I use an airport express to extend my network. It is the last model in the old style - if that makes sense - (It supports 5Ghz networks) - bought about a year ago. It's been working fine but suddenly stopped connecting to my network. I suspect a hardware problem - but how can I know for sure? It's in range of my Time Capsule - I've tried resetting it - occasionally it works but then drops the connection. Any thoughts would be welcomed.
Hi Nicholas Pritchard,
Welcome to the Support Communities!
The articles below may be able to help you with this.
Click on the links to see more details and screenshots.
Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Resetting an AirPort Base Station or AirPort Time Capsule FAQ
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3728
Cheers,
- Judy
Hi Judy
Thanks for the response - However I do know how to set up a network - the problem is that the the Airport Express that I am using: 802.11n (1st Generation) keeps dropping out of my network. Having initially thought that this was a hardware problem - I'm now pretty sure it is caused by interference from my neighbour - which is very curious as I don't live in the city but the countryside!
I've tried all sorts - changing the channel settings helps for a while but always ends up with the Airport Express dropping the signal and giving me an amber light - any good suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
Nick
Do you have a utility like WiFi Explorer or WiFi Scanner on your laptop so that we can perform some SNR checks on the signal quality of your wireless network?
Hi Bob
Yes I'm using wi fi scanner - have tried setting my 2.4 Ghz channel as far apart from my neighbours as I can. Works for a while - but always ends up with the AE dropping the connection. I've been carelful to place the AE so it gets a strong signal from my time capsule.
Nick
The key figure to look for in WiFi Scanner is the SNR reading.
Temporarily, power off the AirPort Express
Move your laptop to the exact spot where you have the AirPort Express located, then use WiFi Scanner to locate the SNR reading that you have. You want that to be at least 30.....higher would be better.
What SNR reading do you see for the 2.4 GHz network when you perform this check?
Yes - the figure for s/n is 25 - though the maximum right by the time capsule is only 41 - I guess I should move the AE?!
25 dB is not too bad, but it would be better if the Express could be located where the SNR reading is 30 or higher. See this SNR chart for some general guidelines on signal quality:
40+ Superior
35 Excellent
30 Very Good
25 Good
20 Fair
15 Low
10 Very Low
5 Not reliable
If you continue to have problems, then I suspect that you may have a defective Express, or there is something interfering with the wireless network there....a cordless phone, TV monitor, microwave oven.....any number of things that are hard to identify.
Having moved the AE to a place where the s/n was 30+ - it started ok - but has dropped the signal again - sounds like my original suspicions were right - do they fail often?
Hi Nicholas,
Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Due to the nature of your issue or question you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action
- Judy
Either the Express is going South, or you are picking up wireless interference from another source that it is causing the disconnect issues on your network.
Since there are probably twice as many wireless networks around you now than there were a year or two ago, that is the first suspect.
Thanks for your help - as I write I have a green light - but I won't hold my breath...!
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20120108083136856
This is the answer!
airport express won't join network
