Steebie1044

Q: My Airport Extreme intermittently shuts down completely.

My Airport Extreme (newest model) will shut down completely, all by itself, with the green light completely off.  When I unplug and replug the device, it starts again and the green light comes back on after it boots.  It's as if a "circuit breaker" cuts off the power.  No other equipment shuts off, so it's not the electric outlet.

iOS 7.0.6

Posted on Feb 24, 2014 8:21 AM

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Q: My Airport Extreme intermittently shuts down completely.

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  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 24, 2014 9:08 AM in response to Steebie1044
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 24, 2014 9:08 AM in response to Steebie1044

    You have a defective AirPort Extreme that needs to be exchanged for a new AirPort Extreme.

  • by Steebie1044,

    Steebie1044 Steebie1044 Feb 24, 2014 9:40 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Feb 24, 2014 9:40 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob,

     

    Will the Apple Store exchange the product, or will I have to go through where I purchased the Airport Extreme?

  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 24, 2014 9:42 AM in response to Steebie1044
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 24, 2014 9:42 AM in response to Steebie1044

    I cannot speak for Apple's policies, but if you have your receipt, an Apple Store should exchange the product for you. Be sure to set up an appointment with the Apple Store.

  • by Patrick Lovell,

    Patrick Lovell Patrick Lovell Feb 25, 2014 12:15 AM in response to Steebie1044
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Feb 25, 2014 12:15 AM in response to Steebie1044

    I just bought a new AE last year and today without any warning it just went off. No light nothing.

    Tried to get a light by unplugging and rep lugging, still nothing.

    I have had frequent episodes in the past few weeks where the AE dropped the line and I had to run diagnostics to get it going again.

    I just put in an order for a new AE, but am wondering if this is normal, only getting one year out of a AE.

  • by julesbravo,

    julesbravo julesbravo Aug 14, 2014 12:07 PM in response to Patrick Lovell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2014 12:07 PM in response to Patrick Lovell

    I'm having the same issue. A few times per week my Airport Extreme just randomly turns off. It's not somewhere it'd be overheating and everything else on the same power source is fine. I exchanged my Airport Extreme for another one at the Apple store and the new one has the same problem.

  • by Jives,

    Jives Jives Sep 12, 2014 1:10 PM in response to julesbravo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 12, 2014 1:10 PM in response to julesbravo

    I'm having the same problem.  Took the first one back after a couple weeks, and now the new one is doing the same thing.  At first I thought it was a defective power strip, but other devices never powered off.  Replaced the power strip anyways and also tried it directly into the outlet, and same result.  I have to unplug the AE and plug it back in.  It usually works fine once plugged back in and powers up again, but this is obviously an annoying issue.  There is no green/orange light whatsoever, it just completely powers off.  I really don't want to have to switch to a different router, given how easy it is to set up the airport network with Airport Express extenders, etc.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Sep 12, 2014 5:16 PM in response to Jives
    Level 9 (52,541 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 12, 2014 5:16 PM in response to Jives

    I really don't want to have to switch to a different router, given how easy it is to set up the airport network with Airport Express extenders, etc.

    Given the poor nature of the product... if you wish to keep using Apple airports, I would recommend buying a second hand Gen5 from your ebay or whatever second hand market you have.. They are quite reliable.. and cheap. You will have no issues with the Express.

     

    But your current Extreme is faulty.. there is no way you can fix it and it is totally Apple hardware being poorly made. Take it back for replacement.. and keep taking them back until you get a good one. This is hopeless situation. Occasional faults are expected.. two in a row indicate the local store has bad batch in stock. See if you can get a different apple store to replace if that is possible.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Sep 12, 2014 5:18 PM in response to julesbravo
    Level 9 (52,541 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 12, 2014 5:18 PM in response to julesbravo

    julesbravo wrote:

     

    I'm having the same issue. A few times per week my Airport Extreme just randomly turns off. It's not somewhere it'd be overheating and everything else on the same power source is fine. I exchanged my Airport Extreme for another one at the Apple store and the new one has the same problem.

