:31 AM in response to chadilac71

So are you saying if you have an A1084 Airport Express there is not an option for Allowing Ethernet clients?

The A1084 AirPort Express does not have a setting to "Allow Ethernet Clients", so it does not have that type of capability.

You need an A1264 or A1392 version of the Express for that feature.

I'm considering the Amazon TV instead of a new Apple TV if I cannot get my older one reconnected to my network. Do you have any opinions on the subject?

I am not familiar with the Amazon TV and don't use Apple TV that much, so cannot comment on that.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

158,202 points

May 29, 2014 9:51 AM in response to chadilac71

In addition to Bob's comments, the "Allow Ethernet Clients" option effectively repurposes the Express as a wireless Ethernet bridge. This feature was not available with the older 802.11g Express base stations.

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