HT204617: Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)

Learn about Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
jeffrohoward

Q: Why won't AirPort Utility let me extend my network with AirPort Express?

I have 2 1st Gen AirPort Express stations. I have my original AirPort wired into my modem with an ethernet cable and it works fine. I have my new AirPort plugged, well within range of the network but it doesn't show up in AirPort Utility making it impossible for me to extend the network.

Screen Shot 2013-01-19 at 9.29.39 AM.png

 

All of the previous forums I've seen say to reset both routers and "set up manually" and select the box that says "allow this network to be extended". When I go to setup there is no option for either of these.

 

Am I missing something? What am I doing wrong?

AirPort Express, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jan 19, 2013 7:40 AM

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Q: Why won't AirPort Utility let me extend my network with AirPort Express?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by edex67,

    edex67 edex67 Jan 19, 2013 7:56 AM in response to jeffrohoward
    Level 4 (3,250 points)
    Jan 19, 2013 7:56 AM in response to jeffrohoward

    Connect to the WiFi network of the new Express. This can be found at the AirPort fan on the top right hand corner of your Mac.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jan 19, 2013 8:07 AM in response to jeffrohoward
    Level 10 (105,062 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 19, 2013 8:07 AM in response to jeffrohoward
    All of the previous forums I've seen say to reset both routers and "set up manually" and select the box that says "allow this network to be extended". When I go to setup there is no option for either of these.

     

    You are looking at instructions that apply to Snow Leopard and earlier operating sysems. You are using Lion or Mountain Lion.

     

    Hold in the reset button on the Express that you want to use to extend for 9-10 seconds and release.

     

    Close AirPort Utility if if it open.

     

    As edex67 notes above, click the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen and look for a listing of New AirPort Base Station. Just below that, click directly on AirPort Express.

     

    New AirPort Base Station.png

     

    AirPort Setup will open automatically and take a minute to analyze the network, then tell you that the Express will be configured to "extend" the network.

     

    Enter a device name that you want to use for the Express and click Next

     

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

     

    You are done, other than locating the Express approximately half way between your "main" Express and the area that needs more wireless coverage.

  • by jeffrohoward,

    jeffrohoward jeffrohoward Jan 19, 2013 8:06 AM in response to edex67
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2013 8:06 AM in response to edex67

    I don't see it in the options. To clarify, I don't have the new Express plugged in to ethernet. I was hoping to have it extend wirelessly. It's not listed under the "fan".

  • by jeffrohoward,

    jeffrohoward jeffrohoward Jan 19, 2013 8:10 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2013 8:10 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    This is what pops up. I tried to download 5.6.1 but it says that it can't install, I assume because I have the newer version already installed (or because I'm running Mountain Lion.).

     

    Screen Shot 2013-01-19 at 10.08.28 AM.png

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jan 19, 2013 8:17 AM in response to jeffrohoward
    Level 10 (105,062 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 19, 2013 8:17 AM in response to jeffrohoward

    Look on the side of the Express for the model number. You need to see A1264 there.

     

    If you have A1088 or A1084, these are older "pre-generation" versions of the Express that do not have the ability to "extend a wireless network".

  • by edex67,

    edex67 edex67 Jan 19, 2013 9:06 AM in response to jeffrohoward
    Level 4 (3,250 points)
    Jan 19, 2013 9:06 AM in response to jeffrohoward

    Of course, you can extend even with A1088 models by using an Ethernet cable or Powerline adapters. To install the older version of AirPort Utility:

    http://frank.is/mountain-lion-and-the-old-airport-utility/

    Then you can use bridge mode to make them extend. However as Bob Timmons states they can't extend wirelessly.

  • by jeffrohoward,

    jeffrohoward jeffrohoward Jan 20, 2013 3:20 PM in response to edex67
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2013 3:20 PM in response to edex67

    So would I have to run an Ethernet cable all the way to the 2nd Express?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jan 20, 2013 3:50 PM in response to jeffrohoward
    Level 10 (105,062 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 20, 2013 3:50 PM in response to jeffrohoward

    Ethernet cable would be first choice in terms of performance or use a pair of Ethernet powerline adapters to send the signal over the powerlines in your home.

     

    These devices work well for some users, but not for others....so it might be a good idea to understand the store's return policies before you buy.

     

    Here, we are assuming that you have an open port on your modem/router to connect the second AirPort Express.

  • by jeffrohoward,

    jeffrohoward jeffrohoward Jan 21, 2013 12:50 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2013 12:50 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    I see that one of my model numbers is A1264 while the other is A1084. Would they both have to be the newer model in order to have them "connect" to one another?

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jan 21, 2013 2:10 PM in response to jeffrohoward
    Level 10 (105,062 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 21, 2013 2:10 PM in response to jeffrohoward
    Would they both have to be the newer model in order to have them "connect" to one another?

     

    I assume that you are asking about wireless connections here.

     

    You would either need two of the A1264 versions if you want them to connect to each other using wireless, or you would need the A1264 model and another "new" AirPort Express, which would be model A1394.

  • by Sarah3Lyt,

    Sarah3Lyt Sarah3Lyt Feb 7, 2013 6:18 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 7, 2013 6:18 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks this helped me a lot! I wanted to extend my Wi-Fi network, but I couldn't figure out how. Now (thanks to you) I have it all set up!

  • by Jostein Bjerga,

    Jostein Bjerga Jostein Bjerga Jan 10, 2015 3:56 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 10, 2015 3:56 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    WEll, it could before mavericks I think. my a1088 extended my wifi network for playing music through my stereo rack until recently in yosemite, until I had to create a new network from my Apple extreme base station, so now it is impossiblemto configurate the a1088 express, I get the same dialogs as others have mentioned here...

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jan 10, 2015 6:03 AM in response to Jostein Bjerga
    Level 10 (105,062 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 10, 2015 6:03 AM in response to Jostein Bjerga

    You need a newer version of the AirPort Express if you want to be able to use newer Mac operating system to administer the AirPort Express.

     

    Apple dropped support of the older AirPorts when they introduced Lion (10.7.3) a few years ago.