    Bad batch. keep taking them back.. the power supply in them are duds from the sound of it. It happens on all new products.. they go through testing and pass but a few weeks in the real world and the real bugs begin to surface. Try to get apple to replace from a different source.. your local store has a bad batch.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Sep 12, 2014 5:23 PM in response to Patrick Lovell
    Level 9 (52,541 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 12, 2014 5:23 PM in response to Patrick Lovell

    Patrick Lovell wrote:

     

    I just bought a new AE last year and today without any warning it just went off. No light nothing.

    Tried to get a light by unplugging and rep lugging, still nothing.

    I have had frequent episodes in the past few weeks where the AE dropped the line and I had to run diagnostics to get it going again.

    I just put in an order for a new AE, but am wondering if this is normal, only getting one year out of a AE.

    This is really bad.. they should replace it even if it is outside 12months.. Just check if you have any applecare or a product you can buy applecare on, and it will cover the AE as well.. lacking anything you have to buy applecare, you can still buy an Apple TV, plus applecare.. that explicitly covers the Airport routers. Do not open the Apple TV.. you can sell it in shrink wrap.. so the purchase of the applecare is all you are paying.

     

    Make apple replace it and keep replacing it.. do not wait.. if it is dropping the line and you need constantly to power cycle.. return it as unfit for use. Routers are supposed to have uptimes measured in months if not years. Daily or hourly reboots is not acceptable.

  • by Jives,

    Jives Jives Sep 16, 2014 1:18 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 16, 2014 1:18 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Third router, same problem.  I went to a different Apple store so it's a different "batch."  This time I took special precautions of placing it in a well-ventilated area, and tried it with/without a power strip.  Again, other devices plug into the same outlet/power strip and have no power problems.  I will be returning this one to Apple and either look for a previous model Airport Extreme or get a different brand router entirely.  Very disappointed. 

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Sep 16, 2014 1:46 PM in response to Jives
    Level 9 (52,541 points)
    Wireless
    Sep 16, 2014 1:46 PM in response to Jives

    They sometimes need to be carefully protected from spikes etc. It seems the airport is much worse than normal routers.. but I do protect all my network gear.. a cheap UPS might be a worthwhile investment.. but I would still take it back.. until they can produce products that work as well as the ones around them I see no reason to indulge apple, when you are paying the premium for premium products.

  • by Jives,

    Jives Jives Sep 23, 2014 1:52 PM in response to Jives
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2014 1:52 PM in response to Jives

    Just an update...I returned my third router back to Apple (they still have no clue what's wrong).  Hooked up the previous generation Airport Extreme with the identical configuration, same power outlet, network settings, Airport Express extensions, etc., and it has worked great for about 4 days so far.  Obviously there is a power issue with this latest model using certain configurations.  Too bad, because the wireless coverage and speed with wireless AC is noticeably better (when it was actually working), although the older model is allowing me to get by for now. 

  • by JTappeltje,

    JTappeltje JTappeltje Sep 28, 2014 5:29 AM in response to Jives
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2014 5:29 AM in response to Jives

    I have exactly the same problem.... it drove me crazy. I reconfigured my network a dozen of times (have 2 last generation AE, previous generation and a previous time capsule on my network). The only AE that shuts down a few times a week is the "main" one that i use as the "hub". The other one does NOT shut down. However if I change the setup and use the "good" one as my "hub" it starts shutting down and the "bad" one has no problem any longer. Very frustrating.....

     

    By hub I mean that the other devices are linked to the hub win ethernet.....

  • by AceNeerav,

    AceNeerav AceNeerav Sep 29, 2014 5:01 PM in response to Steebie1044
    Level 1 (107 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 29, 2014 5:01 PM in response to Steebie1044

    Got my airport extreme just 10 days back. Happened to me for the first time today. I'm worried. This was purchased in the United States and I am using it in India. I hope my new MacBook air's extended wareanty covers this in India.

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